Jordan Branham, Champaign Centennial High School

 

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

I started swimming competitively when I was 5 for the Sholem Sharks and for Storm Aquatics. My parents made me start swimming because they thought it was a skill everyone should have. I continued to swim with Storm until I was 13. Then I moved to Michigan and swam on East Grand Rapids Aquatics and later on the East Grand Rapids High School Boys swim team. I have now just completed the second of two swim seasons with the Centennial Boys swim team.

 

Are you excited about your final year of swimming with your high school and the HEAT? What are your swimming goals for the year?

I am/was very excited about final year of high school swimming. I am not yet sure of whether or not I will be swimming in college, so this could potentially be my final year swimming. I have been having to deal with some shoulder problems, so that was somewhat of a setback. At this point, my goal is to just have some fun and swim some good times at Y Nationals because that might possibly be my last meet of my swimming career.

 

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

So far, I am still waiting to hear back from colleges, so that is to be decided. This is also true with college swimming, because depending on what school I attend, swimming may or may not be an option, so I will make that decision when I come to it. I plan to major in political science.

 

What have you learned from swimming?

I have learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. All of these skills developed in swimming have helped me greatly in other aspects of my life.

 

What is your favorite swimming memory?

Either of my two trips to IHSA State.

 

What is your favorite event? Least favorite event?

My favorite event is the 100 free because it is like a long sprint. I hate distance events, which is probably why I've never ventured to swim anything longer than the 500.

 

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

My favorite movie would probably have to be Office Space. I really like Chinese and Mexican foods, and also trying out different ethnic foods as well. My favorite place would be Hawaii.

 

What 3 people would you invite to dinner?

Probably some of my friends from Michigan: Anthony Vander Kolk, Ryan Oechsler, and Spencer Blanchard.

 

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

I am kind of a big history nerd. I especially love to read books about the World War II era.