Alexander Grimshaw '25 Recruiting Profile

My name is Alex Grimshaw.  I am a student at Mercersburg Academy (Class of 25).  I want to participate in swimming at the collegiate level.  I love being part of the swim team and I especially love encouraging my teammates.  The summer between eighth and ninth grade I told my parents I wanted to pursue swimming in  a boarding school environment.  At first they were not happy, but they told me to do my research and present them with a plan.  I found several schools that looked like places I would like to be for high school.  I set up interviews and I begged my parents to take me to visit the schools and the teams.  Fortunately, they agreed to let me go to boarding school.  It has helped me become am  better student, swimmer and friend.  I miss my parents, but we talk and text all the time!  I love it when they visit especially if they are able to watch meat a meet.  I look forward to going to college to swim faster and pursue my academic goals.  

As a high school student, I love the independence of boarding school.     As a junior I am mentoring freshmen, helping them cope with being away from home for the first time.  This could be just hanging out or helping them organize their time to help with their academics.   I hope my mentees will want to help new students one day.  It is tough going to a new environment, but my experience will help me adapt to college life quicker in the pool and on campus.  

I love competing in swimming.  It is not only fun at the team level to try to beat your teammates, but I also love the meets.  Being with a team helps boost me up when I need it.  I also love cheering on my teammates during their events!  I think the most important part for me is having coaches that support me and help me become a better swimmer.  As a swimmer I want to get faster in college and make a big impact on my team.  

Academics are very important to me.  I have developed pretty good study habits since my  parents are not around to tell me to do my homework.  This year will be my most difficult academically, but I know I need to do well so I can choose the school where I can swim and pursue my dreams to go to medical or dental school.  I hope my study habits and academic goals will help others on my team at college level.