Baldwin School’s Gemma Undercofler is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week (Feb. 20-26)

A junior, Undercofler finished second in two events at the Easterns Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships Feb. 17-18. The Duke University commit was second in the girls 200 IM (2:02.55) and 500 free (4:55.56). She currently holds Baldwin School records in the 500 free and 400 free relay, and finished in the top four in two events at the InterAc Championships. Last year at Easterns, she finished second in the 500 free and fifth in the 100 fly. Outside of the pool, Undercofler is a member of the school’s Lamplighter Club, which gives tours to prospective students or families looking at Baldwin.

 

 

Q: Which event do you think is your best currently, and what have been the biggest key(s) to your performance in that event?

 

A: Right now for school swimming, I think that my strongest event is the 500 free. I consider myself to be an endurance swimmer, so I think that I’m at my best doing mid-distance events. I think my biggest key to success in that event is that I am a very strategic racer. For longer distance races I always have a plan on how I’m going to race it, and I really work on holding a consistent pace. I also am a back half swimmer, so I usually pick up the pace and swim faster in the second half of my races. I think that having a clear race strategy helps me be successful in longer distance races.

 

Q: What aspect of your swimming have you worked on most recently?

 

A: Definitely my breaststroke. Breaststroke has always been my weakest stroke, so I’ve really been working hard on improving it for my IM. It’s gotten a lot better recently, so I’m excited to see where my IM will go now.

 

Q: What has been your favorite experience at Easterns?

 

A: I think my favorite Easterns experience was the 500 free finals last year. I took a bit of a gamble by doing the 500 free, because my time was outdated and I had no idea how fast I would be able to go. It paid off though, because I qualified for A finals in second place. It was only my second individual A final ever at the meet, so it was a lot of pressure for me. Some of my Suburban Swim Club teammates also qualified for the A final, so it was fun to get to race them. I was very nervous, but I worked really hard in the race and it was satisfying to see the hard work pay off. I also got a free cookie from the snack bar walking back from my race, which was an added bonus. It was a really good cookie.

 

Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive swimming. Who have been your most valuable swimming mentors, and what were the most important things you learned from each of them?

 

A: When I was 3, my parents put my brother into swim lessons, and I wanted to do it too. I was too young at first, so I would swim in the lane next to his lesson group and do the lesson with them. I joined my first swim team a few years later when I was 6. I guess in that sense my first swim mentor was my brother, because I followed in his footsteps and always looked up to him. Even now, I still can look to him for advice or support about my swimming, which I really appreciate. My biggest swim mentor is definitely my coach at SSC, Charlie Kennedy. He teaches us the importance of not just being a good swimmer, but also a good teammate. He’s helped my swimming improve tremendously, but he’s also taught me how to be a better teammate and friend.

 

Q: What swimming accomplishment outside of competing for Baldwin School are you most proud of?

 

A: This is more of a group accomplishment, but at my summer nationals (summer NCSAs) last year, my team got runner up for total team points for the second year in a row. We only had seven people, which was probably half the amount that most teams had, but we all worked really hard to get the award. Everyone cheered for each other, and our relays did especially well because we were working hard together for the points. Everyone had great swims, and we were very excited to get the award.

 

Q: What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?

 

A: Probably the Rosen Aquatic Center in Orlando, the venue that hosts spring NCSAs, which is essentially my spring nationals. It has a lot of open windows and space that lets in the warm Florida weather, which is a nice pick-me-up during the meet. I usually swim fast in that pool, and NCSAs is also my favorite meet, so I like it there.

 

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

 

A: To prepare for a meet, two of the most important things for me are to get lots of rest and to stay hydrated. I go to bed early the night before a meet, because I usually have to wake up early in the morning. I like to drink a coffee in the morning too to give me a little more energy. I drink a lot of water or Propel throughout the day to stay hydrated, and I always take a nap between sessions if it’s a prelims-finals meet. To prepare for a race, I like to get really focused in advance. I make a plan for my race strategy, and sometimes I try to keep in mind some things to work on during the race, like fast turns or a quick start, etc.

 

Fun facts – Gemma Undercofler

Favorite book: Doctor Sleep.

Favorite author: Agatha Christie.

Favorite TV show: Twin Peaks.

Favorite movie: Nope.

Favorite athlete: Missy Franklin.

Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Looking For Somebody (To Love), by The 1975.

Favorite class at Baldwin: Chemistry.

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: Oahu.

Favorite pre-meet meal: Panera Bread.

 

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