Sept. 24, 2012

Sept. 21, 2012

BERKELEY - During the off-season the Golden Bears added six new faces to the field hockey squad. CalBears.com asked each a few questions to get to know each player a little bit better. Each Q and A will be published over the next two weeks. For previous interviews, click the links below.

Kristen Lee

Lexi Collins

Joelle van Hoorn

Next up is Michaela Swensen, a 5-9 midfielder from Morgan Hill, California.

CalBears.com: What has surprised you most about college?

Michaela Swensen: How many people can fit in one classroom! It's so different from high school! But also how much people really value their education here and how self motivated everyone is. It's really inspiring.

CalBears.com: Do you have any nicknames?

MS: Every person I meet comes up with a new nickname for me. When I was little I would climb up and on top of anything and everything, my parents started calling me monkey; and to this day you can hear them on the sidelines of every game yelling "Go Monk". But so far on the team I'm known mostly as either Mickey (Mekki for the foreigners) or Lucky.

CalBears.com: What made you come to Cal?

MS: I came to a field hockey camp here summer before my Senior year and fell in love with the campus, met Shellie, came on my official, met the girls, and loved the team. When Shellie said she was willing to take a chance on me I couldn't say no. Plus, Cal is great academically, which was just icing on top of an already delicious cake.

CalBears.com: Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?

MS: I haven't really gotten to explore to many places so as of now probably Crossroads; they always have a ton of options and it's all you can eat! Who wouldn't like that?

CalBears.com: What's the best part about being apart of the Cal field hockey team?

MS: There's so many things! It's awesome coming into a new environment and already having your own little family that you can count on to start the journey of college with. I love all the girls and there's never a dull moment on or off the field! It's also awesome being able to travel around and represent Cal on another level then just school work.

CalBears.com: Where would you most like to travel?

MS: Everywhere! I would start with Australia and then stop everywhere along the way back to California.

CalBears.com: Do you have any superstitions?

MS: I wouldn't say it's a superstition but every game day I wear an awesome pair of dinosaur socks underneath my shinguards. I like to believe they are good luck!

CalBears.com: Who is your biggest hero?

MS: This is never an easy question and the answer changes every time I'm asked it. I'd have to say my brother. He has never been afraid to be an individual and do the things that make him happy no matter what others think. He can be a brat but he works really hard at everything he does. And although he's younger I'll always be inspired by him.

CalBears.com: What 3 words best describe you?

MS: This is such an awkward question to answer about yourself, but if I had to choose, I'd say tall, trustworthy/reliable, and way too outgoing.

CalBears.com: What is one thing you can't live without?

MS: MUSIC. I listen to music for everything, at all hours of the day; walking to class, doing homework, relaxing, showering, getting pumped before a game. I don't know what i'd do without it.