Vol Profile - Jeremy McDonnell - University of Tennessee Athletics

Nov. 29, 2001

Vol Profile: Jeremy McDonnell

VOL PROFILE: As one of the co-captains this year, how do you plan to keep the motivation going on the team?
McDonnell: "Since we have ten new guys the most important aspect of motivating our team is making sure to stay focused and showing the new guys the ropes through competition and practice everyday."

VOL PROFILE: Have you given the younger swimmers any words of wisdom?
McDonnell: "At our first meet, the SEC east extravaganza, we swam against some of the top teams in the nation like Georgia and Florida. From their own experience at the meet as well as the coaches and Justin (Hoggatt) and myself sharing our experiences, I think they've learned a lot thus far."

VOL PROFILE: What influenced your decision to come to UT?
McDonnell: "I'm originally from Texas and it was between them and here. I came here and I just loved it. I thought it was beautiful. I love the team and we get along really well."

VOL PROFILE: What is your favorite thing about UT?
McDonnell: "I would have to say the part of the country that it's in. I love Tennessee and being right here in the mountains is a big difference from Houston, Texas and the big city where I'm from. It is also a lot more peaceful."

VOL PROFILE: What kind of expectations do you have for the season?
McDonnell: "My expectations are the same as they are every season. I'm hoping to finish at least third in the nation like we did at last years NCAA. We are always in the hunt for an SEC championship, so we'll see how that goes."

VOL PROFILE: Whom do you look to for motivation? Do you have a hero or role model?
McDonnell: "Jeremy Lynn, he used to swim the breaststroke here. He was an Olympian and he's still the current American record holder. My freshman year he had just graduated, but he was still training because he was swimming professionally and we trained together since we swam the same events. He taught me how to be successful. Then there is his personality, he is someone that I look up to as well as a good friend."

VOL PROFILE: Do you have a favorite or most memorable moment?
McDonnell: "Yes, I actually have two of them since I've been here. Both of them came at SEC's last year. One of them was when our 200-medley relay broke the
American record at SEC's and that was pretty cool just to be able to say 'hey, I'm an American record holder.' Also I won the 100 (yd) breaststroke at SEC's. That was good because it was over some pretty tough competition. SEC is the fastest conference in the nation. It was over a guy that was an Olympian and a former NCAA champion. Those are my most memorable moments."

VOL PROFILE: Do you have any certain mental preparations you go through before a meet?
McDonnell: "The things that I do to mentally prepare for a meet happens everyday. I do the same things each day in order to prepare myself. On my wall I always put up all of my goal times for the end of the season so I'm looking at them every single day. The past two years I've hit probably half my goal times almost exactly, to the tenth of a second I've gotten it. Mentally, it helps me prepare."

VOL PROFILE: What are your hobbies and interests outside of swimming?
McDonnell: "I like outdoor activities, like going to the mountains and camping. One thing I do back home is I race cars, drag race cars, I'm into cars a lot and music and going to different shows."

VOL PROFILE: After you graduate, what would you like to be remembered for?
McDonnell: "For being a tough competitor and someone that rises to the level of competition and competes well when he needs to."