The NELMSC is pleased to present Kysa Crusco of the Granite State Penguins (GSP) with an Appreciation Award for 2020. The Appreciation Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions toward the conduct, leadership, and support of the NELMSC or its registered clubs.
Kysa is deeply involved in facilitating social events with Granite State Penguins and NEM. She often finds and leads workouts for the team as well.
For a number of years, Kysa has made it her personal mission to create music videos of large swim meets such as SCY Champs, Nationals, and Worlds. These videos are a delight to watch, become cherished memories, and serve as an excellent marketing tool for USMS.
Kysa is regularly involved in recruiting LMSC members to attend national and international meets. Even at travel meets, she plans social activities that are welcoming to all and helps foster a team atmosphere at international meets by organizing USA t-shirts and other gear.
In addition, Kysa has continued to swim through personal, medical setbacks and she has a remarkable way of sharing this journey with a combination of lightheartedness, vulnerability, and an amazing sense of humor. Because of this, she has and continues to be an inspiration to her friends, family, teammates, and many men and women whom she has not even personally met.
Thank you, Kysa, for all you do!
Here's what a few of Kysa's teammates have to say about her:
“Kysa is an awesome teammate in addition to being our organizer, cheerleader and videographer. She doesn’t go anywhere without her GoPro, and has put together many great videos to music of Penguin shenanigans (and swimming of course) for all of us to enjoy. She is our Zoom captain, organizing Penguin Zoom parties with a different theme every Friday evening (trivia, baby photos, most creative Zoom background, shooting beers) since we all have been in self-quarantine. We are all looking forward to the day we are able to be back in the water. Until then, Kysa is keeping us together!”
“I and many others appreciate Kysa for her presence, perseverance, and penchant for making every moment a party.”
“Kysa is one of the best friends and teammates that I have ever had the privilege to be around and get to know. The loyalty, passion and fight that drives her are contagious and super fun to experience. She is the epitome of a true leader and teammate. I'm grateful to be a Rowdy Penguin and her friend!”
“Kysa always has her eye out out for adventurous, social and competitive opportunities and when she finds them, she brings the rest of us along for the ride. She inspires so many of her teammates to embrace Masters swimming and exemplifies the idea of being "all in." She has a magnetic personality and her enthusiasm is contagious. Everything is more fun with Kysa!”