D3 Week Wildcat Spotlight: Andrew Lee

FINDING A HAPPY BALANCE

Maintaining a rigorous course load with a demanding training schedule shouldn’t mean being a college athlete cannot also be fun, says senior Andrew Lee.

After many years of being a key contributor in the pool, Linfield University senior Andrew Lee has learned to make the most of every moment remaining in his swimming career. 

A public health major with an eye toward a becoming a dentist, he competed in his final season with a renewed sense of appreciation, enjoying each day to the fullest.  

What started as basic lessons gradually evolved into something more serious. After joining a summer league for a season, Lee joined a local club team in Portland, where he would remain competing for nearly 10 years. The long-term commitment shaped his work ethic and helped prepare him for collegiate competition. It evolved into a point of pride for Lee in finding the balance in his commitments.  

“A lot of people stop competing after club swimming,” Lee says. “You do it for so long that you get burnt out. Being able to continue through college, and actually enjoy it, was a big thing for me.” 

When it came time to choose a college, Linfield offered the balance Lee was looking for. 

A Portland native who attended Mountainside High School, he wanted to stay close to home without feeling stuck. 

“Portland’s about an hour away, so not too far, not too close,” Lee says. “I also had a couple teammates from my club team who had swum here, so I knew a little bit about the school.” 

After visiting Linfield’s McMinnville campus, the decision felt easy. Linfield allowed Lee to continue swimming competitively while pursuing a demanding academic path, one rooted in service and accessibility. 

Lee’s interest in public health stems from a desire to address gaps in healthcare, particularly in dentistry. He hopes to attend dental school after graduation, with OHSU as his ideal destination, though he’s applied broadly throughout the country. 

Lee has completed nearly every science prerequisite required for dental school, often stacking demanding courses together. Despite the workload, he found classes that stood out, including anatomy and physiology. 

“I was taking organic chemistry at the same time, which was probably one of the worst course loads I could’ve done,” Lee says. “But our professor, Daniel, made the class interactive and engaging, which really stood out to me.” 

Now an upperclassman, Lee’s role on the team has evolved. This season, the Wildcats have shifted to a shared leadership model, placing responsibility on athletes willing to step up. 

Lee has been one of them. 

“I’ve helped organize gear orders, get in contact with people and make sure everyone’s connected,” Lee says. 

Outside of the pool and classroom, Lee has found a creative outlet in photography. What began as a hobby during his freshman year turned into a four-year side job after a teammate encouraged him to bring his camera to a conference meet. Lee later worked with Linfield’s sports information and strategic communications departments, photographing sporting events and student life. 

“I’m pretty introverted, especially during the season,” Lee says. “Photography kind of pushes me to get out there and meet people.”