Personal Statement
My name is Grace Prendergast and I have been swimming competitively for 10 years. I swim year round for Lyons Aquatics in La Grange, IL and for Lyons Township High School. I am a strong student and a hard worker in and out of the pool. Being part of a team with a positive atmosphere is very important to me.
Right from the start I have had a passion for swimming. Each day in practice I strive for excellence and try to push my teammates to do the same. I find pushing others to work hard pushes me too. I believe that hard work and self motivation are the keys to my success.
Each year I consistently drop time. I have had blocks where I have gotten stuck at certain times, but I have persevered and broken those barriers. I have a very strong mental game and am not easily shaken.
Primarily I am a backstroker, though I have a strong foundation in butterfly from when I was younger. My underwaters are very strong and help me in all the strokes. I like to work on all of my strokes and willingly take criticism. I am always looking for new ways to improve my technique and times.
I am looking for a school that will challenge me academically and help me to grow as a swimmer. Being a student athlete is a very hard task, but I am excited to experience it. Academics are very important to me and I am looking to push myself just as hard in the classroom as I will in the pool. Swimming has made up such a large part of my life and I am looking forward to the next chapter of it.