Q: How long have you been playing?
A: I started swimming around first grade, and up until a few years ago I had been swimming competitively on and off.
Q: What motivates you?
A: I’m very competitive in absolutely everything I do. I push myself to try to get ahead of the girls in the lanes next to me (both at practice and in meets), and my teammates cheering me on make me want to swim faster.
Q: What was your best season? Why?
A: My best season would have to be this current season because I’ve been pushed harder than ever, I’ve met some of my favorite people and I’ve been doing pretty well in most of the races I’ve been in.
Q: Why did you decide to start playing the sport you do?
A: My mom put me into swim and encouraged me to stay in it. She thought I was really good and I just wanted to quit. I eventually left for a while because it conflicted with other sports. When I decided to come back it was because it just seemed like a good sport to get me in shape in the offseason. I found that I loved the community and now it’s my main sport.
Q: What is the ultimate goal you can imagine related to your sport?
A: I would really love to get a state cut in the 100 backstroke and to potentially swim in the medley relay there too. It would also be crazy if I could possibly get a school record (even though that might be a bit of a stretch).
Q: What have been your biggest achievements in athletics?
A: In eighth grade, I started training harder and pushing myself in practice. As a result, I then dropped 13 seconds in my 100 backstroke, making my time 2 seconds faster than the varsity letter time for high school. I was then the second-fastest backstroker in Crossroads history. I just recently made the top 10 list for the 100 back in Northview High School history, too.
Q: How do you think coaches can be more effective?
A: I love our coaches, both Rob Damuth and Tim Sugiyama, for helping to push me to make me the swimmer I am now. I think one area we could benefit from would be working on turns because I think simple adjustments could make drastic time drops.
Q: What are your main strengths in your sport?
A: My main strengths would have to be my drive to work hard, stay on interval and cheering on my girls.
Q: What do you need to improve?
A: I need to work on my rotation when doing backstroke, moving my arms faster during sprints, bilateral breathing, not being so hard on myself and pull-ups during morning practice.
Q: What do you like about training?
A: I like how even though it can be super hard, I always have my lane buddies to laugh, vent and occasionally cry with. I don’t think I would be able to do this sport if it wasn’t for the team.
Q: What do you dislike about training?
A: I don’t care for the super hard sets. I know they make me better, but they fuel my love-hate relationship with swimming. Also when we have to be in the pool at 5:30 a.m.
Q: Who are your biggest inspirations?
A: My biggest inspirations are Sarah Pataniczek for being a leader in the sport and making me want to swim faster and Vivian Schmidt for pushing me in backstroke and for being one of my biggest supporters.
