Asked and Answered: Caroline Van Maren

June 8, 2011 2:56 pm
Newport's Caroline Van Maren was a four-time All-KingCo selection and two-time KingCo Breastroke champion during her time as a Knight.
Newport's Caroline Van Maren was a four-time All-KingCo selection and two-time KingCo Breastroke champion during her time as a Knight.

Caroline Van Maren graduates from Newport with the rest of the class of 2011 on June 13.

She helped the Knights to their first undefeated 4A KingCo season in 24 years and a second-place finish at state in the fall, where she swam on the Knights’ third-place 200-yard medley relay team. Van Maren’s Newport career also includes a pair of breaststroke championships, four appearances in the 4A state finals and four selections to the 4A All-KingCo swim and dive team.

Van Maren will study and swim for the Seattle University Redhawks beginning next fall.

Bellevue Reporter: What is your first memory of swimming?

Caroline Van Maren: When I first started, I really didn’t like it. It was just something I kind of went into.

BR: Which team is more challenging: Newport High School or your team with the Bellevue Athletic Club?

CVM: They’re both really different, Bellevue Club is more challenging. The competition is a lot higher because you can’t compete at national levels with high school swimming. There are faster swimmers and there are college swimmers too. I’m super competitive, I can’t wait to keep competing next year and the next four years.

BR: Speaking of that, what made you choose Seattle University to continue your swimming career?

CVM: I got a scholarship there and I wanted to stay in the Seattle area. The school is realy great and their business school is the best in the Northwest.

BR: You had a great season this year with your school team as well. What was the highlight of that?

CVM: Winning the 4A KingCo meet was really the highlight of the year. I love representing my school and doing something that not many people have done at Newport. It was really special to be able to do something like that.

BR: What will you miss most about Newport?

CVM: The girls on the swim team. They are really awesome and helped out with everything this year. We had a ton of depth on our team and the girls all worked really hard and that is what helped us be successful this year.

BR: I saw a music video you produced on YouTube, is that something you hope to expand on?

CVM: I want to go into advertising with maybe a background in video production. It was fun to do and I learned a lot doing it. I filmed everything and edited it.

BR: So you’re obviously an accomplished swimmer, do you have any hidden talents?

CVM: I’m really good at doing a front flip on a trampoline…