Ari Lemisch is a junior freestyle swimmer for the Lafayette Leopards from Scarsdale, N.Y., who began swimming at seven years old. Coming from a strong Lafayette legacy, his father and sister both graduated from the College, with his father Adam Lemisch '88 playing lacrosse and sister Danielle Lemisch '23 competing on the swim team. Lemisch was determined to make Lafayette his own, building his identity both in and out the water while embracing a place that has always felt like a second home after years of visiting campus. 

"I couldn't wait to make Lafayette my own place and be connected to the school not just because of my family, but because of who I am as a student and athlete."

When he is not swimming and training, he looks to gain career experience. Last summer, he worked as an HVAC intern with Jaros, Baum & Bolles. Lemisch values how much his swimming and engineering community have overlapped in his life. Having teammates who also study engineering adds to the camaraderie within the swim team.

Diving Into the Sport

How did you start swimming and who introduced you to it?
My mom introduced me to the water through swim classes when I was just a few months old, so I've really been swimming my whole life. Instead of going to preschool, I used to do swim lessons at the YMCA. 

Did you play any other sports growing up?
Lacrosse and swimming have always been equally important parts of my life. Before college, I spent about the same amount of time in the pool as I did on the field.In middle school, I also played competitive golf and considered pursuing it in college. In the end, I'm extremely happy I continued my swimming career.

How was growing up with a sister who also swims?
I've grown up in a true swimming family. My mom, dad, and sister all swim and do laps every day. So much of our family bonding has revolved around going to the pool and swimming together, which is one of the reasons the sport is still enjoyable for me after so long. 

In the Deep End

What's the number one thing you do before meet days?
The most important thing for me before a meet is having a strong sense of purpose and the motivation to perform at my best. Making sure I'm excited to race and know what I want to accomplish is the best way for me to prepare.

How do you motivate yourself during tough practices or long training sessions?
One of the worst things I can do during a hard practice is focus on how long or difficult it feels. Most of the time,I focus on each lap individually.

What's a misconception people have about swimming that isn't true?
I think the biggest misconception people have about swimming is that it's easy, or that a lot of people could do it at a high level.

How do you handle setbacks or tough losses in competition? 
I'm a very analytical person, so my first step after a bad performance is usually trying to figure out why it happened. Doing that makes me feel more productive and less discouraged. 

Making Waves

How has swimming shaped who you are today?
Swimming has shaped my life in a huge way and has taught me important lessons. It taught me confidence after winning state championships when I was 8 years old. Going from not swimming for almost two straight years to being on a Division I team felt nearly impossible. Learning how to manage that fear and overcome it gave me confidence that I can take on difficult challenges in the future.

What's the most memorable meet you've ever competed in?
The most memorable meet I've competed in so far has been this year's Lafayette-Lehigh meet. Having my family there to watch me compete and score points for the team was an unbelievable feeling.

Coaching & Mentorship

Who have been your biggest mentors in college?
My biggest mentors in college have been my family, friends and teammates.

If you could meet any Olympian, who would it be and why?
I think getting to meet Caleb Dressel would be really cool. I'd love to hear his perspective on swimming, but also what it's like to compete at that level.

Best piece of advice a coach or mentor gave you?
I think the best advice I've ever been given came from my grandfather "This too shall pass." To me, that means both good and bad things are temporary, so you need to appreciate what you have while you have it and not get too overwhelmed by the hard moments.

What advice would you give to incoming student-athletes?
I think the most important thing you can do as a student-athlete at Lafayette is blend your school life and your athletic life instead of keeping them separate. No one understands your stress and challenges better than your teammates. As an engineer student, doing work with other engineering swimmers and getting advice from older teammates has been one of the most valuable parts of being a student-athlete.

College Hill

What's your favorite aspect of Lafayette's campus or student life?
My favorite aspect of Lafayette is the campus itself and the people on it.

Give a word to describe each year you've spent at Lafayette so far. What would your word be for your senior year?
Freshman year would be exciting, sophomore year would be valuable, this year would be an achievement, and hopefully next year will be memorable.

How do you balance academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities?

Being on a strict practice schedule, it can definitely be challenging to balance being a Division I athlete and an engineering student. At the same time, that structure forces me to manage my time well. It also helps knowing that many of my teammates are going through the same thing, and being able to rely on them for support and help is really important.

If you could switch lives with any teammate for a day, who would it be?
I think getting to experience swimming the 100 breaststroke as fast as Alexander Reihl does on a meet day would be pretty cool.

Life Outside the Lanes

What are your favorite hobbies outside of swimming?
Playing guitar, playing golf or lacrosse, and flying flight simulators.

What is your most-used app?
I think my most-used app is probably Apple Music, but the app that excites me the most is definitely Grubhub.

What is your favorite thing to get from Wawa?
A sausage, egg, and cheese burrito with chipotle mayo.

What is your favorite thing to do in your hometown of Scarsdale, N.Y.?
My favorite thing to do in Scarsdale is definitely take walks with my mom around the village and our neighborhood.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
Some of my favorite childhood memories are from spending summers at the Scarsdale Town Pool with my family and grandparents.

If you were an animal, which one would you be ?
I'd be an elephant. 

If you could train anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I think swimming in Montauk, New York, during the summer would be the coolest place to train.