Q&A with Ridgeline swim captain Navie Powell
MILLVILLE, Utah — Navie Powell of Ridgeline High School, is one of this year鈥檚 Swim Team Captains! As a senior, she has participated in swimming all four years and the sport for twelve years total. Navie currently holds the Ridgeling record in the 200 I.M. with a time of 2:15.00, as well in the backstroke with a time of 1:00.59.
She was on the relay teams for two more school records during last year’s season and took home two gold medals聽at state in those relays. Individually, in the 200 I.M. at state, Navie took silver, and a bronze in the 100 backstroke.聽She has her goals set to be an individual state champion,聽and is currently a 4.0 student.
Read below to learn more about Navie:
What are your personal goals within your sport?
Navie Powell: As an athlete, I have a unique opportunity to work not only as a team, but on my own. This year I鈥檓 focusing on how hard I practice, how I mentally prepare myself to compete, and how I treat my competitors. I do this all in preparation for dropping time in my events, and taking first at state.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Powell: My biggest challenge comes before I even dive in the water. I get super nervous about my events and overthink a lot about the outcome. Luckily I have the best teammates and coaches to help me overcome my worries. They are able to calm me down, help me prepare, and give me positive notes to pump me up. I鈥檓 so thankful to have such a positive environment.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Powell: Working in a team, you have a lot of pressure to do well for not only yourself, but the other people around you. While this is hard at times, I like to turn to something my coach tells me: Pressure makes diamonds. I can鈥檛 compete like I do if I don鈥檛 have something to work towards, something to motivate me to push myself harder than I think I can go. I鈥檝e been told a lot that my mind gives up before my body does, and to have a good mindset about things. When I鈥檓 racing and feel like I can鈥檛 go any further, that鈥檚 when I push myself the hardest, because I know that my body is capable of more.
What do you love about your sport?
Powell: I really love the people I work and compete with. I鈥檝e been swimming with most of my teammates and competitors since we were kids, and I鈥檝e loved growing up with them. I love that I can make my own goals as well, and the excitement of reaching them is incomparable.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Powell: Outside my sport I鈥檓 a photographer. I鈥檝e done photography since 7th grade, and I really love the broadness and creativity I experience while taking photos. I like taking photos of my sport as well, because it鈥檚 combining the two things I love the most! I keep an Instagram account to document what I capture @naviesphotography.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Powell: Being a member of my team has taught me to have compassion for others. We all have our own individual strengths and weaknesses, but we come together as one to compete in unison. I always cheer on my teammates and they do the same for me. When I accomplish a goal, the whole team accomplishes that goal, and vice versa.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Powell: I鈥檓 a backstroker, and there have been many times where I鈥檝e slipped from my start. Most of my power comes from that push off into my underwater, so to not have a good dive in the beginning of my race makes it hard for me to catch up to the other competitors. I like to work my underwaters in practice to help combat the possibility of slipping. I also stay during and after practice to work on the dive specifically.
Anything else you鈥檇 like to say?
Powell: I鈥檓 thankful for my family, coaches, and my friends who have all contributed to my swimming career. I can鈥檛 do what I do without having them by my side.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.