Matthew Townsend '19 Recruiting Profile

My name is Matthew Townsend, I go to Neuqua Valley High School (NVHS) in Naperville IL and will graduate in 2019. I am a dedicated, driven water polo player who is always looking for ways to better myself in and out of the water.

I first started playing water polo as a freshman in 2016 as part of the intramural team at NVHS.  I had always been a swimmer, but after a short time with the intramural team, I knew this was the sport for me.  I tried out for the NVHS team in 2016 as a freshman, made the Junior Varsity team, was nominated team captain, one of two leading scorers and voted most improved player as a freshman.

In the summer of 2016 I joined the West Suburban Water Polo club and attended a week-long Navy camp to keep enhancing my skills and learn more about the game.  This proved to be very successful in enhancing my play shown from my sophomore high school 2017 water polo season as a Varsity starter at NVHS with the following awards: Sectional 2nd Team, All Conference 1st Team, Most Goals Scored, Offensive Power Award, Best Shooting %, and Most Dedicated.

I love playing with my teammates and feeling the sense of accomplishment after we've worked so hard.  Any time that we play I put my full effort into it because I know what it takes to beat the team that we are playing.  My goal is to take Neuqua to our first state championship as a senior.  My long-term goal is to play at a 4-year college where I can leverage my experience to contribute to the team’s success and get a degree to ready me for my professional future. 

Here's a summary of my Swimming.  I started swimming at the age of 8 at our sub division program, and then started club at the age of 9. My freshman year of swimming at NVHS, I started on the JV team and was presented most improved at the end of the season.  At the DuPage Valley Short Course Conference Championship at the end of the season I placed 4th in the 100 free with a 51.52, and at the Regional Championship I won the 50 free with a 23.30.  My sophomore year I was part of the JV Elite swim team at NVHS and at the DVC Championship I placed 5th in the Varsity 100 free with a 50.57