Pit Talk highlights a different student each week. Know someone we should profile? E-mail dthpittalk@gmail.com.
Name: Kaitlin Groundwater
Class: 2013
Hometown: Manassas, Va.
Major: Global Studies
Minors: Chemistry and French
Kaitlin Groundwater is no stranger to competitive sports and activities. In high school, she helped her local swimming club, the Sudley Club, continue its 10-year undefeated winning streak, and even competed nationally during her freshman year as a dancer for Eastern Cheer and Dance Association competitions.
While Groundwater still swims in the pools at UNC, it’s for an entirely different reason. She currently plays forward for UNC Underwater Hockey.
“It seemed like a change of pace from swimming laps, which in general is pretty boring,” Groundwater said.
“It seemed enticing. I showed up for the first practice and it was definitely different, nothing like any other sport I played before.”
Groundwater, who is planning to go to medical school after graduation, is now the team’s president. The club currently has 12 to 15 active members, and regularly recruits for their year-round season.
The sport is detailed in this video from is similar to ice hockey, but with a few twists:
In essence, two teams swim at the bottom of a pool, trying to score goals using ruler-size sticks, protections gloves and a weighted-down puck. Players, wearing snorkels and goggles, are divided into forwards, mids and backs.
Groundwater said the sport’s most interesting and unique challenge is figuring out how to breathe during play.
“Sometimes you’re on run for the goal and you’re wondering, ‘Should I go up and breathe or should I go and score a goal?’” she said.
Groundwater says most players on the team had not played the sport before college.
The team also travels to compete against a number of other university-level underwater hockey clubs, including Michigan State University , University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and George Mason University. While UNC Underwater Hockey held its final practice of the year last week, Groundwater said she’ll be looking for new members a Fall Fest and throughout the year.
Groundwater said the sport isn’t for everyone, but that she’s most enjoyed getting to know the other members of the team.
“I think there’s a lot of camaraderie on the team,” she said. “You grow really close to people. It takes a certain kind of personality… so you get very close to the other people.”
Interested in learning more about UNC Underwater Hockey? Check out the club’s website .
Eric Pesale: What’s your favorite Franklin Street restaurant or bar, and why?
Kaitlin Groundwater: That’s tough. I would say probably Buns. Anywhere you can get cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries I’m a fan of.
EP: How would you describe the ideal perfect day?
KG: I love the warm weather, so it would have to be nice and hot out. I would go to Disney Word since it’s the happiest place on Earth. I’d hit all the parks, try as many as I could in one day. For the Magic Kingdom, Pirates of Caribbean definitely, and the Haunted Mansion. For Animal Kingdom, the Dinosaur ride — it’s the best. Then I’d go to Hollywood Studios and ride the Tower of Terror. I’d probably be pretty happy with my day after that.
EP: What’s your biggest fear?
KG: I’m really terrified of spiders. I’ve always been afraid of them and haven’t been afraid of any other bug, but I’m just afraid of them. I’d probably scream and run away and brush it off. I’d be too terrified to step on it. I’d just leave it.
EP: What are your three least-favorite songs or music artists?
KG: Anything by Ke$ha ; it’s not really my style of music at all. I don’t really like Dave Matthews Band or Jack Johnson either. I feel like all of their songs sound similar. I can listen to their songs for a little bit, but after a while I feel like I’m listening to the same kind of song all over again.
EP: What would be your dream vacation?
KG: There’s this one ship that circles the globe and you can stop at various ports around the world, so I’d probably do that. That way I get to see everything.
Want to check out underwater hockey? Below is a video of the USA Women’s underwater hockey team.
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