RE Log - Spring 2024

40 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2024 Next Stop: Olympic Games Ashleigh Johnson ’12 preps for the Summer Games in Paris at RE RE Sports The road to the 2024 Olympics in Paris for water polo star Ashleigh Johnson ’12 included a fun-filled and eventful stop at Ransom Everglades on Dec. 7. In preparation for her third Olympic Games, Johnson helped the U.S. women’s national team defeat Spain in a pre-Olympic tune up at the Ansin Aquatic Center, and she also spent time on campus meeting students and reconnecting with friends and faculty. “It’s a really special opportunity for me to be back at Ransom Everglades and see all of the kids .... and be a part of the family again,” she said. “To be able to come back and share those lessons is really important to me.” Johnson, who led Team USA to gold medals in the 2016 and 2021 Summer Games, addressed upper school students during a Q and A at the Lewis Family Auditorium. Her former coach at RE, Eric Lefebvre, interviewed her and Team USA Coach Adam Krikorian. Johnson, who won five state titles (four in water polo and one in swimming) at RE, also met with reporters from the Miami Herald and NBC 6 South Florida. Eric Lefebvre, Ashleigh Johnson ’12 , Team USA Coach Adam Krikorian David “Chuli” Serra ’24 didn’t start competitive running until his sophomore year at Ransom Everglades, yet he’s already become one of the top individual-sport athletes in school history – with one season left to add to his trophy collection. As a sophomore, Serra broke the school record in the 800 meters. As a junior, he won two state titles in track and field (in the 1,600 and 3,200). Last November, Serra earned his third state title, winning the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A Cross Country Championship. “Chuli is truly driven to become the best runner he can,” RE track and field coach Mike Becker said. “He eats, breathes and sleeps what he needs to do to become a true champion, and to maximize his potential.” This spring, Serra wants to break four minutes in the mile (and set another RE record). He wants three more state titles (in the 800, mile and 3,000). And then he wants to head to Wake Forest University and continue his success, eventually qualifying for the Olympics. “One of my goals is to show everybody that God can make a way when there seems to be none,” Serra said, “and with hard work and belief in yourself, you can achieve things you never deemed possible.” Making History Record-setting runner eyes big spring season