University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Feature: Tess Behrens
3/12/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
March 12, 2012
Tess Behrens has been an outstanding member of the Minnesota women's swimming and diving team. Leading the Gophers in the 100 and 200 backstroke, the sophomore out of Maple Grove has proven to be a key factor into the success of the Big Ten Champion team.
As a freshman, Behrens was named an All-American with the 200 medley relay that placed ninth at the NCAA Championships. Now heading back to the NCAA's with a year of experience under her belt, we can expect to see a few more All-America honors coming her way.
Throughout the 2011-12 season, Behrens has been named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week (10/11) and has tallied 25 first-place finishes, including two huge victories at the Big Ten Championships. On the third day of the Championships, Behrens placed first in the 100 backstroke, setting a Minnesota school record time of 52.35. On the final day of competition, she also claimed the Big Ten title in the 200 backstroke, touching the wall at another Minnesota school record time of 1:53.34. Behrens earned 2012 All-Big Ten First Team honors preceding the meet.
Now heading to the NCAA Championships, Behrens will compete in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.
Being a sophomore, what is your role on the team?
"Ever since high school I've always felt that I can be a leader. I definitely try to take on a leadership role here even though I am young, but I have experiences that not everybody gets to have yet when they get to this point. I try to help the younger girls and help people who are experiencing things for the first time, and just try to take on that leadership role. We are all very close knit so just helping everyone get through things; we're kind of a family so it's just helping with every aspect. We have a big freshman class this year and I'm really happy with how they're doing."
You have had an extremely successful season, claiming various first place finishes. Does every win feel just as exciting?
"They are definitely some wins that are more exciting. Obviously after winning Big Ten's, it was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced and one of the best feelings. Every time you get to go out there and score those points for your team, no matter if it's just a random dual meet or if it's Big Tens or NCAA's, just getting out there and scoring points for your team is a great feeling."
Did you go into Big Ten's thinking you were going to take home two titles?
"I didn't go into it with an, `I'm going to win' attitude, it was more an, `I want to win' attitude. I'm one of those people that is always checking results and checking the times. Going into it, I was looking at it realistically and thinking I do have a shot at this, I could do this. I went into it saying to myself, you have the ability to do this, just go out there swim your race. I'm very glad it worked out the way it did for me."
How did it feel to win two events at the Big Ten Championships?
"They were both the most amazing feelings ever. I went from ninth place last year in both events to first. It was this crazy feeling that I've gotten so far in one year and it's so different, and I still have two more. Coming out of it, I feel like I've gained experience and gained maturity from being able to do that. Looking forward I would love to repeat both of those for the next two years, but who knows what could happen."
Now preparing for NCAA's, what do you need to focus on/what are your goals?
"Our main focus is obviously to get as many people back to final scoring heats as possible. Our first team goal is we really want to beat our place last year of ninth, the best finish in the history of the program. We looked at being the best in Big Ten relays at the meet, that's another big goal we have talked about. Really, it's just trying to get as many people as we can back to finals, back in scoring positions and having good swims. It's hard to bounce back in such a short period of time but hopefully we'll get some best times in there with a lot of people in scoring positions."
How does the atmosphere differ from NCAA's to other meets?
"It's still an extremely exciting meet; it's big, there are tons of teams there, it's loud and it's exciting. I would say the Big Ten atmosphere is a little more personal at that level just because you have the whole team there. At NCAA's, there are some amazingly fast swimmers and it's so exciting to get to go up there and just watching some of those races you can't even understand what's going on. It's great to go in and see people doing well and you get to see people you maybe know from other places. It's exciting."
Are you more nervous or excited to compete in the NCAA Championships?
"I would say it's pretty equal, I'm going into it with probably less expectations in terms of place and times and more with the idea that I just want to go in there and have fun, swim fast but have fun more so. There is a little more pressure at Big Ten's."
Athletic Communications Student Intern Kelly Kleine
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