Indiana University Athletics
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Jessica Parratto
5/27/2015 4:17:00 PM | Varsity Club
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Hoosier Jessica Parratto became an NCAA Champion this year. One of only four female Indiana divers to ever take home this top honor, she won her first NCAA platform diving title with a score of 367.00, finishing nearly 30 points ahead of the runner-up.
Since NCAAs, Parratto has had a busy spring. She earned a silver medal in the 3-meter springboard syncro at the 2015 FINA Puerto Rico Grand Prix, and qualified to represent Team USA in two events at the FINA World Championships July 24-August 2 in Kazan, Russia.
The IU Varsity Club recently connected with Paratto to learn more about here Hoosier experiences and what it was like to take home the NCAA title.
Sport: Diving
Year in School & Major: Sophomore; Community Health
Hometown: Dover, New Hampshire
Q: How did you choose Indiana University?
A: I was recruited to dive at IU and had always loved Bloomington and the diving program. I already had good friendships with team members and they really welcomed me on my recruiting trip and made me feel like a part of the team right away.
Q: Was does the Spirit of Indiana mean to you?
A: The Spirit of Indiana to me is when a team works together to achieve a certain goal and does everything possible to achieve it. There's no better feeling than contributing to your team, especially one as close knit as ours. That's what makes competing for IU Swimming and Diving so special to me.
Q: What was your experience like at the NCAA Championships?
A: My experience at NCAA's was unlike any other competition I've been in. It is such a team oriented event and that is what I loved most about it. The amount of talent that was on that pool deck was amazing and it was so cool to get to experience.
Q: What were your goals for this season? Did you accomplish all of them?
A: My coach and I made it a point to not really set goals this season, but rather use my first year competing as a chance to get more competitions under my belt and learn and improve after each one. My goal was to simply have fun and enjoy the whole experience of my first season and to be as consistent as I could at each meet.
Q: What's been your favorite moment as a Hoosier?
A: My favorite moment as a Hoosier was by far after I won platform at NCAA's and my team all ran over to me and gave me a big group hug. They are always the loudest and most supportive group of swimmers cheering for me down on the pool deck and I'm so blessed to be able to call them my teammates. I definitely got a little emotional in that moment.
Q: What has been your favorite class so far at IU?
A: I took P101 with Dr. Jeff Huber who I have known for years and who was the previous IU Diving Head Coach. He was an amazing coach and I really enjoyed his class. I plan on taking his sports psychology class with him next year!
Q: What's your favorite place to eat in Bloomington?
A: Bloomington Bagel Company and Japonee!
Q: As a scholarship athlete, how do you feel you benefit most by the aid you receive from our Varsity Club donors?
A: I get so much support not only from athletics but with academics as well. There are so many people that make sure I have everything I need to be successful both in and out of the pool and I think that is so valuable for student-athletes to have.
Q: If you had the opportunity to meet the donors that provided your scholarship, what would you like to say to them?
A: First of all, thank you so much! Because of your generosity, student-athletes like myself have a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only focus on being excellent students but also to pursue and achieve our athletic goals.
When you join the Varsity Club, you make opportunities possible for student-athletes like Jessica. Make a gift online now to support student-athlete scholarships. Read more about Jessica Parratto.
Since NCAAs, Parratto has had a busy spring. She earned a silver medal in the 3-meter springboard syncro at the 2015 FINA Puerto Rico Grand Prix, and qualified to represent Team USA in two events at the FINA World Championships July 24-August 2 in Kazan, Russia.
The IU Varsity Club recently connected with Paratto to learn more about here Hoosier experiences and what it was like to take home the NCAA title.
Sport: Diving
Year in School & Major: Sophomore; Community Health
Hometown: Dover, New Hampshire
Q: How did you choose Indiana University?
A: I was recruited to dive at IU and had always loved Bloomington and the diving program. I already had good friendships with team members and they really welcomed me on my recruiting trip and made me feel like a part of the team right away.
Q: Was does the Spirit of Indiana mean to you?
A: The Spirit of Indiana to me is when a team works together to achieve a certain goal and does everything possible to achieve it. There's no better feeling than contributing to your team, especially one as close knit as ours. That's what makes competing for IU Swimming and Diving so special to me.
Q: What was your experience like at the NCAA Championships?
A: My experience at NCAA's was unlike any other competition I've been in. It is such a team oriented event and that is what I loved most about it. The amount of talent that was on that pool deck was amazing and it was so cool to get to experience.
Q: What were your goals for this season? Did you accomplish all of them?
A: My coach and I made it a point to not really set goals this season, but rather use my first year competing as a chance to get more competitions under my belt and learn and improve after each one. My goal was to simply have fun and enjoy the whole experience of my first season and to be as consistent as I could at each meet.
Q: What's been your favorite moment as a Hoosier?
A: My favorite moment as a Hoosier was by far after I won platform at NCAA's and my team all ran over to me and gave me a big group hug. They are always the loudest and most supportive group of swimmers cheering for me down on the pool deck and I'm so blessed to be able to call them my teammates. I definitely got a little emotional in that moment.
Q: What has been your favorite class so far at IU?
A: I took P101 with Dr. Jeff Huber who I have known for years and who was the previous IU Diving Head Coach. He was an amazing coach and I really enjoyed his class. I plan on taking his sports psychology class with him next year!
Q: What's your favorite place to eat in Bloomington?
A: Bloomington Bagel Company and Japonee!
Q: As a scholarship athlete, how do you feel you benefit most by the aid you receive from our Varsity Club donors?
A: I get so much support not only from athletics but with academics as well. There are so many people that make sure I have everything I need to be successful both in and out of the pool and I think that is so valuable for student-athletes to have.
Q: If you had the opportunity to meet the donors that provided your scholarship, what would you like to say to them?
A: First of all, thank you so much! Because of your generosity, student-athletes like myself have a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only focus on being excellent students but also to pursue and achieve our athletic goals.
When you join the Varsity Club, you make opportunities possible for student-athletes like Jessica. Make a gift online now to support student-athlete scholarships. Read more about Jessica Parratto.
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