Just Keep Swimming

by Elias Parsons

You’re on the diving board, sweat rolling down your cheek and your heart pumping, veins filled with a sense of terror and adrenaline. As the judges warn you it’s about to start; the air is still and filled with silence. The next thing you know the buzzer blasts through the room and you know what to do: swim like you’ve never swam before.

Swim is not an easy sport to be in, whether it’s the exhausting practice or getting butterflies on the ride to a meet. It requires you to be in a state of mind, to be determined to perfect yourself not only physically, but also mentally. With that, it’s one of the best sports out there. The locker room is the breeding ground for good laughs and even greater memories. Heath Cross, a critical member of the team, states, “It’s a place where you can feel like a family. The team is there for you no matter what and builds you up.” Wesley Abney, another crucial and beloved member, comments, “Not anyone can be on the team. I mean that it requires you to forget about yourself and think the team as a whole.” What makes this team such an incredible experience is not only being part of a great team, but knowing when you’re creating memories that will stand the test of time.

'18-'19 team after practice.

Practices are another great addition to swim. The relief of completing a workout after two hours of swimming is something we all cherish. In order to actually complete the workout, you need the energy to do so. Swimmers need mostly one thing: water. It’s ironic that the one thing we desperately need is the one thing we dread. You also need a healthy diet, mostly greens and healthy meats. A good swim meal can consist of tuna, salad, rice, and three cups of water. Carbs are necessary since that is one of the only things that will you give you energy for practice; that, and the desire to be the fastest on the team. Elijah Hopkins, a senior and runner turned swimmer after he lost a bet, states, “Swim absolutely wrecked my body in a good way. The practices are hard, but it’s a thing you can’t blow off if you want to get better.”

Senior Wesley Abney swimming at a meet during the '18-'19 season.

Swim is not something to be taken with a grain of salt: it requires you to be able to push past your limitations and strive for greatness that you did not know you possessed. If you push yourself beyond what you think is your limitation, the reward is greater than the sacrifices and hardships. Swim is not about winning the meet or having the most medals; it’s about building up your team and standing strong together as one.