Trust Your Gut (NCAA Women) | Unfiltered Waters

Hello, everybody.
Welcome back to another week and another episode of Unfiltered Waters.
And this week, continuing the trend of lots of content coming out of the women's NCAA swimming and diving championships just about a week ago.
This week is about trusting your gut.
These ladies have either made really hard decisions to transfer schools or have had to be resilient throughout their college career through some ups and some downs, but really awesome wisdom coming out of this episode.
Every single one of us as human beings have fought through tough times or had to really make hard decisions and just trust ourselves.
So this week we had the pleasure of speaking with Claire Curzan, Lucy Bell, Caroline Bricker, Alex Shackle, Katie Grimes, and Bella Sims.
I mean a star-studded lineup.
Who better to learn from than these ladies after their incredible performances?
And so I know you guys will glean just as much wisdom from them as Elizabeth Beisel and myself did.
So without further ado, hit that subscribe button and enjoy this episode of Trust Your Grab.
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I am sitting here on the seven meter in Georgia Tech Aquatic Center two days before the women's swimming and diving national championships.
And when you think about women's swimming and diving national championships, you have to think of Arena.
Last year, four of the five teams that placed in the top five were utilizing Arena as their main competition suits.
And of course, they are the exclusive partner to UVA, who is now going for their sixth national championships this year.
I think the other you really unique thing about Arena is that they are innovating constantly.
There is legitimately no other brand that has come out with three tech suits in the last five years.
They had the Glide in 2020, they had the Primo in 2024, and this past season they launched the Veloce, which everyone is raving about.
It is an incredible suit and also gives you the ability to feel customized.
They have different compression for different events, different types of suits for different body types.
I think that's something that's really, really important to me.
You should not be having to think about your tech suit when you're behind the blocks.
And Arena really takes care of that.
They have that consistency because they've actually had the same suit designer since 1973.
And the only reason that the Veloce is the first suit without this incredible legend is that he passed, unfortunately, in COVID.
So that is why I am so proud to be partnering with Arena Sport this week at the Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships.
Go check out all of their product at arenasport.com.
Claire Chrisan, welcome to Unfiltered Waters, Trust Your Gut Edition.
Hi, thanks for having me.
Yes.
Um, you're having a hell of a season.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
What's what's going on?
How is this happening?
I need to I need to know.
Honestly, I would also like to know as well.
I uh didn't really expect what was gonna happen at ACCs that did end up happening.
I kind of had a good feeling going into the meet.
I feel like that was the first time in legitimately my entire career where I've felt very calm and like confident and just like different than I have been in the past.
And I think it's just been a culmination of working with sports psych, finally feeling comfortable, being older, way older, as my teammates like to remind you.
I'm very unk on the team.
Um, how old are you?
I'm only 21.
What?
You're so highly.
Um, but I do think also like two years in the college system and then one year just kind of watching from afar, I've been exposed to it and I know a lot more of the inner workings, and to be able to expect things I think is is better for my brain.
Um but I would say training has been very challenging this year.
I say, I think Todd has almost to try to prepare for maybe the lack of Gretchen and Alex and and many past superstars graduating, just to have us all try to rise to another level.
Um, and I think everyone has kind of stepped up, but many tears have been shed during practice.
I haven't complained a lot during practice, but I think it all kind of came together and I was like, okay, maybe that's why we're doing a bunch of aerobic freestyle.
And um, but I would say it's a very shocking disease.
I kind of like that.
Yeah.
When it's a shock.
I know.
I love the reaction of what you're like, ooh.
So how like you just mentioned it, you know, the Walsh sisters graduated.
I feel like that's probably been like said a million times, but you are now.
I'm not calling you unk, but I'm gonna call you wise and a leader.
Yeah.
So how have you found yourself stepping into that role?
Um, I actually have kind of loved my position so far.
I'm not a captain on the team, but as someone who's been to many different meets, like the Olympics, whatever, I've been able to kind of share more as a friend than like a leader.
Um, and I think that's allowed me to like kind of get to get to know the girls better because I've been told I'm kind of scary to approach, and I'm like, oh why?
Like yellow energy.
The least scary person ever, but uh I feel like kind of I've been more approachable and also it's just so exciting to get to meet so many new people.
And our freshman class I think has been very unique and like they all just came and started grinding right off the bat.
And I think a lot of the AC or NCAA team and ACC team were freshmen, and they've dropped tons of time.
I mean, Sophia Umste and Matty Mentenko, just to name a few, like have lit like lit the pool up.
And so I think it's just been really cool to like watch with them and just I feel like I'm really part of the team now, and yeah, leading the charge, I feel like I'm more integrated than ever.
Which is amazing.
And and I want to like with the trust your gut stuff, when you were choosing a different school to transfer to, why Virginia?
So that's it's a a tough question because I feel very fortunate.
I had two phenomenal experiences at two different colleges.
And I loved my time at Stanford, but I just think it wasn't quite the right fit.
Um, I've always been a homebody, and so that was 3,000 miles away from North Carolina, which is quite far.
So I think I'm just way more comfortable on the East Coast.
The no time change, so I'm able to I call my mom every day.
I call my family every day.
So it's uh they're a big part of my life, and having them really close to me has been super helpful as well.
Um, and then also just being close to my doctors because I've had a lot of trials and tribulations with asthma and allergies just in college in general.
Um, but now I finally think I've kind of figured it out, and just being close to home, I think, has really helped with that process.
Yeah.
With ACC so close to NCAAs, and you just broke American record.
It's like, how do you reset and go, how do I get better?
I actually asked that question to my sports psych.
I was like, okay, dude, like, what if I've hit my ceiling?
Like, what yeah, you know, what if that was my peak?
I feel like that was everything was filing firing in all cylinders.
Like, we didn't taper, but I feel like I had felt unusually good for an ACC's when we hadn't like rested.
And I was like, what if like there's nothing else?
Because there's always like what ifs in the back of my head, but he was just like, you know, you can't expect what's gonna happen in the future.
You just have to prep your best and see what happens.
And I think I do have some confidence going to this meet.
We weren't rested at all, we weren't prepped.
So I think maybe the extra intention going into NCAA's will help in just the small areas, which is all you need in sprint events, just little tents here and there.
That's crazy.
You guys were not rested.
Yeah, I know.
Are you about to pop like a 144 turn around?
That'd be awesome.
That would be amazing.
And you're already at a freestyle time.
So like we were talking about you were like, yeah, I heard turn back.
All of your events are like freestyle times.
Well, I actually have realized this season I enjoy training backstroke so much more than freestyle.
And I think specifically aerobically, I'm way more comfortable backstroke than freestyle.
So were you doing more of those like aerobic sets that you were talking about that Todd was giving you guys backstroke?
