How have you grown as a swimmer during your time at Pitt?
Cichowska: When I got to Pitt, that was the first year of ACC swimming here. We were thrown in to the deep waters right from the start. I can see how the team and myself have grown up through the years. During the first year, we were very shy from not knowing the conference. I was not familiar with college-level swimming, either. After my sophomore and junior year, the ACC and college swimming feel like home to me now.
What are your main goals heading into your final season?
Cichowska: I want to make it my best season yet. Speaking about times, I want to swim faster and hopefully place better at the meets. I also want to just have a lot of fun and finish my athletic career in the best possible shape I will ever be in my life.
Everyone sets their own ideas about the team goals. But we definitely want to place higher than we ever have at ACCs. The highest we've placed has been eighth.
Do you have a favorite part about being a Pitt-student athlete?
Cichowska: I love when we sing the Alma Mater at the end of every swim meet. It's always the highlight! It's when the entire team comes together. During the meet there are a lot of ups and downs and there's so much going on. You're focused on your starts, warming up and cooling down. You try to be there for your teammates, but you're not always able to see all of their races. So this moment when we all get together at the end and celebrate the good meet we had, it's definitely a highlight.
What does the experience of being a Pitt student-athlete mean to you?
Cichowska: Coming to Pitt was undoubtedly the best decision of my life. Coming from Poland, it was a big decision. I get to continue my swimming career at the highest level and get a great education. I also get to be supported by a team. The team aspect is so huge here, but that's not always present outside of the U.S. I hadn't experienced the team aspect until coming here, and it's added so much to the sport and brought swimming to a completely new level for me.
How have you grown as an athlete during your time at Pitt?
Lierley: I think the biggest thing is just the transition from club to college swimming and becoming team-focused. Club swimming is more individual; you're more worried about getting in and getting your races done whereas college swimming is big in relays, dual meets and even championship season. It's about being the best in not only your races, but as a team. The energy that comes from the team helps all teammates and fuels performance. Coming into a family environment has been beneficial, especially through the transition. I've developed since I've been a freshman and the team culture has grown a lot even in just this year alone, which is great to see.
Do you have a big accomplishment/favorite moment as a Panther?
Lierley: From a combination of an athletic and academic standpoint, I was selected for the ACC All-Academic team my sophomore year. That was pretty big for me. One of the reasons I came to Pitt was because of the combination to develop in the classroom as well as the pool. Also, this summer I finished 15th at the Olympic Trials. After our college season ended, it was great to refocus and have a good swim this summer.
How have you grown as a leader of the team?
Lierley: As you get older, a lot of people on the team start to look at you and rely on the things you do to help guide them. One big thing that all of our seniors have tried to uphold this year is bringing positive energy, especially at meets. In the past, whether we've had ups or downs, we've allowed our energy levels to dictate how the meet goes. So as a senior class, we've tried to bring positive energy and take things one step at a time by focusing on the details.