This week's Q&A features junior swimmer, Tyler Fowler about life in and out of the pool at Arizona. 

Q: What made you start swimming?

A: My family is a golf family, so we belonged at a country club that had a summer swim team. When I was six, I was going to move up to a group in the summer team that had a mean coach. To avoid her wrath, I went to a new team for the summer that was a year round swim team, and I loved the friends I made there and the constant competitive environment I was in.

Q: What is your favorite memory from swimming?

A: When I was a sophomore in high school, I had a medical issue. After being out of the water for about three months, I was finally allowed to go to the pool again. When I got there, my whole team came and supported me. Then when I got in, it felt so amazing to cut through the water again. I wasn't fast, but I felt like I was on top of the world.

Q: Best part of swimming at Arizona?

A: The best part of swimming at Arizona is definitely the environment that we've made for ourselves at practice. Between the constant heckling from the coaches and the jokes from all the swimmers, we make a fun and highly competitive environment that is both enjoyable and leads to fast swimming.

Q: Is there something you have to do before every meet?

A: Before every meet I like to drink a coffee and visualize.

Q: What is your favorite event to swim in?

A: My favorite event is the mile. It combines strategy and will power in 15 minutes of fun.

Q: How has it been adjusting to Tucson from Liberty, Mo?

A: The hardest part of adjusting was leaving friends and family. However, I still get to text them all the time so other than that it has been pretty easy. The people here have made it really easy.

Q: What is one thing you wish to accomplish this season?

A: I hope to get an All-American in the mile and top-16 at Pac-12s in the 500 free.

Q: How do you balance academics with swimming?

A: Time management is the only way to balance. I try to get my homework done early so I can get to sleep early.

Q: What is your favorite class?

A: My favorite class this semester is Advanced Statistical Methods for Engineers. It's a computer programming statistics class that has an awesome teacher and is really interesting.

Q: Who is your biggest influence/inspiration?

A: My dad has always been a huge part of my swimming career. His influence is definitely seen in my swimming mindset through how I conduct myself and the standards I set.

Q: What is one interesting fact about yourself?

A: I am amazing at super smash bros. melee on GameCube.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: My free time mostly consists of video games, Netflix, and sleeping.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?

A: In five years I hope to be in med school.

Q: What was your favorite childhood TV show?

A: SpongeBob SquarePants

Q: If you could meet any singer/band, who would it be?

A: I would want to meet Jimmy Page. He is an amazing guitarist and I would be very interested in the process he uses to come about making the music he does.

Q: If you could be any animal, what would you be?

A: If I could be any animal, I would want to be an albatross. They live along the ocean and make their homes on remote islands. Then they hunt by diving into the ocean and swimming down fish – sounds like fun to me.

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: My favorite animal is an otter. They're smart, funny and aquatic.

Q: Where would your dream vacation be?

A: Probably Hawaii, but I'll settle for anywhere with a nice beach.

Q: Do you have an all-time favorite movie?

A: Miracle is probably the greatest movie ever made.

Q: What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

A: My favorite type of ice cream is mint chocolate chip.

For continued coverage of Arizona Wildcat swimming and diving, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter @ArizonaSwimming.