By Owen Gotimer
LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief
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Leesburg (January 4, 2016) — Leesburg-native and Madeira School senior Kylie Jordan has signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her swimming career at Duke University beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.
“I chose Duke because of the great balance between academics and swimming,” the 5-foot-10 Jordan said. “When I visited, I immediately fell in love with the campus and clicked with the amazing swimmers on the team. I feel that Duke is the perfect place for me to continue my growth as a student and an athlete.”
Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top academic institutions and athletic competitors.
The Division I Blue Devils women’s swim team is led by eleventh-year head coach Dan Colella who continues to help Duke compete in the daunting Atlantic Coast Conference. Jordan will join Heritage senior and Georgia Tech-commit Carrie Lee, John Champe senior and Georgia Tech-commit Maddie Oliver and Tuscarora senior and Virginia Tech-commit Simon Shi in the ACC waters this fall.
“I hope to add to the positive and encouraging training environment and team atmosphere,” said Jordan who plans to swim butterfly and the individual medley at Duke. “I hope to make an impact on the rapidly-improving program and contribute to the relays.”
A member of Nation’s Capital Swim Club, Jordan certainly helped the Madeira School’s relay teams in 2015 leading the Snails to a first place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:36.30) at the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state championships. Jordan also claimed 2015 VISAA state titles in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.44) and 100-yard butterfly (53.71).
“I hope to finish up my swimming career at Madeira with a fun and successful season. Our team has been working so hard, and I can’t wait to see the hard work pay off,” Jordan said. “I am especially excited for our relays at our metro and state meets. Relays are so fun, and I love getting fired up with my girls.”
Along with the excitement of relays and team bonding, Jordan chose swimming as an extracurricular because she loves staying active and being in the water.
“I love working hard with my teammates every day and the routine swimming adds to my daily life,” Jordan said. “I stay motivated every day by reminding myself of the goals I am working towards and remembering how good it feels to accomplish a goal of mine.”
