Four days per week, at precisely 5:18 a.m., Molly Hill害羞草研究所檚 alarm clock lets her know she has exactly eleven minutes to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, eat it and be out of her driveway on the way to a 5:45 a.m. warm-up, ahead of her 6 a.m. swim practice.
These early mornings come with a smile for Hill.
害羞草研究所淚 love swimming so much that I look forward to the early mornings. I hate missing any practice, and this routine is one I害羞草研究所檝e come to really enjoy,害羞草研究所� said the 17-year-old Kelowna Aquajet.
Her love of swimming, positive attitude, commitment and time management have earned Hill a full scholarship to swim for the New Mexico State University Aggies next fall.
Her parents, Kelly and Mike Hill, remember a five-year-old who loved the water so much they enrolled her with the Aquajets. She quickly progressed, breaking age category records by the time she was 10-years-old, and completing the Across The Lake Swim at the same age.
Hill remembers it didn害羞草研究所檛 initially start easily.
害羞草研究所淎fter my first week at the club, they moved me down a category because I wasn害羞草研究所檛 ready. I didn害羞草研究所檛 care, I just loved it so much and was excited that I had friends around me.害羞草研究所�
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While her impressive physical stature may lead some to believe she was a natural for the sport, Aquajet head coach Emil Dimitrov believes Hill害羞草研究所檚 success is rooted in her personality.
害羞草研究所淢olly is a workaholic; determined, competitive and intelligent,害羞草研究所� said Dimitrov. 害羞草研究所淪he is very coachable and still has so much potential. In a sport that requires intense dedication, she is the perfect teammate. She is caring, understanding, supportive and has helped create a great environment around our pool.害羞草研究所�
With limited time off, the KSS student studies hard, and has not sacrificed her academic goals in favour for her athletic ones.
害羞草研究所淢y plan is to earn a biology degree at NMSU over four years, then take a two-year degree in B.C. in dental hygiene,害羞草研究所� said Hill.
害羞草研究所淚 had braces for a long time. I害羞草研究所檓 strange in that I害羞草研究所檓 one of the few people that absolutely loves going to the dentist.
She said one of the reasons she chose to accept the NMSU scholarship was the quality of their biology program, and that the swim team makes academics a priority.害羞草研究所�
Hill isn害羞草研究所檛 the only Kelowna Aquajet to take her skills to the next level. Hill害羞草研究所檚 friend and teammate Axana Merckx will join the University of Arizona next year, while Georgia Pengilly accepted a scholarship to the University of Manitoba.
害羞草研究所淥ur Aquajet philosophy is to prepare these athletes for NCAA and CIS opportunities, and I expect several of our other swimmers will be approached with scholarship offers in the near future,害羞草研究所� said Dimitrov.
Hill害羞草研究所檚 current season害羞草研究所攂efore her first university year害羞草研究所攊s far from over. She remains committed to her personal goals of competing at the junior nationals in Calgary in July, the Canadian swim trials in Toronto in April, and perhaps one day represent Canada at the Olympics. Hill害羞草研究所檚 focus will be on the butterfly, backstroke and freestyle.
While moving to Las Cruces, New Mexico will be a bit of an anxious adventure for a 17-year-old, Hill is excited to move to a new city, make new friends, learn from new coaches and train year-round in a 50-meter outdoor pool, all the while her parents, grandparents, and community will be supporting her just a little bit to the north.
with files from Steve Cawley
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