Q: This is your senior
season-how is your approach to swimming different now than it was when you
first arrived at UCSD?
CUNNINGHAM: The
last two years I have been able to overcome many intimidations and limiting
factors I put on myself my first two years swimming at UCSD. I think my freshman and sophomore year,
fellow athletes, coaches, and our vigorous training schedule intimidated
me. Also, as a senior, I find
myself thinking more about the team's success than my own. It is a lot easier to get through tough
races when you think about scoring for your team.
My approach to swimming has changed greatly both during training and in meets. The past two years, I think our whole team has stepped up a lot in our out of the water training, especially in weights, and we've seen direct results from this. I also have come to realize that racing really is more mental than physical, and if you know you have put in the work then you have to be confident in your abilities to perform. Lastly, one of my younger teammates said something at the beginning of last season that has really stuck with me. There are two or three races that are still a mental battle for me, no matter how many times I swim them. I remember being pretty nervous before swimming one of them that day last season when my teammate told me, "It's going to be SO much fun!" and now every time before either of us swims one of our more mentally (and usually physically) challenging races, we joke with each other about having fun, even if it is a tough race.
Q: During your college
career, what, if anything surprised you about college swimming in general and
UCSD in particular?
CUNNINGHAM: As an
incoming freshman, I was definitely prepared for a busy schedule crammed with
both my athletic schedule and academics.
Having started competitive swimming before even attending elementary
school, I have always had to balance my training and academics. However, college swimming is more than
simply attending nine practices a week.
Sometimes it can be more physically and mentally draining than I ever expected,
which makes schoolwork, especially here at UCSD, hard to get done even when we
aren't practicing.
It is the physical, mental, and time demands of swimming, however, that give rise to what I am most surprised about college swimming: the tight-knit bond that everyone on our team shares. Through club and high school swimming, I never felt the tie to my teammates that I feel now. It is amazing that after spending over 20 hours training together a week, we still spend every free moment together. Maybe it is because we can't actually talk to each other while swimming with our face in the water, I don't know!! Swimming at UCSD is particularly unique, as the women and men's teams train and compete together, and act as one team rather than two.
Q: Besides the
competitive successes, what else have you gotten out of swimming?
CUNNINGHAM: I
think the biggest gain I have gotten out of swimming, particularly while at
UCSD, is a close group of friends that will always be connected through our
college swimming experience. In
addition, the demands of swimming teach you to be mentally tough, committed, a
team player, and extremely adept at time management skills! This may sound nerdy, but I can't tell
you how many pages I have read on the shuttle from the parking lot to the pool!
Q: As a prep, you swam
at San Clemente High School, also the Tritons. How did you wind up coming to UC
San Diego?
CUNNINGHAM: Just
because I loved the mascot so much!
I think UC San Diego had everything I was looking for in a school: first
and foremost an outstanding academic reputation, but also a strong swimming
program I could be competitive in, and a location that can't be topped!
Q: Last year, you
qualified and competed at the NCAA Championships for the first time. What was
that experience like and is there any residual effect for you this season?
CUNNINGHAM: I
think qualifying for nationals and getting to compete in Houston last season
was one of the most rewarding experiences of my lifetime. Qualifying for the first time my junior
year was even more gratifying, knowing that I came a long way since starting as
a walk-on my freshman year. UCSD
usually qualifies a large number of swimmers to compete at the NCAA
Championships each year. Getting
to be part of that group, and the women's team placing third in Division II
last year was phenomenal. This
season, I definitely have the confidence boost from last year and the ambition
for both our men and women's teams to move up in rankings from last year. And so far this season, our team is
showing the potential to have a great performance at nationals in March.
Q: You're a
breaststroke specialist-what specific mental and physical skills are important
in that discipline?
CUNNINGHAM: Breaststroke
is a more rhythm-driven stroke than any of the others. The correct synchronization between the
pull and kick is fundamental. Tempo
also is a large factor in breaststroke.
You have to learn how to pick up your tempo for shorter breaststroke
events, and lengthen it for longer events.
Q: Besides the obvious
distance, what are the differences in the 100 and 200 breaststroke races? Which
do you like better and why?
