The clock hits 6 a.m. The rush of adrenaline rises when the cold water hits against the surface of their bodies. They glide through the pool, their arms reaching out and splashing through each stroke — a normal routine for many Emmaus swimmers.
Despite swimming being often overlooked, swimmers frequently endure some of the most time-consuming training compared to the other 23 interscholastic sports in the district, which Head Coach Tim O’Connor acknowledges.
“Our sport is a challenging sport. You need to be heart-healthy because your face is in the water; you don’t have access to air all the time,” O’Connor said.
The Emmaus swim team, a co-ed sport, runs through a total of 9 total morning and afternoon practices in one week; however, some students at EHS wonder if swimming is too much.
Senior Griffin Messenlehner has been swimming since he was five years old, and understands the price to pay to see improvement in this sport.
“There are definitely times where I feel like the amount of swimming we’re doing seems like a lot,” Messenlehner said. “But in the end, just knowing that all the swimming we’re doing is helping us get better makes it a lot more bearable.”
Though not all individuals have the same views as Messenlehner, many committed swimmers agree that swimming is not as strict as it is perceive.
Senior swimmer and cheerleader Veronica Karboski shares insight into the difference between her two sports.
“I think swimming is closer than cheerleading,” Karboski said. “When you have girls and guys, it definitely balances each other out.”
Although one of the main struggles for students is time management, EHS swimmers find ways to work around their 15 hours of practices. That involves yoga and weightlifting, despite their piles of schoolwork and other commitments.
“Most of the balance comes with finding time for school work, and that’s really taking advantage of study halls, homerooms, or any free time you have,” Messenlehner said.
Swimming can be a major commitment, but many swimmers like Messenlehner and Karboski are able to demonstrate significant growth with their dedication to swimming, showcasing the difficult-yet-rewarding parts of their sport.
“It’s really hard to think that you can do everything and still compete in, not just swimming,” O’Connor said. “If you want to be good, it usually takes another level of commitment that you don’t see all too often.”
