Mariana Diaz Ponce '23 Recruiting Profile

I have loved being in the water for as far as I can remember, that is why my parents decided to sign me into swimming lessons, for my own safety. I immediately fell in love with the pool and the competitive environment. Since then, swimming has become a vital part of my life, where I found my best friends and where I have learned to be focused, persevering, disciplined, and to challenge and improve myself every day.

The first thing my parents looked for me when we arrived in Houston eight years ago was a swim team. After a couple of tries here and there, I ended up in my actual club where, with the support of my parents and coaches, I grew as a competitive swimmer and achieved one of my main goals, which was to become part of the James E. Taylor High School Varsity team in my freshman year.

During that first season, I learned that swimming is not just about improving myself, but being part of something bigger. Be a team member, part of a family that works for a common goal, where commitment, leadership, and empathy play an important role as the competition itself.

I am a hard worker who knows how to prioritize what is important in life, and swimming has become my main incentive to be a good student. I cannot swim if my grades are low. This is why when I am not studying, I am at the pool. Swimming also helped me to develop time management skills as well.

My goal is to swim in a competitive team at College, which allows me to grow as both an athlete and a student, and become a strong contributor by using my athletic and personal skills towards a common goal.