College Bound Athlete: Rachel Davis

Rachel Davis was a record breaking swimmer and honor student at Glastonbury High School before graduating in June.
           
Davis will now continue her already accomplished athletic and academic journey at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. 
           
“Johns Hopkins had it all,” said Davis. “It had the academics and was in a location that I wanted, and the opportunity to swim there pushed it over the edge.”
           
Davis said during the college search she focused on the academic opportunities first, making sure she found a place where she could study mechanical engineering, and then everything else just fell into place.
           
During her four years at GHS, Davis built an impeccable resume. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha National Honor Society, Math National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and World Language National Honor Society, as well as a National Merit Scholar Finalist and recipient of the WPI STEM Leadership Book Award.   
           
GHS head swimming coach Suzie Hoyt called Davis “consistent” during competition and “very good at everything she does.”
           
“She has always been a girl with a goal in her sights and she could always make things happen,” added Hoyt. “She will be terribly missed. Not just for her athletic ability, but for what she brings to the team. She is a wonderful individual and I’m thrilled for her.”
           
Hoyt named Davis as the team’s Hartwell Award winner this fall for her leadership, in and out of the pool. 
           
Along with being an ideal teammate, Davis also starred during the biggest stages. She broke the school record in the 200 Individual Medley and excelled in the breaststroke, winning conference titles in both events. 
           
She said the 200 IM record, which she broke at states in November, was something she was most proud of.  
           
“I worked towards it all season and at the beginning of my high school career it wasn’t even in my sights,” recalled Davis. “It was exciting because of how supportive the entire team was. Everyone was so happy for me.” 
           
She prefers medley races because it combines all the strokes and is the “ultimate test” for swimmers.
           
Davis first began swimming at the age of five, following the lead of her older brother, and a dozen years later her name is on the record boards at GHS
           
Thanks to Davis and strong nucleus of swimming and divers, the Guardians had a top-three finish at the Class LL meet this past season.
           
“I will miss the team the most. We had an amazing team,” added Davis. “Swimming was my favorite part of high school. It always made the fall so much better.
           
Her next team will be the Blue Jays at Johns Hopkins, led by Scott Armstrong, who took over the program in 2016 and had led the women’s team to three top-10 finishes in the NCAA Division III competition.
           
Davis hopes that joining her new swimming team will help her adjust to college life, adding, “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and friends. I hope the team there is as close-knit as we were at Glastonbury this year.”