Austin Ables '15 Recruiting Profile

Maybe its not too exceptional to find a swimmer in the recruiting pool (pardon the pun) at the moment that can cite 8-10 years of formal training in their resume, but I would be surprised to find another swimmer with as much versatility and background as I have.

Being a leader on my High School Varsity swim team and a part of a hard fought district championship as well as an officer on the Speech and Debate team which includes competing almost every weekend of the year and traveling all over the country, are the keynotes of my high school career. But Swimming and Debate are hardly all you would mention in a depiction of my life. When I'm not in a suit (sometimes Speedo, sometimes Gucci), or in one of my numerous AP classes, I try to devote my free time to the community. In fact, having a close personal relationship with a friend who has Down's Syndrome has motivated a lot of the ways in which I give back to my community. I personally started, founded, and currently am president of a club at my high school that organizes tournaments and other activities revolving around popular computer games that raise money for charity. Additionally, and more personally, I give free private swim lessons to special needs children in my area, which provides a resounding sense of security for the children's parents once they are confident in their child's ability to swim.

All in all, I am more than a swimmer. And I bring more than just a swimmer's mindset and skill set to a team. Hard work in swimming is important, but no one swims for 10 years and doesn't understand the value of hard work. What sets me apart, is my proclivity for applying a hard-working attitude and mindset to every area of my life. Being a leader in so many different organizations gives me the opportunity to lead by example and inspire those around me to give 100% effort in everything they care about. 

I bring more than just Austin to a team, I bring the passion of thousands of hours spent building who Austin is, and the mindset that breeds the willingness to always ask for an opportunity for more.