Everyone has a special talent.
Whether it’s showcased in sports the arts the classroom or anywhere in between we all have something that makes us proud. In a sense each and every one of us has a gift that keeps on giving.
Some are gifted with the ability to dance gracefully across a stage in a French ballet. Others have instincts for a game that just cannot be taught or exceptional agility in a sport like say lacrosse. Perhaps even a physical gift: long arms and feet like flippers on a tall slender body built for speed in the pool.
While some wish they had even one of these gifts very few have them all.
Then again very few people are like Rachel Dekar.
From an early age it was clear Dekar would someday be a top-notch athlete. How good and in which sport no one really knew. But the freshman Pepperdine swimmer has the family genes working in her favor. Her 21-year-old brother Jon Dekar was also a high school standout in the pool while her father played collegiate basketball at St. John Fisher College in Rochester NY.
By the tender age of 6 influenced in part by Jon Rachel’s swimming career was underway.
“He was a huge reason why I started swimming Dekar said. It was also a great way to meet friends and [stay] physically active.”
Within a few weeks Dekar’s first coach Leo Oshinski had a feeling Rachel would be an excellent swimmer.
“[Oshinski] who I’ve known since before I began swimming told my mom that I was going to be a great breaststroker when I grew up Dekar said. Anatomically he said I’m built to swim breaststroke but at such a young age I have no idea how he could tell!”
Despite the glowing endorsement from her coach Dekar still wasn’t sold on swimming.
“I hated swim practice when I was younger Dekar said. I had a coach when I was 8 years old who was 6-foot-4 bald and had a huge mustache. He reminded me of the Hulk. I was so incredibly afraid of him that I would hide in my room and cry when my mom would tell me it was time to go to practice.”
But Dekar also had another interest she wanted to pursue in addition to swimming. “I danced Cecchetti ballet which is a strict form of French ballet that took up a lot of my time Dekar said. Eventually I had to pick between dance and swimming and chose swimming because all my friends swam.”
At age 12 Dekar decided to begin swimming competitively committed to achieving success.
“I’m really glad I made the choice to swim because the sport has given a lot back to me Dekar said.
Over the years, it’s become clear her dominance is due to an unparalleled passion for swimming and the sheer love of people she’s surrounded by day after day.
I think one of my favorite things about swimming is how close you become with your team Dekar said. A lot of people think of swimming as an individual sport but those who are involved in it know what an enormous role their teammates play in one’s individual success. Your teammates not only become your best friends but they also become your second family.”
This among many other reasons convinced Dekar that Pepperdine was the right fit to continue her education as well as swim at a high level. Although she had offers from UCLA Loyola Marymount University of Richmond and Villanova Pepperdine was perfect for her.
“I was recruited by a lot of schools with great swim programs all over the country but Pepperdine was always my No. 1 choice Dekar said. I’ve only been on the team for a week now but I already feel so welcomed and at home. I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
Many of her teammates agree.
“Back in the spring when Rachel was looking at different schools I got an opportunity to go to lunch with her and show her around Pepperdine said sophomore Madison Krall. I think she’s genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and I’m truly grateful that she decided to come and swim here.”
A good swim program wasn’t the only thing Dekar wanted from her college experience.
“I wanted to have a healthy balance between school and swimming she said. I felt that Pepperdine offered the best [combination of] a challenging academic experience with an emphasis on Christian values while also supplying a competitive swim program under a supportive coach.”
Encouragement from family friends and teammates has always played an integral part in Dekar’s success especially during high school.
“My high school coach Scott Hedges gave me a lot of independence with my swimming and was very open to trying new things and experimenting Dekar said. I think he helped me to be open-minded about different ways of training and helped me to better understand what my body needs and what kind of swimmer I am.”
In her four years at Cranbrook Kingswood high school in Bloomfield Hills Mich. she quickly made a name for herself as one of the top swimmers in state history.
Dekar was a seven-time NICSA All-American won five state championships in numerous events and currently holds the fastest high school female 100-yard breaststroke time ever recorded in the state of Michigan. While a member of her club team the Birmingham Blue Dolphins Dekar was a U.S. Open qualifier in the 100-yard breaststroke for three consecutive years (20062007 and 2008).
In November of her senior year Dekar was named Wendy’s Student-Athlete of the week for her outstanding performance and appeared on WMYD channel 20.
Rachel is the quintessential student-athlete. She earned academic All-American status her senior year during lacrosse season.
Dekar is clearly gifted. Academically and athletically she’s head and shoulders above most. But not because of her powerful flip-turns or smooth strokes through the water. Dekar’s real gift of inspiring and motivating others will live on far after her swimming days are over.
“Rachel is a high spirited young lady who believes in the power her attitude can have on the team as a whole Hedges said. She was the text book example of a leader both in and out of the pool. She took her commitment to swimming team and coaches very seriously.”
“[Dekar] has a great attitude Rodionoff said. Her whole presence is terrific.
Outstanding athletic ability and a swim-to-win attitude will take her far but when matched with her all-American spirit inspiring those around her and leading by example Dekar encapsulates what it means to truly have a gift that keeps on giving.