Drew Hauffe, University of Illinois Laboratory High School

Background�when did you start swimming? How did you get started swimming? What teams have you swum with?

I started racing with Indian Acres in the summer when I was 5. When I was 6, I joined the Aquachiefs for winter training. Since then, I've been swimming with the Aquachiefs all year, and with Indian Acres most summers. I swim for Uni High only at the IHSA state series because we don't have a team. That means I train and compete with the Chiefs all winter, but I get the chance to swim with the other high school teams for the Sectionals and then hopefully State. I started swimming because I saw my brother doing it, but I continued to do it because I enjoyed swimming and the friends I made.

Are you excited about your final year of swimming with Urbana Uni High School and the Aquachiefs? What are your swimming goals for the year?

Finally being a senior on the Aquachiefs is a lot different from the other years, but I am enjoying being at the top of the age groups. It's hard not having a high school team to swim with, but the Aquachiefs are a good team to train with. I would like to end it really well by finally making IHSA State and YMCA Nationals.

What are your plans for college? Will you swim? What do you plan to major in?

So far I've been accepted at the Air Force Academy, West Point, and the University of Iowa (my mom's alma mater). I am leaning towards the Air Force Academy now, but I am still waiting to hear from the Naval Academy before I make a decision. My goal is to become a pilot so I am going to focus on reaching that. As far as a major, I am not sure, but I may pursue a path in medicine that would allow me to become a Flight Surgeon.

What have you learned from swimming, besides how to move through the water like a shark?

I've learned more from swimming than any other sport or activity. The main thing would probably be how to deal with pain and stress by yourself. When you're in the water all you can hear is more water going by (that includes parents, no matter how hard some may yell), so you learn to motivate yourself without anyone else telling you what to do.

Who's a better swimmer-- Drew or Justin (your older brother) Hauffe?

Me, definitely. Not even close. No really, Justin is a good swimmer and he is on the swim team at the Air Force Academy so he has experience racing some really fast college swimmers, but its difficult to say who is better. We had different kinds of training and swam different events most of the time. He has helped me out a lot throughout the years and he still gives me hints and helps me think through a lot of my races. So I'll give him his credit, he's a good swimmer.

What�s your favorite movie? Favorite food? Favorite place?

What is something about yourself that people might find surprising or interesting?

Other than sports, I really enjoy music. I listen to all kinds of music, my favorite type is probably classic rock (like Eric Clapton or The Who). I've played the piano since pre-school and trombone since the 4th grade, so I also like to make a lot of noise too. I still play the trombone in Jazz Band at school and took a Music Theory class as well.