On Friday, May 25th, the WEST Express Swim Team held their annual Swim4Jenna Intersquad. This meet is held to honor the memory of Jenna Paschke as well as in support of the Paschke family. Jenna was a swimmer on WEST Express, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 13 of a brain tumor (Glioblastoma).
It was an incredible loss for the team as well as the swimming community. Minnesota Swim and Vibe is so proud of the WEST Express team for putting their hearts and souls into keeping this memorial going each year.
It is a good reminder that our teammates are often like a second family. It’s a reminder we should value the time we spend with them. Swimming is a great sport, but it’s the people we share it with that makes it even better. We should remember life is precious.
Jenna Grace Paschke started swimming for WEST Express Swim Team in 2014 at nine. She demonstrated her love of swimming and her team by proudly carrying her swim bag and wearing her WEST shirt and pompom hat every chance. Jenna loved being part of a competitive team and made many great friends through WEST Express. The coaches of WEST Express made a big impression on Jenna, and she worked hard to improve her strokes and decrease her time. Jenna loved hard workouts at practices, especially swimming in meets and cheering on her teammates. On September 25th, 2018, at 13, Jenna passed away due to an undiagnosed brain tumor. Shortly after she died, Jenna’s older sister found a “Do” list in Jenna’s closet. It read: Work Hard, Be Nice to Others, Give Compliments. This quickly became Jenna’s List and her legacy.