Caring, confident, and committed, swimmer Senior Corrie Dudley is an inspiration to teammates, encouraging herself and others to always strive for excellence.
Dudley started swimming at a very young age. Influenced by her sister to try out the sport, she quickly fell in love with it. “I started swimming lessons when I was about four or so and had started competing by the time I was six years old,” she said.
Throughout high school, Dudley has played multiple sports, at times overlapping with her primary sport of swimming. “I played freshman and JV volleyball my first two years of high school. I also played water polo my freshman year and tried track and field my sophomore year.”
Dudley has set many records in her years of swimming. “I broke our school record in the 50 [freestyle] last year that had been held by one of our coaches, which was really awesome because she was super proud of me. I’ve also had many podium finishes at CIFs and many of our club meets as well,” said Dudley.
What keeps Dudley in the sport is the comaraderie. She said, “My favorite thing about swim is the community that we grow together and being able to be great friends with someone, but as soon as you’re behind the blocks, the only thing you can think about is getting your hand on the wall faster,” she said. “Being able to have a competitive but still super friendly relationship with all the athletes on deck is super fun, because at the end of the day you are supporting each other no matter what.”
Dudley’s teammates have great admiration for her. “It is really cool being on a team with Corrie. She is always keeping people motivated, and it’s fun watching her get faster throughout the years,” said Junior Clara Jarvis. “Corrie is a strong-willed athlete who strives to do her best and hopes for the best in all her teammates. She is diligent, a great leader, and an extraordinary teammate,” said Senior Sophia Knowles.
Jarvis said, “The thing I admire most about Corrie is her drive to keep going even when she has many challenges.” Dudley has overcome multiple injuries over the years, from broken fingers and toes to recurring knee issues.
Being one of the strongest swimmers on the team, Dudley is a valuable asset in many events. “I am definitely more of a power-based swimmer, so sprinting is one of my specialties, but me being a well-rounded swimmer is also another strength. Even at our first high school meet this season I swam two completely opposite events (the 50 free and the 500 free) and was able to win both.”
Dudley will be furthering her athletic and academic careers at the United States Military Academy West Point in the fall. “Joining the military has always been one of my goals, along with pursuing a career in the medical field. But I am going to be honest when I say that the service academy idea didn’t come into the picture until maybe my sophomore year. That’s when I realized that I would be able to do both, and at the same time nonetheless.”
Dudley knew she wanted to swim at the collegiate level, but after going through the recruitment process, she knew West Point was right for her. “I took a visit to West Point back in September and absolutely fell in love with the campus itself and the energy surrounding one of the biggest rivalries known (Army v. Navy). I was able to see some super awesome things while on my visit because it happened to be Branch Week, the time where cadets begin to decide what career paths they want to pursue,” she shared.
Knowles said, “Corrie has brought this team together, making sure everyone always gives their all and is having fun at the same time. I’m not sure there will be a leader as impactful as her next year.” Jarvis added, “I really don’t know how the team would be without her, but I know she has left an impact that will stay with the UC Swim Team for a long time.”