Alyssa Petruzzello, Centennial High School

 

When did you start swimming? How did you get started? What teams or clubs have you swum with?

I grew up in the summers at Indian Acres but hated going in the pool until I was about 3 or 4. I took swim lessons at IA and then joined the swim team. I started swimming competitively with Aquachiefs when I was 6 years old because my brother was joining. I have been swimming with Aquachiefs/Heat ever since and I also swam with the Centennial girl's team during the high school season.

 

What are your college plans? What will you major in?

I am going be a Fighting Illini! I'm going to Illinois and will be swimming there as well. I have not yet decided what my major will be but I am leaning towards secondary education.

 

What have you learned from swimming?

 

I have learned countless things from being a swimmer my whole life. It has taught me how to work hard for something that I want and how to set goals and to push myself and not give up until I reach them. It has also taught me how to manage my time so that I am able to balance school, swimming, family, and friends and still have time to eat and sleep!

 

What is your favorite swimming memory?

My favorite swimming memory is when I qualified for Y-Nationals for the first time in eighth grade. It had been a goal of mine to make the 100 fly cut for two years before and I was so excited to finally make my dream a reality. When I got out of the pool, Erica Cromwell (who was a junior at the time) picked me up and spun me around. It was a great feeling knowing all of my hard work had paid off.

 

What is your favorite event? Least favorite?

My favorite event is definitely the 100 butterfly. I'm not sure that I have a least favorite since I've finally grown to like the infamous 200 fly.

 

What is your favorite movie? Favorite food? Favorite place?

 

Cinderella Man is one of my favorite movies. It's a little sad at the beginning, but it's very inspirational. I also love P.S. I Love You and Stealth.
My favorite food is chocolate ice cream. There's nothing better than coming home from a really hard practice and having a huge bowl after dinner. It's hard to pick one place as my favorite, but I definitely look forward to Y-Nats in Fort Lauderdale, FL every year. This is my fifth year going and it'll be bittersweet going one last time! I also love Indian Acres. I practically spend my summers there and it's been a part of my life as long as I can remember.

What 3 people would you invite to dinner?

Bruce Miller, Payton Johnson, and my brother Tony.

 

Tell us something about yourself that people might find surprising or interesting.

I absolutely hate peanut butter! People are amazed that I'm not a fan. Also, I have had my hair cut short so I could donate it to Locks of Love for cancer patients (twice!).