Diving in with Maggie Summit and Desmon Sachtjen

Under the Surface with Maggie

Major: Communications (Management minor)
Favorite hobby (outside of sports): sleeping, hanging with friends and going to the beach
Favorite musical artist: Post Malone
Favorite TV show/movie: Dirty Dancing
Favorite meal: anything pasta
Strangest talent: making a three-leaf clover with tongue
Biggest fear: spiders
Describe self in three words: impulsive, strong-willed, fun
Person you'd most like to meet: Tom Brady
This year's Halloween costume: undecided
Dream vacation spot: Greece
Sport you'd like to try but never have: soccer

Under the Surface with Desmon

Major: considering Business and Marketing Entertainment
Favorite hobby (outside of sports): boating, hiking and hanging with friends
Favorite musical artist: A$AP Rocky
Favorite TV show/movie: any Marvel superhero movie
Favorite meal: anything Mexican
Favorite superhero: can't choose one
Strangest talent: putting my leg over my head
Biggest fear: deep, dark waters
Describe self in three words: clumsy, loud, sweetheart
Person you'd most like to meet: my grandmother, Olivia Smoliga, or A$AP Rocky
Dream vacation spot: Switzerland or Italy
Sport you'd like to try but never have: hockey

With the 2019-20 swimming and diving season well underway, GopherSports.com continues to sit down which each of Minnesota's 24 newcomers in order to get to know them better as the Gophers progress through the present campaign.

Following last weekend's Big Ten Conference dual with Iowa, this week features freshmen Maggie Summit and Desmon Sachtjen.

Hailing from Rowley, Mass., Summit comes to the U as a two-time All-American in the 50 free and four-time All-State and All-Section honoree. During her time at Triton Regional High School, she earned six varsity letters, also swimming her way to state championships in the 50 free and 100 free. Her senior year, she set the state record in the 50 free.

Sachtjen, a Lodi, Wis. native, brings his talents to the Maroon and Gold after being a two-time All-American in high school as well. Attending Sauk Prairie High School, he also garnered All-State honors nine times and was the state champion in the 200 back as a senior. As a team captain and six-time conference champion, Sachtjen sports a list of accolades just as impressive as Summit's.

GopherSports: Why did you choose to attend the University of Minnesota?
Summit: "I chose the University of Minnesota because I thought it offered exactly what I was looking for academically and athletically, between the great coaching staff and team environment, along with being a highly ranked academic school."
Sachtjen: "Obviously, they have great academics here. On my visit, getting to know the team and the coaching staff, the team is just one big family. It's awesome. That's what I was looking for in a school. The coaching staff is obviously amazing. They're always there for you. It was just everything I wanted."

GS: When did you first start swimming and when did you know that you wanted to compete collegiately?
Summit: "I started swimming on the swim team when I was five years old. I've been doing it for a really long time. On my team, I saw people grow up and go to college and I knew I wanted to do that, too. From a young age, I knew that I wanted to. There wasn't one distinct moment."
Sachtjen: "I actually grew up a really big football player. My dad was my football coach growing up. I'd wake up and we'd look at plays and watch football together. Swimming was kind of just another sport that I did. After my sophomore year, I had a really good swim season and had a lot of fun. I realized I wanted to do it in college. I ended up actually quitting football after that season and focused on swimming."

GS: What has been the biggest element of the transition to college for you?
Summit: "I'm from Massachusetts, so it's definitely a hike away from there. The biggest thing that I've noticed transitioning is just not having my parents here to do the little things like laundry or dishes. You actually have to do it all for yourself. Other than that, it's been pretty good. The resources available make it really easy to feel comfortable here."
Sachtjen: "Going on your own and doing your own thing. It's just totally different from at home. I always had my parents there to help me. Being on your own and trying to figure out your life on your own has been interesting and different for me."

GS: What would you say is your biggest strength in the pool and what is one thing you're hoping to improve this year?
Summit: "I'd probably say my biggest strength is my sprint freestyle. There's definitely some things I need to work on, though. My flip turns are a little slow and breath control. We've been doing a lot of work on that."
Sachtjen: "I feel like my strength is my underwater [swimming]. Also, I'm a motivator and I love cheering on my teammates. Those are two strengths of mine. Something I could work on is probably my above water swimming."

GS: Who has been your biggest mentor or inspiration throughout your career?
Summit: "Since I've been here, Jordan [McGinty] and I have been training partners. We've gotten really close and she's a big inspiration for me, both during practice and during weights. She really pushes me. Getting to swim next to her every day, it's been a pleasure. And my mom and dad. They've been very supportive of me through the 13 years that I've been swimming. I think my mom has missed a total of one swim meet since I started."
Sachtjen: "I'm going to have to say my sister. She was the one who really got me into swimming and talked me through the whole process of quitting football. She swam in college at Northern Iowa and she just helped me through everything. She taught me a lot of things in and out of the pool, about work and dedication. My parents, too. My dad motivated me from a young age and was always on me about working hard. My mom was an Olympic curler, so she was my idol growing up."

GS: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?
Summit: "When I'm at home, my dad will make me pasta the night before. Here, if it's in the afternoon, I'll drink a coffee and get myself going. At the actual meet, I just kind of shake out and hop up on the blocks. I also wiggle my fingers before I do my start, but that's it. It helps me get the final nerves out."
Sachtjen: "One of the weirdest things is I have this lucky underwear that I wear every meet. I wear it every meet day. I have these lucky socks that I wear at every meet. Before every race, I listen to this playlist that I made. It's 26 hours long and every meet day, I put it on shuffle. Before I get on the blocks, every time I do my little stretching and I always slap my chest."

GS: What are your goals for the rest of the current season?
Summit: "At home, I don't do very many meets. It's very different. I think I've been kind of lucky with the transition. It's been going in my favor, but I need to be a little more confident in my ability in swimming events that I don't usually do. That's one of my goals: to be more confident in my abilities and the rest will follow accordingly."
Sachtjen: "Personally, I just want to be the best I can be for my teammates and the best I can be in the pool. With my times, hopefully get as low as possible and just be there for my teammates along the way. As for the men's team, we have a good year ahead of us and I think if we keep pushing it will end up being really good."

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Desmon Sachtjen