For Al-Barazi, swimming more a lifestyle than freestyle

At 6 feet 6 inches, you might expect senior Azad Al-Barazi to be playing basketball or volleyball in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Instead, you can find him at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex with the Rainbow Warrior swimming team.

“I was good at (swimming), more than any other sport,” said Al-Barazi, who also played football, basketball, volleyball and soccer growing up, “and it’s an individual sport, so you know exactly what you need to improve on and work on.

“I love playing team sports, but at the same time, individual is what I like.”

He also enjoys the discipline swimming requires.

“Swimming is a way of life – it’s not just a sport,” Al-Barazi said. “It helps you throughout the long run ... getting up every morning, hopping into that cold pool, swimming and putting in heart and dedication.”

JOURNEY TO HAWAI‘I

Al-Barazi, originally from Woodland Hills, Calif., graduated from El Camino Real High School in 2005. He played water polo for three years at Santa Monica College and was named the Most Valuable Player in the Western State Conference in 2006.

Al-Barazi said he had his options open in deciding which Division-I school to attend, but couldn’t resist coming to Hawai‘i.

“I love the ocean and the weather here. It’s like killing two birds with one stone,” Al-Barazi said. “You have the ocean and the weather and also swimming on top of it.”

Al-Barazi likes to surf at Sandy’s but will also drive to North Shore and Mākaha if there are waves and if it’s not too crowded.

He said he also chose to come to Hawai‘i for its beauty, mentioning one of his favorites is the drive from school to Sandy’s and Makapu‘u.

“I look outside and the scenery never gets old, the weather never gets old,” Al-Barazi said. “I look up and it’s like, ‘Wow, I live in Hawai‘i.’ ”

‘ONE TEAM, ONE LOVE’

Al-Barazi was surprised at how welcoming the team was to “the new guy.” At his first team meeting, players introduced themselves to him and showed him around.

He said there is a strong friendship among team members, which he described as “one team, one love.”

“We always get along and that’s what makes a good team, bonding and helping each other out,” Al-Barazi said.

Good friendships in the program have also helped his swimming.

“Being a positive person will help you in anything,” he said. “Swimming is a mental sport most of the time. If your coach tells you, ‘You can do this and you can do that,’ (then) you are going to go fast.

“I know it helped me improve and excel in my swimming.”

‘HE IS A BEAST’

Al-Barazi had to work hard to become a contributor. He joined the team as a walk-on and was not part of last season’s competition roster.

According to senior swimmer Davis Kane, Al-Barazi wasn’t that fast at first because he never trained at the Division-I level; however, Al-Barazi got better.

“He finished his swimming career beating most of the team in practice and being one of the fastest threats in our conference,” Kane said. “He is a beast.”

Head coach Victor Wales said not including Al-Barazi on last season’s conference championship roster was a mistake.

At this season’s Conference USA Championships in February, the Rainbow Warriors came in a close second (833 points) to perennial-power SMU (871 points), which has won the last five titles.

Al-Barazi scored team points in the 100-yard breaststroke by placing fifth.

“He has made tremendous improvements in his two years with our program,” Wales said. “He did great for us this year.”

“Azad tries his best in most things that he does,” Kane said. “He has high expectations for himself and does everything to reach them.”

LONDON 2012

Al-Barazi will be graduating this semester in interdisciplinary studies.

One goal he’d like to accomplish following graduation is representing Syria in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He has dual citizenship in Syria and the United States.

Al-Barazi said it might be hard because Syria is a third-world country but that he’s still going to give it a shot and train to get the Olympic qualifying time.

“Azad has only scratched the surface of his potential, and he is a great candidate to continue with his swimming postgraduation,” Wales said. “He still has a strong desire to compete, and along with his work ethic I see nothing but improvement in his future.”

But until 2012, don’t expect Al-Barazi to leave Hawai‘i anytime soon.

“I can’t see myself going back to the mainland anymore. I love it here a lot,” Al-Barazi said. “Hawai‘i’s been a great experience for me the last two years I’ve been here.

“I wish I came here as a freshman and experienced the whole five years instead of two,” he continued. “Everything here I will never forget.”