Q: What got you into swimming in the first place?A: I started swimming because one of my friend’s mom had decided that she was going to start him in summer league swimming. So, I kind of just followed suit, and I ended up staying in it longer than he did.
Q: When did you start swimming?
A: I was eight when I started swimming in the summers. It led me into eventually starting high school swimming. When I finished my freshman year, I started swimming club, which is a year-round deal.
Q: What is it like to swim for TCU?
A: It’s a blast. I really enjoy it. I enjoy working hard in practice and motivating my teammates.
Q: What is it like swimming for your country?
A: Actually, I have an Olympic trial cut, so I have a chance to go. Realistically, it’s going to be pretty tough to make it, but I’m going to get out there and give my best effort to see how close I can come. Right now, I’m really not representing USA swimming, but I’m good enough to have a chance at going.
Q: What are you doing to prepare for the Olympic trials?
A: Lots of training with TCU. Next summer, when I’m out of school, I’ll be training a lot with my club team Dallas Mustangs.
Q: How much time do you spend practicing?
A: Probably about 20 to 25 hours a week. It’s a lot of work, but it pays off, obviously.
Q: How do you feel about the upcoming season with TCU?
A: This year is going to be really good. We’re going to have a lot of pressure to do better than we did last year. A lot of school records are going to be broken from a relay standpoint. It involves a few individuals like Scott McCracken in the 50 and even the 100, and then Yousif Del Valle might have a shot at the 200. We have a really spread out program. Aran Bean is going to have a real good shot at getting the breaststroke record. Guillermo Ramirez and I are going to have a real good shot at taking the backstroke record even more. We’re just looking forward to it; it’s going to be a good year.
Q: What do you in your free time outside of swimming?
A: Lately, I like to play old Nintendo like the orginal Mario game. My buddy Cameron Allred and I will go home and play Mario all the time. It’s a lot of fun.
