Leaving Her Mark

By Jeremy Clausen, Lehigh Sports Communications

"I didn't know I was recruiting a Patriot League Champion at the time; however, I knew we were recruiting a champion for us, a leader." Rob Herb, Lehigh's head swimming and diving coach said about the future four-time All-League honoree.

Three years old, that is when Payton Miles hopped in the water at the Spring Valley YMCA for swim lessons for the very first time. Who would have thought that 19 years later she'd be a top-notch collegiate swimmer who won multiple Patriot League Championships during her four-year career. Now, the soon to be graduate will take a new role for the Mountain Hawks next season, as a graduate assistant coach for the Brown and White.

"Lehigh was the first school on my recruiting trip and I had to tell my parents I wanted to cancel the rest of my recruiting trips. I knew this was the place for me." Miles said about her visit to Lehigh University.

"Rob was very personable and he had these goals set in mind for his teams. He knew what he wanted out of his program and the type of people he wanted to build a culture around. He emphasized the team being a family. That was important for me."
Payton Miles

"As soon as we I had my first practice, I knew I wanted to be a GA," said Miles. "Plus, I wanted to pursue my Master's Degree. It was just so appealing to me. I wanted to give back to a program that gave me so much."

Miles swam for the Pottstown YMCA team beginning at the age of seven. During those early years of lessons, a few parents told her parents, Eric and Beth, just how good they thought Miles was. Those other parents seemed to be right as she swam for the team the next 10 years with the same coaches throughout that time. As she strengthened her skill and knowledge in the sport each year, Miles was primed to excel in both academics and athletics at The Hill School, a boarding school located in Pottstown.

At The Hill School, she was a three-sport athlete in water polo, track and field and swimming. Miles' passion was in swimming though and she focused on her craft and developed into a Division l recruit.

"I knew I wanted a very academic focused school. I was looking into schools in the Patriot League a lot," Miles said. "When I stepped onto campus, I immediately knew that this was the place for me. Lehigh is a smaller campus, which creates a great sense of community." It wasn't just the campus that sold Miles on the Brown and White. She continued, "There are a lot of traditions and a longtime athletics rival. I love the swim team's dynamic and how they had already made me feel at home. Lehigh had everything I wanted in a school."

Coach Herb knew that Miles would fit into his program. "I spoke to her by phone after a race she won her senior year and she was talking to me about how she was helping underclassmen at her school with their schoolwork," Herb said. "That's what we are. That's what Lehigh is all about. I knew the fit would be good because she understood what we were about."

Unfortunately, the transition to Lehigh was not an easy on for Miles as she would face the first of many obstacles during her tenure.

"It was a big-time adjustment. I came from a boarding school and came in losing a lot of weight," she stated. "I wasn't used to the amount of training we were doing. I was constantly on the edge."

As time progressed during her first year, Miles began adjusting and started to get in a groove. The coaches had her training and swimming for 50 and 100 Free distances. The then freshman sky rocketed past her competition in the majority of the races. At the 2017 Patriot League Championships, the freshman cemented her name as one of the young, bright talents in the Patriot League, winning the gold medal in the 50 Free at 22.80. But that wasn't it for Miles, as she was also a member of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams that took silver and bronze. Her first-year success led to her being named First Team All-League, while also being a U.S. Winter National Championship participant.

After a highly successful first year, Miles was faced with another obstacle, an obstacle that deeply affected her immediately before her sophomore season was about to begin.

"In September of my sophomore year, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was so in my head and it bothered me," she said. "Swimming is such a mental sport and it was definitely a lot to handle. If your head isn't in it, you're not going to do good. My teammates, coaches and everyone was so supportive and helped me through it."
Payton Miles

"My coaches were really great throughout the whole situation. They knew when I needed to take a break for myself." The swim team came together to support Miles and her mother's fight against cancer, "We were able to wear pink caps for one the one dual meet and that really meant a lot."

