JV Swimmer Shirilette Lacusong (12) aims to finish strong as she sprints down her lane for the 50-meter freestyle. With swim meet events ranging from long-distance feats like the 500 free to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it 50 fly, knowing how to pace yourself is essential. Swimmers undergo intensive training throughout the entire season to build up stamina and change gears. Photo courtesy of Sally Yuguchi.
JV Swimmer Shirilette Lacusong (12) aims to finish strong as she sprints down her lane for the 50-meter freestyle. With swim meet events ranging from long-distance feats like the 500 free to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it 50 fly, knowing how to pace yourself is essential. Swimmers undergo intensive training throughout the entire season to build up stamina and change gears. Photo courtesy of Sally Yuguchi.

Swimming to Success

May 17, 2023

  Diving into spring with an undefeated winning streak, West High’s swim team has swept through the Pioneer League’s competition this season. The team has brought home five successive wins, even in the face of howling winds and heavy downpours. 

  JV Girls Swim Captain Morgan Lee (11) explained how “we have to put a lot of hard work into maintaining our physical bodies and mental states” in order to produce the best results possible, because “if you don’t take care of each one on its own, then both will collapse.”

   Lee cited procrastination as the primary obstacle to keeping a balanced schedule, especially while juggling AP courses and clubs. “It can be hard to manage, so I try getting as much work done as possible,” she stated. She further described rest and proper nutrition as keys to performing at her best: “If I can’t get in free time, then I’ll make it up by going to sleep early.”

   First-year swimmer Samantha Tully (9) also spoke to the importance of hard work: “You’ve got to work for what you want. At first, I was just like, ‘okay, I can swim, I made the team, I’m going to take it slow,’ but then I realized if I actually want to get faster and build up endurance, I have to push myself harder,” she recounted. 

   Though swimming is usually thought of as an individual sport, JV Boys Swim Captain Noah Johnson (10) wants the entire team to succeed. “Individual success doesn’t count just towards ourselves in swimming, it counts towards the entire team because that’s how it works,” he commented.

   Lee advised potential newcomers to not shy away from hard work and to focus on the gratifying rewards that come with it. “Even though practices are hard, they’re actually pretty worthwhile because you get more out of it than you expect,” she affirmed. 

   While playing a sport might act as a way to escape P.E. class or beef up college applications, Lee recommended choosing to play out of genuine interest rather than obligation. “We love this sport, that’s why we chose to stay with it – I hope that this kind of passion continues,” she beamed.

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