Catching Up with National Junior Team Member Erin Earley

erin-earley-winter-junior-nationals-2014
Photo Courtesy: Melissa Lundie

By Diana Pimer, Swimming World College Intern

Erin Earley is a member of the USA Swimming National Junior Team. She is currently a sophomore at Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut. Unlike many other high school sophomores, Earley has spent the last month traveling the country.

This month, Earley traveled to Mesa, Ariz., Colorado Springs, Colo., and celebrated her 16th birthday. While it is not easy to catch up to Earley in the pool, Swimming World was able to catch her for a few minutes to get an update on her training, school work, and what it’s like being on a small club team.

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

SW: What was your last big meet?

EE: It was Mesa Arizona Pro Series.

SW: How do you think you did there?

EE: I think I did well in some events. Others were not as good. Backstroke did not go very well. I think it was because of the sun. I kept hitting the lane line! I was all over the lane. And my 400 IM was awful, especially my fly.

SW: Is it hard missing school for these events?

EE: Yes, I have a lot of work to make up. But my teachers give me enough time to do it all, they are very accommodating.

SW: What’s your favorite event and why?

EE: The 200 backstroke because it’s the one I’ve had the most success with.

SW: What’s your least favorite event and why?

EE: The 400 IM- it really is just the worst event.

SW: What is it like when you race against big names like Elizabeth Beisel?

EE: I don’t really know. I just think of them as regular swimmers and normal people.

Photo Courtesy: Hopkins Mariner Swim Team

Photo Courtesy: Hopkins Mariner Swim Team

SW: How was your recent trip to the Olympic Training Center?

EE: We went to the OTC for the National Jr. Team Camp. It was a lot of fun, we had to hike up Pike’s Peak. That was very hard. I didn’t think I was going to make it, but eventually I did. Once we got to the top it was really fun.

SW: You have gotten individual All-American swims before. How did it feel to get the relay All-American swim this high school season?

EE: We didn’t think we were going to do much in the 200 free relay. We were going for the school record and ended up going All-American which was very surprising, but we were all so excited for that.

SW: What’s your favorite part about high school season?

EE: I love the energy and everyone cheering behind you. I usually don’t get that at the bigger meets because I always travel alone. But my team always texts me and snap chats me and tells me good luck or good job.

SW: Tell us a little about your training regimen.

EE: Well Monday and Friday I have both morning and afternoon practice. I weight-train three times a week for an hour. All my weekday morning practices are one-and-half hours, while my night practices are either two or two-and-half hours depending on the day.

erin-earley-winter-junior-nationals-2014

Photo Courtesy: Melissa Lundie

SW: You’ve had the same coach your whole time at HMST, correct?

EE: Yes, I’ve had Chuck Elrick as my coach since I started with HMST. He likes to joke around with me all the time.

SW: You just turned 16, did you do anything special?

EE: We did go to my favorite restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings, and then we got an ice cream cake. There were also 3 x 1000s that day.

SW: How is it having 6 siblings to support?

EE: It’s good for the most part. Just some of them aren’t living here right now because they are older than me. [Earley has 3 older siblings in or graduated from college, one going to college next year, and 2 younger siblings].

SW: What else do you like to do aside from swimming?

EE: I do get to play water polo for Hopkins, which I really enjoy.

SW: What are your plans for this upcoming long course season?

EE: My next big meet will probably be Nationals. We may be going to California before that for the Fran Crippen meet. But at Nationals I should have a full meet with my distance races in addition to my backstroke.

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Christian Alberga
8 years ago

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