College Recruiting: Finding the Right Fit with Peyton Curry & Anna Peplowski
In this webinar, Peyton Curry (Founder of One Lap Ahead) and Anna Peplowski (2024 Olympian) pulled back the curtain on what the college recruiting process really looks like. If you missed it, you can watch the full webinar replay in the video above. We’re also sharing the key takeaways to guide you as you start (or continue) your own recruiting journey.
Why College Swimming Is About So Much More Than Times
Peyton and Anna agreed that the best part of college swimming wasn’t a specific race or time.
It was:
The team culture
The friendships
The adrenaline of relays and racing for something bigger than yourself
The growth they experienced under coaches who pushed them and cared about them
That perspective is important to keep in mind as you consider where you’ll spend these critical years of your life.
Your Recruiting Process Is Yours - Stop Comparing
One of the biggest messages: recruiting is not one-size-fits-all. Peyton and Anna emphasized that your path will depend on:
Academics (GPA, major interests, academic goals)
Location (distance from home, climate, campus type)
Finances (scholarship opportunities, family budget, cost of living)
Timing (your improvement curve, when coaches notice you, when you’re ready)
They cautioned against comparing your journey to:
Teammates who commit earlier
Friends whose timelines look “ahead” of yours
Social media posts that make it feel like everyone already has a home
Comparison only adds stress and can steal the joy from an experience that should ultimately feel exciting and empowering.
The Starting Point: Know What You Need
Before you ever get on a call with a college coach, Peyton and Anna suggested a simple but powerful exercise:
Sit down with your family and write out:
What you love about your current club or high school team
What truly matters to you in a training and school environment
Questions to help you start:
Do you thrive with a strict, detail-oriented coach, or do you respond better to a more relaxed style?
Do you need high-level training partners who push you every day?
Do you prefer small class sizes or are you comfortable in big lecture halls?
How important is it for you to be close to home?
What kind of support systems (academic, mental health, nutrition) matter most?
When you’ve done this work early, you’ll have a clearer sense of your priorities before the calls, emails, and visits start flying.
Balancing Academics, Athletics, and Real Life
Peyton talked about the importance of thinking beyond the pool:
What kind of campus feel do you want—big and loud, or smaller and more intimate?
What kind of social environment fits you best?
How much academic structure and support do you need—tutoring, study halls, advisors?
You do not need to know your exact major yet, but you should have a sense of:
What you might be interested in studying
How demanding your intended field could be
Whether the school has the resources to support you as a student and athlete
How to Research Team Culture (Beyond What Coaches Tell You)
Coaches will naturally present their programs in the best possible light - that’s their job. To see what life is really like, Anna suggested paying attention to:
How do teammates interact with each other?
Do they look genuinely connected, or is it just photos from media day?
What are they posting about outside of competition—community events, hangouts, celebrations?
When you’re evaluating how you might fit with a team or school, ask yourself:
“Is this a place that could feel like home?”
Choose Coaches Who See You as a Whole Person
Anna spoke passionately about picking a school where coaches value you as a person, not just a point-scorer.
Green flags in a coaching staff:
They ask about your goals outside of swimming
They talk about leadership development and building character
They emphasize preparing you for life after sports, not just conference meets
They check in on your mental well-being, not just your splits
The most impactful coaches are the ones who invest in who you’re becoming, not only what you can produce.
What to Watch for on Official (and Unofficial) Visits
Official visits can be exciting but Peyton and Anna encouraged athletes to look deeper:
Things to observe:
How do teammates treat each other when coaches are not around?
How do they talk about hard days, tough practices, or losses?
Does the team seem inclusive and supportive, or are there visible cliques?
Questions to ask current athletes:
“What does a typical day look like for you?”
“What do you do on weekends?”
“What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about this program?”
“If you had to choose again, would you still come here?”
The goal is to figure out if you can see yourself thriving there—not just surviving.
Journal Your Way Through the Process
With multiple schools, trips, and conversations, details start to blur quickly. Try keeping a recruiting journal to make sure you capture all the details.
After each campus visit, Zoom call, and phone conversation, write down:
What you noticed
How you felt
What you liked or didn’t like
Any red flags or lingering questions
Later, when you’re comparing schools, these notes will be priceless. Memory alone won’t capture all the small moments that helped you feel either at ease or uneasy.
Know Who Will Actually Be Coaching You
Peyton and Anna stressed the importance of understanding:
Who will be your primary training coach?
How involved is the head coach with the training group you’ll be in?
Who are the assistant coaches, and what are their roles?
They also pointed out that:
Assistant coaches frequently move to other programs
You should build a relationship with the head coach, since they set the culture
Connecting with female coaches can be especially valuable, as they often serve as powerful advocates and role models for female athletes
Handling Pressure and Protecting Your Timeline
Sometimes coaches will push for quick decisions. Anna and Peyton both emphasized:
It’s okay to say, “I’m not ready yet.”
You are allowed to move at a pace that aligns with your values and comfort level.
Once you do commit, keep the communication going:
Stay in touch with your future coaches
Update them on your progress and goals
Continue building trust before you arrive on campus
Keep Perspective: This Is a Big Deal—and a Privilege
Peyton and Anna closed by reminding athletes that:
Being recruited is something very few athletes get to experience
It’s okay if it feels stressful—but it should also feel special
Take photos, capture memories, and allow yourself to feel proud of the work that got you here
Yes, it’s a big decision. But it’s also a celebration of everything you’ve poured into your sport.
Practical First Steps to Get Started
Peyton outlined a clear starting checklist for athletes who are early in the process:
1. Create an account with the NCAA Eligibility Center
2. Fill out recruiting questionnaires on college team websites
3. Email coaches directly with a short, clear introduction:
- Name
- Graduation year
- Events and best times
- GPA and basic academic info
- A short note on why you’re interested in their program
Direct outreach is often the most effective way to get on a coach’s radar.
Be Proactive—Don’t Wait to Be “Discovered”
For Division I, coaches are usually restricted from initiating contact until June 15 before your junior year, but you can still:
Research programs and rosters
Send introductory emails
Fill out questionnaires
Share updates after big meets
Coaches will not reach out to every possible recruit. Showing initiative signals maturity, interest, and confidence.
Watch the Full Webinar
This recap hits the major takeaways, but there are more personal stories and practical advice in the full conversation.
To dive deeper:
Hear Anna’s firsthand perspective as an Olympic-level college swimmer
Learn from Peyton’s experiences on both sides of recruiting (as an athlete and now as someone advising young swimmers)
Get specific language you can use in emails, conversations, and campus visits
Check out the full webinar now.
Learn more from Peyton and Anna at the 2026 Lead Summits!
📍 Minneapolis, Minnesota
🗓 August 14–17, 2026
📍 Houston, Texas
🗓 September 4–7, 2026
At Lead Sports Co, our mission is to empower teen female athletes in and out of sport. If you’d like more guidance, resources, or future webinar invitations, stay connected with Lead Sports Co and keep writing your own, unique path.
