Ashley Savoie '20 Recruiting Profile

When I started swimming at the age of eight it was something that my parents thought I should try and might enjoy.  Somewhere over the ensuing years I realized that for me, swimming was so much more than a recreational activity. The lessons I have learned have given me the foundation to develop into a truly successful person.  As an athlete I have learned the value of perseverance and sacrifice to meet my goals. While others were going to a dance or a movie, I was going to bed so I would be ready for another 4:15 AM alarm clock jolt. I have learned to build strong and lifelong relationships through effective communication with teammates and coaches. I have learned how to handle diversity through dealing with injuries. I have learned what it means to be a leader and how to lead by example.

Going into my high school freshman year, my family moved from Chicago, IL to Southern California, giving me new challenges and opportunities.  Swimming for NOVA Aquatics has challenged me to work harder and become a better athlete.  I have become more driven and better able to manage my challenging schedule.  I quickly learned the importance of time management and committed myself to developing the skills necessary to help me succeed in this area. Without this, I would have been overwhelmed with countless practices and an honors-based school curriculum. Now time management is one of my greatest strengths.

As a student-athlete, I love the competitive atmosphere of swimming and the accountability of the “clock”. I enjoy the accomplishments of each set and each practice.  As a teammate, you share so much of your life with your coaches and teammates, seeing each other at our highest highs and lowest lows, creating bonds that will last for the rest of my life.

Swimming at the collegiate level has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. In my opinion, it is the ultimate challenge. Not only do swimmers face the opportunities and challenges of being full-time students, they have to balance that with 20+ hours per week of intense physical training and the required nutrition to support those efforts.

Competitive. Self-motivated. Loyal teammate. Great communicator. Reliable. Passionate. Receptive to criticism. Leader. Perseverance. These are the qualities that my parents and swimming have instilled in me. These are the character traits that I will bring to my college swim team.   

My college of choice will provide rigorous academic opportunities, allowing me to pursue a career in science and math.