Army West Point Athletics
Getting to Know: Danielle Nuszkowski
July 24, 2015 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Each weekday throughout the summer a new cadet-athlete will be featured in Getting to Know, a Q&A series where Army West Point fans can read about their favorite players.
NAME: Â Danielle Alexis Nuszkowski
HOMETOWN: Miami, Florida
MAJOR:Â Sociology and Portuguese
DESCRIBE YOUR HEAD COACH: You can tell he has a strong passion for swimming and that the team is just an extension of his family. Overall, he is a very enthusiastic person.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY:Â Jesus. He faced so many hardships yet still had such a peaceful and trusting spirit. Even after knowing how corrupt someone was, he still showed love and compassion. He is my role model because he taught me that to lead you need to be a servant. He taught me to remain humble, slow to speak, quick to listen, quick to learn. He taught me to dwell only on good thoughts and to have hope regardless of the circumstances.
GREATEST ATHLETE ON EARTH TODAY IS: Honestly, every athlete that has fallen and gotten back up again. Anyone who has gritted their teeth and pushed past the pain, past the failure, past the doubt and tried again. There are so many incredible athletes for their respective sport, it's hard to choose just one.
FAVORITE ARMY WEST POINT TEAM OTHER THAN YOUR OWN:Â Tough question, there are so many good teams. I'll go with Army Men's Soccer.
FAVORITE VENUE TO PLAY IN:Â Outside of college swimming my favorite place to swim is in open water. My favorite pool's would have to be the Olympic Park Pool in Montreal or Navy's pool because of the atmosphere.
OPPONENT MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING: Â Navy and Boston, both very strong competitors that bring out the best racing from our team.
WHAT TEAM NOT ON YOUR SCHEDULE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY AND WHY: I would like to go against the Air Force Academy. Other sports teams here compete against both Navy and Air Force so it would be nice to go up against them as well. Just some friendly academy competition.
HOW ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR SUMMER: This summer I have Cadet Leadership Development Training for about 3-weeks. Then I have and AIAD to Brazil for 3-weeks and I finish my summer as a squad leader during the second detail of Beast Barracks.
ON MY TEAM, I AM THE BEST…   Mhmm tough question, I'm pretty good at getting side-tracked, I also like to think that I am the best at puns but I may be biased judge.
FAVORITE MEAL: Rice, black beans, sweet plantains, chicken and bread  because that meal is tied to so many fond memories.
IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU GO:Â Haiti, I love how people with so little can find so much joy.
FAVORITE WARMUP SONG: Oceans by Hillsong
BIGGEST NIGHTMARE: Not living life to the fullest, dying with regrets.
FAVORITE PART OF WEST POINT:Â There are so many amazing things about West Point. I love the people and the relationships I have built here. I also really just like the atmosphere of West Point. There are so many naturally beautiful spots to sit and enjoy life and there are a ton of incredible people to enjoy it with.
DESCRIBE ARMY WEST POINT SWIMMING AND DIVING: . It may sound cliché but we are definitely more than a team, we are a family. I am so blessed to have such a loyal team that is willing to stick by my side throughout anything. They're there to celebrate my victories with me, comfort me through my trials, and help clean me up whenever I'm going through the messy parts of life. Long after the race, long after the personal best, long after the win, I'll remember who was right by my side and just the sense of love that overflowed out of them every single day.
FAVORITE TV SHOW GROWING UP: This may sound strange but as a kid I used to be obsessed with Big Cat Diaries on Animal Planet. I loved watching lions, leopards and cheetahs and following them throughout their life. I just loved Africa and it's natural beauty which was highlighted well in the show… I was also freakishly into big cats.
MOST MEMORABLE ATHLETIC MOMENT: Going 1:50.39 in the 200 free at Navy last year. It was such a miracle race. I had been training for longer distances so I wasn't sure what to expect in this race. I had a quick turnaround from the 1000 free. It was just a pleasant surprise, the time and the race itself.
HOW ARE YOU IMPROVING YOUR GAME IN THE OFFSEASON: Working on some cross- training such as running, spinning, rucking and even ultimate Frisbee. I'm taking swimming back to the basics and re-introducing myself to the sport. Starting over and falling in love again like a 10 year old swimmer who only swam because of pure love for the sport.
WHAT PLAYER WILL SURPRISE PEOPLE NEXT SEASON:Â Jess Burkett, she's an all-around incredible athlete and has always performed well. This year wasn't long enough for her true talent and hard-work to pay off so I can't wait until next season! She's going to tear it up and surprise people with just how fast she really is.
WHO IS THE STRONGEST PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM: Kelly Hamilton is very strong in the sense that she is very consistent. Whenever you need more points, someone to lead a relay, or need to put someone in a different event she could always be counted on.  Kelly was and still is able to rise above all challenges and disregard all circumstances to perform well.
WHO IS THE MOST ENTERTAINING PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM: Kate Kinley! She is so interesting and has so many hidden talents. She never fails to bring a smile to everyone's face and every time she enters a room, laughter follows. It's great because she doesn't have to try to entertain; her natural presence always lightens the atmosphere.
WHICH TEAMMATE IS MOST LIKLEY TO BECOME A GENERAL: Keeli McNeary
ADVICE FOR INCOMING PLEBE TEAMMATES: Do everything to the best of your ability but never take anything too seriously. Stay light-hearted and live in the moment. Remember that everything can be enjoyed… even the struggle. Be grateful for what you have, it will soon be a fond memory. Keep your chin up, kid.
