Katelyn Thornton '22 Recruiting Profile

Hello! My name is Katelyn Thornton, I am from Eden Prairie, MN. I swim with the National Team on Foxjets Swim Team. I started swimming competitively on a club team in Illinois when I was 8 years old. Over these past eight years my love for this sport has continued to grow because of the way it challenges and pushes me everyday both mentally and physically. Swimming has taught me many lessons about not only swimming but about life in general. The most important lesson being to never give up or give in during a really hard practice, or time in life. I believe that this lesson I’ve learned has really helped me get through this pandemic we are living in right now. One of the ways I’ve embraced these hard times is by challenging myself with hard workouts outside of the water. I started using the Peloton and Youtube to maintain my cardio and strength. I took an FTP test on the Peloton so that I would be able to track my progress similar to swimming. I also created goals for myself and daily workout plans, so that I would be prepared and ready to swim fast when we got back in the water.

In a college swim team I am looking for a team that values positivity, energy, and respect. I want to be a part of a team that pushes and encourages each person to be the best they can be. The most memorable aspect of the teams I have been on so far have been the energy they have brought to meets and practices. I believe that if you are having fun and surrounding yourself with happy and bubbly people that you will be able to perform your best. The most important quality I am looking for in a college coach is the ability to have clear communication between the coach and the swimmer. This is important to me because I think the stronger and more connected your relationship is the more structured and successful your training will be.

I am truly grateful and beyond excited to get the opportunity to pursue this sport that I love and represent a college team. I can’t wait to learn as much as I can from college swimming and see how far this sport takes me.