It it was kind of hit or miss, it depended.
But I would do some freestyle sets backstroke.
And so I'd be like, Todd, the intervals are the same.
What the heck?
Yeah.
But he'd be like, You're fine.
And now they're like, okay, you were writing.
Like, whatever.
Yeah.
Do you feel good in the water?
I do, yeah.
And it's super, it's super nice being here for a second time.
I was here a lot actually as an age grouper because we did sectional meets here.
Oh, yeah, and Richard Lens.
So it's like holy full full circle.
I actually watched a video prepping for my turn or fly at uh NC State, and I was like, I don't know how to swim Twitter fly.
I haven't swimmed it in like four years.
The video was at this meet for like uh winter juniors or something, and I was like, holy moly.
Full circle.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's meant to be so cool.
Yeah.
Going back to, I mean, you transferred a while ago, but I just feel like it's with NIL and people just transfer on the dot.
How do you balance short-term sacrifices with just the long-term ultimate goal?
Honestly, I think it's just where you're comfortable and happy.
It's kind of a big task to put on a 16-year-old to decide where you want to go for the next four years.
Um, I had no idea what I was doing, and so I was trying to talk to my parents and other people outside, like, I don't know what to do.
I've been getting all this input, and I actually don't even know what I want, which I don't think any 16-year-old or 17 or 18-year-old knows what they want.
It's still a 21, I still don't really know what I want.
But I think I've learned so much more about myself now being out of the house, like finding my way, figuring things out.
And it just wasn't exactly the right fit.
And it took a while to realize that, and it was a really, really hard process to decide that.
Um, and heartbreaking because I had made so many friends and I really loved my life out in Stanford, but I think that jump was necessary, and I think I am a lot happier and just more comfortable in my space.
And I have my own apartment now, so I can cook and so I can cater my allergies and all of that.
So I think it's just knowing what you want to do.
And if you have to change, don't worry about it because life's all about changing and don't stay where you are if you're not happy.
Yeah.
It feels nice to know that you're like settled and recalibrated almost.
Um, what what are your allergies?
Oh gosh, I'm gonna be made fun of by my teammates, but um peanuts, treanuts, shelatin, shellfish, and pork elevates bunch of stuff.
Like bad, like bad, bad, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Anaphylaxis and all that.
Oh my goodness.
Oh my god.
Well, why would we sweep the aerial?
No, it's fine.
Okay.
I just can't eat them.
Wow.
Okay.
Well, I'm glad that you're home and you have your doctors and everything.
Yeah, you're good.
So we keep asking everyone about nails, and I feel like you have a unique perspective that I feel like you should take this question.
Because I feel like it it's such a tradition with summers to like get extravagant nails, but like I can't sit still for them.
So why don't you do nails and tell us more about this?
So I'm very superstitious, and I would so for when I was an age grouper, I would always get the most neon bright pink you could ever think about on my nails.
And there are pictures probably on my Instagram, but they were pretty atrocious, honestly.
But they were always short because I would get scared, I would like rip my suit when I was putting it on, and and sometimes like the length is like bad.
I don't know.
I just long nails are hard for me.
I think they're beautiful, and I wish I could get them, but I just think superstitious-wise, I can't I can't do it.
And I'll probably paint mine with like just normal polish, um, something sparkly because I like sparkly.
Nice, but yeah, nothing long, nothing fancy, although I wish I could.
Do you get your toes done?
So normally I do, but like I just didn't find the time.
That's fair.
Yeah.
All nails or whatever it's called was booked up from the rest of the two.
Yeah, that nail place is we single-handedly support it.
Yeah.
Keep them in business.
They're like, yes, ACC and NCs are coming up.
Let's go.
Revenue goes through the roof.
Dude.
Uh all right.
Last question.
What is a word that would describe the UVA team this year as a whole?
Um, I've actually gotten asked this question by our team media person earlier this year after our four free relay record, but I would say just gritty.
Um because uh I think a lot of us had had to dig deep and like find parts of ourself that we didn't know before.
And I know Anna and Katie and a bunch of other girls in the team have just found this new side to themselves.
And it's been really cool just to see how they've developed into these really confident, really fast swimmers.
Um, and also just the team as a whole, like figuring out who we are culture-wise without like the Walshes and and other things, and people not expecting us or maybe doubting us to go for a sixth or if we continue this dominance.
Um, so just kind of being true to ourselves, and that sounds very cliche, but I think it's been a whole like culture shift, and everyone just feels a lot hungrier and more gritty.
I love that.
You guys are gonna crush it.
There's no doubt.
Yes.
We can't wait to see you some more freestyle times and Lucy Bell.
Welcome to Unfiltered Waters Trust Your Gut Edition.
Ah, thank you for having me.
Yes.
So happy to see you.
So happy to have you.
Um, we're a day out of NCAA's, which is crazy.
Yeah.
How are you feeling?
I'm excited.
I mean, I think my nerves have definitely come in, but I'm trying to turn those from like scared nerves to more excited nerves, and that's been good so far.
So how do you do that?
Um I think it's a lot of reframing the races.
I think changing it from like what could go wrong to what could go great, and then also just being excited to get to race with my team one last time, um, and just like leave it all in the pool.
Is that heavy on your mind, knowing that it's your last one?
It is, and it probably shouldn't be.
Um, I think it's good.
It's normal reality, right?
Like it definitely is.
Um, I think I talk about it a little bit too much for my teammates' liking.
Um, it's the last time I put on this suit.
Basically, the whole like week, I was like, oh, it's my last morning, it's my last Wednesday afternoon.
Yeah.
I was like, shut up, please.
I was guilty of that too, so don't feel too bad.
Yeah, it just like means you love them.
Not a bad thing.
I feel like your journey throughout your college career has kind of been, you know, people say like the American dream.
I feel it's like the college dream.
Like you just steadily improved and gotten better, and it was so fun watching you race and win a title last year.
So for someone who's starting out as a freshman, just like stepping on campus, do you have any advice of how Lucy the Freshman handled it?
Yeah, I think a lot of it was, I mean, like trusting your gut.
I think there was um a lot of nerves that like went into uh becoming a collegiate swimmer, especially a Stanford swimmer, with like all that history behind the program and just wanting to perform um in line with that legacy.
But I think taking every day as it comes and not being afraid of um like living up to that potential and just swimming and enjoying it for what it is, and like the results will come no matter what.
And um yeah, just like having that confidence and just like uh really like soaking it all in because I mean it goes by so fast, and I'm so glad to have uh been able to have like really enjoyed my past four years with um on my team.
Yeah.
I want to talk about the transition that your program has gone through over the last year with Greg leaving.
How has that been with the new coaching staff and for you as a swimmer?
