Tori Niittynen-Dreifelds '26 Recruiting Profile

From a young age, swimming has been my passion and a central part of my life thus far. Introduced to the water through early lessons, I progressed quickly. By the age of six, I had reached a level where I had to wait until I was nine to advance further. As a result, I joined the local team. I have been swimming competitively ever since!

In the pool, I thrive on a diversity in training, finding joy in mastering all four strokes and various distances. Alongside swimming, I seek balance through activities like yoga, Pilates, and paddleboarding. When not training, I enjoy reading, listening to music, and teaching children of all ages by sharing my love for swimming.

My commitment extends beyond athletics to academics, where I eagerly embrace challenges. Enrolling in the IB Program signifies my pursuit of excellence in the classroom. Through the Pre-IB Program, I strengthened essential skills like time management, creativity, and collaboration, achieving honour roll consistently. As I transition into the full IB Diploma Program for the remaining two years, I am looking forward to using these skills and challenging myself in numerous subjects.

Throughout my journey, I've cultivated resilience and determination, fueled by a supportive family who always has my back. Despite facing doubters and many challenges, I've persevered, and have never backed down. Although swimming is an individual sport, I enjoy building relationships with my teammates and cheering each other on through the process. 

Looking ahead, I am eager to continue my journey in both swimming and academics at the collegiate level. My aspiration is to find a school where I can thrive both in and out of the water, building lifelong connections and making my family, team, and myself proud.