Athlete of the Week: Lincoln Southeast’s Natalya Woods
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lincoln Southeast swimmer Natalya Woods wrapped up her senior season on top.
“This year I won state in the 50 and the 100,” said Woods. “My freshman and sophomore year, I won the 200 and 500. Last year, I got second in the 200 and 500, and this year, my relay scored the highest place that we scored in our 200 free relay and our 400 free relay then the past two years.”
Woods began swimming for the Kearney YMCA when she was in the second grade, following in the footsteps of her mom.
“She was just kind of like, ‘oh, would you like to try this?'” Recalled Woods. “Me and my two sisters were like, yeah, this will be awesome.”
Since then, Natalya has been a fixture in the water for the Knights for four seasons.
“Its been one of my best experiences as a coach,” said Southeast head swim & dive coach Brett Ruoff. “She’s a phenomenal athlete, great leader on the team. Its been a pleasure to coach her and see her be successful.”
She has earned her spot in the record books numerous times at Southeast alongside her sister Arianna.
Ruoff says Natalya is a natural leader and is like a second coach out on the deck.
“It’s a testament to her character, or desire, to see the team be successful,” said Ruoff. “Also, just her desire to see people be successful. She has left an impression on this team that will be here long after she has left.”
She says she tries to lead by example.
“It’s easy to sit out or not try your best because if you have an interval on the board, you know what you’re supposed to be doing,” said Woods. “And you can make the interval, or you can push yourself to be beyond the interval. And so, I think just making sure that you’re not slacking and really supporting your teammates. I think that’s the main thing.”
She committed to Louisiana State University about a year and a half ago.
“I love the coach there. The facility is amazing. And the team just seems like such a good family. Always together and that’s what I wanted.”
While her college is picked out, she is still undecided on what her major will be. However, she is interested in a career in the medical field.
“I have always liked to help people and always liked to talk to people or be around people. I’m really a people person,” said Woods. “So I definitely don’t want to be sitting in an office and staring at a computer all day. I would rather be communicating with people.”
Out of the pool, the busy swimmer has worked at the YMCA since 8th grade to help pay for the costs associated with swimming.
She also enjoys spending time with her family and baking on Sundays with her teammate Maizie Stricker.
Woods is also quite the pickleball player.
“I play a lot of pickleball. I have a lot of friends who were playing,” said Woods. “Anything that I can do that’s outside. If I can move around, I’m loving that.”
Tags: athlete of the week, Brett Ruoff, Knights, Lincoln Southeast, lsu, LSU swim and dive, LSU Tigers, Menards, Natalya Woods, southeast knights, state swimming
