A three-time state champion in the 500-yard freestyle and two-time champ in the 200-yard free competing for King Philip Regional, Stephanie Nasson is still going the distance at Boston University.

As a sophomore, she was the first BU female swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships since 1988. She rose to the occasion with her school-record times in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles.

A senior captain and Health Science major enrolled at BU’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation, the 21-year-old Wrentham resident was named to the Patriot League’s 25th Anniversary Team in 2015. She is a nine-time qualifier for the USA Swimming Nationals, representing the Adirondack Aquatic Club.

“Steph is always asking what she can do to get better and she’s one of the best captains I have ever coached,’’ said BU head coach Bill Smyth. “She has a ton of passion for our program and her teammates.’’

BU (5-1 in dual meets) will resume its schedule Jan. 9 at Colgate.

Her mother, Susan, captained the women’s swim team at the University of Rhode Island. Her sister, Sydney, is a freshman on the Tufts University women’s team and her other sister, Samantha, is a sophomore swim team member at King Philip.

Q. What is your earliest memory of swimming competitively?

A. At Salem State University when I was 10. I qualified in the 500 freestyle for the New England Age Group championships and even though I didn’t get a medal, I thought that winning one would be cool someday and it shaped my love for competition.

Q. What was the feeling of competing at the NCAA’s in 2014?

A. Amazing. I fed off the energy and the atmosphere and when I finished a race I’d receive messages of encouragement through social media so I felt I had great support from back home.

Q. Your favorite memory as a high school swimmer?

A. My senior season. It was special because I swam the 4x100 freestyle relay with Sydney, and we were second in the state meet in that event. Standing on the podium with her is something I’ll never forget.

Q. What are your plans after graduation?

A. I have qualified for the 800 meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials in June in Omaha. I also want to become a physician’s assistant, so I will take a year off to get some experience in the medical field and apply to school.

Q. What has been your most challenging course at BU?

A. Gross Anatomy, which I just finished this semester. It was very interesting and applicable to what I hope to go into. It required straight memorization and because of other classes and team practice, that became a time management challenge especially at the end of a long day.

Q. Your most memorable family vacation?

A. To Disney World for many years. The group included 13 cousins, 10 of us who were competitive swimmers, and 26 altogether. We would stay at the camp grounds where we could ride our bikes and we hotel-hopped to use their pools.

Q. What is your feeling about being a two-time captain at BU?

A. It means a lot. It’s a great honor to represent the team and I’ve learned a lot through the experience. I try to be a good listener and realize that every situation is different and there’s isn’t just one solution.

Q. What are the mental and physical challenges of your sport?

A. Physically, you’re using every muscle and you’re pushing yourself to the edge of exhaustion. But the next day you’re trying to push yourself even more which may mean hours of work that day. Mentally you have to be tough to get through practices. The two seconds you have to look at the wall and encourage your teammates can really pick you up.

MARVIN PAVE

For full interview, to bostonglobe.com/west.