The Clarion spoke with men’s swimming sopohmore Ben Severino over the weekend.

Q: Where are you from?

A: Des Moines, Iowa.

Q: How did you come to DU?

A: When I was looking at schools, Denver was always on my radar. The academic opportunity and athletics were what I was looking for. Brian [Schrader] is a great coach and Daniels College of Business seemed like a great setup for a future career in business.
Q: How long have you been swimming?

A: I got started at a local country club at the age of five and I joined a club team at age eight. I have continued to swim with the same club since.

Q: How was your first year at DU?

A: It was such a great learning experience. There are so many things you don’t think you’ll learn, like how to live on your own and be away from your family. The training was more intense and the academics were much harder so that was something I had to learn how to balance, as well.

Q: How has the season been going so far?

A: Our team won the Denver relays last weekend. We’ve been working very hard this year, our coach had us jump right into it and he really wants us to have a good year.

Q: Have you set any personal goals for yourself?

A: I want to score at every meet. That means top three on the team and top five overall, that’s a big goal for me.

Q: Is there something in particular you are looking forward to?

A: The Iowa tournament is a big deal for me because my family is there and my friends are, too. There are great, fast teams like Notre Dame.

Q: What are your plans after college?

A: Swimming does a really good job at teaching you great skills, but my time swimming will be done when I’m done at DU. But, I will be able to carry over some of these qualities into my professional career.

Q: What’s something different about you that not many people know?

A: I really, really like horse racing and one day I want to own a horse that runs in the Kentucky Derby!