- 2014 Highlights
Personal Statement
I began swimming at the age of 4, when I was still scared of the water. During my first meet, I would not jump into the water to begin the race. I was crying and having a fit while my coach tried to convince me to jump in. My loving, but frustrated mother screamed, “Throw him in, he’ll swim!”, so my coach knowing this was true grabbed me and proceeded to throw me into the water. I splashed, popped up still crying and began swimming to the other end. Looking back on this experience I realized that swimming has always had my heart; even though I played soccer for many years.
My soccer experience started at the recreational level and progressed through the challenge and classic levels. As many young boys, I thought this was the sport for me and had aspirations of playing in college and beyond. I continued to play soccer and competitively swim through my freshman year of high school. Although I enjoyed each sport and could be moderately good at both, I knew that to really excel I had to concentrate my efforts. It was then I began to pursue perfection in swimming. I continue to follow the goal of competing collegiately by swimming 6,000 to 10,000 yards a day. Swimming in college would be a challenge, but I feel this helps me to stay focused. As I begin my senior year at 17 years old; not turning 18 years old until after I start my college career; I continue working hard in school and the pool to hopefully become a member of a collegiate swim team.
Since 2011, I have competed on a year round swim team and would love to continue swimming at the collegiate level and am willing to walk on. I am a member and team captain of the Gateway YWCA Sea Dragons in Winston Salem, NC. This past summer I swam on the North Carolina Swimming Zone Team in San Antonio, Texas. I am an All County, All Conference, All Region, and All State Swimmer with my high school team. I have also been the MVP on my team my sophomore year and senior year. Also, this year, the coaches in the conference my high school team competes in have selected me as the Conference Swimmer of the Year. My sophomore year I was runner up Conference Swimmer of the Year.
My educational experiences have taught me many things while preparing me for college level work. My class load and rigorous practice schedule have taught me to manage my time wisely. This discipline should allow me to be a successful member of a college swim team.
