GETTING TO KNOW ELLEN FLADER

Name:  Ellen Flader

Favorite Food:  Steak... medium rare and french fries

Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting, Garden State & Pirates of the Caribbean

Favorite Television Show:  Grey's Anatomy and 24

Favorite Musical Artist:  Justin Timberlake

A word to describe me while I am competing:  Driven

A word to describe me away from the pool:  Type-A

My most memorable athletic moment was:  Either breaking my first Northern Virginia Swimming League record (12 years old, 50m backstroke) or making my first Junior National cut

My most memorable Emory athletic moment:  Winning NCAA's my freshmen year for the first time, and breaking the school record in the 100 breaststroke and standing at the top of the podium at the UAA championships my sophomore year.

What I like most about Emory:  Having the opportunity to be a part of the Swimming & Diving team

I would like to switch places for the day with:  Amanda Beard

My favorite place on the Emory campus:  The Clairmont pool

Favorite pro athlete:  Ian Crocker

The sports teams I followed when I was younger:  Washington Redskins

My favorite class at Emory and why:  Abnormal Psychology because the material is interesting and relevant to what I want to do with my life.  Also, Dr. Nowicki is one of the best teachers I've had.  He is extremely smart, approachable, and genuinely loves what he is teaching.

The people who have helped me most at Emory are and why:  Swimming coach Jon Howell because he knows me really well and tells me what I need to hear regardless of whether I want to hear it, and also my teammates who are there through thick and thin.

Any pre-meet rituals:  At big meets I have certain songs that I'll listen to on my i-pod before I race.  In general I just stretch a lot and try to relax (the key word is ‘try').

The sport I would be playing if I were not on the swimming & diving team:  Is there a varsity napping team??

If I could have dinner with only three people in history, they would be:  My dad's father, Dr. Seuss, and Janet Evans

The best advice I have ever been given and who gave it to you:  One of my swim coaches told me that it's okay to always want to be the best at everything because it makes you work harder and no one ever gets anywhere without hard work.

What is something that very few, if any, people know about you:  I will take anyone down in Monopoly any day of the week.  Try me!

GETTING TO KNOW JESSICA IVRY

Name: Jess Ivry

Favorite Food: Fruit, vegetables, milk duds, and La Fonda chips and salsa.

Favorite Movie: Father of the Bride 1 and 2

Favorite Television Show: Grey's Anatomy, Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City, Laguna Beach, The Hills, E News, The Bachelor

Favorite Musical Artist: JT

A word to describe me while I am competing: not scary

A word to describe me away from the pool: Not serious

My most memorable athletic moment was: 200 Medley Relay at NCAA's freshman year.

My most memorable Emory athletic moment: Winning NCAA's for the first time in 2005!!!

What I like most about Emory: My friends

I would like to switch places for the day with: My sister, Sarah.
 
Favorite pro athlete:  Noah Lowry SF Giant's pitcher, Rob Nenn ex-SF Giant's pitcher, and Ian Crocker.

The sports teams I followed when I was younger:Cal anything and everything, San Francisco Giant's, and San Francisco 49ers.

My favorite class at Emory and why: Astronomy, because the stars are just so interesting.

The people who have helped me most at Emory are and why: Jon Howell. He's done everything!!!

Any pre-meet rituals:  Lotssssss of coffee

The sport I would be playing if I were not on the swimming & diving team: bocce ball.

If I could have dinner with only three people in history, they would be: my grandpa, Dr. McDreamy, and Katie Couric.

The best advice I have ever been given and who gave it to you: "play the game"-dad

What is something that very few, if any, people know about you: I can eat a whole jar of pickles in one sitting.

GETTING TO KNOW RUTH WESTBY

Name: Ruth Westby

Favorite Food: "Billy Barou" nachos at Moe's

Favorite Movies: Love Actually, Pride & Prejudice, The Renaissance Man, Defending Your Life

Favorite Television Shows: America's Next Top Model, Sex and the City

Favorite Musical Artists: Coldplay, Rascal Flatts

A word to describe me while I am competing: Nervous

A word to describe me away from the pool: Sleepy

My most memorable athletic moment was: My first big sectional win when I was 13.

My most memorable Emory athletic moment: I haven't had that many meets yet...the best is still to come.

What I like most about Emory: The swim team

I would like to switch places for the day with: My dog

My favorite place on the Emory campus: My bed, haha... Or the quad.

Favorite pro athlete:  Jeff Francoeur

The sports teams I followed when I was younger: Braves!

The people who have helped me most at Emory are and why: Jon Howell, Peter Höyng, and Silke Delamare for helping me transition into college

Any pre-meet rituals:  Listening to "Ruth's Pumper-Upper" mix

The sport I would be playing if I were not on the swimming & diving team: Soccer

If I could have dinner with only three people in history, they would be: My grandma, my old coach Jim Rumbaugh, and Princess Diana

The best advice I have ever been given and who gave it to you: "Swim like a racehorse." -my dad

What is something that very few, if any, people know about you: I have three toes on each feet that are bigger than my "big"-toes.

GETTING TO KNOW NATTY CHALERMPALANUPAP

Name: Natty Chalermpalanupap

Favorite Food: Ravioli... unless I'm really missing home, then it's really spicy Green Chicken Curry with rice.

Favorite Movie: Zoolander, The Notebook, or Schindler's List (depends on my mood)

Favorite Television Show: CSI, Monk, or anything on the Food Network

Favorite Musical Artist: Michelle Branch

A word to describe me while I am competing: Tenacious

A word to describe me away from the pool: Busy

My most memorable athletic moment was: Actually finishing my very first 200 meters Fly (definitely not my forte) when I was 13, and getting my very first club record in it. 

