Higley High School swim coach reacts to ex-student making USA Olympic Team

GILBERT, AZ (AZFamily) —A Higley High School alumnus is making waves in the Gilbert community as he heads to Paris for the 2024 Olympics this summer.

Just a year after graduating from Higley, Keaton Jones has qualified for the 200-meter backstroke.

His former high school swim coach, Jennifer Accra, told Arizona’s Family she knew this day would come.

“It’s amazing, it’s surreal. Like I said he deserves this because he’s worked so hard,” said Accra. “This kid was loved by everybody. His teachers loved him. They still know him, they still watch him.”

Despite the records broken and races won, Accra said Keaton never let his skill get to his head and kept working to be better.

“He’s always been hard on himself but he’s got that work ethic and that drive,” she said.

Coach Accra said Jones wasn’t just well known at school but across much of the Valley.

“All the coaches from other schools loved watching him swim,” said Accra.

The olympics start next month and coach Accre said Higley high will be watching closely.

“We’re in school but we’ll be able to sneak in couple minutes of swim times. I’m sure the (athletic director) and principal will be OK with that they are all excited and everyone is excited for him,” Accra said.

According to the AIA, Jones still holds the Arizona high school state record in the 200-meter freestyle, which he broke in 2022.

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