Hometown: Katonah, NY

Major: Economics

Campus Activities: Member of Swimming & Diving team. Member of Sigma Delta Tau

Q: Can you briefly explain how you started Swimming? How was your experience on the Swimming team in high school?

A: My parents were swimmers back in the day and I have always been a huge fan of the water. It seemed natural to try out swimming. I loved swimming in high school, meet some of my best friends through swimming, but nothing compares to the bonds you make playing a collegiate level sport.

Q: How has your experience been playing at Union College and the differences between high school and college?

A: Swimming in college is more specialized, instead of swimming lots of freestyle, which I did in high school, I am able to train my best events. I also never lifted before I came to Union, and in season we lift three times a week, so that was a large change that helped me improve tremendously.

Q: Do you have any Pre-game rituals?

A: I like to visualize myself swimming each lap of the race to mentally prepare. Once you are competing at a championship meet swimming becomes a mental sport and it’s your ability to understand this that makes all the difference between swimming a great race and a poor one.

Q: What are your favorite things about being on the Union Swimming team?

A: My teammates are incredible. They can always put a smile on my face during a hard practice and I can always rely on them to be there for me

Q: What has been the highlight of your athletic career so far?

A: I was named Honorable Mention All-American and Scholar All-American last year after I competed in NCAA nationals for DIII and placed 11th in the 400 IM. I hope to qualify for the 2018-2019 season and place top 8 in one of my events.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about the Swimming team?

A: We were the intramural co-ed softball champions last Spring.

Q: How do you think playing a sport has influenced your experience at union?

A: It has definitely made a large impact on my life here at Union. You truly have to have great time management skills during the season. I also have been able to experience DIII nationals for the past two years and it was a phenomenal opportunity to be a part of a large and challenging competition.

Q: What is your favorite thing to eat on campus?

A: Huge fan of the Garlic Nott pizza.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Union?

A: The people, especially my teammates, and being able to play a sport and be a part of greek life.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Schenectady and why?

A: Peter Pause. I love the homefries and their coffee after a long Saturday morning Practice.

Q: What is a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

A: I am obsessed with potatoes. Doesn’t matter how they are prepared. I don’t discriminate.

Q: What are your interests outside of Swimming?

A: I love crashing weddings for the free booze.

Q: Who/ what serves as your biggest inspiration?

A: My parents. I love being able to put a smile on their faces as I compete.

Q: What are your goals for after graduation?

A: Hopefully, I will get a job. One of my long term goals is to open a brewery.