Laura Ruscoe

Position:
Butterfly
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Asheville, N.C.
High School:
A.C. Reynolds

Career Best Times: 55.11 in 100 fly; 1:59.99 in 200 fly.
General: Three-year letter winner who has excelled in the classroom and the pool during her time at Carolina...had shown consistent improvement throughout her career after coming to UNC as a walk-on...had an outstanding finish to her freshman year with career best times in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly events at the Tar Heel Last Chance Meet and to her sophomore and junior years with championships in the Triangle College Cup...a CREED mentor in the Carolina Leadership Academy.
2010-11 (Junior): Won the Osterneck Family Award as the unsung hero on the 2010-11 women's squad...won the 200 fly in the dual meet against Duke, going a career best 1:59.99...also won the 200 fly at the 2011 College Cup Invitational...named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll...earned honors on the Dean's List in the fall semester 2010.
2009-10 (Sophomore): Named to 2009-10 ACC Academic Honor Roll...also earned Dean's List distinction in the fall semester of 2009...won the 200 fly in the dual meet versus NC State...took two championships at the 2010 Triangle College Cup...won the 100 fly in 55.48 and the 200 fly in 2:02.09.
2008-09 (Freshman): Had career best times in both butterfly events...she achieved both of them at the Tar Heel Last Chance meet...she went 55.11 in the 100-yard butterfly and clocked a 2:00.05 in the 200-yard butterfly, the second fastest time on the team in '08-`09...her 100-yard butterfly time placed her ninth in school history and her time in the 200 placed her 10th on the all-time depth chart...was on the Dean's List for the fall semester 2008...named to the 2008-09 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
Prep: Graduated from A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, N.C. on June 6, 2008....four-year swimming letter winner in the fly and IM...had an out-standing high school academic career...graduated fifth in her high school class...was co-editor of her high school newspaper...finished sixth at the YMCA Nationals in the 200 fly...Swimmer of the Year in the 4-A Western Conference three successive years (2006-08).
Personal: Full name is Laura Bess Ruscoe...daughter of Mark and Jackie Ruscoe...born November 5, 1989 in Asheville, N.C. ...has one brother...majors in international studies...Carolina Outreach representative.

20 Questions With Senior Laura Ruscoe
Section #1: Swimming & Diving
1. The best thing about being a Tar Heel swimmer is being part of a team of people who excel in and out of the pool.
2. My favorite thing about competing for Coach DeSelm is his dedication to making us better.
3. Since last year the aspect of my training I've worked on the most is getting stronger.
4. My best friend on another college swimming team is Kerry McLaughlin at Clemson.
5. My greatest strength as a swimmer is being positive.
Section #2: Hobbies & Interests
1. Away from the pool and academic pursuits I like to spend time eating and hanging out with my friends.
2. The best movie I've seen recently is The Help.
3. If I could compete in another sport at UNC it would be field hockey.
4. The music act I'd most like to see in person is Nicki Minaj.
5. The personal interest I have that might surprise my teammates is that I love school supply shopping.
Section #3: Food & Beverage
1. After a big meet, I'd like to eat at a buffet spread that included bread and chocolate.
2. My favorite beverage is sweet tea.
3. My favorite food made by a relative is chocolate pecan pie.
4. My favorite place to eat in Chapel Hill is [B]Skis.
5. My favorite guilty pleasure food wise is chocolate.
Section #4: Personality
1. If I possessed the gift of time travel I'd like to go to ancient Rome.
2. My most prized personal possession is my bed.
3. If I could go to dinner with a famous person it would be James Franco.
4. My dream job is traveling everywhere.
5. The most interesting person I've met at UNC is Sean Lane.