University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Profile: Incoming Freshman Haley Spencer
9/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Periodically throughout the summer, gophersports.com will feature incoming freshmen as they are getting ready to join the University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team. This week's Gopher student-athlete is breaststroker Haley Spencer. A 2009 graduate of Zumwalt West High School in O'Fallon, Mo., was the 57th overall recruit in the collegeswimming.com rankings. Haley signed a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period. Below is her bio and a short question and answer session with Haley.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2009 graduate of Zumwalt West High School • ranked as the 57th overall recruit by collegeswimming.com • competed with her high school team and with the Rockwood Swim Club for 12 years under head coach Mary Liston • U.S. Olympic Trial qualifier in the 100 and 200 breast and the 400 IM • U.S. Junior National Team and competed in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events • a 2008 Junior National Champion in the 200 breast and a 2009 Junior National Champion in the 100 breast • was the 2008 recipient of the Ernie Vornbrock Memorial Award for the metropolitan area female swimmer of the year • all-conference and all-state selection in 2006, 2007 and 2009 • held the state record in the 100 breast and the 200 IM her senior year • earned a conference record in the 200 IM and the 100 fly • held the state record in the 100 breast as a freshman.
PERSONAL: Born February 25, 1991 to Todd and Teri Spencer • has a younger sister, Evyen and younger brother, Jack • undecided on a major.
Gophersports.com: What impressed you the most about the University of Minnesota?
Haley Spencer: There is no way for me to tell you what impressed me the most about the U because there are too many things for me to pick from. The size of the campus, the academics, the athletics, everything combined made it easy for me to make the decision to sign with Minnesota.
GS: What was one of your favorite memories either at the high school or club level?
HS: One of my favorite memories from my high school would be kidnapping the freshman on the swim team my senior year. Every year after our first meet the seniors kidnap the freshman before school and take them out to breakfast in their pajamas. Seeing their faces when we woke them up at 4 in the morning and dragged them out of bed was priceless!
GS: Since you’ve committed to Minnesota, what have you been up to and what have you been doing this summer?
HS: Since I committed to the U, all I've really been doing is training for my meets and coaching my neighborhood swim team. I'm basically at the pool every hour that I'm awake.
GS: Do you have any individual or long-term goals at Minnesota?
HS: Some of my goals for myself at the U are to score at NCAA's and it would be awesome if we were Big Ten champs again.
GS: What’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t in the pool?
HS: When im not at the pool, I love to hang out with my friends or catch up on some much needed sleep.
GS: What are you the most excited for after stepping foot on campus?
HS: I'm most excited to start training with the team and to meet new people.
Players Mentioned
