You may have seen him walking through the halls with his signature bed-head hairstyle, or you may just know him by one of his many nicknames. Senior Andrew Mudreac has been competing in swimming and water polo for the past four years, and has been the captain for both teams this past year. The NWN had a chance to talk to Mudreac about his water polo career.

NWN: What influenced you to start playing water polo?

Mudreac: “Originally, I had intended to do volleyball or gymnastics, but some people from the swim team encouraged me to do water polo, a new program at Niles West.”

NWN: What is your favorite part about being on the polo team?

Mudreac: “I enjoy going to other schools for tournaments. Although they’re tiring, the games are really fun, and there’s also some time for a little bit of team bonding between games.”

NWN: You’ve swam and played polo each year that you’ve been in high school. Does it ever feel like you need a break? What motivates you to stay on the team?

Mudreac: “I don’t really feel a need to have a break from sports, but rather I need a break from school. During winter break and spring break practices, I felt fine because I actually had time to rest in between practices. Seven hours of school isn’t really rest.”

NWN: If there was one thing you wish people would know about you, what would it be?

Mudreac: “I’m a bit of an introvert. I’m not afraid of socializing, but if I don’t have a reason, I will not talk to you.”

NWN: You spend a lot of time swimming and playing water polo; what do you like to do during your free time?

Mudreac: “I hang out with friends whenever I am able to. When it’s nice outside, I like to sit in my backyard and think to myself or read a book–it’s very chill.”

NWN: I’ve heard a lot of people call you “Sunshine”. How did you get that nickname?

Mudreac: “Freshman year, first day of swimming preseason, Steven Czajkowski [who graduated last year] called me Sunshine; it caught on. I’ve had many other weird nicknames throughout high school.”

FUN FACTS:

Favorite food: “Cereal. I make myself the perfect bowl. Every time.”

Are you a morning, evening, or late-night kind of person: “Definitely evening/late-night. I’m still half asleep during the morning.”

Favorite kind of music/artist: “I’m an indie pop/rock and electronic kind of guy. My favorite band is either MGMT or Passion Pit.”

Favorite class: “Biology is really fascinating because it changes the way I see life. It’s also what I want to study in college.”

Weird habits: “I tend to make weird noises with my hands or whistle very loudly. Oh well.”

Where you want to go: “This is a difficult question because I love to explore. South Africa is one of the top places on my list.”