Don't get her wrong, Claire Hurley didn't love her week at the Coast Guard Academy's AIM (Academy Introduction Mission) last summer.

“It was easily one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was basically a week in the life of Swab Summer; we got the shortened version,” Hurley said. “For a while I was like, 'Whoa, I did not know what I was getting myself into.'

“I ended up liking it. I ended up thinking that having gone through those weeks of Swab Summer, the end will be so worth it.”

Hurley, a senior three-sport athlete at Waterford High School, announced Monday that she has accepted her appointment to the Coast Guard Academy and will be a member of the Class of 2020. She will compete for the Bears in soccer and softball.

A three-time all-state forward for Waterford in soccer and No. 3 on the school's all-time scoring list with 67 goals, Hurley won state championships in soccer and softball. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Class M state championship softball victory over Granby as a freshman outfielder, then helped lift the Lancers to the Class M title in soccer the following fall, its first in program history. She is currently playing for Waterford's girls' basketball team.

Hurley, whose dad Michael was a Waterford police officer for 25 years, also attended a youth leadership program at the prestigious FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., last summer. Only one representative from each state was accepted into the program. She plans to major in government at Coast Guard.

“Honestly, it's always been kind of a dream when I was younger,” Hurley said. “Looking at the job opportunities it has after graduation, combined with a great education. … I just wanted to go to the best college I could go to academically.

“My dad's dad was also a police officer for the state. Ever since I was a kid … it's one of the things (my dad and I) bond over.”

Last season, Hurley had a career-high 22 goals with five assists for the Lancers soccer team, which finished 15-4-2 with the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division title and a berth in the quarterfinals of the Class M state tournament.

Last spring, she hit .500 for the softball team (34-for-68) with 28 runs scored, 20 RBI and 30 stolen bases.

Coast Guard's 19-year softball coach Donna Koczajowski, whose team started practicing Jan. 25 for the upcoming season, said this year's roster features several freshmen, as well. She called it “the most athletic class I've had in several years” and said that Hurley will fit right in upon her arrival.

“She's absolutely in the mix right away with her speed and her ability to put the ball in play,” Koczajowski said. “She has a history of proven success individually and team. She has a winning mentality. Any coach would be thankful for that.”

“As a goal-scoring forward, she's someone that's going to help us out right away,” Coast Guard women's soccer coach Susan Grant said. “I'm thrilled she accepted her appointment. She should be able to contribute and help out both programs.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com

Twitter: @vickieattheday