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Samantha Sauer is a junior on the University of Iowa swimming and diving team. The St. Charles, Illinois, native currently sits among the top times on the team in the 100 back, 200 back, 50 free, and 100 free, while being part of the season-best 200- free relay.
What goals do you and the team hope to accomplish this year?
“We’re all trying to get closer to push each other to be the best we can be inside and outside of the pool. So far throughout this year you can see how much work we’ve put into the pool, which also shows in school. We’re going to have great results in the end.
“I’m swimming after times, rather I’m tweaking little things in my races and trying to get faster overall. I’m being pushed to my breaking point and getting to know the whole team better.”
How has the team transitioned from last year to this year?
“We’re a lot closer on a personal level. There has been more encouragement around the team, which I think is huge since we didn’t have it a lot last year.”
What is your best advice for this year’s freshmen?
“Try to not pressure yourself as much. Be here for the experience and try to swim fast. It’s not the end of the world if you have a bad swim, just focus on improving and being
yourself and you’ll be a better person because of that.”
What is the best advice you were given by a coach?
“Don’t overthink before you swim. Turn off what you’re thinking and do what you’ve been doing in practice.”
Who has been the most influential person to you since you came to Iowa?
“It would be Richard (Salhus) or Sarah (Stockwell-Gregson). They’ve pushed me to another level and made me work on things that I would never think of.”
What made you choose Iowa?
“When I came here, there was a barbeque. Just based on how the team interacted with each other there as a close family made me feel at home. Seeing that happiness and
how they practiced and interacted struck me as a great place to be.”
If not swimming, what other sport would you enjoy the most?
“I would do snowboarding. In the winter, I love going on snowboarding trips with my family even if it’s a negative temperature outside.”
What is your favorite place to be on campus?
“The library. I can interact with my friends there but also sit down and study or get work done.”
Who is your favorite person on the team to be around and why?
“Devin Jacobs. We practiced a lot with each other at the beginning of the year and it was nice having someone to push me or try the next interval with.”
Favorite hobby?
“I like to bake. I don’t have too much time to do it, but when I do, I like to make extravagant meals.”
Ideal superpower?
“Mind reading. Sometimes I’ll ask someone a question and I know they know something but don’t want to say it. I’d like to figure out what people are actually thinking.”
