This is not a revelation, but practice isn't always fun.

"Not even for the coach sometimes," admits Wyoming's head coach for swimming and diving Dave Denniston. "But I'm lucky, because when I'm not fired up to go to practice I say to myself, 'well Maria's going to be there, so we'll have fun'.

The Maria he's talking about is the greatest female breatstroker in the history of the Mountain West, and Cowgirl swimming, Maria Harutjunjan.

She is something very special.

She speaks four languages.  She is an outstanding student majoring in International Studies with a minor in Business. She would like to work for UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) when she's done with her sport because she loves working with children. 

Oh, she also wants to compete in the Olympics for her native country, Estonia, a lovely place located in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland.

She's good enough to be an Olympian, according to her coach.

"She is really, really good," Denniston says. "She very definitely has the ability to compete in the 2020 Olympics.  She is Scott Usher-like," he continues referring to Wyoming's last Olympian.

"Swimming in the Olympics is my dream," says the engaging Cowgirl senior who is loaded with personality. "I've always loved to swim, and I can't think of a better goal than that."

There's no question she is driven.  During her Wyoming career, she has suffered a concussion colliding with another swimmer, a broken hand hitting a swimmer in the next lane, and damaging her leg after being hit by a car while riding her bike. Yet, she has continued to win in convincing fashion.

Why is she so good?  "I've been told that good breaststrokers are born with that skill," Maria says.  "When I was younger my coach thought I was a sprinter.  But when I was 14 or 15, coaches saw that I had a great kick and good timing, and that's really 70 percent of being good in the breaststroke.  So the breaststroke became my event."

The way Denniston sees it, her tenacity and competitiveness make her so good. "She has amazing tenacity no matter what the situation," he says.  "She does not give up, and she's never satisfied.  She did not do as well as usual at one of our meets earlier in the season at Missouri.  I told her, 'Maria, you were hit by a car last week. Give yourself a break!' She has been injured every year, and despite that, she has gotten better.

"She has a great deal of natural-born skill, though," he continues.  It's the way her legs, knees and ankles are built with an amazing amount of flexibility.  Breaststrokers have a different mentality too.  They are a little weird.  I know, I WAS one. But she is also hungry, swims with a great deal of purpose, and is a student of the sport.  She is always asking questions, always wanting to know the reasons why. As a coach I really appreciate that.  She's a joy to coach."

Harutjunjan became the first woman in Wyoming and Mountain West history to break the one-minute mark in the 100 breaststroke (59:85). She has been a three-time NCAA qualifier. 

At a young age, she wanted to swim in America.  While in Estonia, she wrote many universities in the U.S. about attending school and swimming.  Under the 'of all places' category, UW coach Tom Johnson (T.J.) gave her a call and said he wanted her to come to Wyoming.

"I went sight-unseen, because it was an opportunity to come to the United States, to a good program. I wanted to swim on the coast, but when T.J. talked to me about swimming at elevation, I knew that would be great for my growth in the sport. So I accepted his offer.

"I had no idea what Laramie was.  Honestly I thought it was a big city like my home (Maardu, Estonia). The first thing I asked my roommate was 'where is the rest of the city, and the malls'," she laughs. "My roommate said, 'this is it'.

"I was very, very shy.  I could speak four languages (Russian, Estonia, Armenian English), but English was my weakest, so I was self-conscious. It took me a while to feel comfortable.  Because of swimming I had gotten used to being away from my family (swimming has taken her to 52 different countries), but it was still an adjustment.

"I love it here now.  It has given me everything I need, a great education and the sport I love.  Coach Denniston is amazingly creativity, and comes up with something new in practice almost every day.  He is so into Wyoming, and he is a great inspiration."

Under the guidance of Denniston and his coaching staff, the Cowboy and Cowgirl swimming and diving teams are off to an excellent start this season.  They continue their seasons this weekend with a two-day meet at Boise State January 19-20.

Maria is very proud of her homeland.  Estonia is a land of castles and forests.  The capital of Tallinn was founded in the 14^th century, and has done a great job of preserving its old-world charm while looking to the future, according to Maria.  The country is one of the world's most digitally-advanced societies.  Skype was invented there, and in 2005 Estonia became the first nation to hold elections over the Internet.

"It's a beautiful place, and I love going back each summer to visit my family—she has a brother and a sister.  But I would like to live in the United States," she says.  "When my competitive days are over, I'd even think about coaching a little bit.  I love teaching, and working with young people."

In the near future, she wants to compete in the World University Games in the summer of 2019, prior to the Olympics.

For now, she's excited for the remainder of her time at Wyoming, and the chance to compete with her teammates. "Before I came to Wyoming I really didn't know anything about teammates.  Here, I learned how to be a teammate, and how to be accountable.  I love being a part of a team, it's a special feeling. 

"When I look back and think about Wyoming, I will think of my teammates, but I will also be grateful that T.J. and Dave believed in me, and taught me to believe in myself. I will always have fond memories of Wyoming.

"This winter my mother (Agavni) is coming to Laramie to watch me swim. I'm very excited because she has never been here before.  She has never seen me swim in college, so I want to do my best while she is here, I don't want to lose in front of her."

I wouldn't worry Maria, probably not much chance of that.