Haverford High swimmer Grace Myers is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The senior, who has been the Fords’ leading scorer, was the Kinney Open champion in the 200 free at Bucknell University and her time in the 200 free ranks in the top 30 in the state on PASwimming.com. A versatile performer, Myers holds two District 1 Automatic Cuts in the 200 free (1:57.0) and 100 fly (1:00.8), is close to having a third in the 100 free. She has committed to swim for Vassar College next year, and is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society and the school’s Movie Club. Haverford High School head coach Matt Stewart said, “She’s one of the hardest working swimmers I have ever coached – she truly embodies our team’s core value of ‘Honoring your teammates with your effort’ day in and day out.”
Q: What aspect of your swimming have you been working on the most recently?
A: Recently in practice I have been doing a lot of pace work for my 200 free so that I can bring down my splits for the second 100 of the race.
Q: What is the key to your success in the 200 free?
A: Over the past three years, I have experienced both successes and obstacles that I have had to overcome with this race. The difference for me has been the positive advice, constant encouragement of my coach, Matt Stewart, and I have realized the key to a good race is being in the right mindset and to trust in my training. If I am able to think positively and keep a clear mind, then my race is most likely going to go well.
Q: You currently hold District 1 Automatic Cuts in the 200 free and 100 fly, and are close to having a third in the 100 free, and you specialize in the 200 fly for the Radnor Aquatic Club. What is your favorite event and why?
A: My favorite event is probably the 200 fly because every time I swim this race I notice some aspect of it that I can improve, and this motivates me to work harder in practice. Also, I really enjoy swimming butterfly.
Q: Can you walk us through a typical day, or cycle, of training?
A: Three days a week I lift after school for an hour and a half. Six days a week I attend swim practice for at least two hours. What I do at practice depends on the day, my team goes through a cycle of endurance, active rest, and then quality work every week.
Q: What pool did you first swim for? What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: The first team was Hilltop Swim Team–a summer club that I joined when I was 6. My favorite swimming venue would have to be Bucknell’s pool because I have swam fast there in meets with both my club team and high school team. Kinney Natatorium holds a lot of good memories for me.
Q: Who have been your biggest swimming mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: My biggest swimming mentors have been my coaches Matt Stewart and Jeremy Byrne. They have both helped me improve my swimming as well as taught me that it’s important to have confidence in my abilities and that I should always honor my teammates with my effort.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation the day of a meet.
A: I always try to eat a big breakfast, stay hydrated and make sure that I am prepared with extra goggles and caps in case I need them.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Haverford High? What do you think you might major in at Vassar? Is there a particular career path that interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite class at Haverford would have to AP Chemistry or AP Environmental Science. As of right now my major is undecided, but I am leaning towards Environmental Science or Economics as a career in either of those fields seems interesting.
Fun facts – Grace Myers
Favorite book: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
Favorite movie: Ratatouille.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: All Star by Smash Mouth.
Person I most admire, and why: “A person who I really admire is my swim coach Matt Stewart, he has really motivated me to work hard over the past four years. The amount of time and effort he puts into the development of the team and me, not just as swimmers but as people, is really inspiring.”
Siblings: older brother Garrett, twin sister Elizabeth.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
