Diving in with Caroline Anderson and Grace Wollschlager

Under the Surface with Caroline

Major: considering Communications
Favorite hobby (outside of sports): yoga
Favorite musical artist: Selena Gomez and Thomas Rhett
Favorite movie: Mammi Mia!
Favorite meal: acai bowls
Strangest talent: one leg is extremely longer than the other
Biggest fear: deep waters
Describe self in three words: loud, good listener, optimistic
Person you'd most like to meet: David Dobrik
Favorite item at Thanksgiving: stuffing
Dream vacation spot: Switzerland
Sport you'd like to try but never have: lacrosse

Under the Surface with Grace

Major: Kinesiology (pursuing physical therapy)
Favorite hobby (outside of sports): watching movies and TV shows
Favorite TV show: Friends and New Girl
Strangest talent: gymnastics
Biggest fear: being kidnapped
Describe self in three words: hardworking, positive, friendly
Person you'd most like to meet: Olivia Smoliga
Favorite item at Thanksgiving: Apple Pie
Dream vacation spot: Greece
Sport you'd like to try but never have: track

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.

Although the team is busy preparing for the upcoming Minnesota Invite from Dec. 4-7, we were able to pull aside freshmen Caroline Anderson and Grace Wollschlager for this week's installment. Anderson is a sprint freestyler hailing from Lakeville, Minn., while Wollschlager comes from Plymouth, Minn. and specializes in the butterfly.

At Lakeville North High School, Anderson was a two-time All-State selection and four-time All-Conference honoree. In 2018, she helped set the school record in the 200 free relay, while also claiming the sectional championship in the 100 free and finishing as runner-up in the 50 free.

As a graduate of Armstrong High School, Wollschlager set some records of her own during a standout career. She owns the school record in the 100 fly as well as the 200 medley relay, in addition to being a five-time All-Conference selection. Wollschalger was also named the team MVP in both her junior and senior seasons at Armstrong.

GopherSports: Why did you choose to attend the University of Minnesota?
Anderson: "I was kind of a late addition, but the main reason I chose the University of Minnesota was because when I took my visit here, the coaches just made me feel like there was a spot for everybody. Coming in, knowing there would be a spot for everyone and that they would make me feel welcome was a big thing for me. Another reason I chose Minnesota was because of the academics. This was a really good mix of both of those things."
Wollschlager: "I like the University of Minnesota for academic and athletic reasons. I knew they had a really good reputation in a lot of their colleges and I was undecided at the time, so I figured choosing a college with a good reputation in a variety of majors would be a very good option for me. As for athletics, I talked with [head coach Kelly Kremer] and he gave me a good feel of the team and made me feel like it was a place where I could thrive and enjoy. I felt like it was a team atmosphere that I wanted to be a part of."

GS: When did you first start swimming and when did you know that you wanted to compete collegiately?
Anderson: "Actually, it's kind of funny. When I started out, I was really, really bad. I started when I was eight or nine and I had to repeat the first few levels because I was so bad. I got into it because my mom was a swimmer and my cousin started when she was a little bit younger than me. My sister and I started it together and I began to really like it, and then I quit all my other sports. It wasn't until eighth or ninth grade that I decided this was something I wanted to pursue and get a lot better at. I decided my main goal was to swim in college."
Wollschlager: "I started swimming on a team when I was about nine years old. I didn't really think about college swimming until I hit high school and saw other people going to college for swimming. I didn't really consider it before then, because I never really saw swimming as that serious until I started getting better and saw that I might actually have a shot at it."

GS: What has been the biggest element of the transition to college for you?
Anderson: "The training is definitely a lot different. I've always focused heavily on my academics, so that's not too much of a change for me. The main difference that I've noticed is that I always want to be at practice and I always want to train. Here, it's always an opportunity to get better and the environment makes it more fun."
Wollschlager: "Well, I did PSEO (post-secondary enrollment options) here for two years, so I had my transition academically when I first started that. Now, adding the athletic side into it, it's a lot of time management and getting used to being independent. Keeping yourself accountable and responsible for getting places on time, as well as taking care of yourself."

GS: What would you say is your biggest strength in the pool and what is one thing you're hoping to improve this year?
Anderson: "I think my biggest strength overall is that I stay pretty optimistic through a lot of things. Not being the best on the team, it gives me an opportunity to observe a lot and learn from others, especially those that are the best on the team. Specifically, within my training, I could definitely work on my underwaters."
Wollschlager: "I consider myself a really good practice performer. Not in the aspect of being competitive in practice, but I'm able to push myself in practice and see good results there. Whether it be pace work or kicking and stuff like that, I would say those are some of my strengths. As for improvements, I think I can always improve on kicking. Even though I see that as a strength, I know it can get better. I think my biggest one is meet confidence. For our swim meets and dual meets, I just need to work on my confidence."

GS: Who has been your biggest mentor or inspiration throughout your career?
Anderson: "I met Jordan McGinty when I was eight. I've known her growing up and through the sport. I've always looked up to her. We're the same age, but she is someone who is really fast and always puts in the work. Another big inspiration I had growing up was Regan Smith. She was one of my best friends and she's been good since she was young. She got a lot better and she's still improving."
Wollschlager: "I had a coach at my club team; his name is Tom Franke. He's overall just a really great guy. He was always very supportive of me and I could always talk to him about anything. It was really nice to have him through the years, because I started swimming at my club team when I was nine and I didn't switch club teams throughout my entire career. Having him there, coaching me all the time, it was really nice to have. I could always look to him for good advice."

GS: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?
Anderson: "I try to go to bed super early, because getting a lot of sleep helps me. I drink a ton of water the day of and I try not to eat that much – just enough to get me the energy I need. I like listening to music, too."
Wollschlager: "I guess I'm still kind of figuring out my pre-meet rituals. I've found that for meets that have gone well for me, three hours before the meet I put my legs up against the wall to get some of the lactic acid out. Otherwise, I'll do compressions on my legs for recovery methods. I try to not eat things that will upset my stomach or anything. I stay hydrated and try to listen to music to get me in the mood to compete."

GS: What are your goals for the rest of the current season?
Anderson: "Obviously, I want to keep improving. In the 50 [free] especially, I want to focus on my walls, because that's one of the low points of my 50. I just want to keep having fun and keep enjoying it."
Wollschlager: "My main goal is just to see some good progress. I know that my stroke is pretty close to being where I want it to be and I think I just have to work on the minor details. Just solidifying those details and technique work in practice, while still pushing myself. I know in these next few weeks, we don't have dual meets, so we're going to be pushed pretty hard in practice. Making it through that and coming out stronger, mentally and physically, that will help a lot even towards the end of the season."

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Players Mentioned

Caroline Anderson

Jordan McGinty

Grace Wollschlager