Swimming Past Expectations: Bree Pickerell's Journey to Nationals

By Sheridan Nguyen

Bree Pickerell represented Sterling College Swimming at the NAIA National Championships on Wednesday-Saturday, March 4-7 in Elkhart, Ind. The freshman had a strong showing in the 1650Y freestyle where she finished 24th with a time of 18:53.31. However, her journey to Sterling reaches far beyond the boundaries of the pool.

Pickerell came to Sterling College wanting to prove herself. She may be a freshman, but that has not stopped her from shattering school records. Pickerell's story didn't just start with success though.

In her senior year of high school, Pickerell was struggling to find a college that wanted her to swim for them. So much so, that she was planning on quitting swimming all together. Then, at one swim meet, she saw the Sterling College head swimming coach, Dale Heckman.

Heckman had talked to her high school swim coach, Abby Bradstreet, who had suggested recruiting some of her teammates but didn't think Pickerell was interested in college. Heckman quickly found out that this was not the case.

"I was talking to some of her teammates and I remember she came running over and was like, 'well, I want to go to college and swim, too'."

The lack of recruiting attention added fuel to her fire and culminated in the talented swimmer Heckman believed she could be. With a little guidance in her technique and a fire to succeed, it culminated in four school records broken in her freshman campaign: 1650Y freestyle, 1000Y freestyle, 500Y freestyle and 200Y backstroke.

"I was like, 'dang, I got to prove myself'. Nobody else wanted me, so I just got to do this," Pickerell said.

However, swimming is not the only area where Pickerell has seen change. Sterling College has also helped her to find her faith.

Before college, Pickerell had not been to church since her early years of middle school. In her senior year, she felt lost and in need of guidance. When she came to Sterling College, Pickerell was led back to her faith. She found a trust in God that has helped her have a sense of direction in her life.

"Sterling led me down the path to re-find my faith and rediscover a church," she said. "It allowed me to find my faith in God again and ... it was His way of saying 'hey, you need to keep swimming.'"

Had she not come to Sterling College, Pickerell thinks she may never have gone back to church. Her developing faith has made her feel like she has a purpose and where she is meant to be in life.

From thinking about quitting swim forever to smashing school records all while coming back to her faith, Bree Pickerell has gotten the chance to experience the opportunities that Sterling College wants to provide for all its student athletes. Pickerell is hopeful for what is to come and grateful that God brought her here.

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