CUNNINGHAM: The
main difference between the 100 and 200 breaststroke events is the stroke tempo
at which you race. The 100
breaststroke is a sprint: a fast, but efficient tempo is key. The start off the blocks and each turn
are even more crucial since the race is over in a little more than a
minute. The 200 breaststroke is
definitely not a "Sunday afternoon swim", but the stroke tempo is definitely
slower than in the 100. As much as
I love to swim the shorter 100 breaststroke, I think I need some more
fast-twitch muscles before I can convince the coaches I should train as a
sprinter. I actually enjoy the 200
breaststroke, where you have time to get into the race and have a race
strategy.
Q: Does swimming in
other events help with your specialty?
CUNNINGHAM: I
definitely think swimming the individual medley and butterfly helps with my
breaststroke. The hip movement in
butterfly helps drive my kick forward in breaststroke, and the out sweep of the
arms is similar in both strokes. I
also think getting to train different strokes breaks up the practice regimen.
Q: What are you
thinking when you step onto the blocks before a race?
CUNNINGHAM: No
matter the race, there are many of the same thoughts going through my
head. Our coaches always tell us
take deep breaths before going down into the starting position. I usually try to give myself some brief
pep talk too, and relax. And of
course, "Am I on the right block!?"
One of our swimmers got on the wrong block last meet and was completely
unaware of the swimmer and coaches on the other team yelling at her. I can't help laughing about it before
my races now.
Q: Last week, the team
swam against a slew of Division I teams at the very competitive Toshiba Classic
in Long Beach. What were you trying to get out of that event and how does it
fit into the overall objectives for the season?
CUNNINGHAM: This
invitational meet has always been very competitive, but this year especially
drew in some big name Division I teams.
Coach McGihon has always believed that to be the best, you have to race
the best, and this past weekend we definitely did that. We had swimmers racing and beating
competitors from the top Division I college swimming programs in the
nation. Placing fourth on the guys'
side and seventh on the girls' side, ahead of many strong Division I programs
was definitely a positive indication of the success we have had as a team so
far this season, and a confidence booster for our goals the rest of the season.
Q: Besides just putting
in yardage, what do swimmers work on during training?
CUNNINGHAM: A lot
of our practices are geared for different aspects of training. There are some practices designed just
to put in yardage. However, we
also have practices that focus on drill work and stroke technique to maximize
the efficiency of our strokes.
Starts and turns play a large role in races, so we allocate a large
amount of time working on both of those aspects. This year especially, with a unique training situation due
to the Canyonview pool closure, our team has done a lot of strength and aerobic
training on land. We always joke
that we are only coordinated in the water, but we may be a little more
coordinated on land this year because of it!
Q: The swimming season
runs for roughly seven months. As a swimmer, what do you find the toughest time
period?
CUNNINGHAM: The
time period we are getting into shortly!
December is dedicated solely to training, as we don't have any meets
that month. Without classes over
winter break, there is an abundance of time to whip us into shape! January is also a mentally and
physically demanding training time as we are still over a month away from our
conference and national championships, which is a long enough time period to
physically push us beyond our limits, but a short enough time period to feel
the pressure to get into shape for our biggest meets of the season.
Q: What impact has
Coach Scott McGihon and his staff had on your career?
CUNNINGHAM: I
think the biggest impact our coaches have had on my career is teaching me that
nothing is out of my reach. They
are always reminding me that I am capable of achieving things in my swimming
career that are far beyond the personal goals
I set for myself each season. The coaches also emphasize many aspects of college swimming besides the actual swimming portion: such as developing a strong bond with teammates, and enjoying the sport.
Q: Your father was a
UCSD graduate. Do the two of you ever compare notes on the experience? What
does he think about the changes since his days on campus?
CUNNINGHAM: My dad
was in the first four-year graduating class at UCSD, although he will probably
not be happy with me for mentioning that!
It is funny, because every time he comes to the campus, he will mention
how different it was back when he was at UCSD. Despite that, I think I lived in the same dorms that he did
his freshman year (Revelle fleets) and I'm not sure I can say they have changed
much!
Q: When you have down
time, what do you enjoy doing?
