Katherine Vanbourgondien '20 Recruiting Profile

Everyone needs motivation to keep going. They need something to drive them to accomplish their goals. It did not really occur to me what made me go to practice everyday and jump into a freezing cold outdoor pool, until one specific in season meet. I was really upset over my first race and felt like I would never be good enough. Swimming had been really hard for me up to that point, and it just wasn't getting any better. It wasn't until my teammates rallied around me that I felt motivated enough to swim my next race and swim close to my personal best time. I remember that moment so clearly because once I touched that wall, I knew that I would do anything for my team. 

As I've grown up, all I've ever cared about was my team. Over the years, I've collected many spirit awards including the TIDE teammate award and the Virginia Swimming Competitive Spirit Award for 12 and unders and, recently, thirteen and overs. I've found that when a team becomes more like a family and a pool becomes a second home, it's easier to jump into that cold water. It's easier to push past the pain in the last 50 of that race. What I'm looking for in a college is a team that will become a life-long family who rallies behind each other at every meet, every race, and every special moment.