Arizona swimmer Jessica Hayes is this week's Wildcat Athlete of the Week after the junior took home the 200-meter backstroke title at the Pacific 10 Conference Championships last weekend. Hayes took fourth in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 200 freestyle, and helped the Wildcats to top-3 team finishes in the 400 medley, 200 free and 800 free. Yesterday, the Wildcat caught up with Hayes at practice to discuss hair care, whether anteaters can swim and what it's like being the most famous Jessica Hayes in the world.
Wildcat: Your bio says you're an undeclared junior. How does that work?
Hayes: I'm an accounting major. They just didn't put that up yet.
Wildcat: According to a yahoo.com search, you share your name with a costume designer for the Ohio Light Opera, a cheerleader at Lynchburg College and a 25-year-old golfer on the Futures Golf Tour. Do you think it's safe to say that you're the most famous Jessica Hayes in the world?
Hayes: (Laughs) Sure.
Wildcat: Well, you are the only one to be Athlete of the Week. Plus, the golfer's career pro earnings are $176, so I think you're pretty safe saying that.
Hayes: Thanks.
Wildcat: Your bio says that your dad and your sister both played collegiate water polo. Does that make you the rebel of your family?
Hayes: I don't know. My brother and sister started playing in high school, and I always loved going to their games. They were so exciting. I always wanted to try it out, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to swim, too. I stuck with swimming because it's what I love to do. I always wanted to give it a try, though. It's exciting watching them. It's just so aggressive, and it looked like it'd be fun to play.
Wildcat: You're from Irvine, and your brother went to UC Irvine. Didn't you want to become an Anteater?
Hayes: I was recruited by different schools, so I just based my recruiting trips around swimming. I kind of wanted to get away from home a little bit, but not too far, like across the country. I wanted to be able to go home, or have them come visit me.
Wildcat: Can anteaters even swim?
Hayes: (Laughs) Not as far as I know.
Wildcat: So yesterday I was talking to (former UA swimmer and Olympic medalist) Amanda Beard, and she said she keeps her gold medal in her underwear drawer. If you won an Olympic medal, where would you keep it?
Hayes: Um · I don't think I would keep it in my underwear drawer. I'd keep it put away somewhere. I don't think I'd have a special case for it. I'd keep it in a drawer somewhere not too out of the ordinary.
Wildcat: Maybe a sock drawer instead?
Hayes: Yeah. (Laughs)
Wildcat: The UA swim and dive team is one of the nation's elite programs. Do you think you guys get enough recognition?
Hayes: No. I don't think too many people know about the sport. We've gotten more people coming to meets recently, but compared to other teams, I don't think we get enough. We don't get recognized as much as teams like football or basketball. Not to say anything bad about their teams.
Wildcat: Does that bother you?
Hayes: No. I'm used to it. It's fine.
Wildcat: How many hours a week do you think you spend in the pool?
Hayes: Between 20 and 25.
Wildcat: Doesn't that wreak havoc on your hair?
Hayes: Yeah, it does. It's pretty much dead at the ends. (Laughs) People always ask me how I have long hair, but it doesn't bother me. Actually, I think the divers have it the worst. There's a lot more chlorination in their pool.
Wildcat: Speaking of divers, what's your advice for all the UA students who get arrested for breaking into Hillenbrand and jumping off the high dive every year?
Hayes: Well, they have sensors in and security now, so I don't think it's really worth the risk.
Wildcat: You're a good swimmer. You ever rescue anybody?
Hayes: Rescue anyone? No, I haven't. Not yet.
Wildcat: You looking forward to that?
Hayes: Yeah.
(Guy in Speedo walks by.)
Wildcat: So, what's your take on guys in Speedos?
Hayes: (Laughs) Well, I can't complain. It makes workouts better.
Wildcat: Are you waiting for me to ask you who your five hottest UA athletes are?
Hayes: (Laughs)
Wildcat: You don't have to answer that if you don't want. Most AOW winners wind up asking us to ask them that. It's up to you if you want to answer.
Hayes: (Laughs) No.
Wildcat: Is there anything else you always wanted to say in the Wildcat?
Hayes: Well · Kim, the manager, wanted me to give her a shout-out.
Wildcat: What's her last name?
Hayes: Kim Miller.
Wildcat: Kim Miller, manager, UA swim team. Can do.
(Random guy walks up.)
Randome Guy: This girl is a split master.
Hayes: And I'm a split master.
Wildcat: OK. I don't know what that means, but OK.