Keith Gill '17 Recruiting Profile

Collegiate goals are not something that I think should be taken lightly or which can be predetermined as the same for each college. The goals of a swimmer are likely unique to each college and more precisely, how the swimmer fits in with and how they can make the biggest contribution to their swim team. Personally, I set goals to accomplish not only over the long term, but also on a day-to-day or meet to meet basis. Daily practice goals, when achieved over time, allow me to meet much larger goals that I set for myself. Focusing on the smaller moments, rather than always looking too far out into the future, helps keep me on track and progressing.

My primary goal is to become a reliable and dependable contributor to the success of the team. I hope to compete in individual events, but I also enjoy participating on relays. In high school I have had the privilege of being on many relays, often times with the honor of swimming anchor, where I’ve always enjoyed the comradery of the team effort.

To be a good team member, there is the combination of academics and the ability to grow, develop, and consistently contribute at the collegiate level. And undoubtedly, one of the most important traits of a good swim team member is to uphold and maintain the highest character, and in doing so represent both the college and the swim team well at all times. To this, I can commit to and assure any college that I swim for that I hold character traits such as honesty, integrity and honor. My high school and club swim teams have honor codes to which I work hard to abide by and encourage my teammates to do the same. My teammates help me, and I work hard to help them, both in the pool, in the classroom, and off campus.

Swimming has been a strong foundation my entire life, but I have also committed myself to my studies as well.  As I enter my senior year, I look forward to my college years by building upon my academic and swimming accomplishments. And, although I'm excited to finally be a senior and it's experiences, I'm equally excited to evaluate and mold my future after high school, where my academic and swimming efforts will be at the higher, more demanding collegiate level. 

I have been fortunate to have built strong relationships with my high school and Premier Aquatic’s coaches, who have helped me grow both as a person as well as a swimmer. I will miss them, but I look forward to working with my collegiate swim coaches, and building that same type of rapport to help me grow as a swimmer, as a student, and as a young man throughout my college years.

In addition, I look forward to the continued challenges that coaches set before me because I feel they motivate me to push my limits and stretch beyond my comfort zone.  For example, I have often replied to a coach's challenge over the years with....."I'm your Huckleberry",  so they know I will face the challenge before me with confidence, humor, and humility and then just give it my all.

So I ask that the coaches reading this who look at my swim stats, which I will work very hard to improve upon, to also please recognize my commitment to achieving solid academic scores, and my efforts to always be a good teammate. I have worked hard these prior years, but will work even harder on my college education, and look forward to swimming for the college, coach, and team where I best fit in and can contribute to both the college community and especially the swim team.

Kind Regards,

Keith Gill