Three sports, one artistic side for Apple Valley swimmer

Apple Valley senior Morgan Fleming will be the first to tell you "there's never an offseason for a three-sport athlete."

Fleming, who competes this fall as a member of the Eagles' girls' swimming team, also plays hockey and lacrosse. The former cheerleader is a goalie for the hockey squad and plays defense on the lacrosse team.

"When I'm not playing sports, I focus more on my artistic side," Fleming said. "Although I don't plan on going into a career with art, I feel it's a good skill to have and I enjoy it."

Here is a closer look at Fleming:

Q: Three words my friends or teammates might use to describe me?

A: 1) Outgoing. Wherever I go, I'm usually the loudest in the room right away. Sometimes this is a good thing. Other times, not particularly … but I'm always able to get everyone's attention. 2) Athletic. Although there's more to me than my sports, much of my life is consumed by physical activities. Plenty of people think that's all I do. 3) Feisty. Although I'm friendly, I definitely have a competitive side.

Q: At my first varsity practice, I felt …

Q: To get focused for a meet or game, I …

A: ... breathe. I always watch my breathing. Sometimes sports are about endurance, like swimming. Sometimes they're about finesse, like diving. Visualizing what I have to do helps to prepare me for whatever I'm about to do. I can correct mistakes I haven't made yet.

Q: What are your goals for the 2014-2015 school year as an athlete?

A: I hope to place in the top 10 in my section for diving and possibly go to state. I hope to make section finals with my relay team in swimming, too. In lacrosse, I hope to follow in the footsteps of last year's team and return to the state tournament.

Q: Who is your school's biggest rival, and why?

Q: How do you balance school and sports during the year?

A: It's a challenge. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I definitely don't go to as many football games as other people my age, and I miss out on the occasional concert from time to time. In the end, though, the memories you make on good sports teams with your teammates and coaches equal or exceed the experiences you may have gained from other social events. Study halls are also life savers.

Q: Name one sport that you wish you could play, and why?

A: I wish I could sky dive. Some people count that as a sport. I've always wanted to try it. I hear the adrenaline rush is crazy.

Q: Do you have a secret talent — and if so, what is it?

Q: What is the best sports advice you ever received?

A: I could write so many things for this question. But one statement that covers everything coaches have told be about sports is a phrase one of our coaches yells when we're running drills with our bodies but not with our hearts. He says "With a purpose!" For me, this statement rings true to all walks of life. If your heart isn't in something, why stay? Have a purpose for your actions. Put your heart in what you do, in all you do. That is what makes this statement truly profound.