By Bruce Karnick

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Each week we look to put the spotlight on a senior student at Hastings High School. Student athletes, artists, performers and other influential young adults that attend HHS. This week, I spoke to Ireland Zaruba from the Girls Swim Team.

Q: When did you start organized swimming and why?

IZ: When I was six. I’m like all my friends are in it and I always just loved swimming as a little kid.

Q: What other activities are you in away from Swimming?

IZ: I am also on the hockey team Q: What is your favorite thing about swimming?

IZ: Probably just being with my friends and racing.

Q: What is your least favorite thing about swimming?

IZ: [Long pause] BK: Coach Katie will not get mad at your answer.

BOTH: Laugh IZ: [another pause] nothing, I have always loved it.

Q: What does it mean to have fans back in the stands?

IZ: It’s just like, super cool when people are there and it’s like, loud and people are cheering for you which makes you super excited for your race.

Q: Athletes go through a lot to stay in shape and prepare for their sport. Is there anything you do outside of practices to help with that? Do you avoid certain foods or eat certain things? Do extra workouts?

IZ: Yeah, so, I try to like eat a lot of carbs before, like the night before my race, so I get a lot of energy and drink a lot of water and sleep a lot.

Q: What have you learned from being on this team and how does this team make you a better teammate?

IZ: Um, there’s like a lot of things. It teaches you to be responsible and hardworking and like, dedicated to it. So, if you want to get better, go to all the practices work really hard.

Q: In your sport. Even if someone here someone nationally, whatever the case is, who is your hero, as far as swimming.

IZ: Probably my Aunt. My Aunt Brooke.

Q: So what do you plan on doing once you graduate, and are you looking to continue swimming and whatnot, post high school.

IZ: I would love to swim in college, that would be a dream come true.

Q: Do you have a college picked out yet?

IZ: Not yet.

Q: Most memorable moment with this team?

IZ: Probably just like all the bus rides home and the team dinners.

Thank you Ireland for taking a few minutes to chat with us and best of luck with your remaining year here as a Raider!