Sports Spotlight - Windermere Observer: Delaney Carey

Olympia High senior Delaney Carey is going D-1, recently committing to Rutgers University for her collegiate swimming career. The standout swimmer for the Titans, who is headed to the state meet, also recently collected a pair of district championship honors as an individual and a member of Olympia’s 200-yard Medley Relay team and placed seventh at regionals in the 100-meter breaststroke while the relay team placed fifth.

What was it like when the recruiting process began and you started receiving letters from colleges?

It was so cool. … To get a letter from a team saying, “Hey, we think you’d be great here,” that was something where it was like, “Wow, this actually could be my future.”

How did you settle on Rutgers as the right choice?

I’ve been kind of looking at schools for the last year —  starting to get serious in the recruiting process. … Rutgers was one of the first schools that called, and I immediately had a connection with the coaches and loved the coaching staff and the way they talked about the team. … I absolutely fell in love on my recruiting trip.

When did your swimming career pick up?

I decided to join the high-school team, and it wasn’t until sophomore year (when) I really got competitive year-round. Practicing every day, I got better so quickly. … I realized this is something I’m actually good at, and I actually love.

What is your favorite memory from your varsity swimming career?

At the end of the meets, everyone is tired and everything, but we have the girls 4x100-meter relay and everyone — from the girls and the guys teams — they all come at the end of the lane and we all are cheering so loud for the girls at the end of that lane. Just everyone coming together in that moment.

You’ve mentioned wanting to study engineering. What is it you like about math and science?

I’m a very analytical person. I go through things pretty thoroughly — that kind of goes back to swimming, as well. Breaststroke is a very technical stroke, it’s not just go go go.

Where would you like to live after college?

Virginia is a really pretty state. I’ve got some family there, and I’ve been there a few times and it’s in the middle: it’s not too cold and it’s not too hot, like we’ve got here.

Within the broader field of engineering, what specifically would you most like to do?

I’m keeping an open mind, but industrial (engineering) is the one I’m looking at now.