Athlete Spotlight: James Wood High School Girls’ Swimmer Hannah Cavanagh

Posted: February 16, 2016

Hannah Cavanagh
James Wood High School 17-year-old junior

Sport: Swimming. Events: 200 and 500 freestyle and 400 freestyle and medley relays

Parents: Alan and Ellen Cavanagh Hometown: Winchester

What do you love about swimming: I love how competitive it can be at times and the team itself has a great bond together. We turn into one big family and you’re swimming with your friends every day.

Most memorable moment in swimming: When I made regions this year [in the 200 free]. I’ve been trying so hard for the past two years. To get it this year, I just hugged everybody I could.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Roland Suluku, our church sponsored him to have a hip replacement and he lives in Sierra Leone. He stayed with us for awhile and he’s like family; [surfer] Bethany Hamilton, from the movie Soul Surfer, I find her really inspiring; Clara Barton, because I want to go into the medical field when I get out of high school and she would be a good person to follow.

If you were stranded on an island, what’s the one thing you’d want to have with you: Bacon. Honestly, I love bacon. I could survive off of that for awhile.

Favorite teacher: Mr. [Jamie] Carr, I was his teacher’s assistant this year and I will probably have him for service learning next year. I’ve known him through our church and he has been my coach the last three years for throwing.

Favorite athlete: [Olympic swimmer] Natalie Coughlin

Favorite sports team: Washington Redskins

Best live sporting event you’ve been to: I was in like second grade and went to a swim meet. It was the Clearbrook Dolphins versus Sherando. I was just like, ‘Yeah, I want to do that when I get older.’

Favorite movie: “The Hunger Games, Catching Fire.”

Favorite book: “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck.

Favorite song: “Fancy,” by Iggy Azalea

Favorite website: Instagram

Plans after high school: I would like to attend a pre-med school. I’m undecided on whether I want to became a physician’s assistant or a doctor. My mom is a nurse and I always thought it would be cool. She works in the ICU.

— Compiled by Walt Moody