An athlete’s expectations are placed on you by coaches, teammates, fans, yourself and your family, but for Hailey Foss, those expectations are raised when they come from a former national swimming champion in three different events.

Foss is no stranger to success, having earned several accolades throughout her high school career; which included being named team MVP all four years on her varsity swim team and was also a four-time-all-conference honoree.

Foss said she began to swim at an early age.

“I started swimming when I was seven and all because they sent out a flyer at school about the local swim team in my area, the Beloit Aquatic club,” Foss said.

But since she began to swim, there has been one person who has influenced her the most, her mother.

“I later found out my mom was a swimmer all her life, and a good one at that,” Foss said. “Once I found out my mom was a swimmer it made me love the sport more. I have always looked up to my mom a lot and this is just one more thing I have in common with her.”

Tracey Foss, Hailey’s mother, was preparing to compete at the Olympic Trials when she found out she was pregnant with Hailey.

Foss said she owes everything to her mom.

“I am very thankful she gave up so much to have me,” Foss said.

Foss said the expectations placed on her by her mom are immense, but that she welcomes the pressure.

“I think she has high expectations for me. but it’s just because she knows what I am capable of and believes in me as a swimmer,” Foss said. “Sometimes I feel the pressure, but what athlete doesn’t have pressure to do well?”

Foss said that although her mother was a great swimmer, who was ranked the No.1 swimmer in Wisconsin and won nationals in three events as a member of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay swim team, she does not feel she lives under her mom’s shadow.

The senior said she separates her career from her mom’s, as her mom swam in different events and only swam for one year in college, but takes her advice at every point in her life.

Foss’ mother has always been by her side, through the good and the bad.

Foss looked to her mother after a disappointing finish to her junior year when she said she had a bad performance during the team’s conference meet.

“Not swimming well at the end of the year is rough when all you can think about is all the hard work you have put in,” Foss said.

This was much more disappointing to Foss after having a breakout season in her sophomore year that had her recording the second best time in the 500-Free in Eastern history.

“I just missed the record by hundredths of a second but it was a great time for me,” Foss said.

Now a senior, Foss has one major concern and it has nothing to do with swimming.

Foss is majoring in hospitality management and said she feels ready for the real world, except for one thing.

“What are my plans after I graduate? I hope I can find a job,” Foss said. “I hope to find a job in event planning but there is always the fear of not finding a job and especially one you will like.”

Foss recently finished an internship with the Midwest League of Professional Baseball Clubs Inc. where she felt the experience was great and said it has helped her prepare for her future career.

Being on a tem while attending school full-time has brought some challenges for Foss, but she said although she goes through a grueling practice schedule every week during the season the biggest obstacle has been organizing her time.

“Balancing school and swimming is very hard. Our season is one of the longest on campus and doubles everyday really start to add up,” Foss said. “I just have to make sure to stay healthy and on top of (my) school work.”

As a senior, Foss has become a mentor for some of the freshmen swimmers, especially fellow distance swimmer Beth Houghton.

“Being older and more experienced, I try to teach her as much as I can because I know that I wished I had that kind of guidance my freshman year,” Foss said.

As far as the team as a whole, Foss said the team is adjusting well, and just as high expectations are placed on her, she expects great things from the whole team as well.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or  asoto2@eiu.edu.