From the outside, splashing in a pool with your friends doesn’t sound too bad when it comes to playing a sport, but, on the inside, athletes experience something different. From waking up at 4 a.m. for the first practice of the day to chlorine scented hair, swimming is not the easy sport some may think it is, and diving is just as hard. NAHS students have mixed feelings about the sport but the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
One of the most difficult aspects of swimming and dive is the commitment and discipline of the sport. Sophomore swimmer Maggie Hurley has to wake up at 4:30 a.m. some mornings to head to her first practice of the day. On top of this after school she heads to her second and final practice of the day. While two practices a day and early mornings certainly drain Hurley, her love for the sport and want to win fuel her. “Even when it’s freezing and I’m exhausted, there’s nothing like finishing a set and knowing I pushed myself to get better,” said Hurley.
Despite the early mornings and challenging practice, the team finds strength in their bonds with each other. Even though swimming is considered an individual sport, it truly takes a team to get through everything. Hearing your teammates cheering you on from the sides as your head breaches the water pushes athletes to do their best. “People think swimming’s an individual sport, but it’s really all about the team. We push each other every day and celebrate every win together,” said senior Samatha Bailey
Most people don’t realize how complex swimming is. The sport takes a lot of speed, strength, and precision, things that can be hard to understand if you have never tried the sport. Practices consist of multiple sets with less than a minute of rest in between reps. The short breaks or lack thereof shows the real difficulty of going all out for a whole practice. Sophomore Riley Sipe is one of the many committed athletes on the swim team. “My coach once told me to imagine holding your breath while running, that’s swimming,” said Sipe.
Often overlooked, diving is just as challenging as swimming. Diving ties flexibility to strengths to create a variety of different diving techniques (pikes, twists, and tucks) that must be perfected. Divers spend countless hours practicing just one of these techniques. Then they move into working on their entry into the pool. Jumping into a pool, how hard can that be? Now think about doing it without making a splash. “Diving has taught me patience and focus. It’s not just a sport, it’s something that helps me handle challenges in school and life,” said sophomore Molly Dinham.
Swimming and diving may look easy, but behind every early morning and tough practice is dedication, teamwork, and passion. NAHS athletes push themselves, support each other, and take pride in their sport — both in and out of the pool.