Yeah, I it was a bit of a transition at first.
Um, I mean, not even once the new coaches got here, it was more like when everything was happening and our coaches were um transitioning out.
But I mean, as soon as our new coaches hopped on board, like it was like smooth sailing.
Like, really love them.
Um, I mean, all of them just have like all of our best interests in mind, and like they're just amazing.
So I'm really lucky that was.
So definitely lucky.
So this episode airs a couple weeks after this meet concludes.
So if you had a crystal ball right now and you could look into it, what makes you smile and proud when you see it?
Yeah, I think honestly, just having like the best time with my teammates, and you know, of course, you want you know the best results, but you can't really predict that.
And I know that no matter what, I'm not gonna look back and think about um, you know, like times or anything, but really just like having the best time possible with all of my best friends.
So, and then just also just riding that um the wave of just the whole collegiate swimming and wrapping up with a bow.
Yeah.
Oh, you really have had like such a beautiful trajectory in your career to talk about like trusting your gut, and this might be a little too inside baseball, but I'm curious like when you're racing, is there a moment where maybe you have a race plan that you and your coaches have curated, but you're like, but my gut tells me to go now?
Does that ever happen to you?
Yeah, I think so.
I mean, definitely.
Yeah.
Um, I mean, a lot of times I think when I'm swimming, it is a little bit less um in the brain and more just like just kind of going for it.
Um, like I'll always go in with a race plan no matter what, and that really helps me like calm myself before my races.
But also, I mean, one of the best things about racing, especially at these like high-level meets where everyone's just you know amazing and uh also like very different in the way they swim, just like really tuning in to the race itself and um kind of going with the flow.
But also, I mean, like since I'm a backhouse swimmer, I really have to trust myself um in that first half to like not go fast.
And that's like an area I think that I definitely still stay true to my race plan.
Um, but kind of like that second half, I'll just try to like let it go.
Yeah.
Are you a feeler or a data person?
Do you know what I mean when I ask that?
I'm definitely a feeler.
I mean, I love looking at data, but it really a lot of times I feel like the data doesn't line up with the way that I feel, and I I just like to go off of like feeling a lot more.
I don't know.
It's just way more intuitive to me.
Yeah, how do you feel in the water right now?
Great, yeah.
Oh yes, I was hoping you'd say that.
Yeah, I was kind of like that.
I wanted to just like feel good.
Which can be really hard if you're not feeling good.
Sometimes I really have to like get on my head that like you don't have to feel good to swim well.
Like, that was that ACC is like I was so exhausted with like no taper, but you just have to like that's another time where you just gotta like trust yourself.
Like, you don't have to feel good to swim fast, and that's something I'm gonna do.
You also swim amazing at ACCs, yeah.
Yeah, like how do you do that?
Because I feel like that's so people say that all the time, right?
Like, just trust yourself, and like you don't have to feel like for athletes coming up, easier said than done.
Have you had a moment at a meet where you kind of flipped the switch of like you were kind of down on yourself, and then you're like, no, doesn't matter, I got this.
Yeah.
I mean, honestly, last year in C double A's, I think I was I had a lot of struggles with the 4 IM.
Just I mean, it's just like such a scary event.
Always.
And I really wanted to break three minutes, or not three minutes, four minutes.
I was like, yeah, girl, go here and go.
That would be pretty cool.
But um, yeah, I really wanted to break four minutes, and then I went like four double two or something, and I had gotten third, and I was still, I was really upset, and I don't really like I shouldn't have been kind of, but it was just like that goal I was going towards for so long, I thought like kind of like that was the time I was gonna do it.
And so I really had to kind of reframe myself going into the tube rest the next day, being like like I still worked really hard and I still did really well.
And um just because like it didn't go the way that maybe I had like predicted it, you know, kind of like that time was coming.
Um that doesn't mean I won't do well in like this next event.
Um and especially in like a meet like NCAA's where there's so many ups and downs within yourself, um, and then also like the team, just like really knowing that like each race is like its own being and anything can happen.
God, that's such a good skill set to have, to not like let an event affect your entire week.
It's almost like you're a senior and you've been through this before.
Alright, last question.
What is a word that you can put towards your team this year that truly embodies who they are?
I mean I have fun.
I've had so much fun this year in like throughout the entire season.
And um I mean my like the group of girls and our coaches are just like the funniest people to be around.
I am like never not smiling, and I think that's really helped me a lot in practice because I mean in a hard set, I'm just like I'm still smiling like the entire time just because I just love like the group of girls, and it's just like so special to be a part of that team.
Are you like one of the goofy ones?
Maybe.
I don't know.
There's no many us on the team.
Oh, there's so many of them.
Um I love, I mean, Sophie Duncan, she's she's hilarious.
Okay, great.
I want to get to know Sophie.
Oh well, Lucy, good luck this week.
We'll be cheering hard.
Thank you so much.
Enjoy this last one.
Thank you.
I will.
Yeah.
Thanks, Lucy.
Alex Shackle, welcome to Unfiltered Waters Trust Your Gut Edition.
Yeah.
I will explain.
So basically, I felt like a lot of the swimmers that are in this episode have either transferred or had to make hard decisions.
And, you know, we obviously did the episode with you a while ago, but I just have a lot of admiration for the way you've just stuck to your guns and trusted what you felt was right in your heart.
And I feel like it's an inspiration to the youth.
So I want to talk about that today.
Yeah, I would for sure say it was an unusual path that I took.
Um and being here now is so weird because I never thought I was gonna be here.
Like I at first I didn't I was deciding not to go to college, and now I am at college and I'm at NCAA's, which has like been a lifelong dream of mine.
So it's really excited, and I'm I'm a part of the perfect team.
So yeah.
Yeah, you are.
First, okay, so first NCAA championships.
You've been to the Olympics, you've done everything basically, except for this.
How are the nerves?
How are you feeling?
Um, it's like a big mixture of like nerves and excitement.
Yeah.
I would say I have no idea what to expect.
Like, that's fair.
Like, absolutely no idea.
Like, not like necessarily in terms of like times and stuff or like the swimming, but like how it's gonna go.
Like there's so many teams here, and there's like which is like really fun.
Um, but like I'm on all relays, which is also a lot of fun.
But like that's like every single day I got.
But um tomorrow I have like also the A-final thing.
So I have my two Medley relay in the morning, and I have the A-free relay at night.
So that kind of worked in my favor, honestly.
But um, it's really interesting because uh every night it's just gonna be championship, championship, championship.
So I guess I'm joining like a weird year as well, but no, no, I'm really excited, and I have a lot of people around me and my roommate's Liberty, so we're both doing it together for our first time, and I'm sure she has lots of goals for herself too.
So we've been chatting, we're really excited.
So good, good.
