Anna Wambach, Urbana High School

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

I had my first swim lesson at age 1, but did not start competing with the Windsor summer team until I was 9. During this rather large gap, I tried almost every sport under the sun. Then at age 11, I started swimming year round for Storm Aquatics. After my junior year High School swim season (2003), I switched to Aquachiefs and that is where I am today.

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?

I am pumped for this season and totally excited for another trip down to Florida for Y Nationals. My swimming goals are to give a 100% in every race. Because that way there will not be a lingering question in my mind "what if . . ." Along with that comes the wish to go under 2 minutes in my 200 freestyle and break 56 in my 100 free.

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

Well, next year I will attend Edith-Stein-Schule in Darmstadt, Germany. This will give me an opportunity to perfect my German language skills and to learn about German and European history, politics and just be exposed to the culture. After that year, I am hoping to come back to the US to study at the University of Illinois. I am not sure what I am going to major in, but I want to study something law related, my lifetime goal being to become a judge. And as far as swimming goes I will be competing next year for DSW 12 in Darmstadt, but in college, sadly, I will not be swimming for a team. As weird as that might be I feel it is time to move on and concentrate on my studies, but do not be surprised to find me running and doing laps at some campus pool.

How does swimming differ in Germany and the U.S.?

Swimming is not too different except for a few things: they swim meters instead of yards, holiday practices are completely different, and there is a lot of dry land. For holiday practice each year the team goes on a trip to have a training camp in other places or countries. In January 2005, they went to Slovenia. The swimmers had doubles but also spent time skiing. This would be a lot of fun because it provides bonding time among the swimmers and allows the break to be more fun than being stuck at home. But it is a lot easier for them since German schools do not give homework over break. And for dry land, when the weather gets warmer the team runs, lifts, plays soccer and ultimate frisbee. German High Schools don't have after school sports teams but the city supports the local sport teams so the monthly membership fee for year round swimming in Darmstadt is approx. $13 which allows everyone interested in the sport to participate.

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

Swimming teaches you time management. Oh man, I cannot begin to tell you how much I had to learn to manage my time so that I would get at least 8 hours of sleep. But it also teaches you to have motivation and you make a lot of great friends.

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

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

Well, I am not sure how many people know this but I am definitely 16, making me the youngest in the UHS graduating class.