Olivia Nickols '24 Recruiting Profile

I work hard year-round, maintaining a rigorous athletic, academic, and extracurricular schedule. In addition to being a three sport athlete, competing in varsity water polo, wrestling, and swim, I continually challenge myself by taking AP and college classes. All of this is balanced by my love of music. I participate year-round in jazz band, wind ensemble, marching band, and my community’s Brass & Reed Band. My dedication to all of these has taught me a great deal in the pool and on the mat, in the classroom and on stage, about life and myself.  

In water polo, I love strategizing and working together with my teammates to work towards a common goal. As a left-handed wing player, I capitalize on my strengths to be an asset to my team, embracing the physical demand to be both a formidable defender and a threat offensively. I also take it upon myself to mentor the junior varsity players.  During the 2022-2023 season, I was chosen for the 2nd All-League Team and was named Most Improved Player. On the wrestling mat and in the pool, I have learned self-discipline, mental and physical fortitude, and the importance of attention to technique. My success in wrestling is dependent on my ability to approach each match with a concrete plan, on my ability to adapt to my opponent at every turn, and on my ability to learn from and pick myself up after defeat. This year in swimming, I set out to improve my swim times and achieved personal records on three different occasions in the 200 Individual Medley and twice in the 100 backstroke.  

In the classroom, I thrive on the thoughtful discussions that my AP, Honors, and college classes provide. Throughout my education, I have strived to do well, to be engaged, and to embrace learning with an open mind. My demanding academic schedule has taught me to think critically and creatively. As a testament to my hard work, I have been named to the Academic All League and the California Scholarship Federation, and have achieved Honor Roll and the Superintendent’s Award every semester of my high school career.

My participation in numerous musical ensembles is much like playing a team sport. A band’s performance on stage is dependent on each musician doing their best, by putting in the time to practice day in and day out. It is also dependent on each musician working cohesively, in rhythm and in sync with one another. I am very proud of the fact that my band director has come to count on me as a leader, relying on me to learn music for each of the three instruments I play, as well as learning music for various other instruments to fill in when needed. As a sophomore, I accepted the challenge of learning the tuba, and by the end of that year I was chosen to be section leader for that instrument in our marching band.

My whole life has been about balancing my athletic, academic, and musical interests. I am confident that I am equipped with the skills necessary to navigate these successfully in college, where I will pursue a major in music and my passion for playing water polo.