Meagan Cobb, Class of 2008
The Hudsonville High School pool has been a part of my life as I can remember. I dragged my mom to swimming practice at 6 years old and once I figured out how to put an oversized cap on my undersized head- it was all over. There were many early mornings, cold swims, best times, torn caps, lost goggles, sharks cheers, ribbons, participation trophies, and most importantly- friendships formed during this time. As I entered middle school and high school, I was trying to find my place and was cut from every single sport I tried out for. Thankfully swimming was a no-cut sport! I never excelled but I stuck it out and discovered water polo when I was 13. Actually, my friend Cat dragged me to practice just as I dragged my mom as a child. And once again, there was no turning back. My experience those four years of high school was challenging, exciting, exhausting, full of discipline, hard work and so much fun. Through the assistance of teammates, parents and coaches I was fortunate enough to continue my water polo career at the University of Michigan.
Attending a top ranked University that expects excellence in the classroom and the pool was no easy task. My first year we had nine recruited student athletes and there were only four standing at graduation. I realize that all those years of early mornings, difficult sets, tough coaching, discipline, and the team atmosphere fostered at HHS pool helped me to excel at UM. My team and I received many awards and accolades but I am most proud of being a two-time captain, representing and giving back to the University and team that took me in. Today, I am living in Sydney, Australia as I continue to play the sport I love for the National League here. I am also working for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and balancing work and play as I have done all my life.
Water polo has given me so many unbelievable opportunities from traveling around the state of Michigan with HHS, winning a state championship, traveling around the US representing the block M, winning division championships and ranking top 10 in the nation, to playing professionally in Australia for the Drummoyne Devils. While each year new records are broken, championships are won, trophies gain dust and photos fade, the memories I've made will last forever. I truly believe the moment that changed my fate was when I was welcomed with open arms to HHS pool as a little 6 year old girl. Now as I look around the beautiful landscape and ocean halfway around the world- I think of all my travels, experiences, lessons and lifelong friendships. I am extremely thankful and lucky to have had the support and the resources that helped me to get where I am today and I hope many others in the coming years will have the opportunity to create their own success stories that start with a splash into HHS pool.
Meagan Cobb
Class of 2008
Attending a top ranked University that expects excellence in the classroom and the pool was no easy task. My first year we had nine recruited student athletes and there were only four standing at graduation. I realize that all those years of early mornings, difficult sets, tough coaching, discipline, and the team atmosphere fostered at HHS pool helped me to excel at UM. My team and I received many awards and accolades but I am most proud of being a two-time captain, representing and giving back to the University and team that took me in. Today, I am living in Sydney, Australia as I continue to play the sport I love for the National League here. I am also working for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and balancing work and play as I have done all my life.
Water polo has given me so many unbelievable opportunities from traveling around the state of Michigan with HHS, winning a state championship, traveling around the US representing the block M, winning division championships and ranking top 10 in the nation, to playing professionally in Australia for the Drummoyne Devils. While each year new records are broken, championships are won, trophies gain dust and photos fade, the memories I've made will last forever. I truly believe the moment that changed my fate was when I was welcomed with open arms to HHS pool as a little 6 year old girl. Now as I look around the beautiful landscape and ocean halfway around the world- I think of all my travels, experiences, lessons and lifelong friendships. I am extremely thankful and lucky to have had the support and the resources that helped me to get where I am today and I hope many others in the coming years will have the opportunity to create their own success stories that start with a splash into HHS pool.
Meagan Cobb
Class of 2008