Calista Demers '22 Recruiting Profile

Why take a chance on me? Am I the fastest person on the swim team, the captain or the MVP? No. Do I work hard with grit and determination to overcome the seemingly never-ending set of obstacles in my path? Yes.

I started swimming at age 4. We had a pool in our backyard, and my mother was increasingly frustrated that swim lessons did not seem to be helping me learn to navigate the water. So, she signed me up for a summer swim team. We were told to jump in the deep end and swim to the other side, and if we could make it without assistance, we would make the team. Somehow, I managed to get across the pool, and my swim career began! At age 5, I started swimming club and spent many of my March's at the Barbara Kay 8 and Under Championship meet.

At age 9, I progressed to the big stage - I could now qualify for Junior Olympics. I worked hard and thought I was ready. However, when I got to the regional qualifying meet, I hit my first major obstacle. I was as pale as a ghost and didn't feel quite right. I did my first event and added a ridiculous amount of time. So, we left the meet and headed to the doctor, where I was diagnosed with mononucleosis. I was unable to finish the season and sat out until the next fall.

At age 10, I made some JO cuts and was on my way! I did fairly well that year and the next, earning the Coach’s Award for my age group. By age 12, I had obtained 11 JO cuts to the surprise of my coaches, who thought I might make two or three tops. I was loving swim, along with soccer and dance, which I also did in my "spare time."

At age 13, I helped my middle school relay teams solidly secure first place at the area Middle School Championships, and I was on the podium for the individual events my coach put me in, which honestly were not my better events. Also at age 13, I swam on all the A relays at the JO meet, where my 200 and 400 free relay teams secured 1st place! Not only that, USA Swimming gave us a certificate telling us we had earned one of the top fastest age group relay times throughout the nation! It was at this point, I decided to give up my other sports to concentrate on swim, thinking it was my passion.

At 14, I proudly led off and anchored relays for my new club. I finally started dropping time again in events I had only added. I scored points. It was amazing. I also swam for my high school, earning a varsity letter, qualifying for districts in events I did not normally swim.

Though I seemed to be on the right track again, frankly, I was still struggling, and this time I hit an internal obstacle. I was diagnosed with anxiety and now at 15 and a sophomore, I decided I was not going to swim for my high school. I hated the competition and the constant worry I was letting everyone down. I made the varsity cheer squad, and cheer was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal year. I managed to continue swimming for my new club, but I had a less than stellar season. I did not drop time in any events, stopped making finals, was getting beat by middle schoolers. I felt tired and burned out, constantly thinking, what's the point?

Yet, something inside of me made me keep going, and then we all know what happened next! COVID struck, the biggest obstacle for the entire planet! Sadly, my new club - the largest swim club in central Ohio - folded, and I found myself displaced with many other swimmers. We managed to hang on training at on outdoor pool in an unfamiliar neighborhood, day in and day out, swimming in clouded water with remnants of candy wrappers, hair and I'm not sure what all else. There were no meets, no purpose. Why was I continuing to do this, other than to stay in shape?

With a determination that came from, well I don't know where, I decided I was going to swim high school again, so entering my junior year, I rejoined my old club team. My peers had far surpassed me, earning national cuts and securing spots in the top elite group. I rejoined with the senior group comprised of younger swimmers and senior swimmers, who are not nearly as serious about the sport. I worked hard, not missing the 5:30 am practices, the doubles or even one practice over the holiday breaks. I was determined. I wanted to make it to states. My high school team was the runner up the year prior, and we were favored to win it all. I wanted to make a relay so badly, so I could see my picture posted in the school hall with all the other "All Ohio" athletes.

I was training hard, and I was ready. We were starting the tail end of the dual meets, leading into the championship season. What happened next you ask? You guessed it!  Another obstacle - I was struck with COVID in January. I had to quarantine for two weeks, and I missed three critical meets. When I returned to the pool, I felt as if I was swimming with a coach on my back. I was starting all over. Because I had few chances to get good times, I was not placed on a relay, and was only allowed to swim one event at high school sectionals - the 100 free, an event I had not dropped time in since I was 14. Nervous, but determined, my goal was to break 54 seconds. I swam my heart out, and I had a best time, but I fell just short of my goal at 54.01!

This was a good enough time to qualify me for Districts, so the next weekend, I got back up on the blocks and swam my heart out again. This time, I did it! I broke 54 seconds, earned a sectional cut, and placed at the district meet. It was not a good enough time to advance to states, and I had no other chances to make a relay, so I sat out and cheered my team from afar, which incidentally won it all -State champions for the first time in school history. It was difficult to watch the parades, the proclamations, the celebrations, the championship rings that I was not a part of, but now I was even more determined that I would be a part of it all my senior year.

I continued to train, and I went to sectionals in March. I had not been in a long course pool in two years. I was nervous to swim my four events. Long course never seemed to be my "thing." Yet, I managed to drop time in all four events, and I was super excited for long course season to begin. There has to be a fairy tale ending to this story, right?

Nope, I was struck by COVID again! Yes, that is correct - two times in less than 90 days. I was not yet eligible for a vaccine in my state, and my doctors think it was the Delta variant. This time, I was sick. I mean really sick. After being virtually unable to get out of bed for a week and recovering for several more, the spring to summer season began. I continued to practice every day, but I was weak and tired and experiencing breathing problems. By the end of my junior, year, I had missed over 25 days of school, yet still managing to maintain my 4.3 GPA.

Returning to the pool was frustrating. I was adding time in everything. I was struggling even in the 50 meter events and I barely finished a 200 backstroke. They literally pulled me out of the water when it was over. My pediatrician thought he detected a heart murmur, so he referred me to Nationwide Children's Hospital to see expert pediatric cardiologists. While they could not detect a murmur, they told me I was having shortness of breath due to COVID and that my heart was probably working overtime. They assured me I would recover, but it was going to take time. They told me I needed to keep going because if I stopped training, it would be even more of an uphill battle to recovery.

Discouraged and frustrated, I continued with the summer season, not missing a single meet and building up for what I had trained for all summer - long course sectionals. I was training hard and hoping for the best. In July, we made the journey to the Spire Institute in Geneva, but instead of finding my sea legs, I found myself in the Urgent Care, where I was diagnosed with bronchitis due to "lingering COVID effects." I did not swim at all, and they sent me on my way with a steroid inhaler and other medications.

What does the future hold? I am hoping and praying my respirations return to normal and that I continue on for a successful senior year. Knowing my luck, I may encounter another obstacle to overcome, but even if so, I know I can and will do it!