The Observer, December 1, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 12
Spartan Spotlight: Camilla Cullis
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Year, et cetera: Camilla Cullis is a senior on the swim team from Shaker Heights, Ohio. She's a double major in Nursing and Anthropology.
Event: 200IM, 400IM, 500FR. I'm versatile.
Jeffrey T. Verespej: Always a good quality to have. How long have you been swimming?
Camilla Cullis: 18 years. No, seriously 18 years.
JTV: I couldn't even walk straight until I was ten. That's impressive. Who or what inspired you to swim?
CC: My parents. They threw me in the water and it was sink or swim, literally. So I decided to swim, and breathe.
JTV: Inspiring. What are your hobbies and activities?
CC: I find time for some stuff outside of the pool. This is my second year as captain of the women's swim team, I'm President of Phi Mu, Director of Programming for STPS, and I work at the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations. I also really like to sleep.
JTV: Yeah, with a boring life like that, who wouldn't want to sleep? What's your best swimming memory?
CC: 1995. 10 years old. Junior district championships. CSU pool. 100 Freestyle. Gold metal. Set a record.
JTV: Wow, I'm talking to a legend. What's your worst swimming memory?
CC: 1996. Junior districts. My record was broken.
JTV: Life sure is tough at that age, isn't it? Do you have a favorite athlete?
CC: Summer Sanders, pre-"Figure it Out" era on Nickelodeon. You know, when she won those Olympic gold medals in 1992. Though a show on Nickelodeon is definitely something to strive for in the future!
JTV: Oh it definitely is. So where do you see yourself in 10 years?
CC: Nursing as a profession and maybe a kid.
JTV: What super power would you like to have?
CC: Fly! My siblings live all over the place, like D.C., Germany, and Cleveland Heights, which is so far. Oh, and then I wouldn't have to wait for the Greenie for eight years to get to south side.
JTV: You swimmers are so lazy. What is something that most people don't know about you?
CC: I ran a marathon in September of my sophomore year at Case in Erie, Pa.
JTV: Once again, lazy. You should've done it your freshman year. If you could be a guy for a day, what would you do?
CC: Walk across Euclid and feel safe, and shave my head. Not necessarily in that order.
JTV: I think you with a beard would be way cooler than the shaved head. If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
CC: Cameron Diaz because we are twins.
JTV: Do you rub door handles to clean them too? Weirdo. If you could participate in any sport, which would you pick and why?
CC: The high jump. I'm 5'3". I bet I'd be awesome.
JTV: Yeah, you'll be like the Spud Webb of the sport. He had such a glorious career. What's it like to be a sex symbol to millions of lonely Case guys?
CC: Maybe I would know if any of them came out of their rooms.
JTV: Well then you couldn't be their sex symbol any more. Finish this sentence: Swimming is like a guy…
CC: ...this doesn't even make sense.
JTV: It took me a second, but ouch. What's the high point in a swimmer's season?
CC: Taper. For the non-swimmers, that means you only practice 10 hours a week instead of 19, you're not allowed to walk up and down stairs, and taking the Greenie from Millis to Adelbert Hall is completely acceptable.
JTV: Sounds a lot like my attitude. When is the best time to watch the team?
CC: Come watch us and the other seven teams swim at conferences Feb. 8-11 at Veale!
