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Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
Get to Know: Brigitta Neverman
12/21/2022 1:06:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
There are 18 newcomers to the Minnesota Swimming and Diving programs for the 2022-23 season. In order to get to know them better, GopherSports.com is doing Q&As with each.
Up next, Brigitta Neverman, a freshman from Green Bay, Wis. She attended Preble High School where she was a two-time state champion, winning the 200 IM and 100 Fly as a junior, a four-time all-state honoree, a two-time Northeast Wisconsin High School Swimmer/Diver of the Year and a two-time conference Swimmer of the Year. Neverman swam at the club level for Green Bay YMCA from 2008-21 and for Mid Wisconsin Wave Makers from 2021-22, competing at Winter Junior Nationals, NCSAs, YMCA Nationals, Speedos sectionals and the Central Zones Championships.
GopherSports.com: How did you get into swimming?
Brigitta Neverman: "My parents put my siblings and I into swim lessons when we were very young. Then they heard about the swim team and put my older brother on it when he was six and me when I was five, and I just never stopped."
GS: When did you realize you might be able to compete in college?
BN: "I realized I might be able to compete in college when the older girls I was swimming with were graduating and committing to swim in college. I was probably in early middle school when I started to make swimming in college a dream of mine."
GS: What was your recruiting process like?
BN: "My class' recruiting experience was a little different than most other years because we were recruiting during covid which made it especially difficult. I was recruiting during a time I couldn't even get into a pool because they were all closed much less go visit these schools I was talking to. We had to meet the coaches and the teams over zoom and it was much harder to get a good representation of what the teams were actually like. Eventually, they started letting us go on visits and when I came to Minnesota it was just like a huge relief because I loved it."
GS: What made you decide on Minnesota?
BN: "I chose Minnesota because of the team and the coaches. My older brother, Kaiser, also swims on the team so that was a bonus, too. The team was just so welcoming and Minnesota offers such good academics and athletics I just knew it was where I wanted to be."
GS: What differences have you noticed between high school/club and college swimming?
BN: "The major difference I have noticed between club swimming and college swimming is the team atmosphere. Here, I am surrounded by my teammates 24/7 and we do everything together."
GS: Are there any particular teammates who have taken you under their wing and helped in your transition to college?
BN: "There have been lots of upperclassmen who have helped me make my transition to college, my older brother Kaiser being one of them. Aside from my brother, Jordan McGinty is in my training group and I can't thank her enough for helping me this first semester. She really has taught me so much and has been like a big sister to me on the team."
GS: Do you have any pre-meet or pre-race rituals?
BN: "I don't really have any pre-meet rituals, I just like to get myself in the best headspace possible and try to get hyped up."
GS: What is your favorite event to compete in and why?
BN: "My favorite event to compete in might have to be the 100 fly. If the 50 fly was a real race then it would definitely be that. The 100 fly is just so quick and it's one of my favorite strokes."
GS: What is something you are looking forward to in your time as a Gopher?
BN: "I am definitely looking forward to growing as an athlete and continuing to make lifelong friendships. I would like to have some swims that I am super proud of and have fun while doing it."
Out of the Pool with Brigitta
Favorite spot on campus: Bierman Athletic Building
Favorite Food: Ice Cream
Favorite TV Show: Psych
Hidden talent: I can play the ukulele
Sport you're best at other than swimming/diving: Track
Favorite moment of your swimming/diving career: Probably when I won high school state junior year
Up next, Brigitta Neverman, a freshman from Green Bay, Wis. She attended Preble High School where she was a two-time state champion, winning the 200 IM and 100 Fly as a junior, a four-time all-state honoree, a two-time Northeast Wisconsin High School Swimmer/Diver of the Year and a two-time conference Swimmer of the Year. Neverman swam at the club level for Green Bay YMCA from 2008-21 and for Mid Wisconsin Wave Makers from 2021-22, competing at Winter Junior Nationals, NCSAs, YMCA Nationals, Speedos sectionals and the Central Zones Championships.
GopherSports.com: How did you get into swimming?
Brigitta Neverman: "My parents put my siblings and I into swim lessons when we were very young. Then they heard about the swim team and put my older brother on it when he was six and me when I was five, and I just never stopped."
GS: When did you realize you might be able to compete in college?
BN: "I realized I might be able to compete in college when the older girls I was swimming with were graduating and committing to swim in college. I was probably in early middle school when I started to make swimming in college a dream of mine."
GS: What was your recruiting process like?
BN: "My class' recruiting experience was a little different than most other years because we were recruiting during covid which made it especially difficult. I was recruiting during a time I couldn't even get into a pool because they were all closed much less go visit these schools I was talking to. We had to meet the coaches and the teams over zoom and it was much harder to get a good representation of what the teams were actually like. Eventually, they started letting us go on visits and when I came to Minnesota it was just like a huge relief because I loved it."
GS: What made you decide on Minnesota?
BN: "I chose Minnesota because of the team and the coaches. My older brother, Kaiser, also swims on the team so that was a bonus, too. The team was just so welcoming and Minnesota offers such good academics and athletics I just knew it was where I wanted to be."
GS: What differences have you noticed between high school/club and college swimming?
BN: "The major difference I have noticed between club swimming and college swimming is the team atmosphere. Here, I am surrounded by my teammates 24/7 and we do everything together."
GS: Are there any particular teammates who have taken you under their wing and helped in your transition to college?
BN: "There have been lots of upperclassmen who have helped me make my transition to college, my older brother Kaiser being one of them. Aside from my brother, Jordan McGinty is in my training group and I can't thank her enough for helping me this first semester. She really has taught me so much and has been like a big sister to me on the team."
GS: Do you have any pre-meet or pre-race rituals?
BN: "I don't really have any pre-meet rituals, I just like to get myself in the best headspace possible and try to get hyped up."
GS: What is your favorite event to compete in and why?
BN: "My favorite event to compete in might have to be the 100 fly. If the 50 fly was a real race then it would definitely be that. The 100 fly is just so quick and it's one of my favorite strokes."
GS: What is something you are looking forward to in your time as a Gopher?
BN: "I am definitely looking forward to growing as an athlete and continuing to make lifelong friendships. I would like to have some swims that I am super proud of and have fun while doing it."
Out of the Pool with Brigitta
Favorite spot on campus: Bierman Athletic Building
Favorite Food: Ice Cream
Favorite TV Show: Psych
Hidden talent: I can play the ukulele
Sport you're best at other than swimming/diving: Track
Favorite moment of your swimming/diving career: Probably when I won high school state junior year
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