How would you compare the feeling of the Olympics the day before to the feeling of now the day before?
Honestly, it's totally different.
Like it's n um I would say because the Olympics, I was so happy to be there.
I was like, I've been working towards that for four years, and I was just like in awe of all of it.
And I feel like it's bad to say, but like I obviously wanted a medal, but I didn't believe in myself enough, and that's probably why I didn't perform how I wanted to.
But like at this and me, I have high expectations and goals that I do want to achieve.
So it's more of like the weeks leading up.
I'm this thinking about like this and me, and going uh like I say it's a little bit more related to trials, but not as much um on the line.
It's more of like a I get to do this type of thing instead of a trial of like there's there's nothing else.
Like you have to do it.
Yeah.
So I would say it's a little bit less pressure, but also like making sure I keep myself in line, don't focus on outcome, outcome, outcome, more of just like the process.
Enjoying it, yes.
When you talk about kind of not believing in yourself and your abilities from Olympics to now, what have you done to work on that?
Is it still a work in progress or it's definitely a work in progress?
Um I feel like the year after the Olympics, I've heard a lot about like post-Olympic like depression, stuff like that.
And I I did not believe that was gonna happen to me until I hit a really low spot all of the like Olympic after the Olympic year.
Um just was not enjoying swimming at all, and it was it really sucked, I'm not gonna lie.
Um and then like the whole summer last year, I missed worlds.
Um, it it was just bad.
I was not enjoying swimming at all.
And I I knew I wanted to keep going, and I'm like, I can't like you never know when you're gonna get it back to you.
So it's like, will it ever happen again?
And um that kind of happened to me, honestly, still some of this season, and I was I was really stressed out because I do love this sport, and I was just waiting for it to like love me again.
So, but then I came to IU, and this is not a selling point at all, but I went to IU and I did like an intersquad me and I did some practices in the like August, and that's when I found the love for it again.
And it definitely took I'm talking to a sport psychologist now, which helped me a lot.
Yeah.
Um, because I got back to long course, and all of a sudden, like it was his heart again.
So doing that and this figuring out like this isn't I like I do swimming, but it's not like all of who I am was a big thing for me.
Um, but yeah, I'm enjoying it again, and I had a good midseason and I'm just happy to happy to be here.
Yeah.
I love that you started talking to a sports psychologist.
I feel like it's something you don't realize it can help you until you do it.
Is there anything that in the last even six months to a year that you guys had a breakthrough on together?
Well, I didn't actually start talking to her until after US Open.
Oh, okay.
Um yeah, that was a really rough meet for me, and I like just had no confidence or belief in myself, which it's very unusual for me.
I've been a very confident person my whole life.
So getting that back again, and I would say just having these, like I have a few words that I like morals, I would say, that that describe me, and I just repeat them to myself now.
And I started it doing it at midseason and it worked.
So I'm just gonna keep doing that and just having fun.
Yeah.
What are the words?
I'm not gonna say them just because I feel like they it's like my little secret.
But I like that.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
But I I'll tend to like write them down and stuff, but yeah.
What has been your most favorite part about being a part of the IU team?
I would say um honestly the relays, because especially the four by one, 100 free, that one's a lot of fun.
Like we write the record, the program record, every time we do it.
So that's amazing.
Gentlemen, uh it's just a really fun relay to be a part of, and there's three freshmen on that relay.
So I'm excited for that.
Um, but yeah, just being a part of a team again, honestly.
I didn't go to school at all in the fall, which I think was also wasn't really healthy for me because all I thought about was swimming 24-7, and I just started going crazy.
Like I need a balance.
And so I when I started going to school, I was like, I like a fresh like breath, I mean a breath of fresh air.
So that was really nice.
Um, yeah, I just really like the girls, and honestly, with my my weird schedule, I thought like it was they weren't, it was gonna be an awkward transition, like I wouldn't really be accepted, but they're totally supportive, and it's like I've been there the whole time.
So yeah.
I feel like going from club to swimming with a college team, you kind of have to find your footing, find like your role on the team.
What's your role on the team?
Oh, um, honestly, I don't it's hard to try to self-analyze, I know.
I don't know.
Like, I guess that's a really hard question.
Like, are you like goofy in practice?
Yeah, okay, so we're sharing.
I feel like we all are pretty much.
We're a really goofy team.
Um TikTok Queen.
Sorry.
TikTok Queen.
Yeah, I would say Liberty and I started doing TikToks at midseason, and then oh, Ray's not gonna be happy about this, but then don't say it.
One of them was like real kind of hard, and I I actually got like sore from it.
I was like, which one?
Which trend?
Um, it was it's on my spam account, but it was like a lot of jumping and a lot of like arm movements.
She's gonna hold dryly work out.
And and I I was like, if I swim bad, like it's because you're like at least it's on the spam one stupid TikTok.
Like I couldn't watch that TikTok for like the whole meet because I was like, this is not going to come.
You like felt guilty.
I know I felt guilty about it.
I'm like, why'd I do that?
You're like, I can't never again.
It didn't affect anything.
So maybe it helped me actually, but honestly, takes your mind off of it.
Yeah, but I'm still not gonna do it again.
Okay, yeah, no, no.
We'll make it next week after this weekends over.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Um, we need to see the nails.
Oh, yeah.
What do I show them?
Yeah, just show well, but there's people listening, but like there are these beautiful stars.
How did you decide that you wanted to do the stars?
What was the inspo?
Um it took a lot of searching, honestly, just for a really plain design.
But um, I don't know.
I've also gone back to my long length and like sharp.
Yeah, I've gone uh almond for a long time.
Okay.
And because it was like cute and whatever, but I feel like this is meat, the meat not to be like cute is to like be fierce.
And so I've always like at these like championship meets, I used to do long nails.
So I'm back to that, and then the red star is just I you.
So yeah.
They're your old faithful, like you can trust those nails.
I feel like my original self.
Yes, I feel like is also something I lost for a long time, which I feel like I'm bringing it back.
Yeah, it's like grounding.
Yes, it is.
So the nails are a metaphor.
Old Alex is back.
Let's go.
Yes.
Yeah.
So if you ever see me like walk around deck, then just know.
Yeah.
I'll be like, can I see your nails with the driver?
If I ever see you with almond nails, I'm gonna be like, be like, she's not ready.
Yeah, no, she's not send her to the salon.
Yep, they're back.
They're back.
All right, last question.
If you had to put a word to the IU team that just embodies who they are this year, what would you say that word would be and why?
Sorry, I'm thinking.
But I think Indiana represents unity.
I like that.
And I say that because I've never felt so a part of a team before.
And like whether it's individual relay or what like whatever, I just feel like every single person wants each other to succeed, and there's not one ounce of like jealousy or like I want I want to be better than her or whatever.
