Kervens Warnon's Story

​At the early age of six years old, Kervens Warnon knew he had a love for water and swimming. What he didn’t know was how this would not only define his athletic journey but also his life. What started as a fun and refreshing pastime soon became his end goal. Before fully committing to swimming, Banks played other sports like tennis and soccer. “From seven to 10, I played competitive tennis while swimming just for fun,” he says. Heading into his preteen years, his passion shifted to swimming and soccer, balancing school, personal life, and sports up until he turned fifteen. 

Although he loved soccer, he was influenced by his talent and family pushing him to focus on swimming: “I was better at swimming”. His mother didn’t want him to play any other sport that involved teamwork, she knew he had potential of his own potential. Warnon says, “My mom didn’t want me playing soccer because I would leave traces of mud inside the house.” Although it’s true and funny, thanks to his mother helping him make this decision, it turned his life around for the better. 

His talent and passion for swimming led him to the United States, where he first attended a small community college, Iowa Central Community College. The cultural and weather shift in Banks’ life motivated him to push for a better performance. “My times have improved a lot since I joined this team. I think that is mostly due to the weather. Being around other international students who speak more than one language made me feel at home,” he said. Warnon is grateful for the opportunity to swim for such a cultured and diverse team at Saint Thomas University in sunny Miami. 

His hard work does not go unnoticed, Warnon easily averages out 2 swim practices a day plus a weightlifting workout session, totaling to about 15 sessions per week. Despite the competition he has, he thrives in a tough atmosphere. “The team I am in right now won the men's NAIA National Championship; it was the first time a team ever won a national title at STU!” Banks says proudly of not only himself but his teammates. 

“It would be amazing to finish off the season with a title”, with nationals taking place in early March, his focus is on competing and taking home a title for himself and his school.