The life of Nottingham High swimmer Isa Klobucista is so hectic, it can wear out a person just listening to it.
“My days are pretty busy with school, my girlfriend, swim, family, friends and work (at Crumbl Cookies),” the senior said. “Our swim practices flip-flop with West and Steinert. Some days we might have the 2:30 to 4:30 or the 4:30-6:30 practice and oh boy do I love that 6:30 to 8:30 (a.m.) practice (said sarcastically). When I have a 2:30 to 4:30 practice, I’m able to work from 6:30 to 11.
“On meet days, I have to call out of work. Thankfully my boss is super lenient and allows me to work two to three days a week. And then that two hour window (between practice and work) I try to make time for the people I’m close with. I work late nights so I go home and the earliest I can get to bed is 11:30. Then I wake up and start my routine again.”
Yikes!
With that kind of routine, one would think focus on swimming might not be all there. But it is. Klobucista is emerging as one of the Colonial Valley Conference’s top sprinters.
Through the Northstars 3-5 start, he won six of his eight 50 freestyle races, taking second in one and third in another. The well-rounded athlete was asked to do the butterfly this year for the first time, and earned two victories and seven top-three finishes.
He also helped Nottingham win five of the six 200 free relay races he entered, two medley relays and two 400 free relays.
He has come a long way in a short time.
As a freshman, Klobucista did winter track. He eventually realized that he was a pretty good swimmer and pondered giving it a try. It all depended on Steven Smolka, one of his best friends.
“I asked him a simple question: ‘If I swim, would you?’ He simply replied yes. That same day, we both filled out the form and got our physical,” he said.
That made coach Brian Emerson happy, as he had tried to recruit Klobucista to the team in ninth grade. But it initially became a “Be careful what you wish for” situation.
“It was looking like a slog at the beginning,” Emerson said with a laugh. “As happy as I am that he was on the team, I think he would admit that he thought he’d never have much success in the sport. And here it is his senior year and out of all of the sports he’s done at Nottingham, here’s the one where he’s found the most success.”
Klobucista played football his first two years and is a lacrosse attackman in the spring. He agreed with Emerson that swimming success was not on his mind in 10th grade.
“I never thought I’d be as good as I am now,” he said. “I sort of took swim as a way to just stay in shape.”
Even that was a challenge considering Klobucista’s eating habits at the time. The Northstars would often go to Wendy’s for team bonding, and the standard meal was a burger, fries and a drink.
“But I would order the party pack of chicken nuggets and eat all 50,” Klobucista said. “I soon realized if I never ate healthy, I would never get into proper shape to swim fast.”
Between a change in diet and mindset, Klobucista began to turn things around. After clocking 33 seconds in the 50 free he knew the potential was there to shave a lot of time. He began pushing himself in practice, going from last in a slower lane to moving into a faster lane.
“The main thing that made me turn around were the seniors last year. They always had good motives and really wanted us to be better,” he said. “Also, the coaches saw the potential that I didn’t, and wanted to make sure I unlocked it.”
Klobucista has become what Emerson always thought he could be.
“He’s turned into a pretty elite sprinter, not just against the Hamilton schools but he’s gone up against guys from Lawrence, Hightstown and Hopewell — some powerhouse teams — and he’s given them their fair share as well,” the coach said.
Emerson felt his swimmer’s improvement began last season and exploded this year.
“I think he started to see that the work he was putting in was producing real results,” he said. “In some sports it’s not as easy to see immediate progress but in swimming everything is time. The times are posted right after the meet. The kids know what their PR is, they know what they’re shooting for, the record board is always looming over the wall at every practice.
“I think it was just him finally getting that satisfaction from ‘All right, it’s tough every day and I’m working my butt off but I’m under 30 seconds for the first time.’”
By mid-January Klobucista broke 28 seconds and prior to the Colonial Valley Conference Championships, which concluded on Jan. 24. The coach felt he could reach the low 27s that might make him a place-winner.
Emerson pointed out that last year, Klobucista would usually finish second behind senior Jack Ford, who was the team’s top sprinter. The coach joked that Isa had to get to his senior year before finishing first.
“When Jack graduated, he was named captain,” Emerson said. “He’s the guy now to fill those shoes. Once he felt that it was his responsibility and he was the go-to guy, he just ran with it.”
Klobucista chuckled when he heard about his coach’s Ford comments.
“I didn’t think Emerson was going to throw shade at me,” he said. “But Jack Ford is still one of my closest friends We still hang out, and he was a huge inspiration for me to get faster in the 50 free.
“I’ve gotten first place in relays before, but I got my first place in an individual event for the first time this year. Everybody used to call me a second-place merchant but that only drove me to become better so I can fill the shoes of Jack Ford.”
Ford is not Klobucista’s only inspiration. He is on relay teams with Smolka, Nick Chiorello and Antonio Davila.
“Steven and Nick have been a big presence in my swim career, they have been with me for all my three years I’ve done swimming,” Klobucista said. “Antonio Davila is a standout freshman swimmer and is always right behind me when we swim the 50 free. I have no doubt he will be an amazing swimmer next year. These are the guys I usually work with at practice and the guys I have a pre-meet talk with.”
They are also the guys he loves going to battle with when its time for the relays. While it’s always nice winning an individual event, Klobucista enjoys the camaraderie of four guys striving for one goal.
“It’s a serial feeling to win a relay,” he said. “I love cheering for the guys and being able to have a strong connection with them. If one of us does good it puts pressure on all of us to do even better to make sure we keep that lead.”
Klobucista is an interesting guy with an interesting first name. A Muslim who proudly hails from Albania, Isa’s name is the Arabic translation for Jesus.
It stands to reason he is named after history’s most famous carpenter, since he may also be a tradesman.
“Trying to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life in one year is a very hard thing to do, but I’m still very young and always open to trying new things,” Klobucista said. “I mainly want to enter a trade school and try to become an electrician. My uncles, my dad and most of my cousins all do trades so that’s the only thing I grew up around would be interested in.”
For now, Klobucista is still enjoying the sport that has become his best. He has been “super happy” with his performance this year. And despite “the shade” thrown by his coach, Klobucista has nothing but praise for him and his friends.
“If I had any other coach besides Emerson I wouldn’t be as successful in my career,” he said. “He pushes me in practice; makes sure I’m feeling alright and makes some very difficult workouts.
“I’ve been super lucky to have the support of my teammates like Steven Smolka and Nick Chiorello. Every time I take a stroke and see them at the wall cheering me on it makes me push past my limits. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them and my family.”
Instead, he is everywhere thanks to a schedule that never slows down.
Isa Klobucista, Nottingham High swimmer. (Photo by Rich Fisher.),
