The Morning Swim Show, May 11, 2012: Ashley Danner Has No Regrets Choosing George Mason University

PHOENIX, Arizona, May 11. ASHLEY Danner joins today's edition of The Morning Swim Show after completing her collegiate career at George Mason University.

Danner talks about why she chose to stay close to home for college, and why she chose George Mason over the more notable universities that recruited her. She also talks about her achievements in the pool, including three top-three finishes in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA championships. With Olympic Trials looming, Danner talks about her preparation for the meet and whether that will be the end of her swimming career. Be sure to visit SwimmingWorld.TV for more video interviews.

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Morning Swim Show Transcripts
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(Note: This is an automated service where some typos and grammatical errors may occur.)

Peter Busch: Welcome to the Morning Swim Show for Friday, May 11th, 2012. I am your host Peter Busch. In the FINIS Monitor today we will talk to Ashley Danner. The senior at George Mason University was one of the best breaststrokers in college swimming in the past few years. Ashley joins us right now in the FINIS Monitor from Fairfax, Virginia. Hey Ashley, welcome to the Morning Swim Show. How are you?

Ashley Danner: Hi. I'm good thank you for having me.

Peter Busch: Oh it is a pleasure to have you. So collegeswimming.com just named you their Mid Major Female Swimmer of Year. Another congratulations for you.

Ashley Danner: Thank you.

Peter Busch: So it was a heck of a run. George Mason — a place that certainly not known for their swim program, but you end up getting second, a third, a second in the 100 breaststroke at NCAA championships. How did you end at George Mason?

Ashley Danner: I actually am from the area. I lived in Springfield my whole life and I wanted to stay close the area since I like it. It is close to DC and everything. And also I have actually — I had met Peter in high school because one of my really good friends actually used to swim for him. I thought he was a good coach and I thought it would be a good fit for me to come here and train under him.

Peter Busch: Well, it certainly worked out that is for sure.

Ashley Danner: Yeah.

Peter Busch: Now were you highly recruited out of high school? Could you have gone to in a more traditional swimming powers where you certainly would have you know swam just fine?

Ashley Danner: Yeah, I was recruited by some of the other top schools, but I think this probably was the best fit for me, and as you can tell I think it has worked well getting second at NCAA's my last year. I think that worked out well.

Peter Busch: Did part of you feel like you missed opportunities though to swim on a relay at NCAA's and you know contribute to maybe win a relay title or something like that?

Ashley Danner: Sometimes I wish I had like teammates that will come to NCAA's and been on a relay and everything, but also I think it was actually sometimes a better or a benefit for me because for NCAA's the relays are always the last thing and that always goes to like 9 or 10 o'clock at night, but for me I swim my event. I warm down everything and I live and I can go and prepare for my next race for tomorrow while the other people are still racing and probably getting a little more tired and have to wait for their whole team while I can just like get into a routine and basically kind of — the coaches will go off and what I want to do so I think in way it was kind of sad not having relays but I think it was a benefit sometimes just being by myself and just getting into a routine with my coaches.

Peter Busch: Now both times that you finished second it was to NCAA record breaking swim you had Annie Chandler, a couple of years ago and then Breeja Larson this year so I guess you were either their good luck charm or you know you really can't call them bad swims. I mean you got second to the fastest times in college swimming history.

Ashley Danner: Yeah. It was really nice swimming against them. It gave me great competition and they both of them are really nice and everything so I was really happy that I got to race them and be in a heat with them and getting fastest times and American records.

Peter Busch: Are you going to swim at Trials this summer?

Ashley Danner: Yes. I am.

Peter Busch: Now how do you consider yourself in terms of long course, short course swimmers? Do you feel comfortable in a long course pool?

Ashley Danner: Not as comfortable. I haven't really trained long course as much as short course but this summer I am trying step it up. We just started swimming long course full time now so you are going to train really hard and see how I do at trials this summer.

Peter Busch: When you go in to Omaha what are your expectations or hopes?

Ashley Danner: I am really hoping to make at least the finals heat, especially in the 100 breaststroke since I think that is my best event and also just maybe in some of my other events making the semifinals or even maybe the finals would be really nice.

Peter Busch: I think the last time we talked to you, you mentioned that you would like to keep swimming beyond this summer is that still the plan?

Ashley Danner: So far it is, I kind of just want to see how I do at trials and then I will see and I will go from there.

Peter Busch: What did you study or what do you continue to study at George Mason?

Ashley Danner: I am a sport management major.

Peter Busch: Sport Management. Okay apply that to the real world. What would be a job?

Ashley Danner: Right now I am actually looking to do an internship. I was looking to do it in ticket sales, but I also could do like PR or I could manage a team someday but so far now I would like to work in front office or ticket sales since I really like to interact with people and I just thank God would be a fun job for me to do just to start out with.

Peter Busch: Very cool, very cool. Do you graduate here coming up?

Ashley Danner: I actually am graduating in the fall because I still have an internship left I have to do.

Peter Busch: Got it. Well you know, take your time. Milk that scholarship, right? Trust me there is no rush to get out here in the real world.

Ashley Danner: Yeah that is what I have heard.

Peter Busch: You have heard right. Take your time enjoying it for sure. Well Ashley, thank you so much for joining us. Congratulations on an amazing college swimming career and good luck this summer.

Ashley Danner: Thank you. Peter Busch: All right that is Ashley Danner joining us in the FINIS Monitor today. That is it for today's show. I am Peter Bush reminding you to keep your head down at the finish.

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