Savannah Foley '23 Recruiting Profile

I have participated in many sports. People often say that I am a natural athlete. I play because I love sports, the excitement of being on a team, improving on my skills and achieving my athletic goals. As high school approached it was necessary to choose my school sport. It was a vital decision as the sports I play occur during the same athletic season, yet it was one of the toughest to make. This took much soul searching, but I realized after playing school volleyball my freshman year, that something was missing from my life. Luckily, I was still participating in Club swimming and after deep reflection it became apparent that swimming is where my passion is and that I want to do all I can to succeed in the pool.

Around this time COVID-19 came into the picture. Over the next few years I learned firsthand what the saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” truly means. The pandemic hit the sport of swimming hard, especially where I live in the Pacific Northwest. For over a year zero swimming took place and when we returned to the pool it was for 45 minutes, twice a week. I missed the water greatly and so began practicing in a lake several times a week. Thank goodness for wetsuits because the water is quite cold in October in Washington!  Fast forward to today; luckily we are back in the pool and I couldn’t be more ecstatic! I finally had a true high school swim season and got my first taste of swimming in the 4a State Championships!

Having swimming literally taken away has made me appreciate it even more. When I’m in the pool it’s as if the whole world is slowing down.  I concentrate on my breathing and focus on my stroke. I know to be successful it takes effort in the water and on the pool deck. It’s also great how swimming is both an individual and a team sport. We get the best of both worlds. I love being part of a team family, but one of the best things is learning from my peers.

My ultimate goal is to swim at the college level. Ideally, it would be to swim with people that treat one another like family. More specifically, a team that sees you at your best and worst, yet still accepts you unconditionally. A college team that never stops growing, win or lose. A team that builds one another up and you know you can always count on them.

Through all the sports I’ve played I know firsthand you can learn from anyone; you just have to be willing to listen and try. I’ve seen how respect and trust are a must for a team to be successful. I am the type of player that always has her head in the game. Even if I am sitting on the pool deck I am alert as to what is happening in the pool, cheering my teammates on. It goes back to being part of a family. I show them I am present, but also learn and grow alongside them.

Thank you for your time and your consideration. Swimming is my passion. I am eager to learn and grow in the sport even more.