University of Minnesota Athletics
Attitude Primes Sophomore Success for Nack
10/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Sophomore Danielle Nack recalls starting swimming out of necessity. With their family home on Lake Washington near Mankato, Jim and Lynn Nack enrolled their daughters in beginning swimming lessons for safety. What started out as a safety precaution grew into a passion that would eventually lead Nack to swim collegiately at Minnesota.
As a freshman, she finished in the top-eight in five events at the 2015 Big Ten Conference Championships, highlighted by a silver medal in the 200-yard butterfly. She also qualified for the NCAA Championships in both fly events and contributed to Minnesota's 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. This past July, Nack broke the school record in the 200 fly with a 2:13.40 on the opening night of the Minneapolis Speedo Sectionals. And she appears hungry for much more.
"I learned a lot last year and came into my sophomore season with goals and expectations," she said. "I am ready to work hard, and I know what to expect."
Her attitude is paying off early. In the first three meets of the season, Nack has earned nothing below a second-place finish in her events for Minnesota. Her October times are killer, with a 1:59.01 in the 200 fly and a 54.06 in the 100 fly, both currently among the top-15 fastest in the nation. Each mark already meets an NCAA "B" qualifying standard.
"I think Danielle is a completely different student-athlete this fall then she was a year ago," senior associate head coach Terry Ganley said. "She is better shape right now than she was all of last year. Danielle has come back ready to go."
This fall Danielle was joined by her younger sister Chantal Nack, a freshman backstroke and middle-distance freestyle swimmer for Minnesota. The sibling-swimming duo is extremely close and has enjoyed being on the same team again. Danielle and Chantal both credit each other for making the start to this season very smooth.
"She is incredibly supportive of me and everything I do," Chantal said. "Sometimes she worries about me more than herself."
While Danielle's fly is sure to be a key for Minnesota's medley relays, her sprint free times for relays are also in high demand.
"Danielle's freestyle is way ahead of where she has been," Ganley said. "It's amazing. She's going to be a major player on all of our relays."
Danielle believes she is ready for this leadership position in the relay lineup. She enjoys working towards a first-place finish with three of her teammates, and finds them more fun than when she is by herself behind the blocks.
"Danielle sets her goals high and never looks back on them," Chantal said. "She has an amazingly positive attitude on deck. Her success is very deserving and she should be proud of that."
In addition to this year's Big Ten and NCAA Championships, Nack has her eye on July's Olympic Trials for Team USA. Having qualified for the meet, Danielle is determined to getting best times and placing as high as she can.
"I love coming to the pool each day with the Gophers, coach Terry," Danielle said. "I'm going to keep training hard - and have fun while doing it."
Danielle has swapped hanging out on the lake-still her favorite free time activity-for two-a-days in the lanes at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center. This season she looks to combine the best of both worlds: swimming alongside her sister just like old times, but bringing a fresh attitude and faster times than ever.
Written by Maddy Olson, athletic communications student intern
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