Erik Keisling '23 Recruiting Profile

From the day I joined my local club team, Mid-Michigan Aquatics, at eight years old, I have been in love with the sport of swimming. At first, I just liked being in the water and learning the basics. Then, as I got older, I strived to become a better athlete every day in practice, and worked hard for the satisfaction of looking up at the scoreboard and knowing that all of those sacrifices paid off. When I entered my first high school season in 2019-20, success began to mean so much more to me. I was suddenly a part of a real team, united in our passion for the sport and our drive to reach our goal of becoming league champions. I was no longer just swimming to improve my own times. Now I was racing to contribute to something larger than myself, which I was reminded of every time I saw my teammates cheering me on at the end of the lane. In that first season, I learned a valuable lesson, as I swam better than I ever had before because of the team I had by my side. In the years I spend swimming in college, I will contribute greatly to the team because of this philosophy of putting its success above my own.

The coronavirus pandemic hit just before the end of that season, which meant that state championship and all practices were cancelled. Through that experience, I learned how to deal with the unexpected setbacks that occur in the world of athletics. During the following months, there was no way for me to get in the water and practice due to shutdowns, but that only reinforced my passion for this sport. Being unable to swim for such a long time made me realize just how much I want to continue to improve and be a part of a team in college. As much as I love being in the water, I also understand the importance of academics. That's why I'm looking for a school that values learning in the classroom as highly as learning in the pool.