Kate Ptashnik is a second-year distance free swimmer on the Case Western Reserve University swim team. With the season still young, she looks to improve on a stellar first year that featured an 18:21.88 in the 1,650 free. Swimming provides Ptashnik with countless memories, including getting punched in the face. Ptashnik is currently majoring in nutritional biochemistry and likes to spend time with her friends.

What is your favorite part of being on the swim team? Why?

My favorite part of being on the swim team is being surrounded by people who have similar work ethics, but different passions than I do. I enjoy hearing and seeing my teammates/friends being excited about things they are doing while we get to bond through something we all love.

Do you have any meets that you remember being particularly special? Why?

The Wooster Invitational meet last year, I was accidentally punched in the face by another athlete right before my race (the mile), but then proceeded to swim my best time of the season. 

Aside from swimming, what other activities are you involved in on campus? Can you explain what you do in them?

I am the Greek Games chair and the executive assistant in Kappa Alpha Theta. I am also a tour guide at the CWRU Office of Admissions. Additionally, I am a part of research within the nutrition department, where we are trying to teach children with family members who have diabetes how to make healthy and nutritious foods.

Why are you majoring in nutritional biochemistry? What about it interests you?

I am majoring in nutritional biochemistry because I liked both biology and chemistry, and then got early exposure to a nutrition course my first semester here and absolutely loved it. I am interested in nutritional biochemistry because I think it is really applicable to a student athlete as well as just a person.

What are your favorite free time activities? Why?

Spending time with my friends, both on and not on the swim team, because we can always have fun no matter what else is happening in our stressful CWRU life.

What is your favorite quote or what inspires you?  

“Be the hammer” – Doug Milliken.