Congratulations to Sydney Mathis '17 for her commitment to swim at the Division I level next year at the University of Virginia! Sydney joins classmates Ariel Booker '17 (crew), Maya Das '17 (tennis), Olivia Kane '17 (soccer), Annelise Kotz '17 (lacrosse) and Anneliese King '17 (crew) as Division I bound athletes.
Sydney knew from a young age that she wanted to be a competitive swimmer. Beginning at the age of eight, Sydney has been in the water trying to reach her goals. Throughout the recruiting process, she looked at a variety of schools mostly at the Division III level. However, when the University of Virginia coach offered her a spot, she immediately accepted the opportunity.
"Being a recruited athlete has been extremely difficult. All of the visits cut into class time and the number of classes missed adds up pretty quickly. Although challenging, I truly believe that it was worth it because getting a feel for both the schools and the swim programs I was visiting allowed me to make a more informed decision," Sydney commented. She believes that UVA will have the right balance between rigorous academics and strong athletics.
Sydney credits Holton for teaching her the importance of time management, a crucial skill she will need as a collegiate student-athlete. In addition to the strong academic foundation she has received in the classroom, Sydney is thankful for her time with her Holton coaches in the pool. "Holton swimming has supplemented my understanding for hard work, team work, and effective leadership. As one of the three captains on Holton swimming, I learned how to work with the coaching staff to benefit the team and how to act as a gracious leader and be a positive role model for my teammates. Without Holton swimming, I would not be the person and swimmer I am today," she said.
Congratulations Sydney Mathis '17 and good luck at the University of Virginia!