Brooke Lander '20 Recruiting Profile

I began swimming in my Freshman year and I'll be honest, I was BAD. Like, a solid 44 second 50 free kind of bad. That year, my best friend went to the state championship and I made the decision that I would go too eventually.

Sophomore year, I was decent. I wasn't anything special. I think the fastest I swam that year was a 35 for a 50 free. I decided that I would make it to states my Junior year, so I didn't have to watch my best friend swim from the stands.

This year,  Junior year, was rough emotionally. My best friend that motivated me to do better at swim ended up being diagnosed with severe seizure disorder (he seized for 12 hours straight once). I have witnessed multiple seizures, which always happen after he swims. It's been really rough for me to watch him go from being 5th in the state to having to get dragged out of the pool because he almost drowned. I vowed that I would make it to states so I don't have to sit helplessly in the stands as I watch him seize. At the end of the season I dropped 2 whole seconds in my 50 free in ONE swim (a 33.36 to a 31.17) and 6 seconds in my my 100 free (1:19.74 to a 1:13.26).  Through all the turmoil, anxiety, and fear, I made it to states. I pushed myself to the limit and then pushed farther, and it truly has paid off.