Julia Ulvestad '27 Recruiting Profile

Ever since I learned to walk I’ve been in the water. Swimming and waterpolo were part of my early childhood, introduced by my mom who played waterpolo in college and by my grandpa who also played in college. But it wasn’t until COVID that I joined my first club team. Crazy as it sounds, I learned to play waterpolo on Zoom.  Our coach taught us the strategy first, which stuck with me and has helped me excel as a player. From those Zoom sessions, I learned where to be in the pool, what plays to run, and how to strike as a strategic leader. I am a fast swimmer, excelling in sprints. The combination of my strategic abilities, speed, and determination has made me a competitive player both on my club and high school teams.
I was a starting player, MVP, and highest point scorer as a Freshman at Tam High. I’ve also participated in the Olympic Development Program, as part of the holiday training, the Pacific Red team, and winner of the Nick Johnson Inspiration award.
The skills I’ve learned in waterpolo—-determination, persistence, and patience are all something I bring not only when I show up for practice and games, but also to my life outside of the pool. I have a entrepreneurial spirit that has led me to start my own business (Camp J2 for 3-5 year olds), working as a sous chef at a cooking school (I love food and to cook!), and volunteering teaching the underserved how to swim. I also have a true interest in helping others, and that transcends beyond supporting my teammates, but also to my community.
Academics are incredibly important to me, and I have a 4.0 and am a Scholar Athlete. 
As a 3rd generation waterpolo player, I’ve seen how lucky I am to play at a competitive level, with amazing coaches, teammates, and in beautiful pools across the county. Waterpolo brings me so much energy and joy, and I hope to share that with others in my journey to play in college in the near future.
I hope to see you poolside!