Lower Merion’s Alexa Conner is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week (March 6-12)
The junior swimmer finished first in the girls 100 back and third in the 200 IM at the PIAA District 1 3A swimming championships last month. She was undefeated in dual meets in individual events this winter, and broke three team records (2:02.56 in the 200 IM; 54:65 in 100 back; 57.17 in 100 fly.) Last year, at the PIAA 3A state championships, she finished fourth in the 100 back and sixth in the 200 IM. Outside of the pool at Lower Merion, Conner is a member of Writing Fellows (a tutoring program to help students with their writing), Bulldog Ambassadors (a program that helps new students and rising freshmen acclimate to Lower Merion) and the American Sign Language Club. She has verbally committed to Duke University to continue her swimming career. “Alexa is extremely hard-working and dedicated to swimming,” said Lower Merion girls swimming coach Mikell Nigro.
Q: What were the biggest key(s) to your performance at Districts?
A: My biggest key to succeeding was making sure I was prepared mentally and not overthinking my races. With all the hard training leading up to Districts, I knew that I was physically prepared but I still needed to work on making sure I was mentally prepared.
Q: What is your strongest memory of the 100 back race?
A: During my 100 back, I remember the last lap and telling myself that I need to use everything I have left and to ignore the fatigue.
Q: Which of the three team records that you broke this winter means the most to you and why?
A: The 100 fly record definitely means the most to me because it’s not really an event I swim very often. To be able to get that record is a way to look at my improvement throughout the last three years of being on the Lower Merion swimming team.
Q: What aspect of your swimming have you worked on most recently?
A: Transitioning into the short course season I have been really focusing on my underwater dolphin kicks. The underwater portion of the race has become so significant in the world of swimming, especially in backstroke races, and it’s definitely something I can improve on.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive swimming.
A: I started swimming lessons when I was 4 years old, then transitioned to a competitive swim team, Lower Merion Aquatic Club, when I was 6. I was on that team for about 10 years then switched last year to the Suburban Seahawks Club.
Q: Who have been your most valuable swimming mentors, and what were the most important things you learned from each of them?
A: My most valuable mentor would have to be the SSC coach, Charlie Kennedy, because he teaches us not just how to be physically prepared, but also how to mentally prepare. Over the past year he has helped my swimming tremendously, my mentality coming into big meets, and has taught me about the importance of teamwork.
Q: What swimming accomplishment outside of competing for Lower Merion are you most proud of?
A: I am most proud of my recent swims at the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, at which I attended with my club, SSC. Coming into the meet I had only rested a few days since it was a midseason meet in January. I came into the meet not really knowing what to expect because I haven’t been training long course, but I was very happy with my results. I ended up dropping time from last summer, which I was not expecting but was very proud of.
Q: What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: My favorite swimming venue would have to be either Keystone Aquatics in Carlisle or IUPUI in Indianapolis. During the summer, Keystone has a deck where we can go outside to stretch or lay in the sun. I always have such a great time with my team at the big meets held at Keystone and there is always an energetic environment. IUPUI, where summer NCSAs are held, is such a great facility and NCSAs are always such a fun time with my team. Also, Indianapolis is such an interesting city to explore while at the meet.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation on the day of a meet.
A: The day of the meet I’ll usually have some oatmeal before a morning session or Panera before a night session. I try to not think about my swims too much because that can sometimes make me too nervous and I can’t focus on anything else. Other than that, I’ll listen to music with my team and get hyped before my swims.
Q: What are your goals at States? What will you be working on in the 2 1/2 week gap between Districts and States?
A: My goal at States is to drop time in both my events and to improve on my placing from last year. In the 2 ½ weeks, I am going to continue to train hard and work on my turns and starts.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Lower Merion? What do you think you’d like to major in at college? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite academic course at Lower Merion would have to be Genetics. It’s a very interesting and newly-researched subject. It’s interesting because it incorporates current events as well as the history of genetics. I’m thinking of majoring in Kinesiology to go onto the Physician Assistant track.
Fun facts – Alexa Conner
Favorite book: Educated.
Favorite author: Colleen Hoover.
Favorite TV show: Gossip Girl.
Favorite movie: Mean Girls.
Favorite athlete: Missy Franklin.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: All Night Longer.
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.
Favorite place to visit: Costa Rica.
Favorite pre-meet meal: Chipotle.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
