10 Questions with Swimming and Diving’s Rachael Foe
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Senior
Rachael Foe and the Northern Arizona swimming and diving team
travels to San Antonio, Texas this week for the biggest meet of the
2009-10 season—the WAC Championships. Foe is the most
experienced WAC performer and has been a consistent top finisher at
the championship meet. She recently answered 10 questions about
life as a Northern Arizona University Lumberjack.
1. Since you are from Michigan, what made you decide to come all
the way out to NAU?
I loved my recruiting trip and the girls on the team. I liked
the outdoors aspect of Flagstaff. It just fell into place and
clicked for me going to some of the classes and getting to know the
campus. Flagstaff in general is really cool. Where I’m from
the town is bigger and the culture is different so it was a big
change. Also, it is always sunny!
2. Being a senior, what would you say if you could go back
and talk to yourself as an incoming freshman?
I don’t think I would say anything. You kind of learn a
lot of stuff along the way. It all turned out pretty good. I
don’t think I would change it.
3. After graduation where do you see yourself ending up?
Do you plan on staying out West or traveling back
home?
I probably want to stay in the Southwest. I like the sunshine
and the outdoors, and I really like the area. I really don’t
know where I am going to end up but it will probably be out here
somewhere.
4. What has it been like working for the NAU Grounds Crew?
It is not the most glamorous job on campus.
My boyfriend works for grounds so I maybe first got into it
that way. The people are great there and I get to work outside. I
planted a lot of bulbs this fall—that was cool. It also gives
me a chance to give back to NAU. It’s a fun job. We pick up
trash and get to make things look nice. It makes you feel
good.
5. You are an avid hiker. If you could recommend a hike in
northern Arizona what would that be?
It is always good to get Humphreys (Peak) under your belt. You
can look up anytime and say, ‘I climbed that!’ I do a
lot of hiking in Sedona. It is warmer during the winter months.
There is a lot down there—maybe Cathedral Rock because it is
easy and accessible. It is definitely a good first-time one to
do.
6. In swimming, you spend a lot of time in the water by
yourself. What do you think about?
You kind of go into Zen mode, but you have your teammates
around you so you get to talk to them. A lot of times songs get
stuck in your head or other random stuff. T.J. (Williams) and I
like to bounce songs off each other a lot. She is the main song
person on the team. Sometimes I have to sing slow songs so I can
slow my heart beat down, that way I can relax and just do the
set.
7. What has been your favorite team-building
exercise?
We went out to the woods with Bert (Gershater) one time and
one of us was blindfolded and one of us was not. You had to lead
the other person verbally and talk them through every step. It was
an opportunity for us as a team to gain trust with one
another.
8. What is the funniest moment you can recall throughout
your NAU swimming career?
The most I ever laughed was the first year Dave (Rollins) was
with the team. We were in his van on one of our road trips to San
Diego. We did not stop laughing the entire time. I don’t know
what was involved and can’t really remember but it was a
really fun trip.
9. What have you learned about yourself these past four
years?
There has been a lot. I think one thing I learned this year
was I do better when I am not thinking super hard about something.
I put too much thought into things sometimes and press too much. I
realized I am so much better when I do things and don’t
think. I couldn’t change right away and got frustrated. Then
I realized things take time to change. That was the main thing this
year, but overall swimming has given me so much that I took for
granted. This time last year I was thinking, ‘Man, I have
never had a real job. When I get out there I am not going to have
that experience. I don’t know all the stuff I am supposed to
know.’ Then I realized swimming has given me so much more
than any job could in terms of time management, discipline, hard
work, and getting along with people. To have that in my life has
been very valuable.
10. The Winter Olympics are going on right now. Has
anything grabbed your attention?
I have been watching here and there. I liked watching the
skier guy from Canada win the gold in the moguls. Some of the
figure skating I watched. I watched some of the couple’s free
skating, but they all kept falling.
Last year, Foe won gold at the 2009 WAC Championships in the 200
individual medley setting the NAU record in the process. This
season, Foe set the pool record at Wall Aquatic Center in 100-meter
butterfly (1:03.48). She holds the seventh best 50 freestyle time
this season (23.99) and sixth fastest 100 butterfly time (56.83) in
the WAC. The WAC Championship meet will begin Wednesday, February
24 and run through Saturday, February 27.
