Storrie Kulynych-Irvin must have felt like her dreams had come true or at least one of them. Kulynych-Irvin, who is 15 now, received a four-year Caroline D. Bradley scholarship to the high school of her choice in 2018, and she was only one of 28 students from across the country to earn such an honor.
She finished in the 99th percentile in the SATs, had to submit essays, and get recommendations, among other qualifications to earn the scholarship.
Picking a private school proved to be difficult. The standout swimmer and cross-country runner considered several, including two known for their top-notch athletes: McDonogh in Owings Mills and Lawrenceville in New Jersey.
Kulynych-Irvin ultimately decided on Key School in Annapolis for her freshman year last fall. It’s not known for its athletics and competes in the Interscholastic Athletic Association C Conference. But, part of her consideration was that she wanted to continue swimming for the Naval Academy Aquatic Club like she has doing since 2009. And besides, Key was only two miles from her Annapolis home.
“I decided it would be better to stay local for my freshman year,” says Kulynych-Irvin, who has played the violin since elementary school and won the Anne Arundel County Spelling Bee twice to advance to national competitions. “Maybe later in high school I would consider other options.”
Key Cross-Country Coach Brandon Demers couldn’t believe his good fortune to have her on his team this fall. He says Kulynych-Irvin has Division I college potential.
“She could be scary good,” Demers explains. “She does everything with a college athlete’s level of focus. She carries herself in such professional manner for a freshman. (Mount de Sales) Julie Whitaker made it to Footlocker Nationals and was an All-American. That’s something Storrie can certainly be.”
The 5-foot-8-inch Kulynych-Irvin dominated the best races in the Baltimore-Metro area this past fall and she first got noticed by winning the small school race of the Bull Run Invitational (18:24.1) at Hereford High in late September.
She beat South Carroll’s Grace Siehler by nearly two minutes and her time would have finished one and half seconds ahead of Whitaker, who ran in elite varsity race.
“With that tough course and the hilly terrain, I was thinking she could break 19 minutes,” Demers says. “My phone was blowing from media, friends, coaches, and other athletes. Even after all the state championships that have been run there, she had all-time top-four time.”
Kulynych-Irvin also captured titles in the Georgetown Prep Classic, the George Prep Classic, and the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland championship, which features many competitors that go on to run in college.
“I beat a lot of really good runners and the competition rivals the public school (state) championships,”
Before high school, she developed her skills running in Howard County Striders youth events and also Annapolis Striders races. Kulynych-Irvin is always eager to improve. She looks for tips watching video of other elite runners.
“It gives me some ideas or inspiration about how I can improve,” Kulynych-Irvin says. “I look at race strategy, how to improve my form, and learn more about training.”
Demers adds, “She is all over the Internet looking at workouts for all the best runners in the nation.”
Kulynych-Irvin has been swimming in the Naval Academy Aquatic Club for a decade, and does more than just participate. She won a bronze medal in 1,650-yard freestyle the TYR Nationals in St. Peterborough, Florida, last year.
This summer, she will compete in the National Club Swimming Association Junior Nationals in Orlando in 200 meter butterfly and 1,650 yard freestyle.
“I have always thought about being a collegiate swimmer,” says Kulynych-Irvin, who doubles up on swimming and cross-country practices in the fall. “Maybe Division I. As I started running, that has become a possible goal. I might be closer in running, but I am still hoping to improve my swimming.”
