Isabella Ecklund '23 Recruiting Profile

I started swimming when I was 8, because I liked the shiny trophies on display at the rec center.  I wanted one, but my mom said I had to be on the team and earn it. So, I joined, but struggled at first. I wasn’t committed. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of time it took.  I’d already been ice skating for about 3 years, and was a better ice skater than swimmer. Thankfully, I didn’t give up because I don’t really know what sparked it, but in early 2017, I suddenly got serious about swimming. I quit ice skating to focus on swimming. I suddenly wanted to be better. It wasn’t about the trophies anymore.  Swimming felt right, so I never looked back.

My main goal for swimming is to be the best swimmer I can be. It sounds a little generic, but it's the truth and the best way I can put it. Currently, my times have started improving a lot since the pandemic hit but I am still focusing on getting stronger and faster by sharpening my technique, doing extra exercises every day, and pushing myself harder during practices. I am the captain of my high school team and the fastest swimmer in my high school. I am addressing the leadership position by making sure that I am being a good role model and always encouraging my team mates to do their best and have fun. I always make sure to cheer them on very loudly at swim meets and encourage everyone else to cheer our team mates on because I want to see them succeed and try new races. Last year, my school’s athletic director told me that I am the first female swimmer to win a race for my high school team in over 20 years. To be fair, this is the first time my school has had a team (instead of a co-op with another school) in 18 years but it still makes me very happy.

When I swim for high school, my main goals are to have better technique and better times for when I return to club team. When I return to club, my main goals are to continue to work hard during practices, get state times, push myself out of my comfort zone, and make my coach proud. I love being able to swim with my friends and see my club coach because they make swimming fun and we always uplift each other to do the best we can. My times will continue to improve as the seasons go on. I will do that by constantly working hard, setting the mindset that I am able to achieve my goals, and setting my goals higher as time goes on.