Preston Lynch competes in swimming while dealing with Friedrich's ataxia.

That includes Preston Lynch, a junior who has been on the Viper swim team the past three years. This despite the fact that when he was at the end of sixth grade, he was first diagnosed with Friedrich's ataxia, a form of muscular dystrophy. It's a degeneration of the nerve tissues in the spinal cord. Despite that, Preston will compete at district once again, and he definitely keeps his sense of humor.
"How much does swimming help you to cope? It actually helps a lot because I'm around great people", said Lynch. "They help me a lot. Basically my disability affects my muscles and my heart. Swimming is great for my heart. I go to the doctor every year and he's so impressed. Since I don't have to use my balance in the water, it's a great spot for me."
"I can't imagine a team without Preston, to be honest", said head coach Debi Mease. "He's been with me three years and I just can't imagine it without him. He keeps the team together, to be honest. He's the glue that keeps this team together. He's a big inspiration for everybody, and not just my team, but everywhere we go, every team high-fives and tells him great race and everybody cheers for him when he's in the pool. I laugh at the people cheering for me. Why do you laugh at them? Because some of them make funny faces."
Preston will swim in the 50 free and the hundred backstroke at the District meet this Saturday at the CCISD natatorium in Corpus.