Tyler Blackwell '20 Recruiting Profile

While I really enjoy pushing myself and striving for my next best time, success ultimately boils down to how the team does as a whole … not just me. One of the biggest challenges I’ve experienced as a swimmer is actually this, my senior year of high school. Since last season, our team lost some key swimmers not only to graduation, but also to redrawing of our city's school-district lines. In addition, a majority of our team is now made up of young, middle-school swimmers.

My high-school swim team has been honored to place first in our region for ten years running and, for the first time, the challenges to overcome and continue that tradition are amazingly overwhelming. That being said, the cohesion we’re building within our team is the best I’ve ever known! My co-captains and I have set a course for this short season … to build up this young team and each swimmer in it, to set new standards and traditions, and to graduate knowing that this team-enthusiasm will endure and grow as each of our teammates do. That’s exciting to me, and I can’t wait to see how the season plays out!