Ten Questions with Meghan Sackett, Swimming

By UMBC Retrievers News
Why did you decide to leave Maryland?
I left Maryland because academically it wasn’t the place for me. The classroom sizes of over 300 kids and not having a relationship with the professor was really tough for me to experience me freshman year. I wanted a smaller setting. Regarding athletics, the athletic program in general just wasn’t close. There was no real bond between any of the teams, especially my sport.
Why did you decide to come to UMBC?
I wanted to come here because I wanted to be closer to home. I grew up with Tom [Himes, assistant coach]; he was my club coach for six or seven years. He was a main contributor to why I came here, because I did want to swim for him again. Probably the happiest I’ve been in the pool is when I’ve been swimming for him. Also, being in the club scene, I did grow up with Chad [Cradock, head coach] and Chris [Gibeau, assistant coach], so I was familiar with their coaching, and I really liked them.
What’s the biggest difference between the two schools?
The closeness, the bonds. Even when I first came here on my tour, it was a close-knit family, you were involved. It’s something that you don’t experience at a big school.
When you’re swimming and you’re so far ahead of the competition, do you ever feel like slowing down?
Never. I know that I won’t be that person in every race. I know that I’ve worked for whatever accomplishments I’ve got, and I’m just going to keep going after them.
What’s it like to look up at the records on the wall and see your name there so many times?
It’s amazing. I’ve swam in this pool since I was little, and growing up I always thought my name would be up there one day. It’s so satisfying. But I know how much work I put into it.
Swimming is more of an individual sport. How do you maintain the team unity?
You have to go out of your way. You have to know that you’re a teammate and you’re a supporter of everybody else. As a team, we schedule things outside of the pool – we have dinners or we go to the movies. It’s important because it is individual and people do fall behind.
You swam at North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) with Olympian Michael Phelps. Talk about your relationship with him.
He was actually my best friend growing up through NBAC. But at the same time, he was my idol because of his determination. His social life was limited just like mine, so we kind of came together. We wanted to go to the Olympics. We had the same dreams and the same goals.
Talk about swimming at the Olympic Trials in 2004.
It was so nerve-wracking! I’ve been swimming for 17 years and I didn’t swim with my goggles in the 800 [meter freestyle] at Olympic Trials. I was so nervous that I forgot them. Overall, the general sense of being there was amazing.
Who has been your biggest influence throughout your career?
My parents. The lessons that I’ve learned from them, I have so much respect for them knowing how much money, how much time, how much extra effort they put forth for me and swimming. When I wanted to quit, the motivation factor, the time management; they know that I’m stressed, they know that I’m tired, but they don’t ever give up on me. I just appreciate so much that they’ve given me. It’s hard to show it by swimming laps, but I hope they know.
What are your goals for this season?
I want to be back at the NCAA Championships, and I want to be a finalist in more than one event. For the team, I know that we can win the conference. I want the team to know that we need to stick together and have the same goal and not forget about it. I feel that we need to stay positive and just keep going.