Like, we on like we really want each other to do well, and I think that's why we keep improving, and um, we have a really good recruiting class coming in next year, and so I feel like if we can keep showing how much fun we have and we're not so serious, and like the sport can be fun, um, then we'll just keep doing better, and I think that's why we're like we're generally like happy people, and that helped me get my spark back.
So that's awesome.
Let a rip this weekend.
Yes, just go.
We'll be cheering our heads off for you.
Thank you.
Awesome.
Yeah, thanks, Alex.
I've talked a ton about I am 8 daily essentials and daily longevity in terms of the consistency and why that's been so important for me.
But I feel like I haven't really dialed in on the symptoms.
So I feel like as soon as the first week you feel improvement in your energy, in your digestion.
And then after about a month, I'd say my sleep quality definitely improved.
And then after the first couple months, again, taking it every single day, um, you know, making sure my immunity was there, not getting sick as much.
And then now after a few months, I feel like just cellular regeneration, recovery, you know, I'm working out a ton, I'm training, I'm always on a plane.
And so being able to make sure that not only am I taking it when I'm home, but when I'm, you know, going to the airport, I'm in a hotel, I'm in crazy places, I know that I have these packets because I hate checking bags.
So being able to have this in my carry-on, have these little tiny, convenient sachets is huge.
Um, and so make sure that when you're taking these supplements, you are consistent so that you can feel the effects.
Caroline Bricker, welcome to Unfiltered Waters, Trust Your Gut Edition.
Yeah, thank you for having me.
Yes.
Happy to have you.
Um Chevalays are literally tomorrow.
How do you feel?
I'm excited.
I'm nervous.
We had like a meeting before uh coming to the pool today, and I had to like remind myself like I still have a day, like it's not time to be nervous yet.
What was the meeting about?
Like, was it like pump up?
Yeah, just like like kind of prepare yourselves like it's year kind of thing.
But yeah, it was a good, it was a good meeting.
Yeah.
Okay, good.
Are you a textbook overthinker like me?
Or are you someone are you someone that's pretty good at staying steady?
I would say I used to be like a big overthinker.
And then I think once I got to college, I kind of just, or like maybe my senior in high school, I stopped overthinking somehow.
And I don't really know what changed, but now I just kind of think very little.
I like went from one extreme to another.
And you don't know how you did that?
Please tell me how you did that.
She's like, I just need this for my real life, for everybody else, just me.
Um, I think my junior year I went through like a pretty rough patch with swimming.
And then in my senior year, I ended up like moving teams and like kind of had like had a really good relationship with my coach.
And it was just like finding like the love of swimming again, and like it's just it's so simple when it comes down to it all, and like just reminding myself of that.
And now it's just like I know I do best when I'm not thinking, so it's just like kind of staying with that, and like I don't know how it happened, but it just and trying to hold on to it still.
I love that.
For you before race, I know it's easy to like get hyped up in the ready room and like think about everybody else.
How do you kind of keep that at bay?
Do you listen to music or are you surrounding yourself with teammates?
Yeah.
Um, I don't listen to music.
I think in the ready room, like I just I'm usually with like one other person that I know, or like I even like not on my team, like I still know like everyone around me.
And it's just like kind of like I look around and everyone's feeling the same thing.
So it's like it's just being like with them, talking to people who I haven't talked to in a while.
So I'm usually pretty quiet though.
Okay.
That's more quiet.
That's fair.
Yeah.
What has changed from last year's NCAAs to this year after an insane year for you, not only collegiately, but internationally?
Yeah.
Um I feel like I feel like not much has changed.
Like obviously there's been the big changes, like the coaching changes, getting to experience worlds, all the things that happened at worlds with the illnesses.
I feel like I'm a lot more experienced now.
But like overall, I feel like it's pretty similar.
And like a lot of that has to come like from the team and stuff.
Um, we have a pretty big class graduating this year, and we did last year, so it's like just changes with that kind of thing more than anything.
But other than that, it's pretty similar.
Yeah.
It's how has that transition been from like Greg and his staff to now Chris and Annie?
Yeah.
Um, I love Chris and Annie so much.
Like, obviously, I was super, super instilled.
I'm pretty close with Greg and King.
Yeah, of course.
So like that was really hard for me when I first heard it, and um, taking that news was really hard.
But I like couldn't have imagined something better.
Like, we were sitting as like a team all together um in like the senior suite the other day, and we were like talking about it and we're like thinking back on it, like it could not have gone better.
Like, we are so so grateful.
Like, Chris and Annie are like the best, so just it's so exciting.
You guys like also have the trust to buy into their program.
I mean, that's it takes a lot.
Yeah, yeah.
Did you have any?
I mean, obviously they're incredible coaches, but anytime you go through change, they're always just like you're human.
Yeah.
Did you have any doubts that you kind of had to overcome?
When Greg was leaving, we had like a meeting, and I was like, I just like feel like I trust you so much.
Like when you tell me I can do something, like I know I can do it.
Yeah.
And I don't know if I can be redo that.
And it he we had a like pretty long discussion about that.
And I feel like he helped me a lot.
And like I, when Chris came, I just had that same blind trust, and I feel like I haven't had to overcome it because I kind of acknowledged that that was a possibility for me, and like had Greg kind of help me through that.
So I feel like from day one, like, and Chris is so easy to trust, and he's such a nice guy, and he's so upfront and honest, and such like a positive person that it's been pretty easy in that way.
That's so great.
Um, for you, like obviously, there's so many people on the team.
Everybody has a different role, whether you wear the name Captain or not.
What do you think your role is?
Oh god.
Like, like, are you the one that's like keeping it light and like goofy, or are you like a team motivator?
What's kind of your thing?
I would say I feel like I switch up.
I I can be pretty like light and goofy a lot of the time.
I can be pretty serious sometimes.
Like if it's like during a set, I'm like pretty quiet.
I'm like pretty serious.
I feel like I'm more of like that.
But like if we're not like swimming actively, I'm pretty like funny.
I like to well, I don't know if I'm funny.
I shouldn't say that.
But I like to keep it like I like to keep it light.
I like to keep it light more than anything.
Because like I think when we're having fun, that's when we do the best.
So I want to contribute to that for sure.
What are you looking forward to most personally and then by event at this meet?
Oh.
Personally, I don't know.
I think there's can there's so much opportunity for this team at this meet, and I'm just so excited to see what my teammates can do because I get to see day in and day out what they could like do every practice, and I'm just so excited to see how that transpires here.
Um, like Torrey Lucy Bell, like literally everyone, like freshman up on this team, is doing such amazing things.
So I'm so excited for that.
I don't know if that that's very broad, but um No, but it's true.
Yeah, you witness it every day.
