Isabelle Parr is a senior at the University of Mount Union from Brunswick, Ohio. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Isabelle during our time together at Mount Union. She lights up everyone’s day with her bubbly personality and works hard at all that she does. Parr is a swimmer on the University of Mount Union women’s swim and dive team. She swims mainly in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, and 100 butterfly. Parr has had a lot of success swimming at Mount. During her freshman year, she was on the 400-yard freestyle relay that broke the school record with a time of 3:34:00 at the OAC Championship. She has won multiple OAC Championship events, including the 800-yard freestyle and the 400-yard freestyle. “We have big goals for this season of winning the OAC Championship as a team, and I have big goals for myself individually as well. I want to close out my swimming career leaving everything I have left in the water and make it the most memorable one yet,” said Parr.

Beyond swimming, Parr is very involved on campus. She started the “Active Minds” club at Mount Union, a club that focuses on positively impacting mental health. She is also a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Balancing academics, athletics, and club activities is no easy feat, but Parr makes it all look easy. “Being a Raider and a part of the Mount Union Swim Team has truly become a special place in my heart. I have felt at home and a sense of family here at Mount Union, and I will take pride in my experiences here forever,” stated Parr. 

The women’s swim and dive team is having a great start to their season. The team currently has four wins and one loss, and they head to the Wooster Invitational this Thursday, December 4th, through Saturday, December 6th. Parr has swum for a long portion of her life and recognizes the impact it has had on her as a person: “Swimming has shaped my life in many different ways. This sport has taught me discipline, hardwork, comradery, and good sportsmanship and has allowed me to experience what it’s like to be truly passionate and bought into something I love.” The love and passion that she has for swimming will certainly translate into her next phase of life. 

The Mount Union swim and dive team will be sad to see Parr leave after her senior season comes to a close, but as one door closes, another door opens. Isabelle Parr has a younger sister, Chloe Parr, who is a current freshman on the University of Mount Union swim and dive team. The Parr sisters are ready to make the most of their final season swimming together. “Having my sister swim with me for my last year in my swimming career means the world to me. This feels very surreal to me because swimming is a sport near and dear to both of us because of many reasons, so having her with me for my last year will be something I’ll never forget,” stated Isabelle Parr. Having your sibling with you on your college team is not something you hear of everyday, but the Parr sisters do not take it for granted and are going to make the most of the time they have left swimming together.

Be sure to make it out to a Raider swim meet in the New Year to support the Parr sisters and the rest of the team!