How I Got a D1 Swimming Scholarship
The Swimming Journey That Led to a D1 Swimming School in the US
Get a unique glimpse into D1 swimming with Keystone Sports ambassador Helena Robla—a D1 swimmer and journalism student at Northern Arizona University. D1, or Division 1, is the top level of university sport in the NCAA system. Read Helena’s inspiring story of how she went from childhood swimming lessons to discovering university swimming and securing a D1 swimming scholarship at a US university!
Last week my swim team had a meet in New Mexico. We had to wear competition suits instead of our regular suits, which we usually wear for dual meets earlier in the season. These suits are rather expensive and tend to wear out quickly, so most swimmers save their newest suits for the most important meets of the season. I didn’t want to use my newest suit, so I grabbed one from the team locker room. When swimmers on our team graduate and decide not to continue swimming, they often leave their racing suits for others to use.
The suit was an old Speedo model, solid black except for the straps and one of the legs, which were bright pink. The moment I saw it, I knew exactly what kind of suit it was. It was the suit I had dreamt of wearing when I first fell in love with competitive swimming; the suit that my idols, like Mireia Belmonte, wore; and the suit the older girls on my club team wore to meets I hoped I’d one day get to compete in.
Before the meet, I showed the suit to my coach and said, “If I could call my 12-year-old self right now and show her that I’m racing in the USA and wearing this suit, she would be so excited that she probably wouldn’t sleep for a week.”
It’s certainly been a long journey to get to where I am today—on a swimming scholarship in the US, studying and competing for Northern Arizona University (NAU). Let me tell you how it all happened.
From Swimming Lessons to a Passion
I started swimming when I was only one year old and continued with lessons until I was seven. To be honest, I hated those lessons, but after doctors suggested I keep swimming to help with my scoliosis, my parents decided to sign me up for my local club team instead. I was instantly hooked.
I wasn’t very good when I first started, but as I got more into it, I began to see some results. At age 12, I switched from my local club team to a larger team in the city where my grandma lived. That season, I qualified for my first age group national championship.
Getting to practice from home required an hour-long drive, and my parents drove me as often as they could. If not, I’d have to train on my own at my local pool. My parents took turns driving me for three years. During those car rides, I would nap, eat dinner, and study.
What Led Me to University Swimming in the US
As I grew older, school became more demanding, and I realised I couldn’t sustain that routine. At 15, I applied for and received a scholarship to a sports training centre. I spent my last three years of secondary school living with other swimmers, training together, and attending school during the week. On weekends, I went home.
By then, I’d already started thinking about studying and swimming in the US. Some older swimmers from my club had studied at American universities, and others still there would return to Spain for national championships. They always spoke so highly of their experiences, which made me even more determined to go.
How Keystone Sports Guided My D1 Swimming Recruitment Process
When I was 16, Javi from Keystone Sports Spain approached me during a national championship meet. He told me that with my times, I’d likely qualify for a scholarship at a D1 swimming school in the US.
We had a meeting with my parents to discuss how the recruitment process works and how Keystone could help me find a suitable university. It took some convincing, but my mum eventually realised how much I wanted this and how incredible an opportunity it was.
I started working with Keystone Sports Spain and Diego, one of their consultants, in the summer before my final year of school. He helped me create a profile for coaches, compile a highlight video of my races, and draft emails to introduce myself.
As my profile went out, coaches began contacting me. From there, I exchanged emails, held phone calls, and had Zoom meetings. I was nervous at first, but the process became easier as I got to know the coaches.
Preparing for the SAT and TOEFL
While I was still speaking to different schools and coaches, I started preparing for the SAT. This is a crucial step in the recruiting process for college swimming, as many universities require standardised test scores for admission and scholarship eligibility. The test is divided into a maths section and a reading and writing section. I was a little nervous before this exam because I had never taken a similar test. However, I found many online resources to help me prepare, and I even completed several practice tests through the official College Board website, which helped me feel ready.
The other exam I had to take was the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This test is divided into four parts, assessing your reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. There were also plenty of online resources available to help me prepare for this exam.
The Importance of a Coach Connection
Swimming scholarship funding, the academic programmes and courses the schools offered, and the location all played a significant role in my decision and the college recruiting process. However, the one factor that ultimately made me decide to attend NAU was the connection with Coach Andy.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to actually see any campus until I arrived. The same applied to meeting my teammates, professors, and exploring everything else. The only thing I knew I could evaluate before committing to a university was how I felt about the coach.
Some college coaches seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me as both a person and an athlete, and Andy was definitely one of them. He reminded me of my coaches back home, and from our conversations, I could tell I would like his coaching style. I was hesitant to commit to a school, but the second I did, I knew I had made the right decision.
After making my decision, all that was left was completing the paperwork my university required and applying for my student visa. Thankfully, Diego was there to assist with all of this and made the process much easier!
Take the First Step Towards a Swimming Scholarship with Keystone Sports
If you want to turn your passion into a swimming scholarship opportunity in the U.S., just like Helena, Keystone Sports can help make it happen! Our experts successfully place swimmers in all college divisions, including NCAA D1 swimming, D2, D3, and NAIA. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Complete our assessment now and receive a free evaluation of your college swimming scholarship opportunities!
Share this article:
More related articles
Bolkesjø Hovda national tennis championship winner
Lene Mary Bolkesjø Hovda, currently a student-athlete on a tennis scholarship, is the new champion of the Norwegian Tennis Championship!
My Experience In Women’s College Football In The United States
Discover how women’s football scholarships in the United States offer unique resources, opportunities, and support. Student-athlete Lorena Montañés shares her firsthand experience and compares women’s football in the US and Europe.
College Golf Spring Break: From Kiawah Island to Hawaii
Women’s golf is one of the most popular sports at universities in the US. But what is it like to be a college golf student-athlete? You get to travel and compete in incredible locations – like Kiawah Island and Hawaii!