By Meghan Jordan
Athletics Communications Student Assistant

As the UC Davis women's swimming and diving team closes in on this year's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, UCDavisAggies.com had a chance to catch up with senior swimmer Caroline Weston during a recent break in the team's schedule. Last season, the Aggies successfully defended their MPSF Championship, and aim to make it three-in-a-row later this year. Weston gives us the inside scoop on life as an Aggie swimmer, her life from coast-to-coast, and her hidden talent as a stand-up comedian.

Q: How has the season gone for you so far?
A: The swim and dive season has hit the ground running! We have done really well competing as a team with all of the new freshmen.

Q: What did you do personally to prepare for your final season?
A: I made sure that before the start of the season I was 100 percent physically, emotionally, and mentally ready. This is going to be my 16th year as a competitive swimmer, so I wanted to make sure that all the years I put into this sport would come together in a final season that I would be proud of.

Q: What are you looking forward to this season?
A: With every season, I look forward to spending time with my teammates and coaches. As a team, we are working to repeat our win last year at the MPSF Championships in February. The team is also travelling to Texas next week, and I am looking forward to visiting a state with no zoning laws.

Q: What's your favorite memory as an Aggie swimmer?
A: Last year, on the final night of our Missouri Invitational meet, our assistant coach, Scott Weltz was driving our van back to the hotel. As we approached the hotel, I turned on the Mistah Fab song, "Ghost Ride" and we hopped out of the car and "ghost rode da whip." I didn't realize that Barb and Pete were in the vans behind us, watching for the whole song and performance, but it's one of those things they never mention because I think they were really confused.

Q: What's a day in the life like for a UC Davis swimmer?
A: First and foremost it's a long one. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it begins at 5 a.m. when we bike to morning practice, and later double up from 4:30-6:30 p.m. On Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we have weights in the morning and practice later on. Weekends we usually have meets, and are traveling. Any remaining time between practices and class is dedicated to replenishing our green balls.

Q: Having lived in New York most of your life, what brought you out to California?
A: My Dad accepted a job in San Francisco when I was a junior in high school. The summer before my senior year, my family moved to join him. I ended up going to college in Georgia my freshman year, but transferred back to California because I like avocados more than peaches.

Q: Word on the street is you are a stand-up comedian, how did that begin?
A: It started with words of encouragement from my freshmen floor mates at Emory University. My neighbor, Sushi and I went after class one night to an open mic night at a popular comedy club. I ended up placing first and returned a few weeks later. Since then, when I find I have time, or if I think a bit that I wrote could make a few people laugh, I'll try and find a place to feel out the material.

Q: What's your best joke?
A: My life.

Q: Have you ever been heckled?
A: I have, and I usually turn bright red. But those are character-building moments, and I enjoy the exchange.

Q: As you are nearing the end of your collegiate career, what are your post-collegiate plans?
A: I will hopefully spend two years working in the environmental policy field and will then focus on applying to law school! Naturally, I plan to continue swimming and am looking forward to doing so well after the sun rises.