Fresno State Athletics
Q & A with Kelli Sargent
12/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 16, 2008
FRESNO, Calif.- Junior swimmer Kelli Sargent has helped lead the Bulldog swimming and diving team to a successful first half of the season. She sat down www.gobulldogs.com to answer a few questions.
GoBulldogs.com: When and where did you first learn to swim?
Kelli Sargent: "I first learned how to swim in a backyard pool through swim lessons at the age of five. I have no idea which pool because there were so many."
GB: How did you get started swimming competitively?
KS: "I joined a summer swim program when I was seven to give me something to do throughout the summer and loved my coach. She convinced me to stick around through the winter and swim year around."
GB: What has been your greatest accomplishment so far as an athlete?
KS: "My greatest accomplishment would probably be my freshman year at Modesto Junior College. I missed 12 weeks of the season due to a serious illness and it was too late to medical redshirt, so I came back for conference championships. I was released to swim and dive the Monday before conference championships on a Thursday. Our coach wrote us letters before we left for the meet that pretty much said good luck...it is the end of the season...and things for us to concentrate on in our races.' Mine pretty much said nothing is expected of me and basically try to pull something out of myself and I did just that. I won the 100 freestyle and got second in the 50 freestyle and helped four relays win at conference and final at state. As a team we won conference and finished seventh at state. My greatest accomplishment would be coming back at the very last minute still feeling the effects of being sick and helping them break relay records and win."
GB:What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
KS: "Making finals at WAC is my main goal but also helping to make sure our team paves the path for future bulldog swimmers. The time that we dropped last weekend in San Luis Obispo was amazing and if that is any indication of how we will do at WAC Championship then it should be a lot of fun with a lot of fast times."
GB: Who was your most influential role model?
KS: "When I was younger I looked up to the "senior swimmers" on the team and as I've grown older and moved up the ladder in swimming I really look up to Olympic swimmer Dara Torres She has done incredible things at her age, even after numerous surgeries and having a daughter."
GB: How has your experience in swimming helped you now and on this team?
KS: "Well nothing I've done compares to Division 1 swimming but JC (junior college) swimming was a great transition from being a high school swimmer to a Bulldog. I was used to strenuous dry land workouts and the amount of hours spent in the pool each week. I think being `broken down' before has helped me stay positive and more focused as help my teammates stay positive at the end of long weeks."
GB: What was the best advice you ever received from a coach?
KS: "RACE and FINISH! It's not fun to get beat in the last five yards of a race. It doesn't do any good to lead whole way and die under the flags. I have to keep reminding myself that."
GB: What's your most memorable moment in sports?
KS: "When the Kings beat the Lakers on Christmas day years back and anytime when the Kings beat the Lakers period."
GB: What is your favorite food?
KS: "Steak...I love beef."
GB: What is your nickname (if you have one)?
KS: "Anything along the lines of Kel and Sarg."
GB: What has been your biggest athletic thrill thus far this season?
KS: "Winning a relay at the Cal Poly meet. It was our first and it really got our adrenaline pumping."
GB: Why did you choose Fresno State?
KS: "I grew up wanting to go to Fresno State and I can't remember why exactly, I just knew that's where I wanted to go. Bringing back the swim program the year I was transferring helped too."
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State swimming and diving team brings in the new year Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 on the campus of UC Davis against the Aggies and the Spartans of San Jose State at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
