Jon Vimr, Champaign Central High School

Background: When did you start swimming? How did you get started swimming? What teams have you swam with?
I began swimming at the age of seven as my older brother (Ross) had been swimming for awhile before me. My parents wanted me to get me involved in sports (soccer didn't work out) and it was the natural choice. In my entire ten-ish years I have only ever swam with the Aquachiefs and the Central team.

Are you excited about your final year of swimming with Champaign Central High School and the Aquachiefs? What are your swimming goals for the year?
Yes, I am very excited for this season and I'll definitely miss both the teams as I move on. As for goals, I want to try to qualify for the IHSA state meet in an individual event as I've been close before but have only been to the meet in relays.

Word on the street says that you are headed to Oberlin College and that you plan to swim. Is this correct? What do you plan to major in?
Yes, it is correct that I will attend Oberlin and will swim. I intend to major in Classics or Ancient Civilization.

What have you learned from swimming?
Probably what I've learned most from swimming is humility. Swimming is an exceedingly humbling sport as best times are sparse over the course of an entire year and everything seems to come slow.

What is your favorite swimming memory?
I would have to say that my favorite swimming memory was when I was the tender age of 10 and qualified for the Age Group State (formerly known as Junior Olympics) for my first time in the 100 Backstroke. It was at the outdoor pool in Quincy and as I swam along in my gutter lane a certain Aquachief parent was going crazy on the side the entire race (yelling at me to kick and swim fast).

What is your favorite event? Least favorite event?
My favorite event has got to be 100 I.M., but I sadly can't do it anymore other than at the little YMCA meets before the high school season starts. My least favorite is probably the 200 Breastroke becauseit takes what seems like ten minutes and breastroke in and of itself is so slow and monotonous, at least for me.

What's your favorite movie? Favorite food? Favorite place?
Favorite movie is a tough one to call, but I'd probably say Gladiator, but it seems to change fairly often. Favorite food is a good cheeseburger and my favorite place has gotta be Jacobs Field (home of the Cleveland Indians).

What 3 people would you invite to dinner?
If I could invite three people to dinner I would go with Homer (the classical writer, not the T.V. one), Travis Hafner (a Cleveland Indian), and Jack Bauer.

Tell us something about yourself that people might find surprising or interesting.
I've never been very good at this kind of thing, but maybe that I read and write a whole lot more than many may think. I have been on the school paper for three years and, time willing, may do the same in college and I read a lot of dense, boring books about stuff that happened 2,500 years ago, but I love reading it nonetheless.