CUNNINGHAM: Besides
catching up on sleep (I am one of those people that takes a nap pretty much
everyday!), I still seem to enjoy spending my free time in the water. I grew up in a beach town and love body
surfing. My family also spends any
free weekend we can at the Colorado River wakeboarding. When I only have a
little down time, I love watching "Friends" and dancing. Our team has a little obsession with
dancing.
Q: You are a biology major.
What are your post-graduate plans?
CUNNINGHAM: If
everything goes according to plan, I will be graduating in June. I chose biology as my major because it
opened up a lot of doors for post-graduation. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time deciding which career
choice to pursue. I am very
interested in both nutrition and genetics, and will most likely attend graduate
school in one of those areas.
Before I immerse myself in more school, I want to travel since I missed
out on the opportunity to study abroad.
Q: At this point, what
do you think the possibilities are for both the men's and women's teams at the
NCAA Division II Championships in March?
CUNNINGHAM: I am
already very excited for the Championships in March! Our team has great depth this year and we are looking to
give the Division II champs from last year a run for their money. It's still very early in the season but
we already have a large squad qualified for nationals, so it should be
exciting!
Previous Q & A Articles
Elena Inouye (Cross Country) November 6, 2009
David Morton (Men's Water Polo) October 28, 2009
Juan Pablo Carillo (Men's Swimming) October 19, 2009
Sara Spaventa (Women's Soccer) October 10, 2009
Karen Reis (Women's Volleyball) October 2, 2009
Daniel Pavitt (Men's Soccer) September 23, 2009
Daniel Anderson (Cross Country) September 11, 2009
Peter Gresham (Men's Water Polo) September 2, 2009
Alexia Zatarain (Women's Soccer) August 24, 2009
Elaine Chen (Women's Volleyball) August 12, 2009
Jared Kukura (Men's Soccer) July 30, 2009
Dawn Lee (Former Women's Soccer Standout) July 8, 2009
Rob Mamula (Director of Athletic Performance) June 18, 2009
Garrett Imeson (Baseball) June 8, 2009
Leon Baham (Men's Track & Field) May 21, 2009
Kristyn Lesovsky (Softball) May 8, 2009
Kazumi Negishi (Men's Tennis) May 5, 2009
Laiah Blue (Women's Track & Field) April 16, 2009
Ryan Andre (Men's Crew) April 2, 2009
Josh Tanner (Baseball) March 24, 2009
Anju Shimura (Women's Swimming) March 7, 2009
Stephanie Bocian (Women's Water Polo) February 20, 2009
Lauren Chastain (Softball) February 5, 2009
A.J. Maulhardt (Men's Basketball) January 28, 2009
Annette Ilg (Women's Basketball) January 22, 2009
Steven Hardy (Men's Swimming) January 13, 2009
Frank Fritsch (Men's Volleyball) January 5, 2009
Kendall Bohn (Women's Swimming) December 22, 2008
Kelvin Kim (Men's Basketball) December 15, 2008
Michelle Osier (Women's Basketball) December 5, 2008
Sylvia Schmidt (Women's Volleyball) November 7, 2008
Denny Harper (Men's Water Polo Head Coach) October 17, 2008
Ron Larsen (USA Volleyball Assistant Coach) October 13, 2008
Jessica McGovern (Women's Soccer) October 6, 2008
Bre Schofield (Cross Country) September 26, 2008
Tony Fernandez (Men's Soccer) September 18,2008
Kimberly Carpenter (Women's Volleyball) September 12, 2008
A.J. Kotanjian (Men's Water Polo) September 2, 2008
Peter Akman (Men's Soccer) August 21, 2008
Natasha Belak-Berger (Women's Soccer) August 15, 2008
Jake LaVieux (Men's Cross Country) August 8, 2008
Dr. Penny Rue (Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs) July 30, 2008
Michelle Torres (Women's Volleyball) July 15, 2008
Jon Pascale (Men's Soccer Head Coach) July 1, 2008
Julie Ertel (Athletics) June 16, 2008
Clint Allard (Men's Basketball) June 9, 2008
Jen Myers (Women's Crew) May 27, 2008
Casey Ryan (Men's Track and Field and Men's Basketball) May 21, 2008