Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Max Lestina, New Trier swimming

Max Lestina is a senior freestyle swimmer and returning state qualifier for the Trevians.

1. Do you have any prerace or premeet rituals?

I always like to make sure I have a good healthy meal before every meet — the night before and the day of. Something like pesto pasta with chicken; that’s my favorite thing to have. 

2. What are your plans for next year? 

No idea yet. I’m considering whether I want to swim in college. (What do you hope to study?) I plan to study business. My dad is a businessman. He runs a small business and that always kind of interested me.

3. What is your favorite thing to do outside of the pool?

So I don’t have a lot of time to do stuff, but I like to hang out with friends and go out to eat and spending  time with my teammates outside the the pool. 

4. What has been your sports highlight for you so far?

My highlight was last year during junior year season, improving from a place where I didn’t even qualify for state all the way up to almost finaling in it. That was huge for me. I dropped more than a second in the season. Prior to last year I never believed would ever make state meet in high school. It showed me if I tried my best and put my mind toward something I could do it. 

5. What is your favorite ting about swimming?

Being able to both succeed and see my teammates succeed and watch all the hard work and hours in practice pay off in meets — and the satisfaction of winning. 

6. If you could play another sport, what would it be?

Probably basketball. Because I have the size for it (6 foot 3) and I was always interested in it as a kid but stopped playing to swim. 

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

I’m buying an Arizona Arnold Palmer and I really like the Hershey’s Cookies and Cream bars. 

8. What is your favorite TV show right now?

My favorite tv show right now is “The Boys” on Amazon Prime. It’s very action packed, fast paced and I like how it’s a spin on a traditional superhero movie.

9. What is one you cannot live without? 

As bad as it sounds, I’d probably say energy drinks. They are always a pick-me-up whenever I am tired or at a practice I am not particularly up to. They definitely help with it.

10. What can this team accomplish this season?

I’d love to think that our team could win state. I think we have a lot of great guys on the team, a lot of potential. I think we really do have a chance at placing or wining state this year. Individually, a lot of the guys have improved so much that I feel like they can perform really well. 

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