Allison Hardin '16 Recruiting Profile

I have been in swimming since I was six.  I live in a small town which complicates the ability to keep a swim coach.  I have had a new swim coach, volunteer at times, every year since I was 10. But it hasn't stopped my success. My Freshman year I swam in districts and won a 2nd and a 3rd for the 100 and 200 respectively.At regionals, although my school is 4A and I have to compete against much bigger schools 5A, I placed 6th in both events. I trained hard for the States Games in Hershey PA that summer and came home with 3 third places in the 50,100 and 200 Free and personal bests. I also enjoyed getting picked up by the neighboring club team, Metroplex Aquatics of Allen, and swam in the TAGs relays in Austin. My times in relays shine when the adrenalin is pumping and my team is relying on me. Sadly, my high school team has not been large enough this year to have a relay team. My sophomore year with a new HS coach again, I placed 1st in both 50 and 100 FR at districts and went onto place 2nd in both at regionals. This year, my junior year, I was 2nd in districts in the 100 and 50 only because I had not tapered yet. I went onto to win 1st in the 100 FR in Regionals and 4th in the 50. It has become more clear to me that a little longer race like the 200 might be a better fit rather than the 50 because of my strength and endurance. Besides the ever revolving door of the High School coach I have had a retired Colonel who played water polo for Texas A&M and swam a couple of years. Col. R. Clay Brock knows how to push me on my times. He has been the most steady and motivating coach for me. Under him I have had my best improvements.  Which to me says under the structure of a strong college coach I would be most successful. I feel like I have a lot of untapped potential and if given the opportunity to have a well trained coach I would blossom. 

  I see my college career as a time to work hard for a degree in health sciences and I hope to swim my way into a scholarship. Competition feels so right and so fun!  I would love to represent my college in the pool.  I also have enjoyed competing in triathlons and feel like it comes natural for me. I placed seventh as a freshman at the Texas High school triathlon with two weeks of training! My sophomore year I placed 8th but bettered my time by 8 minutes.  During my sophomore summer I worked on my biking skills and participated in the USAT Select camp and then competed at a Jr. Elite Cup series race, an amazing competition. The local tri's(olympic Tri Waco and Sprint King Tut and Cain Center) in which I competed in, I won my age division. I am not afraid to work! I do it in my athletics and excel academically as well.

Also,  I enjoy going on mission trips with my parents and our church. I started at the age of 8.  I really love helping the underserved! And, I feel like either a degree as a Physicians Assistant or Physician could make a difference in the mission field. Upon graduating, I would apply for medical school and then move onto helping in a health profession on the mission field either as a long term missionary or traveling part time.

I am a diligent worker and not afraid of hard work! This summer I felt the need to seek out a more competitve practice.  I started traveling to Tyler which is 45 minutes away, leaving at 4:45 am. This has given me the opportunity to be part of a larger team and have other teammates that were better than me.  I believe this is going to be a great impetus for my senior year.  I excel when I am challenged and look forward to showing you how I would be a wise addition to your team!