Getting to know Churchill swimmer Ruby Snawder
Ruby Snawder is a senior swimmer for the Churchill Lancers. She swims butterfly, individual medley and was part of a third-place state championship relay earlier this year.
Here are 10 questions with Snawder.
1: What is your favorite thing about swimming?
“I love competing because it's really rewarding to see how well the training turns out in the end, but I also really like the bond that we form.”
2: What has been your top swimming moment so far?
“All last season was my favorite because I got to be with my friends, and it was very bittersweet because I had to let them (relay team) go at the end. It was a great moment just to be really connected. We became a lot closer, and I think it made all of us better swimmers in the end.”
3: What are your goals for this season?
“Last year at district finals I got disqualified in the 100 fly, so this year I want to make it to state in every event that I'm swimming and I think I can do that. But especially the 100 fly because that's been my race since freshman year.”
4: Three of your relay teammates you swam with graduated this spring. How are you adjusting to your new teammates?
“A lot of them swim club, so I think the most important thing that I'm trying to get across is that it's not about winning. Especially in high school, it's about being there for your team. I think a lot of us, club ingrained in you that you have to win and that's not a huge thing. Obviously, it's great to win but it's important to know that you don't need to.”
5: What do you do to unwind after a meet?
“Unwinding for me is going to bed and sleeping for 12 hours.”
6: Who is your favorite professional swimmer and why?
“I look up to Katie Ledecky because I used to want swim distance. Obviously, I like Michael Phelps because of his butterfly and Simone Manuel. It's cool to see them, especially female athletes, competing at a high level and achieving really cool things.”
7: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start swimming?
“Don't be scared. You can't be scared not to start because of where you are at. You're only going to get better.”
8: What is your favorite subject in school?
“I'm in the health pathway at Churchill. We do internships in hospitals and then we take anatomy, physiology and specific courses revolving around medicine. Right now, I'm taking health occupation so we're learning CPR, how to adjust patients and handle wounds.”
9: What got you interested in swimming?
“I started when I was 7. My mom threw me into it but I think what kept me in the sport is just I loved the aspect of competing where you get to watch how it turned out.”
10: What is your favorite thing to do outside of the pool?
“I like to go thrifting, specifically the Goodwill off Seneca Road.”