For some athletes, their success at a sport just comes naturally. Such is the case for Alex Aguilar, a senior on the UNC Wilmington swim team. Not recruited heavily out of high school, Aguilar did not truly begin to swim year-round until he came to Wilmington. Now, as he concludes his collegiate career, he holds multiple records, including All-CAA honors.

“He came in as a young man who we viewed as somebody who had some talent but really hadn’t explored that talent to any great degree in high school,” said coach Dave Allen. “He came in and right away started improving in leaps and bounds. He’s been a big contributor in our swim program, especially in the 50-yard freestyle. He’s been a big reason why we’ve been so successful in the area of sprint and one of the reasons why at the conference level that we’ve been able to do as well as what we’ve been doing.”

Aguilar, a High Point, N.C. native, did not really come into his own during high school. His only real accomplishment coming when he placed fourth in the state championships his senior year, making his success in college that much more significant. However, he acknowledges that you cannot allow yourself to get caught up in the accolades.

“When you think about when you’re not in the record books, it’s something really good to reach for,” said Aguilar. “But, once you’ve made it, then your drive becomes to get faster and better so you hold that record longer.”

Aguilar’s swimming aspirations expand broader than the collegiate level, though. After swimming a leg in the record-setting 200 free relay his sophomore year, Aguilar then swam against two world-record holders in the 50 freestyle that summer, pushing his talents against the best.

“After graduation, I’ll still try to compete in the Olympic trials,” he said. “They only come around every four years, so you have to take advantage when you can.”

Above all his accomplishments, however, Coach Allen cites Aguilar’s work ethic and drive to succeed as the biggest components to his success.

“He is somebody that is very interested in getting better,” said Allen. “He wants to get faster and wants to improve, so he is willing to put some work in the weight room and do what he has to do in the pool, day in and day out, to get better. His willingness to come in and go through the program is a really big strength.”

A psychology major, Aguilar is not sure what he’ll do after graduation professionally. Nevertheless, he’ll always be remembered as a key member of the Seahawks’ championship teams the past four years by his place in the record books.