Academy of Notre Dame swimmer Michaela McGeary is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The junior captain finished second in the 100 back and fifth in the 200 free at Easterns, where she also helped two Irish relay teams finish in the top seven. She broke school records in the 200 free, 100 back, and 400 free relay. An Easterns finalist as a sophomore, she has been one of Notre Dame’s leading point scorers the last three seasons.
Q: What do you think was the biggest key to your success in the 100 back and 200 free at Easterns? Can you share with us your favorite memory from this year’s Easterns?
A: I have really been working hard on improving my turns and under waters this year, so I think that was a huge key to my success in both of my races at Easterns. My favorite memory from Easterns is probably making it to A finals in three out of four of my events. It was special to be presented with my medals from one of my old coaches Bob Kupperman and my current coach Brigit Barry.
Q: You’ve broken school records in the 200 free, 100 back and 400 free relay. Which of those record-setting efforts was the most memorable to you? Can you share with us your most vivid memory of that race?
A: My most memorable record is the 100 backstroke. The record was originally held by my [Notre Dame] coach Brigit Barry, so when I broke it for the first time last year at National Catholics, she was so happy for me. I was very determined going into Easterns this year to break my own record.
Q: You’ve been part of a recent rise in the fortunes of the Notre Dame swimming team. What (to you) has been the most memorable experience of your Notre Dame swimming career?
A: Having been swimming at Easterns with Notre Dame for the past five years, it has been amazing to watch the team progress. We have improved our team standing each year and are able to get more and more girls back to finals. My most memorable experience on the team is breaking the 400 freestyle relay record because it was a record we had been working to break for the past three years.
Q: As a junior and a leading swimmer on the Irish, how do you feel you best displayed leadership on the Notre Dame swimming team?
A: I feel I display leadership on the team by always trying to encourage and be supportive of my teammates. I try to lead by example by working hard in my own swimming career.
Q: Can you walk us through a typical day, or cycle, of training?
A: A usual practice is about three hours long, consisting of warm up, stretching, a pre-set, a main set, and either a kicking or pulling set. Three days a week we do dryland after practice. Each day, the specific focus varies between sprint, distance, prime stroke, or IM. I practice six days a week, taking Sundays off.
Q: What aspect of your swimming have you been working on the most recently?
A: I have been working on my under waters a lot recently in order to get off the walls faster. I have also been working on my endurance to finish out longer races like the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke.
Q: What pool did you first swim for? What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: I started swimming for Aronimink Golf Club when I was six. Then, I started club swimming for Suburban Swim Club when I was eight, then switched to Episcopal Academy Aquatic Club when I was 10. This past year I went back to Suburban. My favorite swimming venue is definitely LaSalle University. I have been swimming at Country Club Championships there since I was seven, and it has always been a fast pool for me. I’ve broken five country club league records in that pool, two individuals and three relays, as well as my three school records for Notre Dame. The atmosphere there is electric at both Champs and Easterns.
Q: Who have been your biggest swimming mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: My first swim coach was Brigit Barry at Aronimink, and now she coaches me at Notre Dame. Two of the country club league records and one of Notre Dame’s records that I had broken were originally hers. Brigit was a backstroker like me and has always been so supportive of me in my swimming career. I had three great coaches at EAAC, Brian Kline, Bob Kupperman, and Quincy Hyson. They were all very instrumental in my development as a young swimmer. Quincy Hyson was a great mentor who really helped me with the technical and mental aspects of the sport. Even though I am new to Suburban this year, Charlie Kennedy has made me feel so welcomed on the team. His knowledge of swimming is invaluable. In such a short amount of time, he has improved my technique and been extremely encouraging to me.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation the day of a meet.
A: I am very superstitious about my pre-meet routine. I usually try to visualize my perfect race before a meet. I always eat eggs and bacon for breakfast the morning of a meet. For warm up, I swim between 1,000 and 1,500 yards specifically working on my pace depending on the events of the day.
Q: What (to you) has been the highlight of your swimming career outside of Academy of Notre Dame?
A: The highlight of my swimming career outside of Notre Dame has been with my summer team, Aronimink. We are a very competitive team who has found great success at Champs. My favorite part about being on that team is the lasting friendships and memories I have made from summers spent there.
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 am still working on narrowing down the list schools that I am interested in. I am just starting my college search, but I am looking for a college that would be a good fit academically and swimming wise. I will most likely major in business.
Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Notre Dame?
A: I am a member of the National Honors Society, the school newspaper, and the Student Ambassadors Program.
Fun facts – Michaela McGeary
Favorite book: The Hunger Games.
Favorite TV show: Friday Night Lights.
Favorite movie: Pitch Perfect.
Favorite athlete: Missy Franklin.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys.
Favorite place to visit: Avalon, N.J.
Favorite pre-meet meal: Scrambled eggs and bacon.
Favorite color: Blue.
Birth date: Nov. 5, 1998 in Collegeville.
Family members: Mom, Dad, brother Kevin (20), and sister Maura (10).
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
