Jack Punswick named recipient of 2025 National High School Spirit of Sport Award

It has been a rough year health-wise for Jack Punswick, but through it all swimming provided an outlet and showcased his incredible determination.

For that, Punswick was named the recipient of the 2025 National High School Spirit of Sport Award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify ideals of the spirit of sport.

Punswick, from Blue Valley West High School in Overland, Kansas, won the 100-yard breaststroke at the Kansas State High School Activities Association meet in 2024 as a junior, but then later in the year was diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin lymphoma.

Instead of going full bore into swimming for his senior year and headed to recruiting trips, Punswick started chemotherapy treatments in the fall to battle the cancer.

Punswick finished chemotherapy in December and once cleared to return to racing in the pool, he qualified for the state meet in the 100-yard breaststroke and a chance to defend his title.

However, teammates had to pull him out of the pool once the race was over in order to recover.

But Punswick built up more endurance throughout the winter and swam to a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke at the 2025 KSHSAA meet in February.

Even though he didn’t finish in first, working his way back and being able to compete at the meet was the biggest victory of all.

Throughout his journey, Punswick decided he wants to become a physical therapist in order to spend the rest of his life helping others. Originally, he wanted to be a civil engineer. He was able meet professional athletes Anthony Rizzo (MLB player) and Foster Moreau (NFL player for the New Orleans Saints), who also beat Hodgkin lymphoma, and became an advocate for others fighting cancer.

Punswick recently competed at the Speedo Sectionals in Columbia, Missouri, where he swam individually for Cool Swim Team in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststrokes. and on 200 and 400 medley relay teams.