Ari Marrero '23 Recruiting Profile

I have been swimming as long as I can remember. At this stage in my life,  swimming is no longer something I just do, it is my passion. I work hard to perfect my sport throughout the year often waking up at 5 am for practice while continuing to maintain academic excellence.  I also engulf myself in my sport over the summer which includes training trips and two a day practices.  I have learned so much as a competitive swimmer about time management, commitment, dedication, sacrifice, discipline, leadership and teamwork.  I want to carry my training to the collegiate level because I have so much more that I want to accomplish in my sport and I do not want this journey to end. I have proven that I can be a scholar, athlete and maintain a healthy social life.  My favorite thing about swimming is the bond created between swimmers and coaches. On my team, I am not only concerned with my success, but the success of my teammates as well.   I work to make sure everyone is making it through the set and if someone is having a hard time, saying a few words of encouragement can be just the thing they need to finish strong. Not only am I supportive, but I understand how to pick myself up from failure, shake it off and learn from my mistakes. I understand the process of getting better and I will not give up if I do not do something perfectly the first time because that is not how growth happens. I am different from other recruits because of my desire to be great at everything I do.  I understand that success is a marathon and I am willing to put in the hard work to accomplish my goals.  I also take great pride in my ability to find balance and enjoy the ride.