One Last Roar: Ashley Jimenez, Swimming and Diving

"One Last Roar" is a series that will recognize the accomplishments of the senior student-athletes at Mount Holyoke College graduating during the 2020-21 academic year. From now until May, read about our senior student-athletes as they reflect on their careers as members of Lyons Nation. Make sure to check out Mount Holyoke College Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see photos of their top memories with their teammates over the past four years.

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Ashley Jimenez (Miramar, Fla), a mathematics major and sociology minor and swimming and diving student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College, will graduate at the completion of the Spring 2021 semester.

As a three-year member of the Mount Holyoke swimming and diving program, Jimenez made her NEWMAC Championship debut in 2020 on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. Jimenez is also a Posse Scholar. The Posse Foundation identifies and selects students with exceptional leadership potential from 10 cities and sends them to one of the elite partner universities. Jimenez is also a Publicity Coordinator for Association for Women in Mathematics and an Experiential Exploration Assistant at the Career Development Center.

From Head Mount Holyoke Swimming and Diving Coach, Dave Allen:

"Ashley has been a great addition to the team over her three years as a diver. Ashley has really grown as an individual throughout her time on the team to become a great role model and positive team member. It has been a pleasure to work with Ashley both on the boards and the deck. We will miss her next season."

More about Ashley...

Overall, share a few sentences about your time as a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College. How has your experience as a student-athlete helped develop you into the person you are today?

Being a student-athlete played a huge role in my undergraduate experience. I was able to join a sport, diving, that I never would have had the opportunity to do if I was at a different institution. Diving has allowed me to excel as not only an athlete but as a student as well. I was able to prosper in a sport that I had no experience in prior to college, and this showed me that I could do anything that I put my mind to. I also gained patience, time management skills, and teamwork skills by being on a team, and committing a good majority of my time to meets and practices.

Even though being a student-athlete is time-consuming, it allows room for structure and schedule. With that said, being a student-athlete has shaped me into an organized individual with routine and purpose.

What were some of your favorite memories as a member of your team?

Some of my favorite memories include J-term in 2020 and going to NEWMACs in 2020. During J-term, I had such a great time with my teammates between doing outdoor practices, being on the beach with them, going on smoothie runs, and just simply bonding over good food every night.

During NEWMACs, I felt really supported by my teammates because it was my first time going to NEWMACs, and seeing everyone perform the hardest they could at that meet, was inspiring. We all worked really hard to be there and I felt like it really paid off. It was also fun being at the hotel and watching movies with my roommate.

What are your plans following graduation?

Currently, I am applying to graduate school, and if all goes well, I will be attending graduate school in the fall.

Who have been some of your biggest supporters during your time at Mount Holyoke College? This can be anyone (i.e. family, friends, professors, coaches, etc.)

My biggest supporters have been some of my friends from Posse, my Posse mentor, and a few of my professors. They helped me through the roughest times of college, and have been there to celebrate the wonderful times too. Without them, I do not know where I would be because they really have been a push factor for me.

What is your favorite Mount Holyoke tradition?

My favorite Mount Holyoke tradition is milk and cookies. I have the biggest sweet tooth. and I always get excited for the nights where they have Oreo cupcakes!

Any words of advice you have for the future student-athletes of Mount Holyoke College?

I would say to not get intimidated by the time commitment estimated at the beginning of the season because it gets easier as you go. Being on a varsity team will allow great bonds to form with people on your team, and possibly other teams, and the workouts are amazing because you will always learn something you did not know before.

Being a student-athlete will also allow you to travel to places you might not have traveled to before! Going to away meets will allow you to explore other parts of Massachusetts and other states, and student-athletes on other teams are usually very friendly and welcoming. Overall, it is an unforgettable experience.