Leonardo Valli '25 Recruiting Profile

My name is Leonardo Valli, a swimmer part of the Class of 2025 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Over the years, both my passion and talent for the sport have grown, and although I may not have the ability to win every single one of my races, I always strive to improve and compete with my peers nonetheless. I am a breaststroker and freestyler, with an interest in also improving my butterfly and possibly my backstroke as well. As a sprinter, I struggle a lot with both distance events and simply distance practices in general, but I try my absolute best whenever I am in those situations. To add, I am not selfish in my motivation as my daily mantra is to win for the team. So, even if I may have had a disappointing moment or two, I always make sure to uplift and encourage my teammates. This is why I have been voted Team Captain and very proud to take on that role.  

What makes me stand out is my willingness to step up and take on challenges that may sound absurd, such as racing an event I am not comfortable with or racing a person who has better times than me. My favorite part of swimming is pointing at the fastest opponent at the meet and telling myself to beat them (especially true during the summer season). I am also academically talented, with a 4.49 weighted GPA going into my senior year of high school. I am currently a National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalist. A couple of my academic goals are maintaining straight A's in my classes as well as developing relationships with my teachers. 

For this coming 2024-2025 swim season, my goals are:

- Making Futures in 50 freestyle

- Making States and NCSA's in 100 Breaststroke, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and possibly helping one of my school's relays to make states as well

- Working on my butterfly even further

- Getting better at some slightly more distance-y events such as the 200 freestyle and 200 Individual Medley