Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcat Check-In: Sarah Filby
4/10/2020 2:39:00 PM | Women's Fencing
EVANSTON, Ill. – NUSports.com recently caught up with junior Sarah Filby to talk about what life has been like at home after her season was cut short due to COVID-19.
Where are you now?
"I am at home in Edina, Minn., with my family."
How are you staying active?
"I've been trying to take advantage of all the extra time we have right now. Normally during spring quarter, we push our physical fitness harder than we would during the season, so I've been trying to keep that mentality. I'm lucky that my parents have invested in a little home gym in our basement, so I've mostly been doing my workouts there. In addition to our spring packet workouts, I've been running everyday, which has been really fun because I normally don't have time to. Shirley [Luong] and I have also been doing yoga everyday, so I've been getting some great recovery and stretching in after workouts. I've also been going for lots of bike rides with my mom."
How are you staying in touch with teammates?
"I have a daily yoga appointment with Shirley, so we talk over Facetime every day. Most of us just keep in touch through Snapchat, texting, Zoom, and Facetime. I know all of us on the Foil squad talk basically everyday. I think being apart like this has shown us just how tight-knit our squad is and how supportive our team is as a whole."
How has the start of online classes been?
"I actually don't mind the online learning format. I have friends in just about every one of my classes, and all of my professors have been very accommodating to make students' lives easier."
What was your favorite memory of the past season?
"This season was so much fun, and it's difficult to pick just one memory. If I had to choose, I would go with the time we went to Gliders Point in San Diego. It was the first weekend of winter quarter, and we were all feeling pretty tired after a long day of fencing at the Western Invitational. After the tournament, the coaches surprised us with an excursion to the stunning lookout point. I think everyone would agree that we felt like ecstatic little kids running around and watching the Gliders go by. It all felt very surreal, especially considering we were used to the Chicago winter at that point."
What are hobbies to get you through quarantine?
"I've been trying to pursue hobbies that I wouldn't normally have time to do at school. So far, I've been reading a lot (I just finished Anna Karenina...so good and so long), baking, longboarding with my 11-year-old brother, going for walks and bike rides with my mom, and learning new songs on piano."
Any favorite tv shows/movies you have watched?
"I finally watched Little Women. As an AVID Timothee Chalamet fan, I tend to love any movie that he is in. The movie did break my heart a little bit (Laurie and Jo should have ended up together), but overall I really liked the film."
What are you most excited to do/have back when you return to campus?
"I'm definitely the most excited to just see all of my friends again. We are all with people 24/7 at school, so it's been really weird to live without that social interaction. Other than that, I can't wait to go for a walk/picnic on the lakefill, get dinner downtown Chicago, and go to the beach next to Walter."
Filby was slated to participate in the NCAA Championships in foil after a strong performance at NCAA Midwest Regionals. She finished sixth in the individual foil event at the MFC Championships.
She finished on the All-MFC second team for foil this season. She was previously an All-MFC First Team selection in 2018-19 and a NCAA All-American after her eighth place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2018.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Where are you now?
"I am at home in Edina, Minn., with my family."
How are you staying active?
"I've been trying to take advantage of all the extra time we have right now. Normally during spring quarter, we push our physical fitness harder than we would during the season, so I've been trying to keep that mentality. I'm lucky that my parents have invested in a little home gym in our basement, so I've mostly been doing my workouts there. In addition to our spring packet workouts, I've been running everyday, which has been really fun because I normally don't have time to. Shirley [Luong] and I have also been doing yoga everyday, so I've been getting some great recovery and stretching in after workouts. I've also been going for lots of bike rides with my mom."
How are you staying in touch with teammates?
"I have a daily yoga appointment with Shirley, so we talk over Facetime every day. Most of us just keep in touch through Snapchat, texting, Zoom, and Facetime. I know all of us on the Foil squad talk basically everyday. I think being apart like this has shown us just how tight-knit our squad is and how supportive our team is as a whole."
How has the start of online classes been?
"I actually don't mind the online learning format. I have friends in just about every one of my classes, and all of my professors have been very accommodating to make students' lives easier."
What was your favorite memory of the past season?
"This season was so much fun, and it's difficult to pick just one memory. If I had to choose, I would go with the time we went to Gliders Point in San Diego. It was the first weekend of winter quarter, and we were all feeling pretty tired after a long day of fencing at the Western Invitational. After the tournament, the coaches surprised us with an excursion to the stunning lookout point. I think everyone would agree that we felt like ecstatic little kids running around and watching the Gliders go by. It all felt very surreal, especially considering we were used to the Chicago winter at that point."
What are hobbies to get you through quarantine?
"I've been trying to pursue hobbies that I wouldn't normally have time to do at school. So far, I've been reading a lot (I just finished Anna Karenina...so good and so long), baking, longboarding with my 11-year-old brother, going for walks and bike rides with my mom, and learning new songs on piano."
Any favorite tv shows/movies you have watched?
"I finally watched Little Women. As an AVID Timothee Chalamet fan, I tend to love any movie that he is in. The movie did break my heart a little bit (Laurie and Jo should have ended up together), but overall I really liked the film."
What are you most excited to do/have back when you return to campus?
"I'm definitely the most excited to just see all of my friends again. We are all with people 24/7 at school, so it's been really weird to live without that social interaction. Other than that, I can't wait to go for a walk/picnic on the lakefill, get dinner downtown Chicago, and go to the beach next to Walter."
Filby was slated to participate in the NCAA Championships in foil after a strong performance at NCAA Midwest Regionals. She finished sixth in the individual foil event at the MFC Championships.
She finished on the All-MFC second team for foil this season. She was previously an All-MFC First Team selection in 2018-19 and a NCAA All-American after her eighth place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2018.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
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