Sport(s) Played: Swimming
Q1: Why did you choose the sport(s) that you play?
My parents put me in summer club swimming the summer after kindergarten, and I wanted to get better and train year-around, so I joined club swimming for Powel Crosley Jr. YMCA in fifth grade. Making the decision to swim for high school as well was an easy choice since I enjoy it so much.
Q2: What is your favorite Madeira sports memory?
Swimming at State freshman year was such an amazing experience; the girls who made it really bonded with each other, and each year after that we got more relays and individual events to state, which was really awesome to see the improvement.
Q3: How do you get motivated to practice each and every day?
Since I practice mainly with my club team rather than with Madeira, practicing after (and sometimes before) school every day and on the weekends can be really deteriorating both mentally and physically, especially when I have to wake up at 4:20 AM to hit the pool before school, but it’s also very mind clearing and gives me a break before I need to do my homework. It’s also very rewarding when the best times make all those hours spent practicing worth it.
Q4: What superpower do you wish you had and how would you use it?
I would love to have the power of teleportation so that I could go anywhere whenever, not have to worry about being on time, and save on gas.
Q5: Which athlete(s) would you like to have dinner with and what would you talk about?
I would love to have dinner with Katie Ledecky and Lydia Jacoby because both of them swam and won an event at their first Olympic games as teenagers, and I find them very inspirational. I would love to talk to them about how their love for swimming began and how they balance the sport with their life outside of it.
Q6: What makes a great teammate?
Someone who supports everyone, not just their friends or the best players on the team, and that goes for being kind both in and out of the pool. Having a great attitude is also crucial for creating the best team environment possible.
Q7: What is on your pre-game playlist?
I have many songs on my playlist, but some of my favorites include: “Downtown” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem, and “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj.
Q8: What is the funniest thing that you have seen or happened to you in a practice or game?
During my sophomore year, one of my friends bet my other friend that if the boys made a relay to State, he would have to get a mullet. The boys did end up qualifying, and my friend shaved him a mullet in our hotel room before the meet. Unfortunately, my coach continued to shave it when it should’ve been finished, and it ended up looking pretty bad. Funny for us. Not funny for him.
Q9: What is next after you graduate?
I will be going to college to eventually earn my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I will not be swimming for whichever university I end up at as I want to focus on my studies, however I will likely club swim for college, which is much less intense than what I do even now.
Q10: What advice would you give an 8th grade athlete as they move on to high school sports?
Enjoy it, and don’t be afraid to try something out even if you don’t know if you’ll be good at it. With sports like swimming, at least until the championship season, no one can be “benched”, so anyone and everyone can participate and have fun as long as they are willing to try. High school sports are also a really great way to make new friends and bond with people from grades other than your own. However, balancing school work and sports can get challenging in high school, so being weary of that and learning efficiency and time management is critical.