ELEVATE—Coaching Athletes for the Next Level
The college recruiting process for swimming can be daunting. However, athletes and their families do not need to tackle this endeavor alone. ELEVATE offers high school aged swimmers individualized coaching throughout the recruiting process to give these athletes the best opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. ELEVATE works to understand each athlete’s interests and provides a specific framework to follow based on recruiting best practices. Every athlete’s path will be unique and customized after considering individual circumstances.
Recruiting is not only a process, it is a journey. The ideal time for swimmers to begin the process is early spring of sophomore year. The journey continues through junior year and may end as late as senior year. ELEVATE’s Full Service Program provides one-on-one attention and ongoing coaching throughout the entire process. For athletes who start recruitment later in their junior year or who are seeking a general recruiting overview, ELEVATE offers a Modified Program and Single Consultative Sessions.
ELEVATE’s Founder and Next Level Coach, Susan Mayfield
About Susan Mayfield
Founder, ELEVATE – Coaching Athletes for the Next Level
Hi, I’m Susan Mayfield, founder of ELEVATE – Coaching Athletes for the Next Level. I’m a swimmer, a coach, and a mom, and athletics have shaped much of my life. I grew up swimming for Bellevue Club Swim Team alongside my two siblings, with many weekends spent at meets while our parents volunteered on deck. I continued swimming at the next level for Stanford University—an experience I continue to be deeply grateful for.
Now back in Seattle, my husband and I have raised two high school and club swimmers. I spent eight seasons coaching the girls’ swim and dive team at Lakeside School, where we earned three State Championship titles. I’m also proud to be the co-founder of the Seattle chapter of Swim Across America, which raises funds for cancer research and treatment benefiting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Most recently, I’ve started volunteer coaching with the University of Washington’s newly launched club swim program.
Over the years—through my own athletic journey, coaching at Lakeside, raising two student-athletes, and talking with many friends—I’ve seen how confusing and overwhelming the college recruiting process can be. Watching athletes and families navigate this often reactively, or too late in the game, is what inspired me to launch ELEVATE. My mission is to guide and support athletes so they can find the right fit and compete at the next level on a college team.
When approached thoughtfully and early, the recruiting journey can be a rewarding part of the student-athlete’s path—not just toward collegiate athletics, but toward a fulfilling college experience overall. I’m always happy to share more—whether we’re talking poolside or beyond.
ELEVATE is my vision to help aspiring athletes reach the next level. I work passionately to meet each athlete’s needs through an engaged coaching partnership that supports their athletic and academic goals.”