Q: What is your earliest memory of playing the sport? Please describe the scene in detail.

A: My earliest memory is when I was doing summer swim in New Jersey. The scene looked like this: it was a hot summer day, me and my teammates took a picture with one of the fastest kids on our team who grew up to hold national age group records. And he wished me good luck on my race. 5 years old.

Q: What made you stick with your sport all these years?

A: My parents thought that it would be good for me, so I obeyed them. 

Q: Was there ever a time when you wanted to stop playing your sport? If so how did you push through?

A: Yes, it becomes a lot when I have to go to practice very far away six days a week. 

Q: Who are some of your athletic heroes, people you look up to in your sport? Why do they stand out?

A: One of my teammates, Cole Venters. Though we weren’t super close, I saw him working very hard everyday at practice, and when he caught me slacking, he made sure I stayed on track. 

Q: What factors led you to sign with the college/university that you chose? What made that school stand out?

A: I went on my official visit, and that was the first official visit I’ve ever been on. The campus was amazing, and the coaches reached out to me a lot. Seeing their interest in me was a great feeling, and I loved the team. I had other visits planned that month, but the coach gave me a great offer, and as I said, I loved so much about it.

Q: What course of study or major do you plan to pursue at your college or university?

A: I plan to major in communications and do a minor in marketing. This will help me in the multiple paths I am planning on pursuing. 

Q: What are you looking forward to the most while playing a sport while attending college?

A: I am looking forward to the team comradery as well as having a built-in group of friends when I get to college. 

Q: What are you anxious about as you transition to attend and play in college?

A: I am anxious of being away from home for long periods of time because during the season I won’t be able to leave the school.

Q: What is one thing you would change about your recruiting/signing process and why?

A: I wish I considered Milligan earlier. I waited a long time, and it was a last minute decision.

Q: It is hard for a school to tick all the boxes a student athlete might have. What are some sacrifices you had to make in order to attend your chosen school?

A: I think Milligan did a very good job in ticking my boxes. I don’t think there’s much more they could have done to make me more satisfied. 

Q: What advice would you give to the next class of student athletes who will go through the process of recruitment?

A: I would say sometimes it is going to take longer than you think. And to not get discouraged if certain options don’t work out because if it didn’t work, it wasn’t meant to be. 

Q: What advice would you give to your past self regarding your athletic career?

A: I would say to take a little bit of pressure off me. I was very stressed about things I didn’t need to be stressed about. 

Q: Who are some people you would like to thank for helping you get to where you are today? How did they assist you?

A: The big G-O-D first, Amen. Gave me some guidance on what I should be doing in life. Other than that my teammates for constant motivation even though they knew that sometimes I was in a rough patch, help me feel more enjoyable. And my parents because they are the ones that ultimately kept me in the sport. 

Q: What is your favorite memory as a Cougar athlete?

A: I have two favorite memories. One, we placed at states. Two,  when I won conference for my individual event.