My Journey: What Swimming Taught Me About Finding the Right Fit
Swimming has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My brother and I swam together in high school and even competed at the SEC level together. Watching him go on to become a two-time Olympian and NCAA Champion, while chasing my own goals in the SEC, gave me a front-row seat to the sport at its highest levels.
I was fortunate to commit to a school during my junior year, but just one month before arriving on campus, the entire coaching staff changed. These things can happen, no matter how many phone calls you make or how carefully you approach the process. After my second year, I realized the program wasn’t the best fit for me and decided to enter the transfer portal.
That experience was stressful, but exciting. I began talking to my friends at other schools and reached out to as many coaches as I could.
This time, though, I had a clearer understanding of what I needed from a school and a swim program. I knew the questions to ask. I knew the training environment I wanted. I knew the importance of talking to current team members to get honest answers. I knew the training styles that worked for me—things I didn’t know the first time around.
Eventually, I found the right fit.
Throughout my high school and collegiate career, I saw too many swimmers end their careers early. Some committed to SEC programs without fully understanding what they had signed up for and eventually stepped away. It wasn’t because they stopped loving swimming, but because the level of training, time, and sacrifice required was far more than they expected.
I also watched swimmers get cut from programs because their times weren’t competitive enough. It broke my heart to see athletes who loved the sport lose their chance to continue, when many of them could have thrived at a Division II or Division III program. Others tried to juggle the highest level of athletics and academics without realizing the full demands of both. And for some, swimming simply asked more than they were willing or able to give.
This sport has given me so much, and I feel called to give back to it. My own journey taught me that the right fit matters far more than chasing the biggest name. Every swimmer deserves the chance to continue doing what they love in a program that truly fits them.
After graduating, I knew I wanted to help the next generation of athletes navigate one of the most important choices of their careers. With the insight, knowledge, and experiences I’ve gained, my goal is to guide swimmers and their families through the recruiting process with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
I want to help create more wins like these, and more moments where swimmers can celebrate the sport they love at the level that’s right for them.
