Student-Athlete Spotlight: Ashlee Limbacher’s Return to the Pool
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- For graduate student Ashlee Limbacher, the road to success in the pool hasn’t been linear, but it’s that very journey that has reshaped her love for swimming and defined her experience at Moravian University.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- For graduate student Ashlee Limbacher, the road to success in the pool hasn't been linear, but it's that very journey that has reshaped her love for swimming and defined her experience at Moravian University.
Limbacher, a 23-year-old distance swimmer, began her collegiate career at Ryder University during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially drawn by the opportunity to compete at the Division I level, she quickly found that the experience wasn't what she had hoped. A highly competitive environment and challenges with team dynamics left her feeling isolated and questioning her place in the sport.
"I always swam with the guys because there were no distance-swimming women, and that created tension," Limbacher explained. "It just wasn't a supportive environment, and I realized I didn't want to be part of a team where I felt left out."
After making the difficult decision to step away, Limbacher transferred schools with no intention of returning to competitive swimming. In fact, when she first arrived at Moravian, she deliberately avoided sharing her swimming background.
However, fate had other plans. A connection through her former coach and a roommate on Moravian's swim team led her to give the sport another chance.
That decision changed everything.
"Coach Matt and the team helped me rediscover why I loved swimming in the first place," she said. "Now, I'm actually sad that I'm leaving instead of being glad it's over."
Returning to the pool after a two-year break wasn't easy. Limbacher admitted she was nervous and unsure if she could reach her previous level of performance. While she's still working toward her past best times, her outlook on success has evolved.
"I used to have really bad anxiety before races," Limbacher said. "But this season, I learned how to just be okay with it. The two times I swam [the mile], I actually felt excited instead of nervous. That's something I'm really proud of."
Whether it's team study sessions in the library, group dinners after practice, or hosting team bonding events like Kahoot nights, Limbacher emphasized how much the team contributed to the reignition of her passion.
"Even on bad days, I look forward to practice because of the people," she said. "We're always finding ways to be together, and that's something I never had before."
Looking back, Limbacher's journey from nearly quitting the sport to rediscovering her passion has shaped her perspective in a meaningful way. Her advice to other athletes facing similar struggles is both honest and empowering.
"If you really feel like quitting, it's okay to step away," she said. "Sometimes you need that break to realize how much you love something. When you come back, it can feel completely different."
Now nearing the end of her collegiate career, Limbacher leaves with more than just results in the pool; she carries a renewed appreciation for the sport and the relationships that made it worthwhile.
And for her, that's what truly defines success.
Story by Katherine Georgiou '27
