Quick Q&A: Sam Zenner, Eagan swimming

Zenner just finished his prep swimming career with his fourth consecutive appearance in the Class 2A state meet. A closer look at Zenner, who was also a quarterback on the football team in the fall and will run track this spring:

Q The best movie you've seen in the last year?

A "The Hobbit."

Q Three songs you never skip on your iPod are …

A ... "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell; "Sunshine & Whiskey" by Frankie Ballard, and "Closing Time" by Semisonic.

Q Three words or phrases friends or teammates would use to describe you are …

A … friendly, passionate and caring.

A My gym teacher Mrs. [Joyce] Komorouski … saw me in the hall one day and told me I should go out for swimming. I agreed and have been swimming ever since.

Q At my first varsity practice you felt …

A ... like I was going to pass out. It was the hardest thing I had done up to that point in my life.

Q To get focused for a meet, you …

A ... take a nap and chill out. Listen to classical music.

A Performing in the Class 2A swimming state meet last year. [Zenner took sixth place in the 50-yard freestyle and was a member of the Wildcats' 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams which finished fifth and 10th, respectively.]

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

A I plan out my nights during the day. Also, staying away from my phone and iPad helps my get my stuff done in half the time.

Q Name one sport you wish you could participate in that you don't?

A Hockey. I never played it as a kid. I recently started playing and I love it.

A The best coach I've ever had once told me, "You're worth it."