Grace Roth '22 Recruiting Profile

My Name is Grace Roth and I have a relationship with water!  Coming from a large family and falling fourth in the birth out of six children it was difficulty for me to find my own “thing”.    Traditionally, my family is a basketball and soccer family and I was exposed to both at a young age. My parents saw a change in me however around 8 when I was struggling in school and saw how I lite up when they brought be to the local pool.  I was enrolled in a local swim club; Symfit and soon I was breaking by the age of 9.   I  was always leading the pack in the fastest lane and was rewarded for being MVP at the end of every season.  I had always been a three sport athlete competing with the FC Stars Soccer club and AAU basketball, in addition to swimming throughout my middle school years.  However, once in high school I knew I would have to start making some choices.  I played for my High school soccer team while continuing club soccer and enjoyed the comradery of being part of my school’s spirit.  Winter was coming thought, and I would need to decide between basketball and swimming.  I chose swimming and once I was back in the pool I knew that I had to make some tough choices moving forward.  I had taken too much time off to play the other sports I enjoyed and wanted to start focusing in on what made me the happiest so that I could also balance academic and social activities. 

By the end of my sophomore year, I decided that I would begin focusing on Swimming, which meant no more Club or High School Soccer in the seasons to come.     I hadn’t felt fulfilled since my hiatus and needed to get back into the pool where I knew I belonged.  I missed the  excitement I would feel at the end of the day knowing I would be in the water. I hadn’t realized how swimming gave me a sense of purpose, made me more confident, more engaged.

  I researched other club teams that year and began swimming full time again but this time with The Sharks out of Concord MA.  I continued to swim for my High School and demonstrated leadership and time management skills that earned me the title of Captain.  I had demonstrated to my coaches that I was dedicated and trained hard.  It showed in my improved times following each and every event.  The pandemic was difficult for me since I had just begun swimming full time again and now I had to pivot once again.  I used the time to get my lifeguarding certification and once again excelled as a leader in the group that initially started at 17 and finished by certifying only 6.  The summer of 2021 was one of my favorite summers swimming for The Sharks.  I improved on all my times, worked on my back stroke and turns and met friends that have brought out the best in me.  Given the chance to swim in college is the right decision for me.  Swimming allows me to use my time in a healthy physical way in addition to providing me the emotional support of friends, coaches and confidence from tapping into my strengths.  Please consider contacting me to discuss how I can work hard for the swim team and continue to demonstrate improved times and technique.