Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Zara Bolton, New Trier swimming

Zara Bolton is a butterfly specialist for the Trevians swim team. She broke the conference-meet record this year in the 100-yard fly and is committed to Rice University.

1. Do you have any prerace rituals or superstitions?

For prerace rituals, I always have dried mangoes. It’s kind of a high school team thing, a little inside joke, especially last year. If I’m in a race with other people, we always give each other hype speeches. They are generally made up on the spot, like “Let’s go, you got this, you’re gonna crush this.” That sort of stuff. Just loud and enthusiastic. It’s a good way to get yourself hyped too.

2. Why is Rice a good fit for you?

Rice has a super amazing academic program. I was really looking to find something that could challenge me in the water and outside of it. I met some staff at the facility and they were super friendly and gave me a really good idea of how I’d do when I got there. … I think the team also is amazing. They have some incredible flyers already. I’m excited to join the program and grow.

3. When did you first compete in a swim meet?

I was probably like really, really young — probably first or second grade. I learned to swim here in Illinois, but at the start of first grade, I moved to Texas and joined a (swim) club there and had my first meet experiences. I’m going to swim in college where I started competing, down in the Houston area. It’s a full-circle moment.

4. When did you know that swimming was special to you?

I have always swam, but I’ve done other sports too. I did basketball for a while and really enjoyed that. Swimming became special to me when I entered high school. There is a sense that you relied on everyone and everyone relied on you. … It’s a really great community.

5. If you could try another sport, what would it be?

I would go back to basketball or try volleyball. Volleyball looks like so much fun. I play with friends sometimes at the beach. Half the time we completely miss the ball, because we are uncoordinated swimmers. It looks like so much fun with the people you are competing with.

6. What is your dream job?

I really want to work as a physical therapist, either work with a major league sports team or in a hospital helping people recover after surgery. I find that stuff really cool, helping people and learning how our bodies work and recover.

7. What is your favorite thing to do out of the pool?

We don’t have a ton of time outside the pool. Swimming takes up a lot of time. But just hanging out with friends. We always go to just grab some food and talk. We walk around the mall and wander for a while. Oh, and I like to bake, like pies and cookies. I do that with my sister (Maya, 15).

8. If you are in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

Definitely caramel M&M’s. I love those. And maybe a drink, like a Vitamin Water (dragonfruit). … It’s my favorite for road trips.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

I’m a huge Nintendo video game nerd. I love “Mario Kart” and “Mario Odyssey” and “Super Smash Bros,” as well. I love those sorts of games.

10. What are your thoughts going into state and what do you hope to accomplish there?

My thoughts going into state are that I’m so incredibly exited and proud of my team. We just had sectionals and every single person qualified in every event, which is an amazing accomplishment. We’ve had a great cheering and team environment. My personal goals are in the medley relay I really want to go three for three in gold (part of state-winning relays in 2022 and ’23). I’d love to reach for that. In the 100 fly, I’m really hoping to get top three. There is really strong competition. In the free relays (200 and 400) I’m really excited with the adrenaline that comes in those races. You just leave everything in the pool and swim your heart out.

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