Making Waves in Extra Methods Than One

Once 8:30 a.m. rolls round, it’s again to her dwelling for a fast breakfast earlier than tackling her common lineup of lessons and homework till early afternoon.

At 2 p.m., she’s again in Butler-Hancock for the day’s second apply — one other two-hour affair of propelling herself by means of the water that’s generally adopted by a stretching routine.

Finally completed with swimming for the day, Erokhina spends the remainder of the afternoon and night wrapping up classwork and doubtlessly hanging with mates or spending time bonding along with her teammates.

By 10 p.m., it’s time for mattress and eight stable hours of sleep earlier than the alarm goes off once more, and the cycle repeats itself. Oh, besides on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, when she follows up her first swim apply with a set of weight coaching.

This schedule is a each day routine for Erokhina, certainly one of UNC’s most prolific pupil athletes. Her season begins in August, continues by means of the autumn and spring with swim meets and competitions and doesn’t wrap up till mid-July, after she’s spent the summer season coaching and swimming in competitions again dwelling in Cyprus, an island nation within the Mediterranean sea.

“Between everything swimming-related, I have about two weeks off,” Erokhina mentioned.

While this cycle may sound exhausting, it’s one thing Erokhina has tackled for the previous 4 years at UNC. And on high of her athletic duties, she nonetheless finds the time to tutor fellow UNC college students, spend high quality time with mates and play the piano — a expertise she’s practiced since she was 5 or 6 years previous.

“It’s not a secret or a hack, but what helps most is just being organized and having a daily plan,” Erokhina mentioned. “It’s harder some days than others, but just being prepared is the thing that helps most.”

That plan has paid off for Erokhina. This yr, she grew to become the primary swimmer in UNC’s historical past to qualify for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships on high of setting program information in 4 completely different occasions and securing convention titles in each the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke. Most just lately, she was acknowledged because the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s 2026 Swimmer of the Year.

“At first, it was all kind of surreal. It was hard to process that it was actually happening,” Erokhina mentioned. “But at the same time, it felt really good to be able to represent UNC and my country in front of so many people.”

Despite her storied profession at UNC, when Erokhina was first contemplating the place she needed to go to school, the college wasn’t even on her radar. It was solely due to a private connection between her coach in Cyprus, three-time Cypriot Olympic swimmer Stavros Michaelides, and Lisa Ebeling, head coach of UNC’s Swimming and Diving workforce, that she ended up in Colorado.

“People don’t often stay in Cyprus for college, so I knew I was going to go abroad somewhere,” Erokhina mentioned. “I almost ended up in Europe, but last minute, I committed to swimming and to UNC. I had heard of Colorado by name only – I had no idea what to expect coming here other than that it was cold, apparently.”

Erokhina actually hasn’t let the chilly ice her out, nevertheless.

With plans to graduate this May, she’s trying to the long run and navigating the trail forward, each within the pool and out.

“I’m excited to graduate and see where the future takes me,” Erokhina mentioned. “I’m not 100% sure where that will be. I want to train and try to swim for Cyprus in the 2028 Olympics, but I’m also thinking about a grad program here at UNC or going to work somewhere in the field of finance.”

Regardless of what the long run holds, Erokhina emphasised the necessity for stability and selection, conserving issues contemporary and potentialities open.

“For any athlete, you need a plan for the future because your athletic career won’t last forever. On top of that, just doing one thing and one thing only isn’t great for your life or your brain, either,” Erokhina mentioned. “It’s important to have a balance in your life.”

For now, she’s centered on crossing the looming end line of commencement whereas reminiscing on her time spent at UNC.

“Looking back, I have a lot of good swimming memories, but the things that really stand out are the times I got to spend with people here on campus,” Erokhina mentioned. “In spring, when the sun would come out, we’d play volleyball or spikeball out in the yard or just sit there and listen to music in the sunshine. Those are the moments I felt most connected to everyone.”

From the shut bonds she cast with teammates to friendships made with fellow Bears and connecting with a few of her favourite professors, Erokhina mentioned she wouldn’t be the place she is now with out the assist and love of these round her. With the tip of her time as a pupil approaching, she hopes to go away issues on a optimistic be aware.

“I want to thank all the people that have helped me throughout my time at UNC — the international office, the athletics department, coach Lisa Ebeling, my teammates and everyone who made my journey here what it is,” Erokhina mentioned. “I’m so thankful for everything.”

It’s secure to say irrespective of the place she finally ends up, Erokhina will dive in head-first and make loads of waves – puns completely supposed.