Q: What factors led you to choose Pomona College?
A: It was the best fit for me academically and athletically. I loved the environment, the coaches, and the team. It’s also a great school, which was really important to me, so it felt like the right balance of everything I wanted.
Q: What are you most excited about when it comes to swimming in college?
A: I’m excited for the higher level of competition, more individualized training, and being surrounded by teammates who are all motivated to swim fast. I think it’s going to be a really fun experience.
Q: What do you plan to major in, and why?
A: I’m planning to pursue a double major in math and economics, likely with a focus on applied math or statistics. I’ve always been really interested in math, and I’m considering a career in finance, so adding economics makes sense and is something I enjoy.
Q: What high school swimming accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: Breaking some Santa Barbara Swim Club team records. Those are fast times, and it means a lot to leave my mark on the program.
Q: Who have been your biggest inspirations in swimming?
A: One of my biggest role models has been Cooper Costello, who’s now swimming at UChicago. He was a senior when I was a freshman and really helped keep me motivated. I’ve also been inspired by all of my coaches over the years.
Q: What advice would you give to students trying to get recruited?
A: Start the process earlier than you think. Especially at the Division III level, you need to advocate for yourself and put yourself out there. Communication is the most important thing; coaches need to know you as a person, not just your times. And remember to choose the program that’s best for you, not just what the college wants.
Q: If you could swim in any liquid besides water, what would it be and why?
A: I’d want to try swimming in something like maple syrup. I remember MythBusters tested this and found that, even though syrup has more drag than water, you can actually pull harder against it. Supposedly, it ends up being about the same speed as swimming in water. That just sounds crazy to experience, so I’d want to try it.
Q: What does a typical college swimming training schedule look like?
A: College swimming is pretty intense. You usually have about six practices per week, typically every afternoon for around two hours in the pool. On top of that, there are usually two to three morning practices each week, where we’ll swim a bit and then lift weights. There are also dual meets almost every weekend, so it’s a pretty demanding schedule overall.
Q: What has been one major challenge in your swimming career?
A: Injuries have definitely been a big challenge. I’ve had multiple shoulder injuries and have also injured my back. Working through injuries is just part of the sport. It often means stepping back from training and focusing on physical therapy instead of getting time in the pool. That part is tough because you feel like you’re not improving, but it’s necessary. I’ve worked through those setbacks, and they’ve made me more resilient.
Q: What do you focus on in your training to improve performance?
A: A lot of our training focuses on building power rather than just strength. In the weight room, we do a lot of back-focused exercises like pull-ups, including weighted pull-ups. We also incorporate plyometrics, like box jumps and weighted jumps, to build explosiveness. On top of that, we do traditional lifts like bench press and Olympic lifts like hang cleans. Overall, it’s all about developing power that translates into the water.
Q: What animal do you envision yourself as when you’re swimming?
A: A shark. You really can’t go wrong with that.
