Chippewa Valley Times

Kaden Zink, a sophomore from Watertown, S.D., has been named the UW-Eau Claire Athletics' Blugold of the Week. He is majoring in Biology with a minor in Health Science.

Zink chose UW-Eau Claire for its welcoming atmosphere and beautiful campus, stating, "It's also a great distance from home, and the swim team is filled with so many amazing people." In addition to his involvement in athletics, Zink participates in the Student Senate as both a senator and an intern and is part of the Word Game Enthusiast club.

Balancing academics and athletics is crucial for Zink. He explained, "I balance being a student-athlete by staying focused, setting clear goals, and following a consistent routine." One of his proudest moments was winning the conference during his freshman year due to the effort and teamwork involved.

Zink's favorite pre-competition snack includes anything with peanut butter, while he prefers pasta and carbs after competitions. He revealed that he rarely needs a map because he can easily remember landmarks.

His career aspirations include becoming a pediatric or general dentist. "I've grown up surrounded by dentistry and feel led to impact the health of others," Zink said.

When asked about travel desires, he expressed interest in visiting New Zealand for new adventures. As for spending time with professional athletes or celebrities, Zink would choose Katie Ledecky due to her dedication as a fellow distance swimmer.

Zink advises current and incoming Blugold student-athletes to make the most of their time at UW-Eau Claire: "Training can get tough and school can be stressful, but it's important to find the positives in everything you do."

Annie Ryder, Head Men's Swimming & Diving Coach at UW-Eau Claire praised Zink's leadership within the distance group: "He works hard to get better and inspires those around him to get better." Ryder noted his discipline both academically and athletically as well as his role as team social chair planning activities around recruiting weekends.