Welcome to Saturday Spotlight! Here, we dive deep into the lives of Ohio State student-athletes and learn more about their journeys to Columbus, their love of the Buckeye traditions and who they are as competitors and students.
The 2017 U.S. Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Athlete of the Year, a four-time All-American, multiple national championships. The awards and accolades have stacked up for Ohio State senior synchronized swimmer Emma Baranski during her career as a Buckeye.
Fresh off her solo and duets titles at the 2017 NCAA National Championships, the Hamden, Connecticut native has had an unbelieveable four years in the pool for Ohio State — and after graduation, she hopes to continue following her passion by taking on a career in the water.
We sat down with Emma this week to discuss her personal superstitions, love of "Survivor" as well as how her dreams of being a Buckeye began early on.
When did you realize you might have a chance to compete in synchronized swimming at the collegiate level?
Emma Baranski: It was around when I was in high school, but I remember being a little kid and growing up in Connecticut and I started synchronized swimming at a very small club. I never really knew if it would be possible, but I always wanted to go to Ohio State because OSU is known for being one of the best programs in the country. I was able to watch them on live stream when I was in middle school and I saw them win a national championship, and I looked at my mom that day and I said, 'I want to do that one day. I want to be in that pool, and have a team like that.' So I guess it was in high school that I told myself that it would be possible, and I think it was my freshman year of high school when I made my first national team and that's when I kind of realized that my goal could be accomplished.
What drew you to come to Ohio State outside of synchronized swimming?
EB: I always say this but I think college is about the experience, and I think Ohio State is an amazing experience and provides all students to be a well-rounded person. So not only are you going to get good grades and be an athlete, but you're going to have a balanced lifestyle and learn how to be involved in the community in a positive way.
What is the best part about being an athlete?
EB: It's so hard because at Ohio State, there's so many benefits. You get food, gear, the best facilities and coaches — but in all, it's the team experience.You don't get the bond you have with your teammates anywhere else, and there is nothing better than just representing the Buckeyes.
What’s been your best synchro moment in your career?
EB: My duet partner, Elizabeth Davidson, and I just won our first duet national title, and Elizabeth and I have had very similar journeys throughout synchro and we're very different swimmers. So to be able to swim together and go through a national championship together, that was a swim of a lifetime and I'll never forget sharing it with her because doing it together made it more special.
Do you or the team have any special superstitions?
EB: I have a lot of superstitions. This is weird and I don't know why I do it, but before I do a routine I always crack my knuckles at least four times. I don't know why, but if I don't do it, I have a bad swim. I also have this bear — it's weird looking, it's strange, but it's called 'Square Bear' — and if it's not in my swim bag during competition I have a bad swim.
What are you studying? What are your plans after you receive your degree?
EB: I study arts management, and I minor in dance. My long-term goal it to own a dance studio, but after worlds (with the United State national team) in July, I'm hoping to move out to Vegas and be in one of the Las Vegas synchronized swimming shows. So hopefully I can do that for a couple years, and perform while I'm young.
What’s been your favorite class at Ohio State and why?
EB: I would say that my favorite class is Dance Film, and I'm taking it right now. It's just super fun and you learn how to create dance movies. It's a fun skill to learn, and I feel like it's more fun than it is learning.
What’s your favorite part about/spot on campus?
EB: I guess I would say the Oval, and I love it because there so much energy there and there's always puppies.
What's your favorite Ohio State or Buckeye tradition?
EB: As a student-athlete, I would say that one of my favorite traditions is every year, the student-athletes get to run the field during a football game. That's just a blast, and is one of my favorite days of the year as a Buckeye.
What's your favorite aspect of Columbus?
EB: The food, hands down; I'm a 'foodie'. I love donuts, ice cream, breakfast, the pancake balls from Katalina's, the donuts from Buckeye Donuts. I'm from Connecticut and the food is decent there, but it's nothing like the food here. My go-to after a bad day of practice is Buckeye Donuts, and, like, the crumb cake donut they have is so good.
What’s something that not a lot of people know about you?
EB: This is somewhat embarrassing, but I'm a huge 'Survivor' fan — like, a 'Survivor' junkie. I know it's on its, like, 50th season or whatever, but I watch every season. There's a tryout for the show every year and I can't do it because I'm doing synchro, but trust me, that's one of my first goals in life when I'm done.
What is something you would tell an incoming student about Ohio State that you'd like them to know?
EB: I would say that throughout college, you're going to go through extreme ups and extreme downs, but just take every situation as a learning experience. My coach always says this quote and it always helps me, but she says, 'It's not about what happens, it's about what happens next,' — and I truly believe that. You're going to make mistakes, but in the end, this is a learning environment so just be the best person you can be every single day.
