How long have you been in swimming?
I started swimming when I was 11 years old.

What is your favorite memory about swimming?
My favorite memory so far is from Big9 this year. My coaches and I were debating on putting me in either the 200 Individual medley or the 50 free, I decided to try out the 50. This being the shortest race, it’s a very difficult one to swim because one mistake and you’re done. I remember finishing into the wall and looking up at my time, realizing I had won. I immediately started crying tears of joy because there was so much hard work that went into those 25 seconds of my life.

What are your personal goals?
Eventually I want to swim at a D1 college and make it to the Olympic trials.

What was your reaction when you found out you were going to state?
I remember my first individual event (50-yard freestyle) was coming to a close and I reached to the wall to stop the time. I looked up at the scoreboard to see I got the state cut, I threw my fist in the air and waved to my coaches and family. It meant a lot to finally be able to know I made it in an individual event again.

How long have you been in swimming?
I have been competitive swimming since I was 8 years old.

Why did you want to join?
I used to do swimming lessons in Owatonna at the same time as the swim team practiced and I so badly wanted to be just like them. By age five I was determined to make the 2008 Summer Olympics (which were that year). I joined tiger sharks in third grade and the rest is history!

What was your reaction when you found out you were going to state?
I was beyond excited when I looked up at the scoreboard and saw I made it, but it really didn’t sink in until the next day!
How much work went towards going to state?
Emily and I put in so much work in and out of the pool. In the pool we did lots of intense workouts and technique work, out of the pool we did dry land training and were very conscious of what we ate to fuel our bodies. Toward the end of the season, we found that having the right mindset (going into a race) is one of the most important components in swimming.

What are your personal goals?
My next goal would to be to go to a “zones” meet–a meet with people from all over the Midwest + some surrounding states! I would also like to get down to a 1:00(in the 100 backstroke) by the time track season starts.
(Zones meets are hard to get into because you have to have a qualifying time & the time I got at sections qualified me!)