Female Spotlight Athlete of the Week Hope Miller
Feb. 26—Name: Hope Miller
School: Somerset Area
Age: 18
Grade: 12
Sports: Swimming and track and field
Parents: Andrew and Angela Miller, of Somerset
Athletic achievements: In swimming, 2021 Central Western Alleghenies Aqua Conference champions; 2022 PIAA qualifier and District 6 Class 2A champion in the 200-yard free relay; 2023 Central Western Alleghenies Aqua Conference second-team selection; 2024 Drew B. Hittie Memorial Invitational champion in the 50 free, Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference runner-up in the 50 free and team captain.
Coach's quote: "Senior Hope Miller has been an asset to the swim team all four years. She brings energy and excitement to the team. She always strives to be her best. Having coached Miller since she was about 6 years old, her potential is evident and I am looking forward to her continuing swimming in college." — Somerset swimming coach Donna Richard
Favorite subject: English
Favorite movie: "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes"
Favorite book: "The Shining" by Stephen King
Favorite food: Filet mignon
Favorite teacher (subject taught): Cathy Matthews (Spanish)
Favorite song: "One of the Girls" by the Weeknd
Favorite app on your phone: Hay Day
Outside interests: I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I love being outdoors and my favorite thing to do outside is to take my dogs, Max and Mason, on walks!
If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?: A bird so I can fly around the world for free
Favorite athletic team: Clemson football
Athlete most admired: Swedish Olympic swimmer Sarah Sjöström
Most influential person on my athletic career: My coach Donna Richard
Most impressive athlete that you have competed against: Bedford senior and North Carolina State swimming signee Leah Shackley
Proudest athletic achievement: Going to the state championships my sophomore year in the 200 freestyle relay
How I got my start: I always had a love for swimming as a young child. I would stay in my family's pool for hours on hours. One day in kindergarten, I got a paper about the Somerset Area Aquatic Team swimming club at our local high school and I knew I had to join. I stuck with it and my passion for swimming has grown stronger every year. I am forever grateful for the past 13 years I have had with my swim family at Somerset.
I plan on attending either Pitt-Johnstown or PennWest California for a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. I have not yet decided if I am swimming in college, but I am certainly open to it. — Jake Oswalt
