{"id":118195,"date":"2014-12-23T06:32:40","date_gmt":"2014-12-23T13:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=118195"},"modified":"2014-12-23T12:14:35","modified_gmt":"2014-12-23T19:14:35","slug":"atlantic-10-swimming-stays-focused","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/atlantic-10-swimming-stays-focused\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlantic 10 Swimming Stays Focused For Homestretch"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kelsey Lynch, Swimming World College Intern<\/em><\/p>\n

KINGSTON – How does Atlantic 10 swimming push through these last weeks of its\u00a0demanding training schedules without losing sight of what\u2019s so close ahead? There\u2019s less than two months left of the season for the A-10 Conference, and swimmers know this is the most difficult time of the year. Training trips are steps ahead, and after that it\u2019s just one month out from Championships at Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.<\/p>\n

Every day and often twice per day, swimmers face relentless workouts that drain them of every last bit of energy they thought they had. So figuring out what one must do as a Division 1 swimmer on the homestretch toward championships is quite challenging. A few\u00a0A-10 swimmers shared\u00a0their tactics\u00a0this time of year to ensure that success is their only option in Ohio.<\/p>\n

A Common Theme<\/strong><\/p>\n

Atlantic 10 swimmers divulged their personal methods for how they endure the exhausting weeks leading up to A-10s. The common theme was not \u201cstaying positive\u201d or \u201chaving confidence\u201d as one might presume. While these are essential to the equation, it\u2019s something else that keeps these swimmers floating.<\/p>\n

The shared theme among A-10 competitors? Team pride, support and friendship are what swimmers rely on to survive the upcoming mental and physical exhaustion during training trips and beyond. Tanja Kirmse, a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University says, \u201cI think the most important thing is that everyone sees themselves as part of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Once I’m at my training trip with my team, they motivate me. It’s great to look around and see how hard other people are working,” says Angie Healy, a junior for Davidson College.<\/p>\n

Luke Boliek, a sophomore from Davidson says, “We are all very supportive of each other when it comes to the training trip.” He admits living together for 10 days is what brings them\u00a0together. “We are all really positive and supportive, we try to cut out any negativity when this time starts.”<\/p>\n

Being a part of team makes that exhaustion tolerable because a swimmer can look around during a particularly demanding workout and see that there are others around them who are also pushing themselves to their limits\u2014and further. Teammates have one another\u2019s backs; when everyone on the team knows this, great things can happen.<\/p>\n

Healy also says how great it is that\u00a0they are able to inspire\u00a0one another. “That’s my favorite part about being on a team\u2014they keep me motivated to keep trying my hardest and working toward out goals,” she says. Keeping in mind that you can only achieve your<\/em> goals if you are invested in your\u00a0team’s<\/em> goals as well.<\/p>\n

Hannah Homans, a freshman from the University of Rhode Island says, \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know that my teammates and I are all suffering together and it makes it much easier to keep myself motivated if I know that they\u2019re there to back me up and support me just as I would for them.\u201d This is undoubtedly a time of year that the support and encouragement of teammates is extremely crucial.<\/p>\n

Sarah Keshishian, a senior from Rhode Island says, \u201cI like focusing on one practice at a time and getting excited with my teammates to compete every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The physical exhaustion is indescribable. Two swim practices per day plus dry land training are next on the agenda for training trip-bound A-10 swimmers. But they\u2019ll be fine. They know as long as they recognize\u00a0the irreplaceable support of their teammates, everything will be alright.<\/p>\n

Teams do various activities to keep the training exciting and stimulating, especially during their training trips. Kirmse says that St. Bonaventure Swimming does different team challenges both in and out of the pool. She says this \u201cmakes practices more interesting and fun along with helping with team bonding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teams want to end their seasons with a bang at A-10 Championships, and Kirmse knows that the only way to do this is to know that, \u201cWe all are in this together and we know that when we get to A-10s, we as an entire team have put in the hard work and effort to succeed to the best of our ability.\u201d<\/p>\n

So when the going gets exceptionally tough the next few months, look around. You\u2019re surrounded by teammates with the same ultimate goal: To succeed at A-10s. But you can\u2019t do this alone, so when you feel like it\u2019s not worth the physical and mental pain, or your coach gave you a set that is way out of your reach, channel the support of your teammates. They\u2019re your supporters when you\u2019re in indescribable pain; appreciate their presence. Your teammates are what make this all worth it.<\/p>\n