Yeah.
Um, and I just like personally, I guess, I don't know, for myself, I just want to like see how much I can contribute because like to this team, like I want to do the best for them more than anything and like climb up from where I was last year and like in every event see how much I can do there.
So yeah.
Do you feel a little bit more pressure when you're swimming for Stanford versus like yourself this summer, let's say at trials?
Yeah.
I think no, I don't think so.
I think same but different?
Yeah, it's it's different because like when I do, when I obviously at NCAAs, it's like everyone is affected by what I do.
But like when I step up behind the blocks at like nationals or like team trials last year, it's like it's still like if I can't do it for myself, it's like for them.
And like I'm representing something much more than like myself.
And at the end of the day, when I finish my race, like it's they're still gonna be there, like no matter what.
Even if it's like when I'm at worlds and it's on the phone, like it's always them behind me, so it's like always for something more.
Yeah.
All right, last question.
If you could put a word to the Stanford women's team this year, what would that word be and why?
Oh my gosh, there's so many words for this team.
Um I feel like this is really basic, but I just have to say, like, either family or like love, just because that's what it is.
Like, I don't know, every like if we have a pretty small team, like our team that's here is like majority of our team.
So it's like every single one of us is so close, like from the freshmen to the seniors, it's just like so cohesive.
And like we go to like the Olympic training center, like for like camp every year, and like after that, like Lucy Bell like had this whole statement.
Like my last year, she's like, after like OTC, they say we are one.
And so like that's like our like thing.
Like, so I don't know.
I just like they're all like every single one of them is my sisters, and like I think we all feel that way.
And like, so and we like build that from the beginning of the year.
So I think we've done a really good job of that last year.
And like kind of like recognizing that this is like our last meet with this exact group.
Like our seniors, like we have 10 seniors.
Wow.
So um yeah, just like a family.
Yeah.
That definitely comes through.
Oh yeah.
Wait, before I let you go, can you tell us about your nails?
They keep catching my eye and they're so beautiful.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Um, I got French tip.
Last year I got French tips, but I got them French tips with Chrome this year because I had to add, you know, we're moving up.
So they had to build my nails.
They're catching my eye.
I like it.
I know I keep I keep catching myself staring at them.
But we have spring break after this too.
So you have to have it good for NCs and spring break, obviously.
We're going for two.
Um my class and the senior class are going to Mystique.
So it's it's in the Caribbean.
Oh.
Or the bomb.
Wait, yeah.
Caribbean?
Bomb is one of the two.
Because you said it either in my warm and go where they tell me to.
That's awesome.
Somewhere's warm as well.
Do you fly straight from here?
Because you're already in Atlanta.
Yeah.
Perfect.
Yeah.
That's brilliant.
Oh, yeah.
The nails up there have to.
They look crazy.
Okay, good.
All right.
Good luck, Ms.
Caroline.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
Katie Grimes, welcome to Unfiltered Waters Trust Your Gut Edition.
Nice.
Thanks for having me.
You're like, what in the world does that mean?
Awesome.
Cool.
Um first of all, I want to know how your gut feels about the 1650 being day one.
Yes.
Oh, uh, actually, I'm really stoked about it because at ACC's, it was last for us.
And I feel like the pool quality here, you guys should know.
It's like pretty thick.
Like it lays thick on your lungs.
So with the mile being first, I feel like it's definitely better because just like in terms of air quality and like all that stuff, like it definitely gets worse as the meat goes on.
So I'd rather do it first for sure.
But I also think it is different because usually like I'm just watching the relays on the first day.
So now like racing, it'll be a little different.
But um, I'm excited.
Yeah.
I feel like it gives distant swimmers the d the recognition they deserve because you're literally setting the tone.
Yeah, that's true.
I mean, the first uh person we have racing is Kavan.
Yes, yeah.
In the morning for the mile.
So like that'll be really cool tomorrow.
And then like at night we have the relays.
Relays as well.
Yeah.
I want you to talk a little about the difference between Katie Grimes last year at NCAA's and this year.
Ooh, that's a good question.
Um I think there's definitely a lot that's changed for sure.
But I think like I remember um being so much more nervous when I walked on pool deck the first time last year.
And today when we walked onto the pool deck, I was just like, it's just another me, you know.
Like it's we were here.
I think having this be like the same pool that we raced at for conference helps just like in terms of vis visualization and things like that.
Like I feel like way more comfortable racing here.
Um, but also just like I know myself better as a Virginia swimmer here, and like I feel way more comfortable with that and um way more confident in my training, and like I've given myself like the ability to feel authentic in that and like kind of just like be more chill and be more relaxed because I just know myself better now.
Yeah, yeah.
I feel like when you think about this meet, this episode is gonna be airing after the meet.
So if you had a crystal ball now and you were looking into it, what would make you smile and just be super proud?
Oh uh, I think just like well, I I know that we're gonna swim really well.
Like, I just know it.
Like it's in my gut, it's in our like all of us just collectively are really excited, and I feel like the energy is really tangible, and like so that part I'm really excited for, and I know that's gonna happen.
Um, but I would say like I'm I'm most looking forward to just like celebrating all the hard work we've already done.
Like, um, in my speech I gave like for the like team, I I kind of talked about how like NCAA's is gonna be fun, but it's not gonna be nearly as rewarding as like the months of training we've already done because like that's really the fun part, and like that's really what we'll take with us.
And like this is just like kind of whatever happens, happens, but it's gonna be an opportunity for us to like show off all that hard work we've done.
Yeah, yeah.
I wanna know, like, for most freshmen like you, like myself, when I walked on deck at NCAA's for the first time, yeah, it was so scary.
Why?
I don't know.
I don't think so.
Because it is just another meet, but like, yeah, I don't know.
But it's nice to hear that you are settled into like yourself as a Virginia swimmer, and like what does that mean for you?
Um well, I think I was just like I'm way more comfortable with the training, and like um I feel like I there's a lot less unknowns.
Um, and that's just like natural with like going around something for the second time, I feel like.
So um I don't know.
I think I've just like given myself like an opportunity to kind of just like step out of it a little bit and then like go back into it and like with a whole different mindset.
And um, I think that's helped a lot just in terms of like where I'm at mentally, and it's definitely paid off in the pool.
Like, I feel like my training has just been a lot better.
I feel more confident in like um advocating for like you know what I need.
Like, if I feel like I need something more, then I'll ask for it, and the coaches are more than happy and willing to give that to me, sometimes a little bit too much.
Like, I was like, not that much.
Maybe not that much.
Um but yeah, I just feel like I feel really good.
Yeah.
Part of why I instantly thought of you for this episode theme of trust your gut is just I feel like right now the transful transfer porter goes crazy, people don't take the time, and and you are a shining example of someone who just stayed in it, trusted your gut.
