Jordan Plempel poses for a picture with her game face on. Photo courtesy of Millersville Athletic Communications
Allison K. Ross
Staff Writer
Our Millersville athlete of the week is Swimmer Jordan Plempel. Though she may be new to campus, she is leaving her mark. In the first meet this year against Lock Haven, Plempel achieved first in both the 200 Back and 200 IM. At that meet, Plempel along with her teammate, Jewels Hepner, both qualified multiple times for the PSAC championships. Jordan continues to make great strides and is coming close to breaking some Marauder records of the past.
We talked to Jordan about her swimming career, and she commented…
Q: How long have you been swimming competitively?
“I’ve been swimming for 13 years.”
Q: What inspires you the most?
“What inspires me most are my teammates. I spend so much time with some of the most interesting and caring people. They encourage me every day to do my best.”
Q: Who is your favorite swimmer and why?
“My favorite swimmer is Sarah Sjostrom because she has an amazing spirit and refuses to give up even when the odds are against her.”
Q: What is your favorite event to swim?
“My favorite events are 100 Backstroke and 100 Individual Medley.”
Q: Do you have a pre-meet ritual?
“Before meets, I load up on carbs with my team and visualize my upcoming races.”
Q: What are your goals for the rest of the season?
“I hope to break school records in the backstroke and the individual medley.”
Q: What is your favorite spot on-campus?
“My favorite spot-on campus is outside Breidenstein Hall on the steps.”
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell your younger self?
“One thing I would tell my younger self is how great it feels to succeed, so keep working hard in everything you do.”
Q: Why did you choose Millersville?
“I chose Millersville for the diversity and positive atmosphere. There was a perfect balance between being an athlete and student, and I knew that my education needed to come first. My coach works to make sure I succeed in the pool as well as the classroom.”
Q: How do you manage your time as a Millersville student-athlete?
“Managing time as a student athlete isn’t too difficult when you have a team of people in the same position as you helping to keep you accountable. It gets hard, but it’s possible to manage everything when you have a full support system. “
Q: Shoutouts?
“I want to thank my coach, Eric Usbeck, my teammates, and parents for being there for me and helping me to become the best version of myself. “
Fun facts about Jordan Plempel
Hometown- Harrisburg PA
Major- K-12 Art Education
Pump up song- Let’s Get It Started by Black Eyed Peas
Victory celebration- Milkshakes from Sugar Bowl with my team
Hobbies- photography and drawing
See Jordan and her teammates compete against East Stroudsburg, November 6, here at home in the Anttonen Natatorium.
