You'll always find her in the pool

Like most top swimmers, Haddon Township's Holly Gallagher seeks a balance between her high-powered club team and her high school team.

Gallagher, a senior who excels in the butterfly as well as the freestyle, competes for the Jersey Wahoos Swim Club as well as Haddon Township's coed swimming team.

Gallagher, who has committed to attend the University of Connecticut on a swimming scholarship, recently won two individual events at the South Jersey Interscholastic Swimming Association Coaches Invitational. She won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 14.31 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 58.96 seconds - nearly four seconds ahead of the field.

Question: How do you balance your commitment to the Jersey Wahoos with your involvement with the Haddon Township team?

Answer: I'm always practicing with my club team, but I love being a part of the school team. It's more laid-back. It's so much fun.

Q: Is it tough to spend so much time practicing with the Wahoos?

A: You have to love it. I practice every day after school and then every Saturday morning. But it's worth it.

Q: Why UConn?

A: The team was great. The coaches were great. I loved the campus. When I went up there, I felt like I fit right in.

Q: Do you know what you'd like to study?

A: Business and finance.

Q: What's your favorite subject in school?

A: Math. Something about it just clicks.

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: Ice cream.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to?

A: Everything. Whatever is on Q-102, I'm listening to it.

Q: Who has been the biggest influence in your swimming career?

A: Definitely my parents [Amy and Joe]. They've always encouraged me, always done everything to help me out.

Q: Do you have specific goals for the coming state individual tournament?

A: I want to do well and swim as well as I can, but I'll just take it as it goes.