HALL PASS: Punahou’s Lia Foster

Over the next 24 hours, Hawaii Prep World and the Star-Advertiser will release 12 small features on the 2017 inductees into the Hall of Honor ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.

A leader by nature, Lia Foster stayed ahead of the pack throughout her Punahou swimming career.

Foster claimed 12 gold medals over four state championship meets, taking a place among the most decorated Buffanblu swimmers in the program’s storied history. Since 1998, only four others, including three Hall of Honor members, could claim a more extensive collection.

As a freshman, Foster jumped in with two record-breaking relay teams while winning her first individual state championship in the 100-yard backstroke, a title she would claim twice more before graduation.

Foster teamed with Maddie Balish to a four-year sweep of the 200 medley relay and added titles in the 200 individual medley as a junior and senior while climbing to the top step of the medal podium eight times over the last two years. She is the first to repeat in the medley since former teammate and fellow Hall of Honor member Jasmine Mau. She won three gold medals in the 100 back, the first to triple since Punahou’s Rachel Cote.

While not representing Punahou, Foster broke 16 Hawaii age group swimming records over the last seven years.

A key contributor to three team championships, Foster’s influence extends beyond the pool as a National Honor Society member, a two-time class president active within and outside the Punahou campus and as Hawaii’s athlete representative with USA Swimming.

Foster’s post-high school plans include studying environmental sciences, agriculture and public policy when she enrolls at UCLA.

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Hall of Honor Members