Profile of a Hawk: Jess McGuire

Water has always surrounded sophomore Jess McGuire, and not just because she is a regu­lar competing member for the Roger Williams University swim team.

"I didn't grow up near the beach, but my family and I al­ways went to the beach every Sunday," McGuire said. "So I al­ways grew up around the water."

Those childhood beach trips were not the only way her family got her around the water as much as possible; at age three her par­ents enrolled her in swimming lessons. She stuck with those les­sons up until she was nine, when one of her instructors started to see some real talent in her. "One of my teachers suggested to my parents I be put on a team, and I've been swimming [competi­tively] ever since," she said.

Now one of the top distance swimmers for the Hawks com­peting in the 500m and 1000m events, McGuire has found suc­cess despite the fact she's not the fastest swimmer in the pool. "I can't sprint really fast," McGuire said. "I'm good at pacing myself. When you swim distance you need to be really good at pacing your times."

One of McGuire's best acco­lades is winning her club team's Barracuda Award twice, for most team spirited player as well be­ing named captain of her high school squad.

For a girl that grew up around the water and always has swum competitively, McGuire also wants to graduate with a Marine Biology degree and have a career around the water.

"I'm big on marine mammals," McGuire said. "I want to get an internship at the Mystic Aquari­um [in Mystic, Conn.]."

As a decorated swimmer in high school, with more experi­ence than your average sopho­more, McGuire should still be able to continually grow. While the swim team is one of her top priorities now, the water will al­ways be a top priority for her in life.