Name: Jon Hayden
Sport: Swimming and diving
Position: Distance freestyle
Hometown: Woodbridge, Va.
High School: Osbourn Park High School
School/Year: COL `06
Major: Government/Philosophy
HS Highlights: 2002: broke 100-yard freestyle record at high school . finished 12th in 500-yard freestyle and 16th in 200-yard freestyle at Virginia High School Championships . won 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay. . 2001: finished eighth in 1650-yard freestyle at Eastern Zones Championships . competed in Virginia High School Championships. . 2000: competed in Virginia High School Championships.
Georgetown Highlights: 2005: broke 1000-yard freestyle record, NEC . triple-event winner, NEC. 2003: broke 1650-yard freestyle record.
When did you first start swimming? I joined a neighborhood team when I was nine years old. I did not start swimming fulltime until I was a junior in high school. My sister [Jackie Cabrales] started the year before me, so I was sort of stuck there anyways, so I decided I might as well get in. Friends on the teams are what kept me going.
When did you know that you wanted to swim competitively in college? By the start of the summer between junior and senior year, I got to the point where I knew I could swim in college. I sent out letters to three or four schools. In the end it was either here or Davidson. On the two trips, I just felt more at home here.
What do you consider to be your best stroke? Distance freestyle. It’s pretty much the only event I swim anymore, and it has always been the one I have been best at. I swam backstroke when I was little. I wish I could still do that.
What was the best moment in your career so far? Breaking the 1,000-yard record a few weeks ago [at 9:50.77]. It was during the middle of the meet, and we had another meet the next weekend, so I didn’t really do much to celebrate.
Who on the team do you rely on the most? Over the past two years, Cori Raffaelli (COL ’05) is who I have swam with the most. I practice with her and Katie Amaro (COL ’06).
If you could change one thing about swimming what would it be? Have people pay more attention to distance events at the meet. They last long enough that people sit down and stop cheering. Everyone thinks it is boring to watch.
What do you do to get psyched for meet? What I do and what I should do are two different things. I try to relax and treat it like a normal practice. If I over-think, I end up doing pretty bad. The captains usually lead the cheers. They get us ready for the meets. Before my event people pat me on my back, and I get ready to go.
Do you have any superstitions? I think the only weird thing I do is have my goggles on under my cap. I didn’t know it was that abnormal until people asked me about it.
Do you have any regrets about swimming? No. Loved every minute of it. I like to stay in shape. I love competition. I spend all my time with these people. They are all my roommates, so I am stuck with them whether I swim or not.
If you could be great at any other sport or event besides swimming, what would it be? Why? Football was the last sport I played before swimming, so I would get back to that. I quit after my sophomore year in high school when my coach [Bill Shaw] told me I could swim fulltime if I quit football. I figured I’d be better at swimming.
Who in your life inspires you the most? Probably my dad [Jack Hayden]. He is the one that has been behind me through all of this. It was mostly me and him at all the trips to swim meets.
What do you consider to be your biggest fear? issing something, like getting better at swimming. Missing something I could have done.
What is your dream job? To be a politician. Hopefully, I can go to law school right form here and from law school into politics. I haven’t gotten that far when it comes to a platform. The only thing I have read about in the past week has been social security and the case about that woman in Florida.
Favorite movie? Red Dawn. It was made back in the ’80s and it’s about the U.S. being invaded by the Soviet Union and Cuba. Every other person that has seen that movie hates it. I tried to make my roommate [Heath Walden (COL ’06)] watch it freshmen year, and he walked out part way through it. Everyone makes fun of me for liking that movie.
Freshman Dorm? Harbin 803. There was multiple fights freshmen year between me and Heath. Most everyone was used to us screaming at each other. By February, we were counting the days until we moved out. Now we live in the same house and get along fine. With the exception of my girlfriend, I spend most of my time around him. We grew into each other.
Any advice for anyone who wants to join swimming and diving? Work hard. Show up to practice. That’s it.
Where do you see yourself in ten years? I was trying to count that at first [laughs]. Somewhere on Capitol Hill, probably working for a Congressman or something.
Booey’s or Wisey’s? Booey’s. I don’t even know the name of the sandwich I get at Booey’s. It has something to do with turkey and cheese. That is all I remember.
– Interview by Pasha Chandra