Freedom High School coaches, Mike Evans and Jon Larson, have as much admiration and respect for Patriot golfer and swimmer, Helen Hsu, as she has for them.

Hsu won the Lehigh Valley Conference Girls Golf Championship with a 77 this past fall. This past winter, Hsu broke pool record after pool record, and school record after school record, in six events over the course of the swim season.

"Helen is very meticulous," said Evans. "She works hard at everything and she does it the right way. A big part of her success is her work ethic. It is second to none."

When Hsu plays a course, she takes detailed notes that include diagrams, the clubs she uses on certain holes, and the way the ball breaks in certain areas. If, for example, the Freedom junior needs to work on putting, she will practice that for two to three hours. Perhaps most importantly, Hsu keeps her emotions in check.

"Helen has a lot of inner confidence and doesn't get rattled at all. Technically, she doesn't worry about what her opponents are doing. She plays the course. She realizes there will be double bogeys, and she'll get birdies, but she doesn't get excited," said Evans.

Placing first in districts by ten strokes in 2012, Hsu went to this year's district tournament with a target on her back and placed second, shooting an 86 to Emmaus's Kelsey Patterson's 84.

The subsequent regional tournament pitted Hsu against the two-time defending state champ who also played in the U.S. Open.

"Helen didn't let that faze her at all. Then, she qualified for states," Evans said. "What's nice is that other players learn from her because she shows them what you need to succeed at the next level."

Hsu is the only girl who plays golf for Freedom, but she plays the rounds with the boys, and is such an easy going person, she can interact well with anybody.

Hsu said, "It's like having seven brothers. I've always been comfortable around the guys. Golf is individual, but your teammates make it fun."

During the LVC tournament, for example, the male golfers were ranking the conference coaches for fun, and Evans emerged in the top 2 for best coaches.

"I'm really lucky to have a coach like Mr. Evans. There's only so much a golf coach can actually do, but he really cares. He makes sure we have anything we need, and I really need to thank him for that. He's really easy to talk to, and he has a genuine willingness to help," said Hsu.

Hsu considered her game to have been "on again, off again" throughout last season, but was able to emerge on top at the LVC tournament.

"I was really happy. All the players are really, really good, but it set me up nicely, knowing what I could do for districts," she said.

In swimming, Hsu was also a district champ in the 100 backstroke this past winter, finishing with a time of 56.82 and breaking Freedom's school record.

At the time, Hsu said, "I was happy. It was kind of the highlight of entire districts. I just gave it all I had."

All season, Hsu gave it her all, breaking the 50 free and the 100 free pool records at Freedom (24.25, 52.22), the 200 free school record (1:53.71), the 200 IM school record (2:10.29), and the 100 butterfly school and pool record at Freedom (57.46).

At districts, Freedom's 400 free relay team of Shannon Howell, Rileigh Ellis, Carly DelFranco, and Hsu broke their school record (3:36.76), and at states, Freedom's 200 medley relay team of DelFranco, Kelly Kopko, Hsu, and Howell also broke their school record (1:48.57).

"It was great, but at the same time, I was really scared because I couldn't figure out why I was swimming that fast," said Hsu.

For Coach Larson, Hsu's accomplishments were probably less of a mystery.

"I watched Helen from afar before I became her coach. I saw a lot of talent and great skills, and she was what I would call a drop-dead sprinter. I wanted to know how she trained, but I had no clue," Larson said.

That's when Hsu turned over some log books to Larson.

"They were the most detailed I'd ever seen. She wrote about her technique, how she felt when she was swimming, her times. It was clear she was into the sport. I wanted to expand her list of events. I knew I was dealing with someone who would think and who could go with the flow," said Larson.

That would be just fine with Hsu, who appreciates Larson's style.

"Jon is willing to balance things. He works with what we have. He doesn't force anything really strictly, and he works with people's schedules. If you want to work on something specific, he'll work it out. He's not like, this is my game plan, and I'll knock down everyone in my way to get it. He gives people what they need," Hsu said.

Hsu went undefeated in every event in every dual meet this season. She was also a team captain.

"Just watching the interactions on the pool deck, you can get a feel for the vibe. Helen was involved with everyone. She was the first one in the locker room, the first one getting the lanes set up. I appreciate her leadership, and she's definitely a team person," said Larson.

Hsu's third place finish in the 100 free at districts was somewhat of a disappointment, but Larson took responsibility.

"I didn't prep her for that with tapering and shaving, [saving that for states]. It didn't end as well as I had hoped," he said.

Regarding next year, Larson plans to add some dryland programs to Hsu's training.

For Hsu, swimming and golf have been more than meets and matches.

"I take my academics very seriously and get stressed out about them, so when I swim, I can forget about all that. I've made extraordinary friends, and I've seen great leadership. In golf, it comes down to the people you meet and the experiences you have with them. It's just fun," she said.

There are two more people in her life, however, that Hsu would like to recognize.

"I've done all these interviews and articles, and somehow this never makes it in: I want to thank my parents. They don't put too much pressure on me. My mom always says, 'If you don't want to swim anymore, please tell me,'" Hsu laughed. "My mom used to drive me around everywhere. My parents go to the meets, and I want to thank them for the general support they've given me."