Emily McCord '22 Recruiting Profile

I fell in love with swimming at 10 years old. The second I got into the pool for my first swim practice I knew that I found my athletic passion. It was hard for me at first because most of the swimmers my age had already been swimming for years. I had to learn quickly and push through challenges that made me stronger not only as a swimmer but as a person. 

I was diagnosed with Exercise Induced Asthma at 11 years old. I was on multiple inhalers, but none seemed to help. I was finally diagnosed with Vocal Cord Dysfunction when I was 14 and worked with a speech-language pathologist to overcome my breathing challenges. I could have used my breathing challenges as an excuse, but instead I used it to push me knowing that each practice I completed brought me closer to my goals.

When I was a Freshman in high school my club team split up. It was devastating to the team. I chose to stay with my original club team and act as a mentor for the younger swimmers as well as focusing on my training. I had big goals for the 2020 Championship Season. I had taken quite a bit of time off my 50 free and 100 free at my 2019 High School Sectional Championships. I had goals to make Zones and Nationals in March 2020.

Then the pandemic hit, closing the schools and pools. I turned to other workouts to stay strong, training everyday by running and strength exercises. By the time I was able to return to the pool in November 2020, I felt great. And then in January 2021, my entire family came down with COVID-19, taking me out of the pool once again.

I know as an athlete I have the ability to compete at a higher level, I just need the chance. I’m looking for a college swim team that is competitive but also a team, committed to bettering and supporting each other.

As a student, I’ve used this time to really focus on my studies and maintain high honor roll. My dream for years has been to become a Pediatric Surgeon. I have been working so hard in high school, taking AP and honors classes, to try and reach that goal. I want to go to a college with a strong pre-med program or biochemistry program in order to make that dream my reality.