Over the coming weeks, we will catch up with and spend five minutes with a number of Cougar student-athletes. Next up is Washington State junior Chloe Larson.
 


What have you been up to? What's a Day in the Life look like now? 
I've been doing my best to stay busy while back home in South Dakota. I have been spending time outside hiking in the Black Hills, cooking, and I get to catch up on all the books I've been wanting to read.  No pools are open in South Dakota yet, but my wetsuit is going to come in handy when the weather warms up and I can do some open water swimming.
 
What were a couple highlights from this past season?
There were so many fun moments throughout this season. Beating Wyoming on the road after they beat us at home my sophomore year was a feeling of redemption for the team. It was a meet where we really came together as a team and fought during every race for that win. At Houston, our mid-season invite, we improved to third overall after placing seventh the year before. My favorite highlight from this season was breaking the 4x100 Freestyle relay record on the last night of Pac-12's.
 
You guys have improved at the Pac-12 Championships each year, how much fun was that? What's your focus heading into that meet?
Pac-12's is the meet we prepare and train hard for all season long. Throughout the season we focus on every little detail in order to have the best races possible at the Pac-12 Championships. Improving as a team has been a really cool thing to be a part of because it just shows how hard all of my teammates work for each other. It truly is a team effort and every single girl on this team brings something to the table.
 
What are a couple of your favorite things about Pullman? 
Pullman has felt like home ever since I first stepped on campus a couple years ago. The family atmosphere and close-knit feel of this community is more than I could ever have imagined for my college experience. When I'm not eating at the Grey W, I always tend to go to my favorite restaurants in Pullman on the weekend like Thai Ginger and Porch Light. Also, I love Roost, a local coffee shop. It's my favorite place to do homework and study.
 
Other than WSU Swim Meets, what is your favorite Cougar sporting event to attend?
Nothing beats a Cougar Football Saturday! I've always been a huge football fan and getting to cheer on the Cougs every weekend is one of the best parts about WSU.
 
Compare the atmosphere at Gibb Pool on Meet Day against other Pac-12 pools?
The atmosphere we create at Gibb Pool on meet days is so unique from any other Pac-12 schools. At most of the away meets I've been to there are more Coug fans up in the stands than there are for the home team! The band playing is one of my favorite parts of home meets because the team thrives off the energy and excitement the band brings and it tends to throw off the visiting team.
 
What do you remember about going to your first win as a Coug, team and individual?
At my first college dual meet we competed against Cal Poly and defeated them on the road. Winning that meet taught me how much pride and determination it takes to win a meet. It really showed me what being a Coug is truly like and it is a feeling I strive for in every dual meet. My first individual win was in the 50 free my sophomore year against Oregon State. That win was a turning point for me, it gave me so much confidence going into the championship season and was validation that all my hard work was paying off.
 
Who are the teammates, past and present, who have helped you at WSU?
I would say in some way each one of my teammates has helped me grow as a person or swimmer. Without my teammates, this sport wouldn't be the same and I am so thankful for being a part of this family for the past three years.