Out of the Water with Carrie Frost
4/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Sophomore Carrie Frost of the University of Michigan women's water polo team boasts an impressive resume inside the pool, from her 94 career points to her impressive steal totals to her spot on the 2006 Junior U.S. National Team this past summer. But toss in her enrollment in the Ross School of Business and her accolades are downright remarkable. While in a tough second year as a business major, Frost somehow found time to surpass her freshman-year totals in points, goals, shooting percentage, and steals with still two postseason events remaining.
Frost, a Saline High School graduate, says the experience as a student-athlete/business major is a love-hate one -- stating her enjoyment of the challenge, growth as a person and immense amount of learning, while enjoying less the non-stop responsibility and long nights. Looking back on her experience, however, Frost would never change any of her choices.
With her usual 24/7 smile, Frost gladly took the time out of her truly busy schedule to discuss her time at Michigan thus far.
On why she came to Michigan
Growing up and living here, I learned about the Michigan tradition and became quite familiar with it. I had the opportunity to come here and that was great for me. Also, I am close with my family so it was good I could be near them.
On being a Michigan native playing for Michigan
I have grown up here. The first time I ever played water polo was at Canham (Natatorium). Knowing all about the Michigan tradition and coming here to represent what you look up to and playing in the pool you played in during high school is just a great honor.
On her best memory inside water polo
Beating Indiana at Westerns last year. It was a close, great game. To be able to hold them off in a close game was great. We've had so many games in my time here where we lose by one or two when we felt should have won. To win that game by one and beat them in a close game was great. Hopefully, we can do that again this weekend.
On her best memory outside water polo
Meeting the girls on the team that I absolutely love, adore and will keep in contact with for the rest of my life. It's just so cool how Matt (Anderson) was able to bring in all of these girls that have so many similar characteristics and goals and a hard work ethic. I came to this team as a freshman and will walk away with loads of best friends.
On when she started playing water polo
I started to play the summer before my freshman year of high school. I was a swimmer and began swimming year-round that year. One of my friends, who knew I was on the fence about playing basketball, told me I would enjoy it and that I should give it a try. I played and I liked it because water polo was a mix between basketball and swimming.
On her funniest teammates
Allison Gorine and Farren Rixter are the funniest people in the world. Everything that comes out of their mouth is funny. I have a really hard time not laughing at them even when I am supposed to be serious. They always make me laugh and I love them to death.
On her idol growing up
Growing up playing water polo here, I really looked up to Allison Gregorka, who plays for Stanford and will be on the Olympic team in a year. She is someone who took that 'you are from Michigan and not from California' stigma and just applied herself and excelled in the world of water polo. I look up to her, try to idolize her and follow in her footsteps so I can do the same thing nationally.
On her improvements from her freshman season
I am definitely a lot faster; faster than I have ever been in my life. In my two-meter defending, I used to really struggle fronting. I would try to fight and push people out with my legs, but now I have improved at spinning around and keeping in front of them. This summer, they would freak out when I went into the hole set, and last year, I did not learn properly how to two-meter defend. Now with Megan Hausmann graduating, I have kind of taken her role of being effective on defense.
On what she would do if she wasn't a student-athlete
If I wasn't a student-athlete, I would have been a music major. I played the oboe for six years and it was a really big deal when I stopped playing. I had to stop when I got to college because there is no way to be a music major and an athlete. I would have been a performing, professional oboe player -- I had the opportunity -- but it definitely worked out for me in water polo.
On being a student in the Ross School of Business
I love it and I hate it. Every single day in every thing I do, I am being pushed. It is teaching me every day to be able to let go of all the school work when I come to the pool. I have to stop thinking about my competitive peers studying in the library while I play. It is the same thing in water polo: after practice I have to go back to the books despite being tired. Looking back on it, I would not want to be anywhere else.
COACH MATT ANDERSON'S TAKE:
Carrie made the right decision coming here to Michigan. She had a solid freshman year and had a very positive summer in her work with the U.S. National Team system. This year she has improved her two-meter defending and her swimming ability. She has become a better all-around player and also a better specific player in terms of defending and posting up and skills like that. I am pleased with her development. She is always conscious of always doing as well as she can and at times needs to understand that she is doing well and it all can't happen overnight. She is always in good spirits and always works hard. Academically, she is balancing what only a handful of athletes are able to do, which is go into the business school while competing as a high-level varsity athlete. It is amazing that she is performing at the level she is, both academically and athletically. She not only has a very good present but a very bright future as well. I am just very happy she is at Michigan.
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
