One Last Roar: Ashton Bliss, 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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Senior Ashton Bliss (Yorktown, Va.), a Politics and German Studies double major and swimming and diving student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College, will graduate at the completion of the Spring 2021 semester.

Bliss earned first-place victories in both the 500 Free and the 1650 Free at the 2020 Mount Holyoke Invitational. Later that day, she produced two runner-up finishes in the 200 Fly and the 400 IM. All of these performances at the home invitational were season bests for Bliss. She achieved another first-place victory in a 2019 home meet versus Wellesley in the 1000 Free in a time of 11:32.58, 29.15 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. Bliss competed in five events in the 2019 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Swimming and Diving Championship including a top-20 finish in the 1650 Free. As a first-year, in the 2018 NEWMAC Championships, Bliss placed in the top-15 in the 1650 Free. Bliss is a Mount Holyoke Model UN Member and a member of the Russian Club and German Club.

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

"Ashton is one of the hardest working swimmers I have worked with at Mount Holyoke. She is a dedicated team member and always gave her all every day. She set high standards for herself and worked to reach them. Those efforts also helped her teammates set personal bests as well. Ashton has also challenged me in positive ways to improve my coaching and our training systems. We will certainly miss her leadership on the team next year."

More about Ashton...

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?

The biggest thing being a student-athlete taught me is self-motivation, and I learned a great deal about how I operate as a person. I always thought of myself as a very externally motivated person, and I struggled a lot with the mental aspect of swimming. I learned how to motivate myself, how to push myself, and how I work best both in and out of the pool.

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

One of my favorite memories was the training trip! I love our annual training trip to Florida, it's a great chance for team bonding and I always leave feeling so much closer to the team. I love the week of double practices, beach days with the team, outdoor practices, and team bonding.

Another one was the dual meet against UNE my junior year. We were down by a couple of points and only had the 400 IM and relays left. I swam both back to back and anchored the relay. I out-touched the UNE relay team, and we won that meet! Everyone was on their feet screaming and shouting and jumping, the pool was echoing with everyone cheering. It was an amazing feeling!

What are your plans following graduation?

I'm taking a gap year after graduation before I head back to school for political science.

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 family has always been a huge source of support, from watching every meet over the live stream and letting me vent after tough events! I've had several professors who have stood behind me during my time at Mount Holyoke, but my academic advisors, Karen Remmler and Kavita Khory, have been incredibly supportive. They have supported me throughout my academic endeavors here at Mount Holyoke, and it has been a privilege to work closely with both of them on independent research projects.

Dave has been one of my biggest supporters here. His guidance in the pool has made me a stronger person, and I wouldn't be where I was or as successful as I am today without Dave's unwavering support. He's been there for everything from helping me through a tough practice, to celebrating my wins both in the pool and out.

This acknowledgment wouldn't be complete without a huge shoutout to my teammates. My closest friends are my teammates, and they have been there through all the highs and lows. Swimming the mile and having my team all lined up on the side of the pool cheering for me is the support I'll never forget!

What is your favorite Mount Holyoke tradition?

Convocation! I love being able to gather in the amphitheater and celebrate the classes, getting dressed up in your class colors, and seeing friends you haven't seen since the year before!

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

My advice is to enjoy every minute! Get to know your teammates, go to team events, and don't get too caught up in homework, but those moments with your team are ones you'll always remember!