Featured Athlete: Lana Reaves

Photo by Luke Hoffman 

Q. What’s been your greatest accomplishment in swimming over the years?

A. I think my greatest accomplishment was last year [when] I dropped four seconds over the season in my 100 free. I went to state for the first time and placed 14th I think. Then we won state too, and so I was able to contribute points. That was really nice and a confidence booster.

Q. Do you have any expectations for state this year?

A. I would like to obviously go faster than I did last year, which may not mean me placing higher because the state [times] got faster. I just hope to swim well, and if we win state again that would be good. I have not yet [qualified for state this year]. Last year I didn’t even break a minute until Lancer Invite, which is in a few weeks so I’m still fine – which is what I’m telling myself at least.

Q. What event are you swimming right now?

A. [I’m swimming the] 150 free. I was a distance swimmer my first two years, then halfway through last year I switched to sprinting so I’m still kind of new at it.

Q. How would you sum up your high school career?

A. It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve dropped [time] every year. I feel like I continuously improve, which I’m proud of. It’s always really fun to be a part of a team, which is something I haven’t experienced anywhere else.  

 Q. What’s your favorite memory?

A. Last year, after I swam the 100 [free], we kind of knew we were winning state going into the last few events because we were so ahead, but we were all just really excited. I was really close to a lot of the seniors last year and [alumnus] Bonnie Longan came up to me and I started crying and didn’t really stop for a few hours.

Q. How have you acted differently as a senior this year?

A. Well as of right now I’m the only senior on varsity. We have a really young team this year — we have 12 freshmen — so they’ve kept me young. It’s fought off senioritis for me because I don’t have any other seniors to talk to so I’m just rolling.

Q. Any pre-meet rituals?

A. Usually just sitting around with each other, talking, taking our mind off of it. When it’s nice out, we always lay outside, which I always really like. It calms you down.