My most memorable Emory athletic moment: Swimming my very first 1000 at our first away meet at Davidson, NC and placing 4th in it.

What I like most about Emory: I love how there is always a balance at Emory. You can be a good student and a good athlete at the same time, you don't have to give up one passion to pursue another; you can go for both.

I would like to switch places for the day with: One of my cats; so I can spend all day stretched out, being lazy, and sleeping in the sun.

My favorite place on the Emory campus: The pools (at the WoodPEC or Clairmont). Definitely some of the nicest pools I've ever swam in.

Favorite pro athlete: Michael Phelps

The sports teams I followed when I was younger: Football (Soccer), Liverpool and Real Madrid.

My favorite class at Emory and why: Chem 226L. Even though it is freshman organic chem lab, and it definitely isn't the easiest class, Dr. Soria is a great professor and I really love being in the smaller lab environment and the independence that we have.

The people who have helped me most at Emory are and why: The swim team. I feel like we are a really close and collective team, with the older swimmers always ready to help and encourage the freshman in and out of the pool.

Any pre-meet rituals: Usually I listen to some music really loudly. I have to have someone help me put my cap on because I have a whole special routine to put my goggles on inside my cap, while keeping all my hair in at the same time. Splash some water on my face before I get behind the blocks. I usually crack all my fingers or toes behind the blocks too...

The sport I would be playing if I were not on the swimming & diving team: I'm not very coordinated on land (hence why I've only been swimming for so long), but I really like to run, and I can play decent badminton. If I could, I would love to be an ice-skater.

If I could have dinner with only three people in history, they would be: Princess Diana, Oskar Schindler, and Gandhi.

The best advice I have ever been given and who gave it to you: My mom always tells me that you should always be helpful to others, because doing a good deed can only have good returns, and that's how I try to go through life.

What is something that very few, if any, people know about you: People get confused a lot about where I'm actually from. I'm from Thailand, actually, I'm Chinese (to confuse you further), but my grandparents, on both sides, immigrated to Thailand and my parents were born there... so I'm Thai... but since the age of 4, I've been living in Indonesia.

GETTING TO KNOW SARA HOSTALET

Name: Sara Hostalet

Favorite Food: Cheese and squash

Favorite Movie: Fight Club

Favorite Television Show: Flavor of Love

Favorite Musical Artist: Ween

A word to describe me while I am competing: "Studly" (from head coach Jon Howell)

A word to describe me away from the pool: Silly

My most memorable athletic moment was: When I anchored the last 400 Free relay at our alumni meet and touched out the girl next to me.  But, when I turned around and saw my teammates and the crowd I didn't even have to look at the scoreboard to see that we had won, the room was a concentrated explosion of energy and happiness.

My most memorable Emory athletic moment: The intensity of our inner-squad team at the first meet that I swam in the Emory pool.  There is nothing like the first time that you hit the water and fly across it knowing that only good things will come in the next four years.

What I like most about Emory: The fact that when we beat or come close to beating D1 teams, I get the satisfaction of knowing that my love of swimming can beat people that are being paid to do their sport.  I also think that Georgia is one of the most beautiful places in the United States.

I would like to switch places for the day with: Oprah

My favorite place on the Emory campus: Lullwater or in Candler Library when it is dead silent at 2 AM.

Favorite pro athlete: Kaitlyn Sandeno

The sports teams I followed when I was younger: The Cubs- I had season tickets and would always get autographs after the game.

My favorite class at Emory and why: Linguistics was my favorite class because Dr. Tamasi is the coolest teacher at Emory.

The people who have helped me most at Emory are and why: Chris Marshall and all the other swimming coaches because they are always looking out for me like a member of my family would.

Any pre-meet rituals:  My towly (If you want to see it, come to swim meets) and jamming out to Shake it Like a Salt Shaker by the Ying Yang Twins.

The sport I would be playing if I were not on the swimming & diving team: Volleyball- even though I am short

The best advice I have ever been given: Swimmers are not like other people.

What is something that very few, if any, people know about you: I was hit in the face with a rowboat when I was 12 and almost lost an eye.

GETTING TO KNOW TESS PASTERNAK

Name: Tess Pasternak

Favorite Food: Salmon with Mango Salsa

Favorite Movie: Zoolander

Favorite Television Show: Project Runway

Favorite Musical Artist: Ward Williams

A word to describe me while I am competing: Determined

A word to describe me away from the pool: Easy-going

My most memorable athletic moment was: Competing for a national title, with an entire team supporting me.

My most memorable Emory athletic moment: Being a contributor to our 2nd national title. 

What I like most about Emory: My teammates and Coaches

I would like to switch places for the day with: A genius... to see how their brain works

My favorite place on the Emory campus: The SAAC outdoor pool!

Favorite pro athlete:  Natalie Caughlin

My favorite class at Emory and why: Aging in Society, because Professor Keyes is incredibly enthusiastic, and interesting to listen to, and the material we are studying is very interesting and applicable to my life. 

The people who have helped me most at Emory are and why: My friends and Coaches because they are comforting, encouraging, and fun.

Any pre-meet rituals:  Before a race I dip each foot in the water then shake out my legs and jump up and down.  (When I can jump high without much effort, I know I am going to have a good race.)  Then I take a few deep breaths to calm myself and get psyched up for the race.   I used to be extremely superstitious, but that has been toned down quite a bit.     

The sport I would be playing if I were not on the swimming & diving team: Tennis or Gymnastics

If I could have dinner with only three people in history, they would be: My Grandparents, since I never met them, and Princess Diana


The best advice I have ever been given and who gave it to you: When you make a tough decision in life, don't look back, be completely committed to your choice and you will never regret anything. Given to me by my swim coach from home.

What is something that very few, if any, people know about you: I can speak Dutch, and almost understand it fluently!