So, any advice to someone out there who's kind of in that flux of what do I do next?
Yeah, that's a really good question.
I feel like um, well, I'm I feel very fortunate that I um felt comfortable enough to stay here.
And like, yeah, I had some like rocky moments, but never ever did it cross my mind to leave because it it was like the team that kept me, and like, you know, I just had faith in myself.
Like the coaches had confidence in me when I didn't, and that's what kept me here.
Like, I never even considered leaving, and so I think that um for people who are considering like maybe this isn't the right place for me, then like obviously listen to your gut, hence the episode name.
Like listen to your gut, but like I think you would know if it's not the right place for you, and more times than not, I would say it has to do with the people.
Like, yeah, I think that is like ultimately what's gonna have the biggest effect on you, and I think that is what kept me so sure that things were eventually gonna work out here.
Like, I just needed to trust the process and like actually just like commit, like just commit, jump in both feet, and um I think it's starting to like pay off now.
Yeah, yeah.
I hopefully like I just have felt it in training and like felt it like I've been way more at ease like going into competitions, and so yeah, just like you would know, you would know if it's if it's the training or if it's the people or what what it is, and I think that you know you just have to do what's best for you.
Yeah, it sounds like a testament to just Virginia culture, yeah.
For sure, which I think we've we've like all known that Virginia's culture is special, but it's something that you like don't ever want to leave, you don't want to give up on it, which is really cool.
Yeah, okay, nail tutorial, have to see it.
Okay, uh, so I went a little bit colorful.
I got each of them different, but uh so for ACCs, I had like ladybugs on my nails, and I really liked it.
And I was like, should I do it again?
And then I was like, nah, but maybe I'll make it a tradition for ACCs to like always do ladybugs, but I really like these, they're just kind of fun and like colorful.
They're springy, yeah.
They all springy, and we're it's gonna be spring in like two days, so it's perfect.
I know, right?
Yeah, so for people listening, they're all different colors, they're flowers.
Yeah, or did you just like let the nail tech go, or did you have a hey, my thumb needs to be green?
I had a Pinterest picture for sure.
And but the place we go to in Charlottesville, nail art, amazing, like 10 out of 10.
We all go there.
Oh, so yeah, that's the spot.
Yeah, that's the spot.
And like it's so funny because like the week before we have a swim meet, they're like booked, booked.
Yeah, it's like our entire team is like there.
So it's amazing.
It's funny.
Oh so funny.
Yeah.
All right, last question.
If you had to put a word to the team this year, what would your word be and why?
That's a good question.
Uh I would definitely say gritty, just because I would say gritty because well, our coach Gary, well, my coach Gary, um, he always says that during practice.
He's like, be gritty, be gritty.
And it truly, like, we make a joke of it, but it's so true.
And I feel like that's really what our team is.
Like all of us have had, you know, trials that we've had to like go through.
And I think being gritty is like something that's just in our blood, and it's like in the nature of the team.
So yeah, I would say gritty.
I love that.
Love that too.
All right, we're gonna be screaming our heads off for you.
Go get it this week.
Go be gritty in that mile.
Yeah, day one, baby.
Thank you guys.
I appreciate it.
Love you guys so much.
Bella Sims, welcome to Unfiltered Waters, Trust Your Gut edition.
Thanks for having me.
I'm actually really excited.
Yes, really.
I'm glad you here one day out of NCAAs.
How are you feeling?
I'm actually okay.
I'm actually really excited.
Um, for past like NCAAs, I have not like been excited and or like had fun during like NCAAs.
Like I've won and but like it was almost like a like oh thank god I did, instead of like a like I felt accomplished type thing.
And I think this year I've or like I'm trying to go in with better intentions, and so I'm excited.
Why do you think you felt like that?
I have no idea.
But I just remember being like like touching for the 500 and being like, oh my gosh, like weight lifted off my shoulders, like type thing, and rather than like me being like, Well, I'm proud of myself because I just like wasn't.
Yeah.
Was it the were you putting a lot of pressure on yourself?
Was it internal or external pressure?
Well, I still think, okay, my best time was like three seconds faster.
And the five?
Yeah, and the five.
And so I think I was like, well, like I won, well, like I've gone so much faster in my life.
So like was it really that good type thing?
But um I think that was like the main thing, but I think a lot of expectation, but not even from like other people like myself.
Yeah.
You know what I mean?
So classic get in your own head type situation.
But totally, yeah.
Do you feel more like yourself now at Michigan?
Yeah.
Um, not that I like wasn't myself at Florida, but just like I feel like I've been able to find myself a little more, just because I don't know, everything is a learning curve.
Yeah.
Totally.
Yeah.
Just just like little things I'll find about myself that I'm like, hmm, that's how it is.
Yeah.
That makes sense now.
Yeah.
How long has it taken you to adjust from the move from Florida to Michigan?
Other than the insane climate change.
Yeah, okay.
I actually okay, I think I just like had such high expectations, but that it wasn't bad.
Like the cold like was not that bad.
I also live on campus, and so my walk from like class is like really not that far.
And so yeah, no scooter or anything.
No, okay.
Oh, that's scary.
In snow, like scooting in snow.
That's so scary.
Um, because we've already had like a few like mopedders on the team that have just gotten injured, and that's so scary.
Scary.
Um, but so like I'll walk for class.
It's like not that the only the only thing is like when I'm layered, I'll get into class and I'm like sweating.
Yes.
That's like one of the worst things.
Um, because like I don't want to take off every single like layer that I have because I feel like I don't even know.
But so like I'll like muster through the first like 10 minutes of class just like sweating, and I'm like, okay, I've gotten used to it.
Like it's like it's like funny, but I'm just like, okay, that's probably the worst part, even though it's like not even that bad.
Um, but I think like swimming-wise, it's it's been an adjustment, but it's like been nice.
Like, I haven't done any like real distance like training, which is like crazy because like I used to only do that.
Like, um, and I mean I haven't done any sprint, but I also don't think I could because I'm like the kind of person that's like if me and the sprinters are doing the same practice, I feel like I'm not doing enough.
Right.
Especially coming from sandpipes, yeah, exactly.
Sort of ingrained into you.
Yeah.
So it's like I know that I wouldn't be doing like much if I was in sprint, so like I don't mind it.
You're like a hybrid model.
Yeah.
Like you can like go both ways, but sometimes you need like a little bit more.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, what is the biggest difference between Bella last year at NCAA's and Bella here today?
Um okay, last year at NCAAs, so I have a torn labrum in my hip and like a lot of other people.
Last year, right?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay, I was like, wait, still?
I thought we fixed it.
No, like still, but like I didn't fix it.
I can't fix it because it's like a genetic thing.
