LAKEWOOD RANCH

When they’re in the pool, Danielle Valley and Will Kazokas don’t swim against anyone but themselves.

They don’t worry about what’s happening around them or how fast the folks next to them are moving.

Their goals aren’t gold medals, but golden times.

It may sound strange, but consider the sources -- Valley and Kazokas, juniors at Lakewood Ranch, know a thing or two about swimming.

Or more to the point, championship swimming. Valley took home a pair of gold medals during November’s Class 2A state meet in Orlando; Kazokas left with one.

Consequently, they are the Herald All-Area Swimmers of the Year.

“You always want to win when you go into a big meet, but it can’t be your sole focus,” Kazokas said. “You have to go in and be happy with whatever happens. It’s all about the time.”

Kazokas’ time in the 100-yard freestyle (45.78 seconds) was good enough to earn him his first state medal. He also placed fifth in the 50 freestyle (21.24) and swam a leg on Lakewood Ranch’s 200 medley relay team, which placed sixth.

“I’ve never won anything at that level, at that meet. It was impressive,” Kazokas said. “It was a good feeling and a lot of shock, actually. I just came out of swimming the 50 free, and it wasn’t my best time.”

Kazokas didn’t start swimming until eighth grade, the year he decided to try every sport, including football, cross country and track and field.

“Swimming sort of stuck,” Kazokas said.

Now a two-time recipient of the All-Area Boys Swimmer of the Year honor, Kazokas also swims with the Sarasota Sharks, considered one of the best club teams in the country. He also plans to swim in college and since winning gold at state, Kazokas has received interest from schools such as Cornell, Harvard, Duke, Princeton and Vanderbilt.

“Winning at state really helped out a lot there,” he said. “(Swimming) is going to be my path to a higher education.”

Valley has been swimming for most of her life. The 16-year-old remembers starting out when she was 3.

“I just loved the water,” she said.

She loved it even more this year, when she took first at state in the 200 freestyle (1:48.17) and 500 freestyle (4:48.5) after entering state seeded first in both.

“I guess it was exciting, my first state title,” Valley said. “I didn’t think I could do it.

“Afterwards, when I was warming down, I realized that it was something that I always wanted to do.”

Similar to Kazokas and most of the swimmers on Ranch’s team, Valley works out with the Sarasota Sharks, sometimes partaking in two practices a day sandwiched around school.

“I enjoy it because all my friends are there and we always have a good time,” Valley said. “It’s a routine, but it’s one that I’m used to.”

Valley hopes to swim in college -- Florida has shown interest -- but plans on expanding her athletic prowess after graduation.

“When I get older,” she said, “I want to do triathlons.”