Mention the name Carly Piper and most will look at you and inquire, \Who?"" Wisconsin sophomore swimmer Carly Piper certainly did not come out of the blue. Piper, a four-time all-state swimmer in high school, was also a four-time all-American, a three-time state champ in Michigan, and the 1999-2000 Speedo Swimmer of the Year. As a freshman last year, she dominated at the Big Ten Championships, winning the 200-meter freestyle, the 500-meter freestyle and the 1650-meter individual freestyle. At the NCAA Championships, Piper took sixth in the 500-meter freestyle.
The Daily Cardinal: What about this season and the team has you most excited for the remainder of the season?
Carly Piper: The way we work together. We can all have a really good meet if we are on the same page and we are all working together. If we are all there cheering and realizing the work we're putting in is going to pay off if we keep thinking positively. I just love being around the team.
DC: What strengths have helped the team to such a good start?
CP: I think our team dynamic. Just working together and all the freshmen that came in brought some new stuff that we can work with. People stepping up and going for it has been big too.
DC: What teams are the teams to beat in the Big Ten and also what other swimmers will challenge you in conference this year?
CP: There will be a lot of different people. There are new people coming in and the swimmers last year that were right up there are going to be back. Team-wise, the teams that were first and second, Indiana and Penn State. I think we can be ... right up there [too].
DC: What influenced you to choose Wisconsin?
CP: I felt like I liked it the best here and that I fit in the best. I really liked the team, the surroundings and the area. The past depth, all the different swimmers and the different coaches all made it seem like it would be a good fit.
DC: Are you looking forward to defending your Big Ten titles later this season and improving on your NCAA Championship finishes?
CP: I'm excited. It will be nice to see where I can go. I want to see if I can get higher [places], a little higher than last year. [It's] something to look forward to.
DC: Who are you rooting for in Saturday's football game?
CP: Oh jeez. Wisconsin.
