The swim team travelled to the Estes Aquatic Center for a meet against Randolph-Macon College on Oct. 21. In the matchup, Patrick Sullivan, ’21, earned first place in not only the 100-yard back, with a time of 55.04, but also in the 200-yard back, with a time of just over two minutes. Those two individual wins, along with his contributions to the 200-yard free relay team that won with a time of 1:28.06, led the men to  victory in the meet. Meet your General of the Week, Patrick Sullivan.

Ring-Tum Phi: Who inspired you to be a swimmer?

Patrick Sullivan, ‘21: My mom swam in college and that is who inspired me. I did summer league when I was about six and it took off from there.

Phi: What inspires you to push yourself through all of the preparation and early mornings it takes to compete at this level?

PS: Knowing that at the end of the season, swimming being an individual sport, it’s about all of the work that you put in. If you don’t put the work in you will not get the results you want so that’s what drives me every morning.

Phi: What did it mean to you to be named the Men’s Swimmer of the Week?

PS: It meant a lot. I didn’t expect it whatsoever, but I put in the work at the meet at Randolph-Macon. It was a hard meet and we were tired from all the training but we pushed through. I was happy just to be able to contribute to the team.

Phi: What has surprised you most about your first year at W&L?

PS: The workload in classes for sure. It’s a lot more than in high school. It’s manageable still, but it’s a night and day difference.

Phi: What are you most interested in outside of the pool?

PS: Professional soccer. I’m a Liverpool fan because my dad is from Boston, so I’m a Boston sports fan through him, and the guys that own the Red Sox (Fenway Sports Group) also own Liverpool.

Phi: Do you have any superstitions or rituals you do before you swim?

PS: I take three deep breaths, and I do the sign of the cross.

Phi: If you could do anything or wish anything to be true what would it be?

PS: I would love to take my family to a Patriots Super Bowl one day.