And so um if I were to get it like surgically fixed, um, it would just tear again.
Cause I was so I was born with uh a shallow hip socket.
So like um this is like my femur, and then this like the hip socket.
Mine's like this, and then people's are like this.
So like since there's like this gap, I mine like moves, and then like the labrum is like it like can tear easier.
Are you in pain right now?
No, okay.
So like that's the thing.
So um I think like my body like kind of knew before like I did that like I needed a change in my life because like that whole thing happened.
Because I've always had hip problems.
I got it from doing open water, um, like a 10K.
I I'm a very kick-based swimmer, and I would 10 kick, I 10 or six feet kicked like my 10K.
Oh my gosh.
And so I walked out like couldn't stand up straight, like it was horrible.
And then I've ever since then, like I would do a kick sign, it would always hurt, but like it would the pain would always go away like after a little while.
Last year was the worst it had it had ever been, and during NCs.
So it just flamed up during NCAA.
Oh so like didn't make the 500 like final, but like I was like, there was no way I could have done it even if I like made it back.
Right.
Yeah, because I was in so much pain.
Well, I like most of my races were fully underwater because the um dolphin kicks were like the only kick I could do.
So like my hundreds of like your hundred back.
Yeah, well, the backstroke was like a given.
Like I couldn't I couldn't not do underwaters, but like my hundred free on the relay, like fully 15 meter mark almost every single ball.
And like you don't really do that in freestyle.
Right.
So and so this year you are here feeling healthy.
Yeah, good, yeah.
Okay.
What has surprised you most at Michigan and what has stayed true to what you thought it was gonna be?
Um surprise me the most?
I don't even know.
Honestly, the fact that I okay, I didn't complain about the cold like once while I was there.
And I even a lot of people were surprised because like I've never never like experienced that.
Yeah.
Um but I also did like the like layering because like I don't know, it's so cute.
It's so nice to be cozy.
No, it is, and like I'm wrought in a blanket practically.
Um, but like getting new clothes was like so fun.
So I think that's like why I was like, I don't really mind.
Like I can buy super pop, like like whatever.
Um, but something I don't know, I feel like this team, like we mend so well together, but like no one is afraid of like not being theirself themselves.
And I think that's so special.
Um our team, I've never heard a team like sing as much as we do.
Oh, yeah.
What do you sing?
Like, okay, literally everything, but whenever I go into the locker room, it's always like the freshmen like have picked up on this, and it's the funniest thing ever, but they notice that like every time I go into the locker room singing, it's the last song that was playing like during practice.
Yeah, and like they just think it's like the funniest thing ever.
And I'm like, I didn't even notice that.
Like, I just like do it.
You just do it.
Yeah, and then like everyone will just like start, like join in with me, and it's the best thing ever.
Or like we'll do like a lot of pitch perfect like riffs and stuff like that.
Love this.
So awesome.
Like, literally my favorite thing ever.
Or my lock the locker room space is like the best space ever.
That's a healthy team, right?
There that's what we like to hear.
Yeah, wait, okay, speaking about that, like what what in your gut told you that it was Michigan that you you were gonna land at?
Okay, so well, I I don't even know.
Like, um, I met Matt and like my literally my first call, like he got to know me as a person, and I was like, wow, I've experienced this before, but like haven't in a long time.
Like um, and it was just like nice, it was refreshing.
And I was like, I could see myself like there.
Um I mean, and then I took like my trip, and the girls were absolutely amazing.
Like, I had the best time ever, and I was there for like two days.
Like, it was awesome.
Yeah, um, they're all so welcoming.
I knew a few of them from like past like things, like um me and Hannah were roommates in 2019 National Sled Camp.
Me and Tish.
Oh wow, you go way back.
Yeah, way back.
Tish was there, or like Letitia was there at that same camp.
Honestly, I don't remember if anyone else was there, but like just like things like way back.
I'm like, wow, like kind of full circle a little bit, you know.
So um just like little things, I I just like appreciated about the team.
Yeah.
Like that.
All right.
Your nails are incredible.
We've been having everyone do nail tutorials.
You did these yourself, which is insane.
Tell us about the inspiration and describe for people listening.
I actually, okay, I put these like spring nails on and I hated them.
I don't know why.
Okay.
They were not even that bad.
I just personally did not like them.
They were not vibing.
Yeah, they were not.
That's it.
Like it was like every nail was a different color, and that's like like the vibe I wanted, but then I put it on and was like, I like one out of five of these nails.
Like, that is not a start over.
And like I I do them myself, so like why wouldn't I change if I didn't like it?
Like, so I was like scrolling on Pinterest and I was like, I love this brown moment.
Yeah, let's see.
Looks hold them up and it like complements like everything about you.
I love brown.
Yeah, it has been such a like a like statement in my color analysis.
It's been such a statement in my like life so recently, but I love brown.
So when you say that you redo the nails, like you went from the spring moment to the brown moment, are those acrylic?
And are you too?
No, these are my natural nails.
No, they're not.
So you just are they gel?
Like, is that how you do that?
Yeah, it's gel.
So then is it tar hard to take off the gel yourself?
Um, so it's gel builder.
So like it's basically like acrylic where you like build on.
Um, like you don't have to take off the whole thing in order for it, you just take the polish off, like the color.
Oh, okay.
So like gel so much easier.
Yeah, it's so much easier.
And it's so much better for your nails.
I was thinking you were like taking the gel off the memory.
Okay.
That's so bad for your nails.
Yeah.
I know that's why I was I get scolded by the nail people because I know yeah.
I I scold the girls, the nails that I do.
I'm like, what did you do?
Like, why did you pick your nails?
Why did you come to me with nails like this?
Yeah, literally.
I'm like, why didn't you come to me sooner?
Yeah.
All right.
Well, last question.
If you had to put a word to your team this year, what would you say it would be?
Relentless.
Dang, you had that locked.
No, because we've had these, like, we have these meetings like every other week almost.
Um, and we've come up with this word like already.
Yeah.
I love that.
Why relentless?
Um, well, okay, so our goal for the year was um, you know the song Where's My Husband?
Yes.
And I saw I would like a ring.
That was like our goal going into Big Ten was was to like get our ring, like our Big Ten ring.
Yes.
And we were like thinking of words that like we would need to like be in order to like accomplish our goals.
And relentless was like one of our like words.
Yeah.
And so like our group chat name is like relentless baddies, and like, and so like we like we like put this word out and like as like our statement so that like we're reminded.
And that's what you guys will be this weekend.
Yeah.
Yeah, that was so quick.
Wow.
Yeah, I barely got out.
She's like relentless relentless, done.
Next.
Yeah.
I didn't even think about it.
Well, good luck this weekend, Belly.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, we love you.