TicketsWhen senior Matea Sumajstorcic entered the transfer portal after two seasons at the University of New Mexico, she wanted to find a program with coaches that understood her goals.
After meeting with the coaches at the University of Cincinnati, she found what she was looking for.
"They understood what I wanted and what I was saying and feeling and that was important for me to have that connection with the coaches because that was always how I was going to base my decision."
Sumajstorcic had already done the hard part. She moved away from hometown in Zagreb, Croatia to Albuquerque, New Mexico as a teenager and had to adjust to her new home.
"Oh my god I am alone right now and there is nobody here that can help me. My mom is like two days of travel away, but now I feel like this my home outside of my home. It was just about getting used it to and I like it."
She relied a lot on her teammates and coaches at first but now has found her new home in Cincinnati.
"I like it way better than my previous university and I feel like this is more my family and I like the campus, classes, and the weather. Everything is really nice."
Cincinnati has become more than just a second home, it's re-invigorated Sumajstorcic's passion for the sport.
"I learned I love this sport way more than I thought and could see myself continuing swimming even after I graduate."
Sumajstorcic now wants to stay a fifth year and become a leader and an example for her teammates.
"I really care more about how others will do, how I can help others and I want to set an example for others through my experiences and make them better."
She has loved swimming not only for her teammates, but for the University of Cincinnati.
"It made me learn more about myself being part of a team because I have never experienced swimming for others, just swam for myself for years. This was a good change and learning experience."
Sumajstorcic is one of the few swimmers at the University of Cincinnati with international experience as she represented Croatia at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi this past December.
Swimming on the international stage brings media, news, and bright lights, but it also comes with added pressure on the swimmers.
"Competing internationally, or on a world stage is a different kind of sport because there you compete for money, status, and national records and it is you and the clock."
Sumajstorcic sees the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as her goal and wants the University of Cincinnati swim program to be a part of her training.
"I feel like that is a long way ahead, but my coaches are also trying to convince me to swim a couple more years and maybe try out for Paris 2024."
Sumajstorcic hopes to reach her personal goal of competing at the conference championships for the second time in her Bearcat career and looks to help her team this weekend during their meets with the University of Kentucky and University on January 28th and with the University of Louisville on January 29th.
After meeting with the coaches at the University of Cincinnati, she found what she was looking for.
"They understood what I wanted and what I was saying and feeling and that was important for me to have that connection with the coaches because that was always how I was going to base my decision."
Sumajstorcic had already done the hard part. She moved away from hometown in Zagreb, Croatia to Albuquerque, New Mexico as a teenager and had to adjust to her new home.
"Oh my god I am alone right now and there is nobody here that can help me. My mom is like two days of travel away, but now I feel like this my home outside of my home. It was just about getting used it to and I like it."
She relied a lot on her teammates and coaches at first but now has found her new home in Cincinnati.
"I like it way better than my previous university and I feel like this is more my family and I like the campus, classes, and the weather. Everything is really nice."
Cincinnati has become more than just a second home, it's re-invigorated Sumajstorcic's passion for the sport.
"I learned I love this sport way more than I thought and could see myself continuing swimming even after I graduate."
Sumajstorcic now wants to stay a fifth year and become a leader and an example for her teammates.
"I really care more about how others will do, how I can help others and I want to set an example for others through my experiences and make them better."
She has loved swimming not only for her teammates, but for the University of Cincinnati.
"It made me learn more about myself being part of a team because I have never experienced swimming for others, just swam for myself for years. This was a good change and learning experience."
Sumajstorcic is one of the few swimmers at the University of Cincinnati with international experience as she represented Croatia at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi this past December.
Swimming on the international stage brings media, news, and bright lights, but it also comes with added pressure on the swimmers.
"Competing internationally, or on a world stage is a different kind of sport because there you compete for money, status, and national records and it is you and the clock."
Sumajstorcic sees the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as her goal and wants the University of Cincinnati swim program to be a part of her training.
"I feel like that is a long way ahead, but my coaches are also trying to convince me to swim a couple more years and maybe try out for Paris 2024."
Sumajstorcic hopes to reach her personal goal of competing at the conference championships for the second time in her Bearcat career and looks to help her team this weekend during their meets with the University of Kentucky and University on January 28th and with the University of Louisville on January 29th.