Breaking the Surface

Emmie Ryan made quite a splash during her first season of high school swimming. Now, the Avon sophomore returns with even bigger aspirations. At the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) state meet last year, Ryan placed third in the 500-yard freestyle and set a new Avon school record with a time of 5 minutes, 4.18 seconds. She also swam the 200 freestyle at state, finishing 13th. During the 200 prelims, she set another school record in a time of 1:56.37. Yet, despite entering this season as a favorite to win the state championship in the 500 freestyle, you would never know it by talking to the modest 15-year-old, who says her main focus is to simply do her best at all times. When she's out of the pool, Ryan, who began taking swim lessons at 18 months old and joined the Avon Community Swim Team when she was 5, spends much of her time and energy concentrating on schoolwork. She has numerous honors and takes advanced placement classes at Avon while maintaining a 3.96 GPA. In between practice and homework, Ryan spoke with VYPE reporter Chris Nelsen about her goals for the season, her future plans in swimming and much more. Nelsen: Did you expect to do so well in the 500 freestyle at the IHSAA state meet last season? Ryan: Not really. I was hoping for top eight, but my coach (Jon Karr) told me I could do better. I wasn't really thinking about what place I would get; I was thinking more about my time. Nelsen: At what point of the season did you realize you had a chance to place high in the event? Ryan: It wasn't until I won sectionals (in 5:05.77) that I really felt like I had a shot. After that, I knew I could do even better at state. Nelsen: Were you surprised by taking third in the 500 freestyle? Ryan: A little bit, but I wasn't surprised by my time. Nelsen: You also placed 13th in the 200 freestyle at state. Did you take that event as seriously, or were you saving energy for the 500 freestyle finals? Ryan: I was serious about it. Every time you get on the block, every race, you get up there to do your best. If you don't think you're going to do well, you probably won't. It was just as important to me as the 500. Nelsen: What do you consider your best high school event? Ryan: I think the 500 is my best event. I like it more because you have to think about what you're doing at every wall and with every stroke. You train all season to make sure you can complete it and get through it. Nelsen: Considering the girls that finished first and second at last year's state meet in the 500 freestyle have graduated, do you believe you're the favorite to win the event this season? Ryan: To be honest, I don't really think about it. When I get in the pool, my main focus is getting my times. If I place second (at state) and it was a good race and I drop a bunch of time, I would be happy. Nelsen: Is your goal to win a state championship in the 500 freestyle? Ryan: Of course, but I'm not going to be super angry if someone beats me. Nelsen: You own Avon school records in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Was breaking those records part of your goals last season? Ryan: I know it's a big deal to have them, but I don't think about it too much. During the next three years, I want to get those times lower and lower, so they will stand longer. Nelsen: What are your long-term goals in swimming? Ryan: I would like to swim in college, but I also want to focus on academics because swimming isn't going to sustain me for the rest of my life. I'm interested in it now, but I'm not going to make any huge decisions yet. Near the end of my junior year or the beginning of senior year, I'll probably make a decision. Nelsen: Between club and high school swimming, you're in the pool almost the entire year. Does it ever get difficult to train so much? Ryan: To get through swimming, you have to set goals for yourself and be willing to do whatever's necessary to achieve them. It's definitely a big commitment, and if you're not willing to make that commitment, you're probably not going to like it. There are times when you might be sore and tired, but you have to fight through it. Nelsen: You are very passionate about academics, too. If you had to choose school or swimming right now, which would you pick? Ryan: (Pause) If someone forced me to choose, I would go with school. In my life, it's pretty much swimming, school ... and then everything else. -