Raider profile: Makenzie Weldon

For Makenzie Weldon, swimming isn’t a passion, it’s a way of life.

The Beavercreek native grew up within walking distance from Wright State and is the school’s record holder in the 100m breaststroke. This season, she’s one of the leaders for the swimming and diving program as she looks to make a statement in the final year of her collegiate career.

Weldon believes a number of reasons led her to stay close to home and swim competitively for Wright State.

“I like being close to my house and my home,” Weldon said. “I also really like the early childhood education program. I came here on a recruiting trip and I really liked the team since I already knew about half of them.”

Weldon started swimming at the age of four, which become the sole focus of her athletic career.

“I was always a swimmer,” Weldon said. “Basically my parents just threw me in the pool at an early age and said ‘that’s what you’re going to do.’ I didn’t really have a choice. It was what my sister did and that’s what I was going to do.”

The choice she never had ended up being worthwhile, as Weldon competed for a state title while at Beavercreek High School and broke school records for both the 100m breast stroke and 200m medley relay.

Weldon broke the school record for the 100m breast stroke as a sophomore on one of the biggest stages possible, the conference championships. Weldon considers that accomplishment one of the top moments in her collegiate career.

For inspiration, Weldon looks up to Olympic breaststroker and three-time Olympic gold medal winner, Rebecca Soni.

“She won the 200m breast stroke this year in London,” Weldon said. “She was an underdog and she just dominated four years ago in Beijing and came back again.”

With her final collegiate season underway, Weldon hopes to make a splash like Soni and take the top prize at the conference championships. But before she leaves, she hopes to impart words of wisdom for future student athletes.

“Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into,” Weldon said. “It can’t be taken lightly. You have to represent your school, but you have to study too.”

Weldon has learned during her time at WSU how the life of a student athlete isn’t always as glamorous as television stations like ESPN makes it out to be.

“It’s very time-consuming,” Weldon said. “I think the main thing is that you have to manage your time. We’re not normal. Being a student athlete has perks, but you have to find out how to do everything in one day.”