Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s Olivia Giambalvo has signed to swim for Widener University this coming fall.
Olivia, who is a sprint freestyler and holds a school record in the 400-yard freestyle relay, said she is looking forward to improving on her times by putting in hard work over the next several months.
“I love the competitiveness of the sport. That you’re always trying to get a best time or beat the person next to you,” she said. “I like the fact that it’s an individual sport and that I’m the one putting in the work.”
She began swimming in her freshman year and committed herself to the sport, making it to districts and states in her senior year. She received the “most improved” award her freshman year, and “hardest worker” awards in sophomore and junior years. She has been a part of the Colonial Community Aquatics Club during the school year, and in the summer, she practices with the East Coast C-Cerpants.
Along with training for swimming, she has committed herself to academics, attaining distinguished honor roll every year and serving as a member of the National Honor Society.
“PW was able to prepare me for managing my time very well. Swim helped me learn how to work with a difficult schedule while also having to complete all of my work on time,” she said.
Those skills of being able to balance the demands of athletics and academics will serve her well at Widener, where she plans to study accounting.
