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Third-year Katherine McDonnell and the Virginia swimming and diving teams will take a break this week from training to celebrate the holidays. The Cavaliers are back in action Jan. 7 at Florida. McDonnell, a native of nearby Culpeper, Va., recently sat down with VirginiaSports.com to chat about the holidays, her favorite gift as a child, her favorite event to swim and her future in nursing.
Question: How would you describe the season so far?
McDonnell: This season has been pretty incredible. Honestly, I can hardly believe how well everyone is swimming. Last year, ACCs was such an incredible experience and looking back, I just think about how we are going to duplicate that season. We had the perfect ACC meet. But looking at where we are now, I feel like it is not going to be a problem at all. We are all in such good spirits and the cohesiveness of the team is above and beyond where it was last year. I am really excited to see where the team is going to go this year.
Question: You were named a co-captain before the season started. What did that mean to you and how would you describe your role?
McDonnell: Being named a captain was a great honor but at the same time it is just a title. I just want to be a leader to every single person on the team. I want to be someone everyone can look up to and who people can come to me if anything is bothering them or if anything needs to be addressed. I want to be a leader.
Question: How did you get started swimming?
McDonnell: My mom was a swimmer growing up. She is actually in the Hall of Fame at Clemson. She threw me in the pool when I was four or five and coached the summer league teams. I got into it during the summers then started swimming year-round when I was seven or eight. I have been doing it ever since.
Question: What was the path like for you to come to UVa? Did you always want to come to school here?
McDonnell: I came to a swimming camp here when I was 10 years old. I had such a great time. I loved the campus, the pool, everything. It was such a great experience. So after that week of camp, it became a dream. I was never really fast enough growing up so it always seemed like an unattainable goal. Then when I got to high school I really pushed myself to get better.
Question: Do you have a favorite Coach Bernardino quote or saying?
McDonnell: I would have to say, “mean, gnarly, nasty, not nice” from last year. I know people have said that one before but it really epitomizes what we need to be in order to be successful. We can’t back down for one second. We have to be tough to win.
Question: What is your favorite event to swim?
McDonnell: That is a tough one. I would have to say swimming on the relays. I am a big relay swimmer and I take a lot of pride in swimming for this team.
Question: What are your plans for the holidays?
McDonnell: I will be here, basically until the 24th, training with Mark. I think Lee (Robertson) will be here too since he is a local guy. I’ll go home and have Christmas with my family. We always go to church on Christmas Eve so that is something to look forward to. After that, I am just planning on training really hard.
Question: What is the best gift you ever received as a kid?
McDonnell: My best gift would be my horse in the eighth grade. I’m big into riding and my parents got me a nice horse and that was the best present they ever could have given me. It was from Germany so we named it Fruhling, which means, “spring.”
Question: What else do you like to do for fun?
McDonnell: A couple of my friends and I go to NASCAR races when they are in the state or whatever, so that is something we look forward to. Sometimes we get together on Sundays and sit around and watch the races.
Question: Do you have a favorite driver?
McDonnell: Dale Jr., No. 88.
Question: What is your major?
McDonnell: I’m a psychology major right now and I am thinking of applying to the nursing school. I don’t know if I am going to do the bachelor’s program or the master’s program but I think nursing is my calling.
Question: What has been your favorite class at UVa?
McDonnell: I really liked the sociology class called Death and Dying. I thought it was interesting and the professor was really nice. He was a really good lecturer.
Question: What is your favorite spot on Grounds?
McDonnell: Totally clichd, but it has to be the Lawn. Especially this time of year with the lights, it is so pretty.