Sophomores Stephanie Hallock and Hannah Hagy have been inseparable since their first day on campus, and into their second season for the University of Mary Washington women's swim team. Both members have had success in the pool, leading UMW to its 24th consecutive CAC Championship last February, and both are again key members of this year's team, which has already beaten one Division I foe, and topped nationally-ranked Washington & Lee University. With that in mind, we give you the first-ever tag team effort for our Intoducing feature - Stephanie Hallock and Hannah Hagy, or "Stannah".

Briefly, what is your background in the sport you play?  “Stannah” began swimming in the Northern Virginia Swimming League the summer of 1998, started club swim at the age of 7, and swam all four years of high school.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?  We are both majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Business. The most important thing we’ve learned in math is how to count.

What is your favorite spot on campus?  The swimming pool (the Swamp) is our favorite spot on campus because it promotes a sense of belonging. It is the place where swimmers become teammates; we put all our blood, sweat, and tears into our sport TOGETHER!

Outside of your home and campus, where is your favorite place visit? 

Steph: My favorite place to visit is Switzerland. My mom moved here from Switzerland in her twenties and we go back to visit family every other year or so. The scenery is beautiful and unlike any other place I’ve seen and the chocolate is delicious!

Hannah: My favorite place to visit is Ohio.  My mom’s side of the family lives there and it’s where I was born.  I love the change from big city to small town.  We visit my grandparents and they live in a town of about 20,000 people which is a big drop coming from northern Virginia.  It’s also so interesting to see the Amish people in their horse-drawn carriages that live all around their small town.

Other than your team, what organization (s) do you participate in (on campus or off campus)?  Our team participates in intramural soccer, where we have a swim team–soccer team called Pink Splash. We both love playing soccer; it is our second favorite sport!

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.  Making NCAA’s as freshman last year was the most memorable experience for us. Neither of us had ever qualified for a National-level meet so getting the opportunity to fly to Texas and compete at NCAA’s was amazing. We wouldn’t have done as well as we did in our first year without the phenomenal coaches we had.

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?   Each other.

Steph: Hannah is most definitely the most influential person in my life. She is always there for me no matter what; since the beginning she’s been with me through it all. She encouraged me in practices and challenged me to be the best I could be. She keeps me on task during study hall and helps me study for tests. I had no idea when I first came to school that my roommate would become my best friend.

Hannah: From the first day that I met Steph, I knew that she would change my life for the better.  She helps me to have a positive outlook on swimming, school, and life in general.  She pushes me to be better in and out of the pool and she’s always there if I need someone.  I can always count on Steph to be there for me. I couldn’t ask for a better roommate or a better best friend.

What is the most important societal issue facing college students?   The most important societal issue facing college students would be the pressure and expectations in school and in the pool. Balancing a work load with a social life is hard enough for the average college student. Balancing studying, practices, and still fitting in time to socialize is a challenge for collegiate athletes; time management becomes of vital importance to athletes. 

If you could change any one item in the world (in your personal life, school, community, amateur or professional sports, national/international issue, etc.), what would it be, why, and how would you do it?    If there were one thing in the world we could change, we would wish for an improvement of communication and respect across different communities, cultures, and countries worldwide. People are too quick to judge one another just for being different, without trying to understand other peoples’ actions or opinions. An improvement of communications would result in fewer misunderstandings and better conflict resolution (i.e. Government furlough). Starting in schools of all levels, we could teach kids the importance of listening to one another and being respectful.

What is your favorite form of entertainment?   Our favorite form of entertainment is music. We both like the same genres of music so we have found a lot of songs through each other. Music can be a big part of a swimmer’s life, whether its music playing during practice to help motivate you through tough sets or blasting music in your headphones to pump you up before a race.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?   Be considerate and be yourself!

Outside of the CAC, who or what is your favorite sports person or team. 

Hannah: Washington Capitals. I have always loved watching the Capitals ever since my dad took me to my first game when I was little.  The atmosphere is so exciting and I love it.

Steph: My favorite sports team Kansas Jayhawks (primarily basketball). My Dad graduated from KU so everyone in my family is a Jayhawk fan.

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with.    

Ellen DeGeneres – She is so down-to-earth, outgoing, and a role model for many people. Her show is always a good laugh and it is inspiring to see how she goes out of her way to help and give to other people.

Neil Armstrong – As an aspiring astronomer, I look up to Neil Armstrong like a hero. He accomplished so much in his life; to be the first man on the moon is an outstanding achievement. To be the first woman on the moon would be a dream come true for me.

Taylor Swift – We both are huge Taylor Swift fans. We once went on a car ride from Fredericksburg to Blacksburg (a four-hour trip) and listened to Taylor Swift the whole way without repeating a single song.