Ella Pearl

Swimming is nothing new to Ella Pearl. After 14 years of swim lessons, early morning practices and long meets, she decided to continue swimming at the collegiate level. From the beginning, as a 2-year-old, she said she always had a feel for the water. 

“I really just always liked being in the water,” Pearl said. “There is something different about it. Being able to just go swim laps clears my head.”

Over her many years of dedication in and out of the water, Pearl has learned to deal with adversity and strive to be the best. For her, she has found that determination is the foundation to success.

“The most important thing is doing the best, doing what you can to be the best and just going with it.” Pearl said. “There’s always going to be [struggles], but you’re going to have to keep trying whenever you fail. There’s a lot of determination that goes into it because it is one of those sports where you are swimming back and forth for hours at a time.”

For Pearl, the team aspect of swimming is the most valuable part of the experience. Over the past two years, Pearl has become a six time state champion, was awarded the 2020 Missouri Girls’ Swimmer of the Year Award and has broken numerous school records, individually and with her team. The Kirkwood team has created her own home away from home.

“Kirkwood is such an amazing team and our team as a whole is honestly like a family,” Pearl said. “We spend so much time all together. It is probably pretty insane by most people’s standards. I really do love it and it’s probably my favorite part of swimming.” 

After her senior season for Kirkwood this year, Pearl will continue onto her collegiate swimming career and join her sister at the University of Arkansas.

“It is such an amazing feeling to know that everything I have done so far and been working towards my whole life is paying off,” Pearl said. “I am excited to get there, get to know them more and become a team.”