This week I checked in with freshman Connor Dunker, a member of St. Louis U. High’s varsity swim team. This past Thursday, Dunker placed 7th in the state final 500 freestyle and was voted swimmer of the year by his teammates.

 

Austin Wald: Connor, so you got voted swimmer of the year by your teammates, tell me about how you feel about being honored like that and why you think it was you.

 

Connor Dunker: It was crazy. I wasn't expecting it. But when I heard it, I was really excited. I think I was chosen because of how I did in state and how well I placed. I scored the most points overall on the team.

 

AW: So you made it to the top eight race in the state, which is the championship race. Can you walk me through how you got there and how you performed in the final?

 

CD: Yeah, so I made it in the 500. After I didn’t make it in the 200, I knew I had to make it in the 500 so I went all out on the 500 and just gave all I had. And then I was really excited when I found out that I didn't only make the top 8, I was actually seventh. In prelims, I dropped three seconds, which I was really excited about. But then in finals, I added a second which is fine, but I still kept my same place of seventh.

 

AW: In the dual meets you’ve had this year, I heard you’ve won the 200 freestyle every time. Is that your specialty race?

 

CD: Yeah, that’s kind of what I’m best at and I think Coach Ehret thinks I’m the best at it too because she put me in it at every meet.

 

AW: And going into state, it's obviously your first time since you're a freshman, and you're probably going up against a lot of older and more experienced swimmers. Did you have any nerves going into it?

 

CD: Yeah, it wasn't like a normal meet like a club meet, I was more nervous, because I was doing it for my team and not just for myself. So I really want to give my best for the team. And knowing that I would probably be the youngest one swimming was really scary too, because there's no one my age swimming against me.

 

AW: So you’re a freshman on varsity which is an achievement in itself, tell me about your swimming career before high school.

 

CD: Before high school I was in the Rockwood Swim Club and before last year I wasn’t really serious about it, but in the past year it's gotten pretty serious and I’ve been getting better and better.

 

AW: Now with your first season under your belt, what are your expectations and some of your goals for next season? How are you going to achieve them?

 

CD: So over the offseason, I'm going to continue to train and get better and faster so then hopefully next season, I can make top eight in both the 500 and 200. I also want to work on more sprint events so I can be put in the relays.

 

AW: Last question, going into the break, what’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?

 

CD: I gotta say the rolls.

 

AW: Can’t go wrong with that.