I swam competitively from the age of eight years old until I was 18.
I started on my local town team, went to the middle school team and then swam through high school. I entered college thinking I would be swimming for another four years. However, I realized, or rather, decided early on to hang up my suit and goggles in order to trade them in for student affairs.
I spent my undergrad immersed in clubs and student government. I always seemed to know what was going on, both on campus or off. I spent my time planning, going to and hosting events, as well as being creative with new ideas to get my fellow students excited about being at the Mount.
Then I returned to the Mount for grad school as a lifeguard. Watching people swim and then seeing the high school and college teams compete, made me realize I missed the pool. During one of my shifts, I spoke with then captain Sam about swim and he suggested I find out about joining.
That led me to ask the head coach and within a week or so, I learned I was eligible to swim for one year. That news allowed me to travel with the 2014 to 2015 team as their manager during their final competitions and get a sense for what I was getting into.
Jump to the fall of 2016 and I was an official member of the Mount's swim team. I was one of 12 men, ended being one of eight, with 15 women rounding out the team, for a total of 23 swimmers.
Thinking back to that last competition in February just has me feel thankful. I'm thankful that NCAA rules allowed me this opportunity. I'm thankful for that shift I had with Sam and him suggesting I look into joining. I am thankful to my teammates who accepted me as part of the family. I am thankful for my coaches who saw the best in me and pushed me to achieve best times. I am thankful to the parents who helped out our team in so many ways throughout the season. I am thankful for the Mount's Swim Program and the people it allowed me to swim with and become a family with!
The experience was one I will always remember. Every morning practice, every dry land, every breakfast from Johnny's and most of all every moment with my team.
I could not have had a better come back year without each and every one of you and I'm glad my last year was with all of you!
