Whether you are a club swimmer and swim for a high school, or just a swimmer in high school, we all can relate to a few of these. Swimming in high school not only changed my perspective on life, but really taught me how to be a better person.
1. The First Practice
Whether you are a seasoned swimmer, or this is your first time stepping in a pool for practice, you can't help but get nervous. Whether you are confident or not, you just want to be accepted and hope to have a good time.
2. The First Meet
So after suffering through the first few weeks, the first meet is here. Your coach puts you in the Medley Relay and 200 Free. Maybe you're thinking, what order do I do it in, or will I mess up my lap count for the 200? It's time to prove your worth, and prove yourself. There are seniors on the team who have put their heart and soul into the sport. You don't want to let anyone down, whether you are a club swimmer or not.
3. Swimming for a team
The thing about high school swimming is that you swim for a team, not for yourself. In club swimming, it's all about your time, and how well you did. It's great to see friends also do well, but you're just trying to make cut offs. In high school, it's for the team. No time to be selfish, the moment you are on the block you realize the importance of the meet.
4. The Early And Late Nights
You need to get into the pool some time, right? It always seems like practice is in the early morning, or late at night. Either way, you really don't want to be there, but you have to go.
5. The Winter
This is mostly for northern states. Getting out of practice or a meet is like walking into the frozen tundra of Hoth. Your hair freezes along with your body. You have sweats on, but that doesn't help. The only way to get warm is to run to the bus or the car as fast as you can!
6. Winning
Finishing a race and immediately looking up to see how well you did, and seeing everyone else is still swimming, is an amazing feeling. You just killed that race, and now you know you contributed to the team, and you are definitely feeling faster than you did before.
7. Losing
People aren't so lucky sometimes; whether this race was the deciding point for the meet or not, you still lost. Maybe you didn't kick hard enough, or took a breath too soon off the wall. Now you know how it feels to fail, and why you should practice harder.
8. Doing Well As A Team
Whether the team won division, states, counties, or just overall, it is a great feeling. You invested so many hours to suffer along with your amazing teammates. Now you can celebrate your hard work and really feel like a winner with your teammates.
9. Doing Poorly As A Team
You win some, and you lose some, and unfortunately, there can only be one winner. You tasted victory, and now you are feeling the loss. You worked so hard just to get nowhere. But you can grow off this experience and realize you need to work harder, and motivate your teammates to push themselves.
10. Pasta Parties
One of the best parts about swimming in high school. The pasta parties are amazing! Carboloading before the meet is a great way to eat delicious food and hang out with some awesome people!
11. Last Practice
Captains practice, senior practice, whatever you call it, it's the best one of the year. You worked hard, whether you won or lost. Now it's time to enjoy yourself, because the season is over, and it's time to have some fun in the pool for once!
12. Last Meet
Whether you are a freshman or senior, this is it. After a year of hard work, the season is over, and it's time to say farewell. After four years, you really get to know people, and love them. The coaches and the experiences you went through can never be replaced. It's time to move on, maybe swim in college, or just in the pool for fun. Either way, after everything is all said and done, you know no other sport is better than swimming.
