Diving in with Jorge Iga and Ayumi Macias
11/17/2019 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving, Swimming & Diving
Tucson, Ariz. - The Arizona Swimming and Diving team is coming off a big home meet win over the USC men while the UT Diving Invitational is coming up this week.
Swimmers Jorge Iga and Ayumi Macias are both off to fantastic years, as they look to close out their collegiate career.
Iga, from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is majoring in Civil Engineering. Macias, from Aguascalientes, Mexico, is majoring in Business. They both sat down with ArizonaWildcats.com to talk about their experience at Arizona so far.
What is fun and special about swim and dive?
Iga: My teammates are the most special thing about Arizona Swimming and diving. Getting to know each of the totally different personalities, and learning from them is something amazing. The spirit of racing and challenging yourself everyday is something very special, it can get tough, but doing it with your teammates and for your teammates, that are always challenging you makes it easier and fun.
Macias: Something really special is how swimming and diving has brought us together. This team is so fun to be around, and I love that no matter how hard it gets, we are always going to have each other and have fun.
Proudest moment as a Wildcat?
Iga: I really cannot pick one as much as I want to pick one as the proudest, but over this past couple years that I have been on the team, being selected by my coaches to participate in relays and being part of the crew that keeps climbing up spots in NCAA really makes me proud. Something that also makes me proud is that I know that my teammates can trust me on anything they need. I feel that being a proud wildcat is not only about your results in athletics, but also the impact and legacy that you leave for future generations. That is what we are all about, that is what the current senior class have tried to do, get the trust of our teammates, being brothers and lead by example. That is what makes me very proud.
Macias: I am always proud of being a Wildcat, but I think the home meet against ASU last year was incredible. I was so proud of the energy that everybody brought to the pool deck. I am just proud and so thankful for the opportunity to swim at Arizona with our amazing coaching staff.
Hobby outside of swimming?
Iga: I really enjoy playing with radio controlled cars. I have about 4 RC cars in Tucson, and some of them can speed up to 35 mph. Also, I have always liked business, so I spend a lot of time in Facebook shop flipping stuff, buying and selling.
Macias: Outside of swimming I enjoy watching movies, listening to music, and eating food.
What advice do you have for the underclassmen?
Iga: ENJOY AND TRUST. Enjoy every day of college and enjoy every moment of athletics. Trust your coaches and yourself, everything will be good if you work hard for it. Success will come at you at the right moment, you just have to be patient.
Macias: Time flies and there is no time to waste. The life of a student-athlete is not easy. You are going to have good and bad experiences, but those are going to shape you into the person you want to be. Be thankful for the opportunities, friendships, and for the memories that you are going to make. This opportunity only happens once in a lifetime, and you are one of the lucky ones that can experience it.
What are you looking forward most to this season?
Iga: I am looking forward watching my teammates improve and accomplish their goals because that makes us all better. Personally I am looking forward qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and to have a breakout performance at NCAA. I really want to leave this program in the top 10 in the nation. I know that this team can accomplish that.
Macias: I am super excited to represent the A one last season with the people I love. This team is so talented and special, and I cannot wait to see everyone swim fast while having fun in all our meets. BEAR DOWN.
Swimmers Jorge Iga and Ayumi Macias are both off to fantastic years, as they look to close out their collegiate career.
Iga, from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is majoring in Civil Engineering. Macias, from Aguascalientes, Mexico, is majoring in Business. They both sat down with ArizonaWildcats.com to talk about their experience at Arizona so far.
What is fun and special about swim and dive?
Iga: My teammates are the most special thing about Arizona Swimming and diving. Getting to know each of the totally different personalities, and learning from them is something amazing. The spirit of racing and challenging yourself everyday is something very special, it can get tough, but doing it with your teammates and for your teammates, that are always challenging you makes it easier and fun.
Macias: Something really special is how swimming and diving has brought us together. This team is so fun to be around, and I love that no matter how hard it gets, we are always going to have each other and have fun.
Proudest moment as a Wildcat?
Iga: I really cannot pick one as much as I want to pick one as the proudest, but over this past couple years that I have been on the team, being selected by my coaches to participate in relays and being part of the crew that keeps climbing up spots in NCAA really makes me proud. Something that also makes me proud is that I know that my teammates can trust me on anything they need. I feel that being a proud wildcat is not only about your results in athletics, but also the impact and legacy that you leave for future generations. That is what we are all about, that is what the current senior class have tried to do, get the trust of our teammates, being brothers and lead by example. That is what makes me very proud.
Macias: I am always proud of being a Wildcat, but I think the home meet against ASU last year was incredible. I was so proud of the energy that everybody brought to the pool deck. I am just proud and so thankful for the opportunity to swim at Arizona with our amazing coaching staff.
Hobby outside of swimming?
Iga: I really enjoy playing with radio controlled cars. I have about 4 RC cars in Tucson, and some of them can speed up to 35 mph. Also, I have always liked business, so I spend a lot of time in Facebook shop flipping stuff, buying and selling.
Macias: Outside of swimming I enjoy watching movies, listening to music, and eating food.
What advice do you have for the underclassmen?
Iga: ENJOY AND TRUST. Enjoy every day of college and enjoy every moment of athletics. Trust your coaches and yourself, everything will be good if you work hard for it. Success will come at you at the right moment, you just have to be patient.
Macias: Time flies and there is no time to waste. The life of a student-athlete is not easy. You are going to have good and bad experiences, but those are going to shape you into the person you want to be. Be thankful for the opportunities, friendships, and for the memories that you are going to make. This opportunity only happens once in a lifetime, and you are one of the lucky ones that can experience it.
What are you looking forward most to this season?
Iga: I am looking forward watching my teammates improve and accomplish their goals because that makes us all better. Personally I am looking forward qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and to have a breakout performance at NCAA. I really want to leave this program in the top 10 in the nation. I know that this team can accomplish that.
Macias: I am super excited to represent the A one last season with the people I love. This team is so talented and special, and I cannot wait to see everyone swim fast while having fun in all our meets. BEAR DOWN.
Players Mentioned
FREE
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
FREE/IM
/ Women's Swimming and DivingMonday, April 22
Wednesday, February 08
Wednesday, October 14
Monday, October 05
