Recently we had a chance to speak with Central Connecticut State swimming standout Tammie Repass.  Repass, who was voted NEC Most Outstanding Swimmer in 2001, claimed three individual titles, while leading the Blue Devils to a third place finish at the 2002 NEC Swimming & Diving Championships.  She won the 500 freestyle (4:53.55), 1650 freestyle (17:23.56) and the 200 butterfly (2:02.32) at the event.  Repass excelled in her junior campaign, earning NEC Athlete of the Week honors on one occasion and making a strong showing at the NCAA Championships, placing 24th in the 200 butterfly (2:00.13), 35th in the 500 freestyle (4:50.58), and 51st in the 200 freestyle (1:51.13).  This season, the Enfield, CT native has already taken home Athlete of the Week accolades twice and is nationally ranked in three events.  Recently the senior recorded four wins at the Yale Nutmeg Invitational, while posting season-best times in all four events.  Repass recorded a first place finish in the 500 freestyle with an NCAA B qualifying time of 4:52.86. She also took first in the 400 individual medley (4:24.02) and the 100 butterfly (57.43), while recording an NCAA B qualifying time in the 200 butterfly (2:01.90.  Repass continues to dominate the NEC, holding the top spot in the conference in the 200 freestyle (1:53.00), 500 freestyle (4:52.86), 100 butterfly (57:43), 200 butterfly (2:01.90) and 400 IM (4:24.02).  The Blue Devils will set their sights on dethroning UMBC at the 2003 NEC Swimming & Diving Championships in Landover, MD on February 14-16.

Name: Tammie Repass 
School: Central Connecticut State
Sport: Women’s Swimming 
Year: Senior

Hometown: Enfield, Connecticut
High school: Fermi
Major: Elementary Education
Notable Award: 2001 NEC Outstanding Swimmer, Won three events at 2002 NEC Championships 

Favorite TV show: Friends  
Favorite Movie: A League of Their Own 
Hobbies: Crafts; makes candles and soap
Favorite Class/Professor: Anatomy/Professor Martin-Troy

NEC: Why did you choose to come to CCSU?
TR: I chose CCSU because it was local and had a great reputation for teaching. Swimming was also a big part of my decision.  The team was building up and I liked the coach

NEC: What career do you wish to pursue after graduation?
TR: I want to be a teacher.

NEC: How does it feel to be nationally ranked in Division I in three events?
TR: Good, but it really doesn’t change anything.  It is nice to be able to show that all the hard work is paying off and I am moving in the right direction.

NEC: What was it like becoming a three-event individual champion at last year’s championship?
TR: It was a relief.  We had such a hard schedule going into the championships.  When you get there it’s all about the team.  I was happy that I could do my part to help the team.

NEC: What are your goals this year?
TR: To get back to the NCAA’s.  If not, I will be happy with swimming faster times and being better than last year.

NEC: In the upcoming weeks, how will you be preparing for the NEC Championships?
TR: Getting more rest than I am now.  We finish up this last bit then we rest.  Practices get easier and we try to get into the right mindset. We have been working so hard all year so we are ready.

NEC: What will it take for CCSU to win this year?
TR: A lot of big swims.  The team has to really come together.  Once we get rolling it builds up our confidence. When we do well the momentum builds.  That’s why the first session is so important.

NEC: Who is your biggest competition at the NEC Championships this year?
TR: UMBC is at the top in a lot of events, but every team is big competition for us.  I try not to focus on one person individually; I try to swim my own race.

NEC: What motivational tactics do you use for yourself and the team?
TR: We pair up with partners at the beginning of the year in order to get psyched and ready for the season.  We get together as a team a lot and the night before the championships as it’s extremely important to be together as a team. 

NEC: What is your role on the team?
TR: There is a different makeup on the team this year.  We have a lot of walk-ons and a new coach, so we are in the rebuilding process.  I really try to include the new people. We needed to bridge the divide between the old and the new and make everyone feel welcome. 

NEC: What event do you enjoy competing in the most?
TR: I like the 200 butterfly the most at championship time.  I feel the most confident going into that race.

NEC: Where is your favorite place to swim?
TR: I like my home pool.  I like that we have diving boards in our pool because I think it’s better to swim in deep water rather than shallow. 

NEC: Where is the toughest place to swim?
TR: Water is water. There really isn’t a pool that I dislike.

NEC: How long have you been swimming?
TR: I have been swimming since I was six years old.

NEC: How did you get started?
TR: I wanted to join the swim team when I was in the first grade.  I tried a variety of sports, but liked swimming best.  I had a great coach growing up from the ages of six to sixteen, which made it so much easier. 

NEC: Who are some people that have influenced you the most?
TR: Definitely my childhood coach.  He gave me passion for swimming.  I don’t think I would be doing it if not for him.  He loved coaching and that made a difference.  My parents are ultra supportive.  They travel to every meet and are always there for me.  Also my coach now (Bill Ball) is a big influence.  He came into a rough situation and made it fun and we wanted to be here.  He is a big part of how I am swimming now.

NEC: As your collegiate career comes to an end, what have you learned from swimming at CCSU?
TR: Persistence.  I plateaued coming into college.  I just wasn’t getting any faster.  Then I came to Central and kept going and going.  I needed to be pushed and eventually it happened, my work paid off. 

NEC: What’s the most important attribute a swimmer needs?
TR: You need to have discipline because swimming is an individual sport.  When push comes to shove you have to tell yourself to keep going.  You also need the ability to keep a good tune in your head for those long races.

NEC: What is the most memorable moment in your athletic career?
TR: Winning the NEC Championships two years ago.  We were doing well in the beginning, but I assumed we were going to get second place.  I swam the 200 fly and got my NCAA B time.  Going into the last relay we were only down by two points.  We were so pumped because we were stacked in that event.  I anchored the relay and when I touched the wall the whole team was there cheering me on.  We beat UMBC by only four points.  It was a great feeling, but I was so surprised.

- Interview conducted by Dawn Van Cleef, NEC Administrative Intern