Stroudsburg Swimmer Alfred Zheng Breaks Multiple Records

Zheng, a senior at Stroudsburg High School, has rewritten the school's swimming record books despite being selectively mute.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Alfred Zheng, a senior swimmer at Stroudsburg High School, has broken multiple school records this season, including the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley. Despite being selectively mute, Zheng has communicated with his coach, William Conklyn, through a system of yes/no questions and hand signals. Zheng's hard work and dedication have paid off, and he hopes to continue his success in the postseason.

Why it matters

Zheng's record-breaking performances showcase his exceptional athletic abilities and dedication to the sport, despite the challenges he faces due to his selective mutism. His story is an inspiration, highlighting how determination and perseverance can overcome communication barriers and lead to remarkable achievements.

The details

Zheng broke the school's 100-yard freestyle record with a time of 48.53 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by his own coach, William Conklyn. Conklyn noted that Zheng has worked extensively on improving his freestyle kick, which was a weakness in his earlier years. Zheng also broke the school's 200-yard individual medley record, with a time of 2:00.21, which was three seconds faster than his previous best and over a second faster than the previous record set in 2020.

  • Zheng broke the 100-yard freestyle record this season.
  • Zheng broke the 200-yard individual medley record this season.

The players

Alfred Zheng

A senior swimmer at Stroudsburg High School who has rewritten the school's swimming record books despite being selectively mute.

William Conklyn

The head swimming coach at Stroudsburg High School, who has developed a unique communication system with Zheng to help him achieve his goals.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, there's no back and forth, but we've developed a system over the years where it's a lot of "yes" or "no" questions and hand signals to express what I want him to do. He really takes it into heart and puts it into practice.”

— William Conklyn, Head Swimming Coach (poconorecord.com)

“This season, my mentality was probably the best out of my four years of high school. I knew I had the potential to break the 100-yard freestyle record while being only 0.6 seconds away.”

— Alfred Zheng (poconorecord.com)

“He has put in a lot of work, and it showed when he broke the record.”

— William Conklyn, Head Swimming Coach (poconorecord.com)

What’s next

Zheng will look to continue his record-breaking performances in the upcoming postseason, where he has a chance to medal at districts and potentially qualify for the state championships.

The takeaway

Alfred Zheng's remarkable achievements in the pool, despite the challenges of being selectively mute, serve as an inspiring example of how determination, hard work, and effective communication can lead to extraordinary success in sports and beyond.