It's fascinating. Constantly interesting. People think that Western Massachusetts is full of farmland. It's different when you're actually from a place that is actually all farmland. I've been cow-tipping. It's not that fun. You feel kind of bad for the cow.

What part of Michigan is Alma in?

Alma is actually right in the middle of Michigan. There's a sign like eight miles from where I live saying, "This is the geographical center of Michigan."

You have a great sense of style. Where do you get your clothes?

I get lots of my clothes from Goodwill. I've never bought clothing, except for maybe a pair of jeans, for more than $30. It comes from a willingness to wear anything.

I hear you don't get embarrassed easily. What do you consider your most embarrassing moment?

This past weekend at the NESCACs, one of our guys got disqualified, and it was a bad call. I was demonstrating what a bad call it was with all of my clothes in my arms, and I fell into the water. It was bad because I looked like a fool. All of the team as well as all of the parents were all laughing at me. It was unfortunate because I got my clothes wet. It was ironic because I demonstrating how slow he was getting off the blocks, and I ended up falling in the water.

What's your stroke of choice and why?

Butterfly. It's what I'm best at. I think it's the prettiest stroke. Butterfly's the most photogenic of all the sports.

How does college swimming compare to high-school swimming?

It's so different. In high school, you go to swim practice, and then you go home. In college, the pool and your home are in the same place. It's a little more incestuous. You eat with your team. You sleep with them. You go places with them. Sometimes you date them.

How's life in Waldorf?

Life in Waldorf is as far away from civilization as you can get. That's all I have to say about that.

What are some of your career interests?

I have a serious interest in speechwriting. I love politics, and I love writing speeches. So I can combine the two into speechwriting.

Do you have any experience writing speeches?

Well, I came from a very poor high school, poor in terms of money and poor in terms of education. As a valedictorian of my high school, I was able to give a speech. That was my motivation for getting straight As throughout my four years of high school. I knew that when I became a valedictorian in high school, I would be able to give a speech. Being a valedictorian isn't saying much, though. Some schools give out As like candy. That was my high school.

What was your speech about?

It was a montage of making the class laugh and telling people to relax and get out of Alma. I told a story, to start it off. An economics professor here told a story during pre-frosh weekend last year. I liked it, so I used the same story to start off my valedictorian speech. It's about an altercation with a ship. A ship is sailing towards the lighthouse. It's an American ship. The American ship tells the other ship, "Get out of my way. Move your direction 15 degrees to the south." The other ship says, "No. Change your direction 15 degrees to the north." The thing is, the other ship is not actually a ship. It's a lighthouse. But, every time the American ship would say something back, it would add another threat. Finally, the first ship said, "If you don't move, [then] I'm going to blast you out of the water." The second ship says, "This is the lighthouse. You move." Moral of the story: Relax. That was basically the theme of my speech. The economics professor's point in telling the story was relax about your college choice.

Are there any political speakers you look up to as role models?

Not really. Though, when I listen to a speech, I'm very critical. Any speech that doesn't have any humor in it, I think, is a bad call.