Reflecting on the Past Year with Delaney Carlton, Women's Swimming and Diving Student-Athlete

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Our Turn to Play is coming up tomorrow! This is a sold out annual event highlighting the female student-athlete scholarship fund. Join us in making an impact through tax-deductible donations using this link.

Delaney Carlton just completed her senior season on the swimming and diving team here at UNC Asheville. She is from Lilburn, Georgia. This past season, Carlton became the program's first-ever NCAA qualifier, while also being named the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association's (CCSA) Swimmer of the Year and holding the school records in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle. For her career, she has been named CCSA Swimmer of the Week five times, and also been an Academic All-District selection by College Sports Communicators. In 2022, she was named the 2022 CCSA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team.

Looking back on your time here at UNC Asheville, what memories stand out to you?

The memories that stand out to me are of the team working so hard that we improved every year. I remember the first time I saw one of our swimmers be the conference champion, Caitlin Hefner (a freshman!) in last year's 1650 freestyle. That was super encouraging for us as a team. I also remember getting second in the 200-free relay with my teammates last year, the highest relay finish in school history. I also, of course, remember the huge winning streak this team has, as we haven't lost a dual meet in two seasons. Every time this team does something amazing, we are hungry for more, and those are some of the great memories that show how driven we are.

You've had an incredible year in competition, what is something that has kept you motivated?

I've definitely been motivated by my teammates and coaches; when we're in the thick of it in January (right before we taper for conference championships in February) is when quality swimming is the hardest because everyone is just so tired. Having a great group of women who are all pushing themselves all the way through the end of the season makes it a lot more doable - and much more fun. Our coaches also remind us that we are getting stronger and better every day and that all the hard work we do will pay off in the end; those reminders are always helpful in motivating us as a team. I also think that I personally have faced a lot of failure in the past four years which has been the most motivating. Every time I fail or don't achieve a goal I learn so much; I feel like I was finally ready to go out with a bang this year.

Your appearance at the NCAA Division I National Championship is a first for our Swim and Dive program. Can you tell me about the training process and how you were feeling leading up to the meet?

We do a lot of really specific work in practice, whether that's weights, swim or dryland work. Coach Ian always has us doing different drills and using different equipment in sprint practices which is great because we really get a feel for each component of our stroke. Swimming, especially sprinting, is very technical, so working towards "perfect" technique swimming is a big part of what makes our sprinters so strong. In practice, we focus a lot on visualizing the perfect race and practicing the perfect race, which makes it virtually impossible to doubt your training and all the work we put in. That confidence was key leading up to CCSAs and NCAAs and the physical and mental work we did really paid off.

Who has influenced you to push yourself everyday to get to where you are now?

My hardworking teammates and the people I swim in a lane with every day. We cheer each other on through hard sets, support each other and laugh with each other. It's really inspiring.

What is a way you've been able to give back to the community?

This year Coach Ian organized an opportunity for us to give swim lessons three times a week in the fall and spring to underserved kids in the Asheville community. This was a really special and rewarding experience for both us swimmers and the kids we worked with. It was great for us to get more involved with the community and work with kids who normally wouldn't get to spend very much time learning how to swim, and I think it was a great learning experience for the kids. Swimming is a lifesaving skill and is unfortunately something that these kids might not have much experience with before these lessons. I truly believe we really changed some kids' lives through these lessons, and I have really enjoyed this fulfilling volunteer opportunity.

Outside of swimming, you've worked towards a degree in Physics. Can you tell me more about that and what interests you for the future?

For the past 12 months I've been fortunate to be working with Dr. Britt Lundgren here at UNCA doing observational astronomy research while getting my undergraduate degree in Physics. Next year I'll be pursuing my PhD in Astronomy and will be doing research with Dr. Misty Bentz at Georgia State on supermassive black holes. After I get my PhD, I would really like to start my career as a professor similar to what Dr. Lundgren does: working with undergraduates on research and teaching Physics/Astronomy classes. I am also really interested in outreach and making science more accessible to kids, especially those who might not think science careers are a possibility for them.

What is something you're looking forward to in the near future?

I had an amazing experience at the Our Turn to Play event last year, both in meeting some of the people who help female athletes achieve their dreams through scholarships to UNCA and hearing about the experiences of strong powerful female leaders in today's world. I am definitely looking forward to this year's event, as it is always an inspiring experience.

Any advice for future Bulldog Swimmers?

Get ready to work hard with some of the best people you will ever meet. UNCA is a really special place, and pursuing the opportunities here can open hundreds of opportunities for your future.