Riverside Brookfield High School
* College sports plans: Swimming at Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Michigan); NCAA Division III
* College major: Geology
* Reasons I chose Calvin: “It will challenge me and help me grow as a swimmer. Dan Gelderloos, the head coach at Calvin, is a hard-working and talented coach. From what I have learned from students under him and from watching from the bleachers, he is going to help me improve on all aspects of swimming. Alongside that, the community within Calvin swimming and diving is one that I’m excited to be a part of. Every interaction with fellow students has been positive and encouraging. Calvin’s science programs, specifically their geology program, are exceptional. They have many opportunities for hands-on learning and research. The professors at Calvin are kind and knowledgeable, which adds to the appeal of the school.”
* Recruiting memories: “Nearly every small DIII swim program that reached out to me to swim, also wanted me to play other sports. Many asked about triathlon, to which I politely declined as I hate running. Others asked about switching to rowing, which I nearly said yes to.
* On continuing college sports: “The routine that I have established is very important to me. I worry that without the normalcy of swimming, I will have a difficult time staying on task and focused in school. I knew from a young age that I would be swimming in college. Of course, then I was thinking I was going to go swim DI and make the Olympics, but little me was right on the swimming part. Swimming is a big part of my life, and I can’t imagine a life without it.”
* What I learned from high school sports: “I learned a lot about leadership and how to go about leading when one is normally a follower. I learned how to stand up for myself even when it may push others away. I learned that friendships are more important than drama, and that petty drama tends to split people apart in the worst way. I learned that you cannot be friends with everybody, no matter how hard you try. I learned that it’s easy to get caught up in yourself, but taking time for others will keep you grounded. Nearly every day on that team I learned something new, from silly small things like a favorite color, to hard-to-swallow truths.”
