Ace Macdonald '17 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name is Ace Macdonald. I am a junior at Germantown Academy. I am interested in being recruited for college level waterpolo. I am 6 feet,170 lbs with a 6 ft 4.5 inch wingspan. I just turned 16 last August my GPA from sophomore year is 2.85. I will take the ACT in Spring of 2016. I am currently taking Latin 3, English, Modern American History, Algebra II, Biology and Honors Art.
 
A natural swimmer from early childhood, I first played water polo at the Roxborough YMCA where I took swimming lessons. From that point at age twelve, I found the game challenging, invigorating and highly enjoyable. When the YMCA discontinued the program, I missed playing but continued to strengthen my swimming skills. I have remained a serious, dedicated member of multiple swim teams, including the one at my high school. While I love swimming and feel totally at home in the water, I sometimes find swimming a lonely sport. That is one of the reasons I gravitated back to water polo at the first opportunity. When I entered GA as a freshman, I immediately joined the water polo team and have remained a passionate player, always striving to improve my skills. Also, I compete as a member of the GA swim team in addition to the Plymouth swim team during the summers. I also still train with my aquatic club PCAC. But my most fierce devotion belongs to my polo teams at GA in the fall and two club teams, Wissahickon and NXT, during the spring and summer months.
 
During the past two years of playing water polo, I have been inspired by my teammates. Throughout my freshman year, my role model was Peter Butler, a player with three years of training and experience prior to high school. He was so adept, fast and powerful. I attempted to be as skillful as Peter during the two years we played together. When he decided to leave the sport at the end of the 2014 season, he created a serious hole in our team. I decided at that point to fill his vacated space by becoming a truly strong player and leader. Since then, to fulfill that goal, I have trained extensively under multiple coaches, pushing myself to excel. I now feel more capable and confident when handling the ball. I have become astute at reading my own team and opponents. Whatever happens, I maintain a positive approach.
 
Adversity just intensifies my determination to succeed. At one event our opponents exhibited both arrogance and condescension that undermined our cohesiveness. After losing 17-0, we tackled the challenge of staying mentally strong and unified in future games. That event helped me build mental fortitude, and I in turn have helped the whole team not to get distracted by words and attitudes of opponents. When I get a particularly difficult man, I discipline myself to stay levelheaded and acutely focused. Always, I try to anticipate potential challenges that will sharpen my skills and give me new situations to overcome.
 
Water polo, for me, is the ultimate way to spend time in the water, my favorite and most comfortable environment. I enjoy every aspect of this game that tests my mental and physical stamina. I like to concentrate and maintain a “high water IQ.” I find this mental challenge stimulating. At this time, I am considered a strong two-meter defender, but I like playing both defense and offense and plan to keep improving all of my skills. Now at 50 seconds in the 100 free-style, I intend to drop more time this year. Now at 58 seconds in the 100 backstrokes, I hope to get under 56 soon. I am highly motivated to keep playing, training, competing and contributing my best efforts to my team. I am committed to fulfilling my potential as a water polo player on a college team.