Deirdre Gerke '14 Recruiting Profile

I have been swimming competitively since I was 11 and hoped that I could continue the fun experience in high school.  When I first joined the team as a freshman I never thought that I would be on 'A' relays or even have a chance at making it to states.  With hard work and drive I made it my goal that season to get my state cuts in the 200Y Free and the 500Y Free.  With one state meet under my belt I went into sophomore season with much higher goals.  As the season went on and state meet came closer, I ended up choosing to swim all 3 relays and only the 500 instead of the 200Y Free.  That season I had my fastest time in the 500Y Free and also had my fastest splits in all the relays.  During my Junior year when the championship meets came I was swimming the 100Y Backstroke and the 100Y Free.  At state meet that year I ended up swimming all three relays and the 100Y Free individually.  As hoped, I went all personal best times. I needed to give up individual events to swim relays and better the team score.  And it was worth it!   Now in my Senior year I hope to make it to states again and I want to lead my team to win the Conference meet, hopefully the fourth year in a row. I really hope that I could continue swimming in college because I love knowing that all the hard work I put into something I love can always give me great rewards.