The phrase “No man is an island” originated over 400 years ago. When John Donne penned those words, he didn’t realize he’d be describing the lives of Lydia Bottelier (MS ’24, BSBA ’23) and Dylan Reed (MS ’24, BSBA ‘23). 

As student-athletes at a Division I school, these two credit their relationships with friends, family, coaches, staff, and faculty for helping them balance sports, studies, and life.  

Reed explains, “The people at Pitt truly wanted to help with whatever is going on in my life, and I have built relationships with people I will cherish forever.” Bottelier says her inner circle served as a great escape. “They helped me realize there is more to life than the overwhelming tasks demanded by school and sport.”  

Here we share how Reed took his diving career to new heights by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials and how Bottelier became one of the top pentathletes in the country, earning second-team All-American honors.

Going for the Gold

Like many elementary-aged boys, Dylan Reed loved watching the Olympics on television. When he saw athletes stand on a podium with their medals, he never imagined he’d be that good. As a high school diver, he was often told he was too small and frail to compete with the best in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).  

Being told he wasn’t good enough proved to be a powerful motivator. 

As a first-year student, he won four events for the Pitt Panthers. He was named an NCAA Championship qualifier six times and was designated as an NCAA elite student-athlete. In addition, he earned a spot on the U.S. National Team and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in diving. 

While he didn’t make the final cut for the Paris 2024 Olympics, he says, “I am happy with how the competition went and glad to end my career on a good note with many friends, former teammates, and family there.” 

Reed in Trees Hall

The pressure never really gets easier,” says Reed. “Half the time the hard part is getting the courage to jump.” 

Pitt Business Part of His Team

A desire to dive competitively led Reed to Pitt. Once on campus, he found an entire team of individuals willing to help him succeed.

He names Rebecca Rhoades, associate director of career programming, Katherine Kasprzak, his diving coach, and Anthony Rodi, clinical associate professor of business administration, as individuals who provided valuable support. 

Also on that list is his mentor Ryan Varley (BSBA ’09), Pitt Athletics’ Senior Associate Athletic Director of Finance and Strategy.

Reed and Varley connected through the Panthers to Pros Mentorship Program, which is part of the University’s nationally renowned Cathy and John Pelusi Life Skills program for student-athletes. It was logical to connect Reed and Varley — one was a finance major, the other worked in finance — but their Pitt Business experiences helped them forge an even stronger bond.

At first, they talked about classes and professors. Their relationship grew when Reed landed a finance and accounting internship in the Pitt Athletics business office. “Dylan earned that internship by being proactive and demonstrating tremendous professionalism and outstanding technical proficiency,” says Varley.

Overcoming Challenges

Reed weighed 115 pounds and stood 5’10” in his first year at Pitt. By his senior year, he grew three inches. At 6’1″ and 165 pounds, he is quite the opposite of small and frail. A growth spurt, plus training for 20 to 25 hours a week, made him physically strong.  

However, diving is a sport that requires both physical and mental strength. “The pressure never really gets easier,” says Reed. “Half the time the hard part is getting the courage to jump.” Last May, the pressure became too much; he took three months off. He was burned out and unsure if he could dive for another year. 

That break was exactly what he needed. “Getting back into diving for one last year was the best feeling in the world, and this past year was my best one yet when I look at my achievements and athletic and personal growth,” adds Reed. 

Life Beyond the Pool

This fall, he started his career as a risk and financial advisory analyst at Deloitte. Having been an athlete since elementary school, losing that part of his identity will be quite an adjustment. 

“The transition to the real world is one of the hardest things I have experienced,” admits Reed. “Life is going to be hard, but I know that the people in my life that I have leaned on won’t disappear and that I am in the best position possible to take on this next journey with excitement and courage.”