Early afternoon silence is broken by the rhythmic splashing of chlorine water against dark blue gutter walls. Sequentially paced, three different groups of swimmers line up at the pool wall at similar times. Sunlight filters through the turbulent water surface, illuminating columns of tiny bubbles drifting up and away from the grates lining the bottom of the pool. Under the strain of the lengthy swim set and the cold water, swimmers on the team find themselves pressed by the cycle of a timer. They don’t have the opportunity to appreciate the suspended world in which the force of gravity is slowed. The world is perceived through foggy blue goggles and a lens of focus and determination. However, in light of the hundreds of miles of training committed during a season, companionship and close connections are formed. Encouraging words are passed during the short pauses on the wall. Friendly conversations are shared during kick sets. This juxtaposition between taxing physical training and the warm camaraderie of the swim team illustrates the dual nature of the team's journey towards an undefeated season and deep run into Division 3 CIF.
The season's outcomes are backed by athletic training, built upon an emotional landscape of persistence. Swim takes a mental toll on every participant's mind. The psychological battle is pushed by exhausting threshold days. Four lengths of the pools twenty times over. The swim sets sometimes seem unnecessary in what they demand. In the words of Baye Breene, “a sport akin to a military boot camp.” Yet, through the inspiring words of coaches and teammates, the swim team thrives under harsh conditions. The familiar line of, “last one, fast one” is repeated again by Stella Rogers and followed by complaints from weary teammates.
Winning seven consecutive swim meets isn’t merely a result of physical training but a strategic orchestration of planning, execution, and teamwork. Dr. White structures meticulous workouts with a close eye on the seasonal arc of competition. Early season practices started with a build of strength and stamina, eventually leading to a taper to prepare for peak performance at the team's more significant meets. Each practice follows according to his planned swim sets which are printed and stuck to the sides of the pool. Coaches Dr. White, Mr. Barry, Jesse, and Dr. Moore give personalized tips to swimmers for the entire duration of practice. They also occasionally patrol the edges of the pool (specifically lane 8) to ensure no funny business is going on. The coaches work to draft a meet lineup that maximizes scoring points and opportunities for individuals to improve, leading to a broad point gap between competitors at swim meets.
The excitement and anticipation surrounding races in a swim meet are exhilarating. A blend of shared hardship and mutual support has propelled the team to sprint every last lap into the finishing wall. Individual athletes operating as a collective unit under a team has led to the conclusion of an incredible season with the following school records:
Phin Stephenson 100 Breastroke (58.99)
Girls 200 freestyle relay (1:45.78)
Girls 400 freestyle relay (3:55.52) - three seconds off a 12-year standing record
Boys 200 Medly relay (1:38.31)
Boy 400 freestyle relay (3:19.76)
The Cate swim team was able to bring 15 members to Division 3 CIFs at Mt. Sac. At the championship meet, the boy's side placed 6th out of 80 teams, and the girls placed 24th overall, resulting in the historically best-ranked season for the Cate swim team on both sides.
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