Hudsonville High’s Jacob Ellis and his dedication towards water polo
HUDSONVILLE, Mich. — Jacob Ellis is a Hudsonville High School Senior that is making major waves in competitive swimming. As a water polo star, he dedicates himself to his craft and his team every chance that he gets.
“Being on a team has redefined my understanding of what it means to be a leader and a follower and to strike a balance between both roles. I have learned to play [in] the role that my team needs me to be,” Ellis explained. When he’s not holding down his position as part of a team, he has some amazing personal goals that he’s working on. He hopes to swim the 500 freestyle in under 5:14 minutes!
Any sport comes with its’ challenges but Ellis believes that one of the biggest challenges for water polo is remaining focused as the season goes on. He overcomes this challenge by reminding himself that everything is a choice. “I understand that by making the choice of getting up, I am able to achieve more than by choosing to stay in bed.” So when his alarm clock goes off at 5 AM, he chooses to attend morning practice. “It is through the struggle that our team becomes able to push past our perceived limits.”
Outside of the water, Ellis enjoys music (especially Kanye West), spending time with friends from the swim and water polo teams, and cooking for his family. Ellis also added, “I watch way more TikTok than the recommended dosage.” As for water polo, he loves how swimming pushes him to his limits. He finds that it provides a perfect balance of mental and physical strength while allowing him to clear his mind.
Ellis received a four-year Immediate Reservation Scholarship through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps and was in the top four of applicants for the region. He has been accepted into the University of Hawaii at Manoa and has applied to the University of Michigan, Georgia Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, George Washington University, and Carnegie Mellon. A core value that has assisted him in all that he has accomplished is grit. He believes that as perseverance is coupled with passion, you can go far in life.
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