Agnes Irwin swimmer Riley Flick is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week

Q: You currently hold nine Agnes Irwin team records. Which record means to most to you, and why?

A: The record that means the most to me is probably the 200 medley relay record, which we broke at Easterns when I was a freshman. The previous record was from the late 1980’s, so going into the race, we were all hoping to break it and we did! I remember walking back to our team and everyone was so happy for us, it was truly a great feeling.

Q: What has been your best memory at Easterns – can you share it with us?

A: My best memory at Easterns is last year when Agnes Irwin placed fifth overall.  Agnes Irwin had never placed that high before, so it was a great moment for the team as well as the school. What made the moment even more special was that I was able to share it with my incredible teammates.  We were overjoyed, and I have never been more proud of our team.

Q: What do you think is your best event, and what do you think are your particular keys to success in that event?

A: I think that my best event is probably the 100 butterfly. My strength in this event is my underwater kicks off of the wall. They are a crucial aspect to any race, and often work well to my advantage.

Q: Against Springside Chestnut Hill recently, you finished first in four events and broke your personal record in the 100 free. What was the key to your success in the 100 free that day – did you sense that you were breaking your record while you were in action?

A: During the race, I had no idea that I would break my record, I was just focused on getting to the wall first and as fast as I could. When I found out that I had broken my previous record, I was thrilled.

Q: What (to you) has been your most memorable experience in your Agnes Irwin swimming career? Can you share it with us?

A: Other than placing fifth at Easterns last year, my most memorable experiences during my Agnes Irwin swimming career have been those times spent bonding with my team. We have such a great group of girls who get along well both in and out of the pool. Whether that is cheering each other on at a meet or having a team breakfast after practice, we always manage to have a fun time together. I could not ask for a better group of girls to spend so much of my time with.

 

Q: Can you walk us through a typical day, or cycle, of training?

A: A typical practice for me consists of warming up, stretching, swimming a pre-set and then a main set. The main set can be anything from a sprint freestyle set on short-rest intervals to a distance IM or prime stroke set. I practice Monday – Saturday, with additional practice sessions Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school from 5:30-7:30 a.m. We also do dryland workouts after practice three days a week.

Q: What aspect of your swimming have you been working on the most recently?

A: Recently, I have been working on accelerating into the wall before my turns so that I can have more energy to convert into a fast flip and push off of the wall. A fast turn combined with strong underwater kicks off of the wall can really help set me up for a faster lap.

Q: What pool did you first swim for? What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?

A: The first team that I joined was Malvern Swimming Association when I was 7. My favorite place to swim is probably the Suburban Seahawks Club in Newtown Square. I am lucky to be a part of such a talented group of swimmers and coaches, and consider it to be my second home.

Q: Who have been your biggest swimming mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?

A: I am very fortunate to have had three outstanding coaches throughout my swimming career – Mike Robinson, Becky Mackrell and Charlie Kennedy. Each of them has made such a lasting impact on my life (both in and out of the pool), and I cannot thank them enough for their continual support of me. Under Mike Robinson at Radnor Aquatic Club (where I used to swim), I learned to “leave it all in the pool.”  His philosophy was that if I could easily climb out of the pool after a race, I didn’t swim hard enough.  Becky has taught me to not psych myself out before my races, and just have fun. Charlie has taught me the importance of getting out of my comfort zone because “if I do what I’ve always done, then I’m going to get what I’ve always gotten.”

Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation the day of a meet.

A: The day of the meet, I will eat a complex carb two hours before I swim, and a banana an hour before I swim for energy. I also enjoy listening to music and laughing with my friends. I have found that when I’m relaxed and having fun, I swim faster.

Q: What (to you) has been the highlight of your swimming career outside of Agnes Irwin?

A: One of the most exciting moments of my swimming career was JO’s (Junior Olympics) when I was 14. I remember that the atmosphere was very electric, and I felt great going into all my races,.  I dropped time in all of my events. In addition, I was proud to be part of three winning relay teams.  I think the reason I did so well was that I was relaxed and laughing with my friends the majority of the time. I also went into each race with the mindset that I would just give it my all and hope for the best.

Q: What colleges are among your current favorites? What do you think you might want to major in at college? Is there a particular career path that interests you?

A: I have been looking at schools all over the East Coast, and I am currently in the process of narrowing down my choices. As for my intended major, I have been leaning towards business and economics, but I also really enjoy my history and language classes (French and Latin).

Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Agnes Irwin? What sparked your interest in these activities?

A: I write for Frenish, which is our school’s French and Spanish publication. I take French at AIS, and really enjoy it, so Frenish is a great way for me to use my knowledge of the language outside of the class. I am also a part of IIG (Investing in Girls – a financial education program), which sparked my business interests. I am also a member of the AIS for IMS and the Current Events club. AIS for IMS is a community service club that raises money and collects items for underfunded schools in Philadelphia. I really enjoy this club because we also get to visit these children a couple times each year. They are always so excited to see us and truly appreciate us being there. Current Events club is a great way to stay informed on what is going on in the world. It is also a nice way to take a break during the school day to discuss local, national and international issues. I am also a member of CAG (Center for the Advancement of Girls), which is an organization that educates young women to be leaders in their community. And when I have a free period, I give tours for prospective families at AIS.

Fun facts – Riley Flick

Favorite book: Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand; and The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison.

Favorite author: Lois Lowry.

Favorite TV show: Friends.

Favorite movie: Catch Me If You Can.

Favorite place to visit:  “I had the opportunity to go to White Mountain, Alaska this summer with my school. While there, we set up a camp for the local children at their school, and it was such an incredible experience that I wish I could relive.”

Person I most admire: “I admire both my Mom and Dad because they are always encouraging me to be the best that I can be. They are my greatest supporters, and I cannot thank them enough for what they do for me.”

Family members: father Larry, mother Alison and sister Lily (age 14).

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her school.)