Ivan Rodriguez
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
“I have been swimming competitively for seven years – starting in 5th grade. I have been swimming as a whole since before the age of 4.”
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a captain/senior this year?
“It’s very inspiring to se the younger swimmers challenge me while also seeing the great potential in them.”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
“Running out in the February cold at State with nothing more than a swimsuit and towel to reach the warm outdoor pool to do warm-ups. Supposedly, at least one of the adults in that pool whom I was swimming with was an Olympian, according to my fellow swimmers.”
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“Mainly just soundtracks from the video games I play. Usually fast, intense tracks like those from rhythm games or dramatic, grandiose boss fight songs are my go-to.”
Q: What is your favorite event?
“My favorite event is the 100 yard backstroke. Not only is backstroke my personal favorite, but 100 yards is just the right length for it to really be a real push without it being over in a blink or dragging on for too long.”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“It’s a really full-body workout, especially for butterfly where you need to be kicking strong and having fast arms to stay above the water.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“Prepare yourself to wake up early and make to give yourself plenty of time to get ready each morning. (Setting up multiple alarms is also a must)”
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
“Popcorn is a good, light option that I quite like when I have it.”
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“Swimming shoulder-to-shoulder with someone in practice but the both of us are unsure of who wants to take the lead and fall behind. We have to decide quick, because someone is already heading towards us and a collision is inevitable.”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke?
“Breaststroke is by far my least favorite. While Butterfly is the most difficult, I only really swim it for the first 50 of the 200 IM and rarely do 100s.”
Ava Bailey
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
“12 years”
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a senior this year?
“Cheering on peers.”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
“Sitting in the locker room after weight room, nobody moving, all tired, and collectively being silent.”
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“Hold on, We’re Going Home” by Drake and Majid Jordan
Q: What is your favorite event?
“Probably 500 free for high school, it gives you time to set a pace and hold it.”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“The commitment physically, emotionally and mentally. It takes all of your time.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“There is always another way to improve.”
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
“Smoothies.”
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“When people swim in the middle of the lane.”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke?
“Breaststroke, because i feel like a dying frog( also can’t do it period)”
Elena Amos
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
“9 years”
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a csenior this year?
“The fact that I’m a senior and it’s my last season!”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
“Every state meet.”
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“Unwritten”
Q: What is your favorite event?
“I don’t really have one because it changes every year.”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“That it can be very, very mentally challenging if you don’t drop time for years.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“Make it fun, don’t become so ‘all about swim’ at a young age.”
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
“A burger from BJ’s.”
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“When people leave less than five seconds behind you.”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke and why?
“Breaststroke because I literally can’t do it.”
Brody Burns
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
“10 years”
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a senior this year?
“My favorite part about being a captain is knowing that the underclassmen look up to me since I was once in their shoes, and using that experience to be the senior that I would’ve enjoyed being on a team with.”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
“My favorite funny memory would be sneaking out of the natatorium during practice to go run with my friend Jennings and the rest of the cross country team.”
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“Mr. Jones” – Counting Crows
Q: What is your favorite event and why?
“My favorite event is the 50 Freestyle because it’s the shortest event and the easiest to sprint.”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“I don’t think many people realize how close times can be. The determining factor of who wins a race can be decided by 1/10 of a second.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“My advice to the younger swimmers on the team would be to stay consistent with your diet and weight training.”
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
“My favorite post-practice meal is either grilled salmon or trout.”
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“My biggest pet peeve is people who make any excuse to not get in the pool.”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke?
“My least favorite stroke is backstroke because it hurts my shoulders when I try to swim it.”
Helena Rudny
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
“11 years”
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a senior this year?
“Almost being done.”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
“After the Summer Creek meet when six of us jumped in Elena’s car to get food.”
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“No hands.”
Q: What is your favorite event and why?
“Anything fly or the 500 free.”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“That it’s actually a hard sport.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“Show up even when you don’t want to.”
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
“Chick-fil-A “
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“People leaving early from the wall.”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke and why?
“My least favorite stroke is fly because it’s hard.”
Marisa Stone
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
12 years
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a senior this year?
“Be a positive light on the team.”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
“The bus coming home from region last year after we won.”
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“Any Zach Bryan song.”
Q: What is your favorite event and why?
“50 free because it is over the quickest.”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“How tiring it can get.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“Try your best everyday.”
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
“Mac and cheese”
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“When people sprint warm up.”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke?
“Breaststroke because it is hard.”
CJ Hightower
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
5 years
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a senior this year?
“Being able to help other swimmers.”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
Senior Night
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“Floral & Fading” by Pierce The Veil
Q: What is your favorite event?
“200 IM because I like doing all four strokes”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“A second is bigger than people think.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“Don’t stress too much about time drops. Focus on in-practice effort.”
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
“Cereal before practice.”
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“Slowing down when you’re leading the lane.”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke?
“Breaststroke because I’m bad at it.”
Marisa Chinen
Q: How long have you been swimming for?
“Since I was 2, so about 16 years but competitively about 12 years.”
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a senior this year?
“Being around during practices and supporting the team during meets so everyone feels good to swim good.”
Q: What is your favorite funny moment or memory you have with the team?
“Taking ice baths with the team for the first time during state and seeing everyone’s reactions.”
Q: What is your favorite pre-meet song?
“Club Can’t Handle Me” by Flo Rida featuring David Guetta
Q: What is your favorite event and why?
“I like the 200 free because it’s a mix between having to sprint extremely hard and pacing.”
Q: What’s something most people don’t realize about competitive swimming?
“It’s a lot of commitments, whether time or mental, you contribute so much of your life to this sport and it definitely takes a toll on you as you grow and have school.”
Q: What advice would you give to younger swimmers on the team?
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Swim is only one part of your life so make sure you don’t get too obsessed with just that. “
Q: What is your favorite post-practice snack or meal?
Menchies froyo
Q: What’s your biggest swimming pet peeve?
“People who sprint warm-up”
Q: What is your least favorite stroke?
“Breaststroke. I got hurt too many times during those events.”
