Becca Zarazan doesn’t define her career with swimming efforts, but with the coaches and teammates that have made her career enjoyable.

Passion for the sport drove Zarazan, senior swimmer and co-captain, to be one of the best swimmers in Kansas. She was a three-time letter winner at Blue Valley North High School in Kansas City, Mo., where she broke records in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. She also was a member of the record-breaking 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams. Blue Valley North took first place at the state meet in 1999, second place in 2000 and third place during Zarazan’s senior year in 2001. At the 2001 state meet, Zarazan captured second place in the 100 butterfly.

“I’ve always been a butterflier,” Zarazan said. “It was my event, my baby. I loved swimming butterfly.”

Kansas has not always been her home. She has lived in Houston, Chicago, Phoenix and Overland Park. Her family lives in Southlake, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.

Zarazan also was not always a swimmer. She played soccer as a high-school freshman, but her season was cut short by a hip injury. She decided to try out for swimming as a sophomore where, unlike many of her teammates who had swum for years, she had only one year of previous swimming experience in middle school.

“I absolutely fell in love with the sport, my team and my coach,” she said.

Zarazan knew that she wanted to be a collegiate athlete. Athletics have always been important to her family, Zarazan said.

“My dad played football for Drake,” Zarazan said. “My mom was a gymnast there, too.”

As college approached in 2001, Zarazan decided that she would swim at Colorado State University. In her freshman campaign with the Rams, she finished seventh place in the 200 butterfly and sixth place in the 100 butterfly at the Mountain West Conference Championship in 2002. She also was a part of the All-Academic Mountain West Conference team.

Despite a successful season at Colorado State, unexpected family problems led Zarazan back to the Kansas City area.

“I wanted to be closer to my family during that time,” Zarazan said.

Although Zarazan was a member of the KU sophomore class in 2002, she fit in well with the freshmen class and new coach Clark Campbell.

“I was torn between two classes,” Zarazan said. “It was like being a freshman all over again.”

Campbell said that he was aware of the significant time Zarazan had spent in the pool while at Colorado State.

“It became more a matter of helping her continue to develop,” Campbell said.

From the beginning of her Jayhawk career, Zarazan’s goal wasn’t to be a captain, she said.

“My goal was to be the best for my team,” she said.

Campbell, however, said he could see Zarazan as a leader from the beginning. He said it was the little things that started to add up.

“She always gave 100 percent,” Campbell said. “If people came to her, she was always willing to help people one-on-one. She was not afraid of work.”

Zarazan served as co-captain this year alongside seniors Amy Gruber and Miranda Isaac. The three created a competitive training environment, Zarazan said.

Zarazan was a major contributor in the butterfly and freestyle events, although she did not end her career on the note that she wanted to, she said. Zarazan’s best time in the 100 butterfly was a 56.06, set her junior year, but her fastest time senior year was just a 58.38 recorded at the Big 12 Conference Championships.

“It happened so fast with such intensity,” Zarazan said. “Now I’m starting to be Becca the grown-up, not Becca the athlete.”

Zarazan is considering a career publishing after she graduates in December, and she is particularly interested in the magazine industry. Whatever life may bring her after graduation, swimming has her prepared.

“Swimming teaches you a lot about heart, love-hate relationships, determination, loyalty and communication,” Zarazan said.