This week, I had the opportunity to interview junior Fay Lustria, a talented swimmer who recently announced her verbal commitment to UCLA via social media. Although she has a few years before she begins attending the university, she is excited for this new journey to start. 

Kerman: How long have you been swimming?

Lustria: I started when I was six years-old. It’s crazy to think that I’ve been practicing in pools for a whole decade!

Kerman: Where do you swim, or what club do you swim for? And how often are you swimming nowadays?

Lustria: I swim at THPRD for Tualatin Hills Swim Club. My current practice schedule is very hectic since I practice all seven days of the week and swimming is a year round sport too! Everyday after school, I swim for two hours and then lift weights for another hour. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, I swim before school from 5-7 AM, and then again after school for another two hours. I spend about 3-5 hours per day at the swimming pool.

Kerman: Obviously there’s a ton of sports out there, and swimming is one of the more unique choices…what do you like most about swimming?

Lustria:  Growing up, my parents always wanted me to stay active, so they enrolled me in a variety of different sports, but I never liked [any of] them as much as I enjoyed swimming. I’ve always loved the feeling of being underwater. My favorite part about swimming is the combination of a docile and competitive atmosphere it creates. Sometimes I view swimming as a respite from my busy life, and sometimes I see it as a challenge that motivates me to work as hard as possible.

Kerman: How did you commit to UCLA? How did they approach you?

Lustria: Getting recruited is definitely a wild process. Immediately following my sophomore year, I was contacted by many Division 1 schools. I [went] on weekly calls with each one to interview their coaches and swimmers about the different aspects of their college. UCLA’s head coach, Jordan Wolfrum, reached out to me and offered many reasons as to why I should attend UCLA. The first one [was] that they have one of the best collegiate swimming programs in the country. Second, they have outstanding academics and an amazing computer science program, which I’ve decided to major in. Third, the team culture is filled with so much uplifting energy and positivity. But the most important reason of all is that their athletes receive gourmet meals, and I LOVE good food! Her description of UCLA convinced me that it was a place where I could really thrive, and I’m thrilled I get to spend four years at such a prestigious school!

Kerman: How are you feeling about committing to UCLA? Excited? Nervous? Relieved?

Lustria: All of the above! After spending several months trying to come to a final decision, I’m relieved that I don’t have to deal with copious amounts of stress anymore. I am a bit nervous about going into a completely foreign environment, all by myself, with unknown people and places, but overall I’m mostly excited to attend UCLA because it’s a brand new experience!

Kerman: What are you most excited about?

Lustria: I’m most excited to see how I develop as a swimmer. UCLA has every possible resource an athlete could ever desire. Their various weight trainers, nutritionists, physical therapists, sports psychologists, etc. will all have an impact on my performance, and I can’t wait to see how it can push me to my highest potential!