Daniel Castle '23 Recruiting Profile

I started swimming when I was six years old. At first, I was doing it simply to stay in shape. As I got older, I became enthralled with the competitiveness of high school swimming in Illinois. The intensity of the conference and sectional meets lit a fire in me that has burned since I stepped onto the blocks for my first high school event. I love performing under pressure. Even if I don't always win, the adrenaline rush I get from simply being in a win or lose situation is something that makes me perform at my best.  Having this kind of competitive drive has helped me earn back to back All-Conference honors in my freshman and sophomore years, the Giant Award for being a team player and role model in my sophomore year, and being named the captain of the varsity team in my junior year. The excitement I feel at the championship meets is the driving factor for my work at practice. The harder I work and the better I prepare, the more confident I feel behind the blocks in win or lose situations.  

Out of the pool, I volunteer with the Libertyville Stars swim team (a Special Olympics team that practices at Libertyville High School), I lifeguard at the Lake Forest Club with my friends over the summer, I play the guitar in the school's jazz band, and I run a fishing podcast with my dad (Illinois Catfishing Podcast). Coaching the Stars has been an incredible experience. I started volunteering so I could get volunteer hours for National Junior Honors Society and to get confirmed through the church, but I stuck with the team because I had such a fantastic time coaching all of the inspiring athletes in that program.

In school, I strive to be the best student I possibly can be. I work towards getting straight A's in all of my classes, and I make sure that I follow up with my teachers about any concepts I don't understand at first. My work ethic in the classroom directly reflects my work ethic in the pool and in all aspects of my life. I want to do everything at the highest level I can.