Nathaniel Denton '16 Recruiting Profile

Hello! My name is Nathaniel G. Denton. (I go by Graham). Here is a little background information about me. I started swimming when I was young, in about 2nd grade. I started at a little swim class that was small and fun. That is when i began to fall in love with swimming. I then did that little club until middle school. When middle school started I joined my Lenoir City Middle School team. Then I soon began a year round team. Finding the right fit in a year round team was hard, but my family and I settled with a team in Knoxville.

I was doing okay in my little team in Knoxville, but then tragedy struck my family and I when I became ill with mono. My mono was misdiagnosed three times within two weeks. So when they finally diagnosed it, I had to go into immediate surgery. So I had to quit swimming for two whole years. 

Then I came back into the water ready then ever. I have a drive like no other. I finally got back into the pool my freshman year in high school with a club team in Maryville, at the time known as Blast (now known as Prime Aquatics). I did a summer league team the summer before and I knew I needed more swimming in my life. At that moment I decided I had fallen in love with the one sport I was passionate about, swimming.

While swimming my freshman year I was more eager to get into the water each and every minute for the first practice. I have a drive in me, where once I feel a certain goal, I will stop at nothing to achieve it. This is one thing that makes me stand out. My drive as an athlete. I have the determination of an ox. My coach knows my drive, and has told me about how strong it is. 

Another thing that makes me stand out among the rest is my compassion for other people, and building relationships with everyone. I am known on my team as a good friend that people can talk to about anything. I care for others and try to cheer up people when they have a bad day. I also try to have no negativity. Negativity is bad for a persons mind, but also his/her races. I try to also add humor into conversations when people are sad or normal ones, because everyone needs to laugh. 

Moving on from reasons why a coach should take the time to evaluate why he/she would want to recruit me, here are some athletic goals I have personally made

• Freshman Year- City meet
• Sophomore Year- State Championship Meet/ City Meet Finals (for high school league and summer league)
• Junior Year- Southeastern Championship Meet

Another thing that makes me stand out is my technique in the water. I try to have the best possible technique so I can avoid injuries. I will take time in the water working on technique, even if it is after practice. Also coaches that I swim for also told me I have tremendous power in the water. 

Another thing to consider about me is my studying habits in school. I maintain a good GPA, because I take school very seriously. I make time out of any day to study to increase my chances for doing well in school. I also complete any homework assignment given to me within the deadline. I am also quite organized with my work and can easily get things done.