Underwater Boss: How Angelina Huang Outkicks Her Backstroke Rivals
Two-time state qualifier broke school record in November, will swim at Rice next year
It’s almost like a superpower, the way Angelina Huang propels herself underwater, springing off the walls during a backstroke race.
Highland Park swimming coach Jason Pullano witnessed it most memorably during a meet this season in Mansfield, when Huang was trailing by about a half-body length entering the final turn of a 100-meter race. By the time she emerged at the surface, she was a half-body length in front.
“She’s the best kicker I’ve seen in Texas. Her ability to use her underwater dolphin-kicking ability is second to none,” Pullano said. “It has nothing to do with biomechanics. She’s a hard worker and a great kicker.”
Huang has become one of the best backstroke swimmers in program history for the Blue Wave, aiming for her third consecutive appearance at the UIL state meet this season — and first at the Class 5A level.
The senior narrowly missed the podium after a fourth-place finish in the 6A classification a year ago but hopes that experience will pay off as she seeks gold to close out her HP career.
“I kind of zone out and ignore everything else,” she said. “This year I’m going to try and take the pressure off and remember that it’s just a meet. I’m trying to place well and hopefully podium.”
Huang, whose older sister swam the freestyle for HP, swims in multiple events, but has been specializing in backstroke since she fell in love with the discipline years ago.
In November, she broke the HP school record with a time of 55.07 seconds while winning the girls 100 backstroke at the TISCA North Zone meet in Frisco. The time also qualified as a meet record.
The following months, she established new personal bests in the 100 and 200 distances (55 seconds flat and 2 minutes flat, respectively) at the prestigious Winter Junior Nationals meet in Austin.
Huang also shined last summer at the USA Swimming Futures Championship in Minnesota in her first major test in a long-course meet, where the 50-meter pool is double the length of the usual high-school competition.
Huang has signed to swim next season at Rice University. But first, she will look to continue her legacy at HP, both in and out of the pool.
“Angelina does a great job leading by example. She’s always bought into the philosophy of what we’re doing,” Pullano said. “I’ve never been more confident than I am for her this championship season.”
