MV Swimmer Michael Leung to be a UMaine Black Bear in Fall 2017

By Abigail Sullivan

Michael Leung is a key component of his swim team here at MV. He began swimming at only two years old with his dad. When he was eight, he joined his first swimming club. Now, he has been blessed with the opportunity to swim for UMaine in the Fall of 2017. The Eagle Eye was able to interview him about what his future has in store! Not only is this interview entertaining, but it is also helpful for other high school students who are looking to pursue athletics in college.

Photo Courtesy of Maggie Finn

What are some monumental moments that have been part of your swimming career?
I have gotten many MVP awards during my swimming career, but I think the best award I’ve received is the Most Improved Swimmer award during my sophomore year. To me, being most improved was really memorable because it shows that I have grown as a swimmer and to see that I can become better really motivated me to try harder next year.


Tell me about your plans for next year.
Next fall I will be attending the University of Maine where I will be swimming as Black Bear. UMaine is a Division I swimming program. I plan to grow even more as a swimmer and become the best swimmer I can be!


In terms of your swimming talents, did you notice the school or vice versa? How did that take place?
The first school I looked at was Bryant University, a school in which my fellow classmate and friend is attending in the fall. Bryant didn’t have everything I wanted in a college, so I looked for different options. A former teammate on the swim team, Shane Kinnon who also happens to swim for Maine, introduced me to his school. Every time he talked about it, I knew I really wanted to go there. Senior year, I started to contact the coach and she sent me on a recruiting trip, where I would stay with freshmen swimmers on the team and see what it was like to a Black Bear swimmer. After that visit, I knew for a fact Maine was the right school for me.

When did this whole process begin for you?
I didn’t really look into swimming in college until the beginning of my junior year, but I knew I wanted to swim in college because no matter what I never wanted to leave the pool.

What makes UMaine stand out to you?

Photo Courtesy of Neil Kinnon 

First arriving on campus, UMaine had a view that was to die for! The students that I met were so nice. UMaine’s ability to create an environment to challenge myself in the classroom and in the pool is the reason I chose to commit. The coaches knew I could be a factor on the team and made it easy for me to transition from high school to college. UMaine recently built a New Balance Student Recreational Facility, which is one of the best in the country.  There’s a lot to do near the university like hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and other fun outdoor adventures.

What do I plan on studying?
I plan to major in Business Marketing and minor in Nutritional Science.

Any other thoughts?
Thank you to my friends, my family, and my coaches for always standing by my side and motivating me to be my best. None of this would be happening without their help. For all the MV athletes out there who don’t think that they're good enough, just remember I am not the tallest swimmer, nor the strongest swimmer in the pool, but what I have is the heart of a champion. The more you dream the further you’ll get, so never stop believing in yourself and your capabilities. I also keep this saying in the back of my mind, “Don’t miss out on something great, just cause it might also be hard”