I grew up in Elkins, WV learning to swim under Kate Abney and John Schmidt, the founders of the Elkins Otters. From there I went on to swim for Elkins High School, coached by Kit Phillips. I was offered to become an invited walk on for WVU and swam there for 3 years. Currently I help coach the Otters summer league, the Rays YMCA/USA winter league, and I volunteer for the D&E swimming team.