"Family is what our program stands for," Herb said about the Lehigh swim community and helped Miles during this time. "All of the parents of our student-athletes are our family too. We have to be there for them just like how she's there for her teammates."

It wasn't just the coaching staff and her teammates that supported Miles throughout this tough time. Chris Wakely, Associate Director of Athletics – Recruitment for Lehigh, was one of many Lehigh staff members to offer support and encouragement.

Digging deep within, Miles fought through the hard times and managed to garner two more gold medals at the 2018 Patriot League Championships, this time in the 100 Free (50.05) and as a member of the 200 Free Relay team (1:31.41).

"Growing up, my mom never missed swim meets. That year she had to miss a few, but she was well enough to travel to Patriots," Miles said about her mother during her sophomore season. "When I won the 100 free, I just kept looking up and pointing at her in the stands."

After claiming back-to-back titles in her first two years at the conference tournament, Miles knew there was a target on her back. Another obstacle was coming her junior season. The obstacle? Everyone was aiming to beat her!
Payton Miles

"There was so much pressure on me my junior year. I kept getting in my head again and it wasn't good. I had the mindset that winning was the only option, I was so focused on that that I lost other aspects in my game. I was so focused on myself in a selfish way and I kept making it all about me." she said about the struggles she faced during her junior campaign.

Despite having high expectations and swimming under pressure, Miles still had a productive junior season, ending with more medals. She was the Mountain Hawks' third-highest scorer with 28 total points and had herself a third-place finish in the 100 Free with a time of 50.18 and also was a part of the 200 Free Relay group that won the Patriot League title.

After what she would say was not her best year, Miles had one final year in the Brown and White uniform. She didn't want to regret it and wanted to enjoy her final year swimming for the school she loved.

"For my last year I just wanted to have fun, enjoy the experience with my friends, teammates and coaches," she said. "After swimming my whole life on teams, this was my last year swimming for a team, so I said I might as well make the most out of it."

And did she ever make the most out if it. After being named a captain before the season got under away, Miles won over 13 individual events combined in the 50 and 100 Free, while also tallying a plethora of wins in Relays.

"Turns out it was the most fun I've ever had in a swimming season. I could have dwelled over my junior season but I just brushed off the adversity coming into the year." Miles said.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take home a gold medal at February's Patriot League Championship, however I'm okay with it. I had my best times, I scored high points for our team and I had fun with my teammates."

Now Miles will turn her competition gear into a Lehigh polo and dress pants, as she will be coaching from the deck instead of racing out in front of her competitors.

"I truly believe Payton will be a great addition to the staff," expressed Herb about Miles joining his staff. "Her experience with the team and the understanding of the team from within is going to make her a great addition. She is a very understanding person: she listens, she's a good engager, she's extremely competitive, she understands the need to work with others and she's really embraced the culture and what it means to be family."

"Rob and I have built a strong relationship the past four years. I feel closer to him now than ever before. Being able to listen to him, talking with him and learning from him has helped me tremendously. I have a lot of swimming knowledge and I've experienced both success and failure. I can relate to the team. Rob is someone I will look to for guidance and I can't wait to coach with him next year." Miles said about her coaching debut next year on Herb's staff.

After a year in which the women's team recorded their best start since the 1998-99 year, the team will only continue to rise with Miles on the staff.

Better me Better We

Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at ECAC Championships on February 27, 2026 , , 11th of 16

Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at Patriot League Championships: Day 4 on February 21, 2026 , , 6th of 10

Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at Patriot League Championships: Day 3 on February 20, 2026 , , 7th of 10

Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at Patriot League Championships: Day 2 on February 19, 2026 , , 8th of 10

Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at Patriot League Championships: Day 1 on February 18, 2026 , , 4th of 10

Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at Navy Invitational on January 31, 2026 ,

Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at Bucknell on January 24, 2026 , Loss , 118, to, 182

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