Athlete of the Week: Ariel Swain, Lakota East High School

Name: Ariel Swain

School: Lakota East High School

Sport: Volleyball

Class: 2018

Age: 17

Bet you didn’t know: I am committed to play volleyball at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.

Toughest opponent/why: I believe my toughest opponent is myself. Nobody will be harder on me than I am on myself and sometimes just getting out of my own head is my biggest challenge.

Favorite movie: Everything, everything

Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy

Favorite music: Country

Favorite pro athlete/why: My favorite pro athlete is Kerri Walsh-Jennings because I went to watch her play and she was able to get right back on her feet and still play to her full potential after having a baby a few months before.

Favorite smell: Baking cookies

Favorite home-cooked meal: Steak and potatoes

Game-day rituals: Every Saturday game day, my grandpa would bring the whole team donuts.

Person who would play me in a movie/why: Kendall Jenner because when I was volunteering at the hospital one of the patients asked me if I was related to her.

Words you live by: “Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” — Jack Canfield

Biggest influence/why: My mom because I’ve watched her while I was growing up and I am just like her, even going into the same career field.

I am most annoyed by: People who do not try when they have the capability to do something.

I can’t live without: Volleyball

Most embarrassing moment: I was warming up before the game and one of the balls I hit, hit the fire alarm and it went off, causing the whole gym to evacuate and the firefighters to come.

In 10 years I’ll be: A travel nurse practitioner, traveling the world and helping others.

Best thing about volleyball: That feeling when you get a point or someone else on the team gets a point and everyone in the crowd cheers. Knowing that there are so many people there to support you is such a great feeling. The competitiveness on the court keeps me on my toes and always wanting to improve, on and off the court.

Worst thing about volleyball: Since it is such an important part of my life, losing a game can put me in a bad mood so easily. You never know if you’re going to have a good or a bad game, and you just have to play through everything.

Vegetable I just won’t eat: Broccoli

Favorite junk food: Popcorn

Favorite school subject: Sports medicine

When I’m bored, I like to: Get dressed up and go to dinner with my friends.

Worst habit: Procrastinating my homework

Talent I’d most like to have: A photographic memory so I did not have to study for tests.

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