College is a tough decision for any senior to make. Playing a sport in college is an even tougher decision because it takes up more time, practices all day long, and making time for college classes is an even tougher task. The real question is, why do students decide to take that giant leap and decide to play a sport in college? What makes them so inspired to work so hard when they could be just having fun with friends or family?

Abby Wilcox, who is a senior at Dowling Catholic High School, has made that giant leap and has decided to swim in college at the University of South Dakota. She has been involved with swimming since she was five years old and has clearly not gotten sick of it. She is mainly a backstroker and has made many state times that she has worked very hard for.

Wilcox has gone on many visits to see where she fits in the most. She has toured Creighton University, St. Thomas University, the University of Iowa, and the University of South Dakota.

Wilcox went back and forth with herself and was trying to decide if swimming in college was right for her. She had an excellent junior season, went to state, and got second in her backstroke.

“After that event, I knew I had to spend the next four years doing a sport I loved,” Wilcox says.

Wilcox hopes to study pharmaceutical sales at USD and is very excited to start her freshman year at a brand new school with new teammates.

“I’m ready to just get going and see how everything goes.”

Wilcox also knows how hard of a task it will be to keep up with her college classes and college swim team. However, she is ready to put the work in and focus on her next four years.

Wilcox has about a month left of her senior year on the DCHS swim and dive team and is hoping to make state. This will be her fourth time making state with her team.

“I am sad that high school swim is coming to an end but I think the next four years will be something to look forward to.”