Albert Lea sophomore is headed to state in 2 events

Q: What grade are you in?

A: 10th grade.

Q: What town do you live in, and which school do you attend?

A: Albert Lea and I attend Albert Lea High School.

Q: Who is your immediate family?

A: Dad, Craig; mom, Jennifer; brothers William and Jacob.

Q: Which sports do you play?

A: Girls’ swimming and diving.

Q: What is your favorite part of swimming?

A: My team is my family to me. We’ve seen each other through all the ups and downs life has thrown at us.

Q: What has swimming taught you?

A: It has taught me that sometimes things are more mental than physical.

Q: What’s your favorite sports memory?

A: My favorite memory is from the Big Nine Tournament this year. I was getting ready to swim the 50-yard freestyle. I was seeded in sixth place and put in the outside lane. When the race began to come to a close, I remember finishing into the wall and looking up at the board to see I got my hand to the wall first. All my hard work had paid off.

Q: How did you get started in swimming?

A: I started when I was 11. My parents decided to take me out of swim lessons and put me on the Tigersharks swim team. The rest is history.

Q: What sports did your family members play?

A: My mom was in dance and volleyball in high school, and continued dance in college.

My dad was a wrestler in high school. My brothers both swim.

Q: What are your sports-related achievements?

A: Swimming at the state swim meet every year since seventh grade. My eighth- and ninth-grade years, our team earned third place.

Q: What are your sports-related goals?

A: My goals have expanded through the years. I want to swim at Speedo meets, junior nationals and the Olympic trials. I would also like to swim at a division one college.

Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete? Why?

A: Michael Andrew, who turned professional at age 14 and is now 17.

Q: What are your college plans? Major?

A: I would like to go to the University of Minnesota and swim. Right now, I’m currently interested in majoring in elementary education with the hopes of becoming a teacher.

Q: What is your favorite school subject?

A: Biology and history.

Q: Who is your favorite teacher?

A: Hoang Tran and Kurt Barickman.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Photography, drawing, playing the violin and listening to music.

Q: What is your dream job?

A: A marine biologist.

Q: What is your favorite TV show?

A: “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Q: What is an interesting fact about you?

A: I recently started doing Crossfit this past offseason.