FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Jamie Legner, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Feb. 20, 2012 - The United States Military Academy set Ross Artley up for success. The life-altering experiences there helped enable him to resume his college education and make a successful return to competitive swimming. Though he went through a lengthy hiatus from the pool, Artley has returned to the sport like he never left.

Artley has posted the Cardinals' fastest time this season in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events, as well as the 50- and 200-yard freestyle and the 200-yard individual medley. He turned in a ninth-place finish in the 100 backstroke at the CCIW Championships last weekend in Kenosha, Wis., and also swam in six other events, helping the 400-yard medley relay team to a fifth-place showing.

This political science major has managed to keep his heavy workload, swim schedule and personal life balanced. He takes advice from his coaches very seriously and has shown the ability to handle whatever challenges his sport sends his way.


Q: How long have you been swimming?
A: I started swimming when I was four, so in 1988. So, I've been swimming a very long time but before this year I had not been swimming for eight and a half years.

Q: What is the hardest thing about swimming?
A: Morning practices. It's probably not the hardest thing but it is definitely difficult waking up at 5:00 in the morning during the school year.

Q: What is your favorite thing about swimming?
A: It's hard to pick just one thing but I definitely like the team aspect of it. While you are competing individually you are still on a team and there's definitely a different dynamic than with other sports, there's not as much pressure to perform and I always like to see that. Another one of my favorite things is how in shape you get from the sport.

Q: What is your favorite event to compete in?
A: My favorite would probably by the 100-free or the 200-free.

Q: Has anyone in your family done any competitive swimming?
A: Yes, everyone. My dad was an Olympic alternate in 1976. My mom and dad both swam at the University of Florida. They both went on to become very successful coaches. My mom had a few American record holders. My sister was a great swimmer also so it's been a big part of my family.

Q: What has been the best advice you've been given about swimming?
A: I can't really say one thing in particular but some of the best advice would be, don't let swimming come first. I think that that is good for any sport. Don't let it take over your life. Coaches have always emphasized that there needs to be a balance in your life you know between school, social life and swimming.

Q: Have you ever been involved in any other sports?
A: Yes, all throughout elementary school and into middle school I played soccer, basketball, baseball, I tried football. I've done track, cross country, triathlons, and marathons. I'm hoping to get into marathon swimming which is twenty plus miles in open water.

Q: Who is your biggest role model?
A: In terms of swimming I'd probably say Eric Shanteau. He was the gentleman in the last Olympics that found out he had testicular cancer but postponed the surgery to swim. I always watched him, saw his drive, and his willingness to commit completely to the sport and it was very admirable.

Q: What made you decide to attend the United States Military Academy?
A: There are a lot of different reasons. First of all the prestige and I took some recruiting trips there for swimming and when I got there I just fell in love with the brothership of the male swim team and generally the whole core itself was very desirable.

Q: What was it like to transfer from the United States Military Academy?
A: Very different. I left there in 2004 and went to another school in Georgia before dropping out and working for about seven years and then I came back and went to the College of DuPage before coming here so the transfer process from there to here is obviously a long one but in general leaving there and going to a normal university means there's a lot more time. The Academy gives you so much work that you couldn't possibly do it in a week. It's a huge change though.

Q: How has that experience benefitted you now?
A: I would say that my work ethic and my ability to manage time have improved a lot. Also the little stresses in life don't really bother me anymore and I learned to look past that.

Q: What was the toughest thing about getting back into college athletics?
A: I'd say managing my work when my energy levels were low when I first started out, we were swimming about nine or ten times a week for the first couple of weeks and it was just a huge drain both physically and mentally.

Q: Why did you choose to major in political science?
A: When I first was in school in 2004 I was a biology major and I just really didn't like it so I took some time off and got really interested in politics so it was an easy choice when I came back.

Q: What's the toughest thing about being in that major?
A: There's a lot of reading.

Q: What has been your favorite class here at North Central College so far?
A: I don't know I guess my political interest group class was really fun. It was mostly a student run class, we did have a professor but each day students were teaching and I liked that aspect and it generated a lot of good conversation.

Q: Are you involved in any on-campus activities?
A: Yes, right now I'm starting a Youth for Ron Paul chapter. It's starting slowly but I have a few members.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: Hopefully finishing up law school. I guess it will be my first year practicing law. I'm not sure if I'll be here or back down south though.

Q: What is your favorite thing about North Central College?
A: So far it's been the community. This is actually my third school so you know here people are very welcoming and actually acknowledge each other, which at bigger schools doesn't happen so much.