Getting to Know Archive
Â
NAME: Â Danielle Alexis Nuszkowski
HOMETOWN: Miami, Florida
MAJOR:Â Sociology and Portuguese
DESCRIBE YOUR HEAD COACH: You can tell he has a strong passion for swimming and that the team is just an extension of his family. Overall, he is a very enthusiastic person.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY:Â Jesus. He faced so many hardships yet still had such a peaceful and trusting spirit. Even after knowing how corrupt someone was, he still showed love and compassion. He is my role model because he taught me that to lead you need to be a servant. He taught me to remain humble, slow to speak, quick to listen, quick to learn. He taught me to dwell only on good thoughts and to have hope regardless of the circumstances.
GREATEST ATHLETE ON EARTH TODAY IS: Honestly, every athlete that has fallen and gotten back up again. Anyone who has gritted their teeth and pushed past the pain, past the failure, past the doubt and tried again. There are so many incredible athletes for their respective sport, it's hard to choose just one.
FAVORITE ARMY WEST POINT TEAM OTHER THAN YOUR OWN:Â Tough question, there are so many good teams. I'll go with Army Men's Soccer.
FAVORITE VENUE TO PLAY IN:Â Outside of college swimming my favorite place to swim is in open water. My favorite pool's would have to be the Olympic Park Pool in Montreal or Navy's pool because of the atmosphere.
OPPONENT MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING: Â Navy and Boston, both very strong competitors that bring out the best racing from our team.
WHAT TEAM NOT ON YOUR SCHEDULE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY AND WHY: I would like to go against the Air Force Academy. Other sports teams here compete against both Navy and Air Force so it would be nice to go up against them as well. Just some friendly academy competition.
HOW ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR SUMMER: This summer I have Cadet Leadership Development Training for about 3-weeks. Then I have and AIAD to Brazil for 3-weeks and I finish my summer as a squad leader during the second detail of Beast Barracks.
ON MY TEAM, I AM THE BEST…   Mhmm tough question, I'm pretty good at getting side-tracked, I also like to think that I am the best at puns but I may be biased judge.
FAVORITE MEAL: Rice, black beans, sweet plantains, chicken and bread  because that meal is tied to so many fond memories.
IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU GO:Â Haiti, I love how people with so little can find so much joy.
FAVORITE WARMUP SONG: Oceans by Hillsong
BIGGEST NIGHTMARE: Not living life to the fullest, dying with regrets.
FAVORITE PART OF WEST POINT:Â There are so many amazing things about West Point. I love the people and the relationships I have built here. I also really just like the atmosphere of West Point. There are so many naturally beautiful spots to sit and enjoy life and there are a ton of incredible people to enjoy it with.
DESCRIBE ARMY WEST POINT SWIMMING AND DIVING: . It may sound cliché but we are definitely more than a team, we are a family. I am so blessed to have such a loyal team that is willing to stick by my side throughout anything. They're there to celebrate my victories with me, comfort me through my trials, and help clean me up whenever I'm going through the messy parts of life. Long after the race, long after the personal best, long after the win, I'll remember who was right by my side and just the sense of love that overflowed out of them every single day.
FAVORITE TV SHOW GROWING UP: This may sound strange but as a kid I used to be obsessed with Big Cat Diaries on Animal Planet. I loved watching lions, leopards and cheetahs and following them throughout their life. I just loved Africa and it's natural beauty which was highlighted well in the show… I was also freakishly into big cats.
MOST MEMORABLE ATHLETIC MOMENT: Going 1:50.39 in the 200 free at Navy last year. It was such a miracle race. I had been training for longer distances so I wasn't sure what to expect in this race. I had a quick turnaround from the 1000 free. It was just a pleasant surprise, the time and the race itself.
HOW ARE YOU IMPROVING YOUR GAME IN THE OFFSEASON: Working on some cross- training such as running, spinning, rucking and even ultimate Frisbee. I'm taking swimming back to the basics and re-introducing myself to the sport. Starting over and falling in love again like a 10 year old swimmer who only swam because of pure love for the sport.
WHAT PLAYER WILL SURPRISE PEOPLE NEXT SEASON:Â Jess Burkett, she's an all-around incredible athlete and has always performed well. This year wasn't long enough for her true talent and hard-work to pay off so I can't wait until next season! She's going to tear it up and surprise people with just how fast she really is.
WHO IS THE STRONGEST PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM: Kelly Hamilton is very strong in the sense that she is very consistent. Whenever you need more points, someone to lead a relay, or need to put someone in a different event she could always be counted on.  Kelly was and still is able to rise above all challenges and disregard all circumstances to perform well.
WHO IS THE MOST ENTERTAINING PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM: Kate Kinley! She is so interesting and has so many hidden talents. She never fails to bring a smile to everyone's face and every time she enters a room, laughter follows. It's great because she doesn't have to try to entertain; her natural presence always lightens the atmosphere.
WHICH TEAMMATE IS MOST LIKLEY TO BECOME A GENERAL: Keeli McNeary
ADVICE FOR INCOMING PLEBE TEAMMATES: Do everything to the best of your ability but never take anything too seriously. Stay light-hearted and live in the moment. Remember that everything can be enjoyed… even the struggle. Be grateful for what you have, it will soon be a fond memory. Keep your chin up, kid.
Getting to Know Archive
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