Miles Terrell '20 Recruiting Profile

Statistics have shown that more than 70% of African Americans don’t know how to swim.  Those percentages are higher for those swimming competitively.  I get up everyday telling myself that I have to be a great example in my community so that other kids will have someone to look up to, in such a non-traditional sport.  I was four years old when I took my first swim lesson at the YMCA.  My love for swimming grew over the years and I joined my first competitive summer league team the summer after my 7^th grade year.  Within a few months, I was asked to join my clubs’ year-round program, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  My coaches at Healthy Lifestyles Healthy Kids (HLHK) consistently instill in me the hours of preparation, training, and dedication it takes to be successful at competitive swimming.  In addition to swimming with my club, I also swim with my high school.  I made the varsity team as a freshman and although I fell short of state qualifying times, I was voted Most Athletic.  Things were looking up and my commitment level was at an all time high until I had to have surgery during the spring of my sophomore year which took me away from competitive swimming for more than 6 months.  To get back into swim shape, I swam laps daily during my clubs practice times and I began working out with a personal trainer 3 days a week at 5am to help get me stronger.  My commitment and dedication to my craft paid off during the fall of that year when I returned to the pool. It was like I hadn’t missed a beat.  My first swim meet back, I dropped time in each of the events I swam.

I am looking for a college that will provide me with a strong academic foundation.  I have maintained honor roll since elementary school, while playing sports, volunteering in my community and working as a lifeguard during the summer.  Therefore, my dedication as a student athlete shows in and out of the pool.  I am also looking for a college that will continue to develop my skills in competitive swimming and a coach that can push me beyond my comfort zone to help make me a top swimmer.  My goal over the next 18 months will be to continue to work hard, improve my swim times and make state qualifying times.  I will continue to hone my craft while looking for the perfect collegiate fit that will take me beyond my high school years.