Alicia Albuquerque '23 Recruiting Profile

Hello Coaches!

My name is Alicia Albuquerque, a junior at Cherry Hill High School East and a swimmer of 10 years. Although I’ve been competing in meets for so long, I still remember the moment when I learned what competing actually meant. That moment didn’t come until I was nine, and I had the realization that if I tried hard enough, I could win a race. I also realized that I enjoyed winning. It seems simple now, but at the time, this was something brand new. I got hooked on the feeling of competing against others as well as improving in my race. Later on, in middle school, I would learn how to be a part of a team, the other half of being a swimmer. Sure, I had been on relays with friends and at clubs with friends, but only once I joined a team that was not just friends, but a family, did I understand what it meant to be on a team. Both these moments when I was nine and when I was in middle school make up the foundation of who I am as a swimmer and what I look for in a team: self-improvement and a family atmosphere in the pool, on deck, and in the classroom.

As much as I love swimming, academics have always been my top priority and will hold the same importance in my collegiate career. I plan to major in Environmental Studies or Geology, with the hopes of being able to improve the health of our earth. I have taken some of the highest level science and math classes offered at my school, and to pursue my academic dreams, I need a team that can be flexible with my course schedule. I also thrive off the energy from my team, and on a team that bonds well, I can produce favorable results in the pool, on deck, and in the classroom.

I look forward to talking to you coaches and learning about your wonderful programs!