What it Takes to be a National Swimmer

Story by Izzy Campie '25

For senior Easton Glandt, swimming has always been a part of life. Her journey began at just 9 years old, joining her first club swim team after a childhood spent in and around water. However, her path to competing at the Winter Junior Championships, one of the nation’s most prestigious youth swimming events, wasn’t always on her radar.

“For the first year of swimming club, I didn’t care very much about it. I started to get pretty good for my age at 11, and I think that is when I really started to care.” The pivotal moment came when she earned her first sectional cut at just 12 years old. “That’s when I realized swimming was something I wanted to pursue seriously,” Glandt said.

Her Marian swim team coach, Mr. BJ Christiansen, has coached Glandt since her freshman year. “I could tell right away how dedicated she was. I knew she would be willing to put forth the work needed to be great,” Christiansen said. 

Glandt has honed in her speciality, excelling in the 200- and 400-yard Individual Medleys (IM) and breaststroke events. “My favorite stroke is breaststroke because it’s what I’m best at, but I like the IM events because they give me a chance to switch up my strokes making practices fun and less repetitive,” Glandt said. 

Christiansen attributes Glandt’s success to her work ethic. “Easton’s commitment outside of the pool as much as in the pool has separated her from her peers. She has done a lot of research and put time into her nutrition, sleep and mental training,” Christiansen said. 

Her hard work and dedication paid off when she qualified for the Winter Junior Championships held in Austin, Texas, this past December. The meet brings together the fastest swimmers from the western United States. “It was a really good feeling when I qualified for nationals. A lot of my club teammates were there to support me, and it was super relieving to see my time because I’d been working for it for a long time,” Glandt said.

Christiansen also pointed out Glandt’s eagerness to win. “There isn’t a race Easton wouldn’t give her best effort in and, nearly every time, she comes out on top,” Christiansen said. 

The experience of competing at such a high level was inspiring for Glandt. “I was most looking forward to seeing and being able to compete against other super-fast athletes. The competition was really fast, with some U.S. National Team members even competing. It was also cool because the meet is a big way to get recruited, and a lot of big college coaches were there watching,” Glandt said.

Her success at the national level has stemmed from her continued success at the high school level. “[Glandt] has been instrumental from her freshman year for our team relays and scoring at meets. Even with Marian’s great team history, Easton is one of the most decorated athletes we have had,” Christiansen said. 

Behind every great athlete is a strong support system, and for Glandt, her mother has been her biggest supporter. “She has made it possible for me to go to these meets and has supported me through all of my swimming,” Glandt said. “I can’t remember a meet she hasn’t been to.”

Looking ahead, Glandt still has big dreams. “One of my goals for this season is getting a summer Junior Nationals cut for 2025,” she said. “The long course summer cuts are a little faster, so it’s my goal to get one so I can go to the meet.” Her future also includes swimming at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she plans to continue her athletic and academic journey.

Glandt offers advice for younger athletes aspiring to reach the national level. “Don’t stop when something gets hard. Pushing through when you’re tired and something is hard is when you improve the most,” Glandt said.