Life in Lane 4

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Colton Wade, a senior at Drexel University, to talk about his college experience and what's next for him as a Dragon. Colton reflects on his four years at Drexel, sharing the habits and strategies that helped him balance swimming, academics, and everything else that comes with being a college student-athlete.

We also get into what he thinks he could have done better, the lessons he's learned along the way, and what advice he would give to younger swimmers preparing for college.

Huge thank you to Pablo De Pacas for the intro, outro, and buffer music

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Henry Nelson, a freshman at the Catholic University of America, to talk about what it takes to succeed academically while adjusting to college life. Henry shares how he handled the transition from high school to college, including adapting to a new practice schedule and the increased independence that comes with being a college student-athlete.

We also get into how he approaches schoolwork, when he finds himself most productive, and how he decides where to spend his free time. Henry explains how he's learning to balance his responsibilities while still making time to enjoy college.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Bradley Woolpert, a senior at Salesianum School in Delaware who is committed to La Salle University. We talk about his recruiting process, what he learned along the way, and what ultimately helped him find the right fit.

Bradley also shares his experience attending a private school and the benefits he believes it has given him both academically and personally. We get into what it takes to keep your grades high while balancing a demanding swimming schedule, and the habits and priorities he believes make the biggest difference.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Tyler Mac, a sophomore at Stevens Institute of Technology who first started competitive swimming in college. We talk about what pushed him to start swimming at the college level and how he adjusted to adding a demanding sport to an already busy schedule.

Tyler is also the founder of Lane Zerø, a brand he built while balancing swimming and academics. He shares how he got the idea, what it took to actually turn it into a business, and how he manages everything without letting one part of his life take over the others. We also talk about why having a time-consuming extracurricular doesn’t have to hold you back academically, and how anyone can succeed when they learn to manage their time and commit to what matters.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Grant Fleming, who will be heading to the University of Virginia next year. We talk about what recovery after practice should actually look like and the habits that help him stay ready for the next day.

We also get into some of Grant’s hot takes and predictions for the next few years of swimming. Outside the pool, we talk about time management and why simply starting something can be one of the best ways to stop procrastinating and get more done.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Christian Shenk, who will be heading to Army West Point next year. We talk about lifting for swimming, how strength training can translate to performance in the pool, and some of Christian’s hot takes and predictions for the 2028 Olympics.

We also get into productivity and why sometimes the hardest part of getting something done is simply starting. Christian shares how taking that first step, even when you don’t feel ready or motivated, can build momentum and completely change how much you accomplish.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Henry Anstine, a University of Michigan commit heading into his senior year of high school. We get into some of Henry’s swimming hot takes and the unconventional training methods that have helped him become the swimmer he is today.

We also talk about how he balances high-level swimming with academics and some of the less obvious things that help him stay focused. Apparently, the secret to getting A’s might just be Minecraft music. This episode is a mix of serious advice, different approaches to training, and a few opinions that might get swimmers and coaches talking.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Domingo Gatti, an incoming freshman at Tufts University, to talk about his journey through club swimming and what it was like competing on a YMCA team. He shares how that experience shaped him as an athlete and how it differs from other competitive swimming environments.

We also dive into the academic side of being a student-athlete, discussing the routines and strategies Domingo uses to stay organized, learn efficiently, and keep up with a demanding schedule. Finally, he explains why Tufts stood out during his college search and what ultimately made it the right fit for him.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Oskar Bauriedel, an incoming freshman at Amherst College, to talk about how he's preparing for the transition to college swimming. Oskar shares the habits and routines he's built to set himself up for success from day one, and why he believes preparation starts long before you arrive on campus.

We also talk about his experience switching swim teams, how he adjusted to a new environment, and what helped him continue improving through the change. Finally, Oskar explains how he approaches meets when he hasn't been able to practice as much as he'd like, and the mindset that allows him to race with confidence regardless of the circumstances.

In this episode of Life in Lane 4, I sit down with Eren Aydin, an incoming freshman at Bucknell University, to talk about the unique path he took before starting college. Eren shares why he decided to take a gap year, how he made the most of that time, and what he learned from stepping off the traditional timeline.

We also discuss how he managed an incredibly demanding schedule while balancing swimming, academics, and other commitments, along with the study habits and focus strategies that helped him stay productive.