The Fordham Ram: What made you come to Fordham from your hometown of Itasca, Ill.?
Field swam at Lake Park High School and was an IHSA sectionl champion. (Photo Courtesy of Fordham Athletics)
Kara Field: Well, even though I’m from the Midwest, I was never really into the Big 10 schools. I was always into the East Coast, probably because over the summers I used to grow up swimming out here. Naturally, I was attracted to the Ivy League schools and to Fordham. After numerous visits here, I fell in love with it and the team.
TFR: You have received All-Atlantic 10 honors twice and placed in many events during your Fordham career. How have you been able to consistently succeed in the pool and in the classroom?
KF: When I grew up, my parents were never really pushing me to swim, so I was always doing it for myself. I think it basically was the same mentality going into college where you have to keep up with academics and [swimming] and just find that time and balance. It’s easy to get sidetracked with so much stuff going on around Fordham, but just stay dedicated and you’ll be fine.
TFR: Do you credit your success to anyone specific or to any group of people?
KF: Truly, my club coach at home, Bob Strube, was always my mentor. He pushed me to do everything inside and outside the pool. He really pushed me to my potential. Then Steve, Amy and Ed really pushed me to do that much more here at Fordham and to just stay on top of everything.
TFR: As one of the team’s four captains this year, how has your role changed, especially with a very young women’s team?
KF: I remember coming in my freshman year and it was only me and two other girls that were freshmen. Everyone else was an upperclassman, so it was a different role when I first came in. My co-captains really took me under their wing, and basically this year with such a young team, you really have to make sure that everybody is on the same page. It’s different for the freshmen compared to high school. You really want to make sure that the mistakes you made your freshman year and sophomore year [they do not make]. You teach them to try and avoid those paths.
TFR: Do you have any hopes individually or for the team during the second half of the season?
KF: Definitely ending senior year with a bang. We just swam against Richmond and La Salle last weekend, which was huge. Richmond (we only lost to them by five points) was insane for us. It really gave us a realistic view that we could be top contenders for the A-10 title. And I think it finally clicked in everybody’s mind that we have a very good team this year. We can do big things.
TFR: What is your favorite stroke to swim?
KF: I’m a distance swimmer, but I definitely like the 200 free. I can’t sprint for my life, but it’s that perfect happy medium between distance and sprint.
TFR: Over your four years, what has been your favorite moment from Fordham or from Fordham swimming?
KF: I have two favorites. I can’t pick one. During my freshman year we went to Barbados for a training trip, and that entire trip was probably one of the highlights of my entire life. It sounds cheesy and everything else, but it was just the team, the atmosphere and Barbados itself. That (trip) was a lot of fun. And, during my sophomore year I was part of the 800 free relay that won at A-10’s. It was insane the entire time. I probably cried after we won it. That was life-changing.
TFR: Do you have any plans for after graduation?
KF: I want to go into broadcasting or reporting sports. I did internships over the summer and now in the spring, so hopefully I can get a job out here with a news network. We’ll see.
