As a Freshman (2012-2013):Broke the A-10 Overall Record and Spider All-Time Record in the 200 free with a time of 1:48.22 at the Atlantic 10 Championships ... won the 100 free in a time of 50.62 at the A-10 championships ... finished second in the 100 free (53.33)) at the LaSalle/Fordham meet ... took second place in the 200 free (1:64.69), third in the 100 back (59.88) and fourth in the 100 free (53.57) at Old Dominion ... won the 200 free (1:54.29) at William and Mary ... finished 10^th in the 100 fly (57.72) and 12^th in the 500 free (5:06.16) at the Patriot Invitational.

High School: Captain of the Churchill Swim and Dive team as a senior ... Lettered Member of Churchill Swim and Dive varsity team (2009-2012) ... All-American athlete in 2011 and 2012 (100 Yard Butterfly) ... Washington Post All-met First Swimming Team 2011 ... All-Gazette girls swimming First Team 2010, 2011, 2012 ... Churchill High School record holder in the 100-yard Butterfly, 50 yard free, 100 yard free, 200-yard free ... 2009 and 2012 Winner of the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Championships ... 3rd Place at State Championships 2012 ... 2nd Place at Counties 2012 ... 1st Place at Divisionals (Division I) 2012

Personal : Daugher of Nestor and Silvia Ares ...National AP Scholar with Distinction ... Consistent Honor Roll student from freshman year to senior year ... Joint publication with Rutgers University in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database (NCBI) ... 11th Grade member English Honors Society ...Member Spanish Honors Society ... Volunteer Coach at "Nadar Por Vida" program ... Special Olympics Swimming Volunteer ...Coach at "FINS" swimming clinic ..

Getting to know Natalya.. .

Why did you choose UR? The combination of a group of girls and coaches who were incredibly helpful, warm, and accepting and the rigorous academic curriculum.

What do you consider your greatest high school athletic accomplishment? Being voted as captain of our team or achieving All-American status in the 100 fly.

What do you consider your greatest high school academic accomplishment? Having the opportunity to work in a program with Rutgers University and Johns Hopkins University to analyze and purify Duckweed DNA.

When did you begin swimming/diving? I started swimming when I was around 5 years old at my summer pool.

What do you enjoy most about swimming/diving? I love that swimming acts as an outlet for my competitive energy but also gives me the opportunity to be around people who understand how the sport molds you over the years and also that we share similar goals and views.

Do you have any pre-meet rituals? Eating my bodyweight in pasta.

Who are your greatest role models? When I was little, my greatest role models were the kids in the 15-18 group on my summer team. Now, I would say my parents.

Who is your favorite professional athlete? Aaron Peirsol.

If you could spend the day with anyone (dead or alive), it would be... Carl Sagan

Why this individual? Because his series, The Cosmos, has always really interested me and I feel like I could learn a lot of really interesting things from him.

What is your intended major? Biology

What is your dream job? I know it has nothing to do with Biology but I always thought it would be so fun to be a writer for a show like 30 Rock...basically so I could work with Tina Fey.

If you could have any superpower it would be... Teleportation. It's so expensive to travel and it would be amazing to be able to see the world on a whim.

If you could invent one thing it would be... time travel.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what one person and one thing would you like to have with you? A competent pilot and a fully functional jet.

What is your dream vacation? Visiting to New Zealand and exploring the natural setting of the country.

If your family/friends could describe you in three words they would be... Sarcastic, opinionated, and powerful...I don't know why this person said powerful but I won't object to it.

What is your favorite...

• Movie: The Lord of the Rings trilogy because I can't pick just one
• TV show: I have a ton, but my top ones are probably Futurama, The Daily Show/The Colbert Report, and Malcolm in the Middle
• Book: Ubik, by Philip K. Dick
• Food/Meal: I love any type of Japanese food

Write the first word that comes to mind when you hear...

• UR Swimming & Diving: exciting
• Spider: scary (I'm literally terrified of spiders)
• Team: family
• Campus: freedom
• Practice: hard