Zoey Stapelman '24 Recruiting Profile

When I was nine, my family moved to a small farm with an irrigation canal running through it. My mom, scared of us falling in, put my siblings and I on a summer rec league swim team. From early mornings and cold meets, to hard practices, I have grown to love swimming. Living in a small town in Idaho, swimming is often overlooked as a sport so my swimming journey has been different from many other athletes. I was 15 before I started swimming more than just summers, and have spent most of my time practicing at outdoor pools, even in November when there is ice on the deck! My high school team last year consisted of 6 girls and 1 boy. Despite the challenges, I love swimming backstroke, and because my rec league only had 25 and 50 yard races, I am just now discovering a love for mid and long distance events as I expand my horizons and gain experience. 

When I am not swimming, I am doing anything I can to be near a pool, including teaching, lifeguarding, and playing water polo. During my time away from the pool, I am involved in several other activities such as, my high school bowling team, church youth group, FFA, and working on my family's farm. Because my faith is important to me, I would love to go to college somewhere with a strong Christian presence, and preferably in a warm climate. I love to set and achieve goals for myself in swimming but also as a student, academics are very important to me and I plan to study drafting and design in college. I look forward to growing both as a student, and as an athlete!