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More
Than a Pool, More Than a Team
The time is 5:30 a.m. as the stars gleam overhead on a blustery
Tuesday morning. Laughter and quiet chatter from my teammates
entwines with the patter of rain splattering on the pool deck. I
help to uncover the pool and then hustle into the locker room with
my teammates where we change into our swimsuits and then quickly
head back out. Although it’s never easy to get up to go swim
when the stars are out and the sun is still sleeping, we honor
perseverance. Commitment and dedication are imperative qualities
that we strive to live by in order to strengthen our team’s
unparallel bond with one another. Icy rain pours from the gloomy
clouds above. We gather in a circle where everyone listens intently
and respectfully to our coach, Donnie, as he describes the workout
over the roar of the rain, and reminds us to be “above the
weather.” The team dives in the pool for warm up and when we
finish we quickly hop out again to hear Donnie explain the next
set.
This is going to be my third year swimming for Orinda
Aquatics, a year-round swim team that’s soul purpose is to
continue a tradition of team unity and impeccable character. We
constantly push our physical and mental limits during workouts and
races and we approach swimming with a positive thirst for
challenges. Like many sports teams, we persistently encourage each
other to never give up. Because our team spends the majority of our
time working out at the pool together, we share an incredible sense
of family. When I first started Orinda Aquatics, my coach told me
that I would develop long-lasting relationships with my teammates.
I didn’t realize just how right he was until I came back from
a long break. The first day back absolutely vibrated with energy as
we excitedly greeted everyone with hugs and smiles. Three weeks of
vacation had felt more like three months apart from each other. I
am filled with a sense of ease knowing that I have a security net
of friends to rely on.
I don’t believe that Orinda Aquatics would be the
same team that it is today if it weren’t for our staunch
coaches. In today’s world, people who are completely driven
by helping other people are hard to come by. Our coaches come to
workout with the goal of improving everyone’s stroke by the
end of practice. They remind us to keep the “big
picture” in mind so that we see beyond minor setbacks and
learn from mistakes. I have immense respect for all of them, but at
the same time I am very comfortable to talk to them about school,
piano, or personal problems. They have taught me to keep swimming
in balance with the rest of my life. I am grateful to them beyond
words for being dedicated coaches, role models, and
friends.
When
you swim on a year-round team, the OMPA rules won’t allow you
to swim on a rec team during the summer at the same time. I am so
fortunate because my old rec team’s coach lets me junior
coach over the summer, so I still get to be involved with Miramonte
Swim Club. For seven years Miramonte taught me how to race, build
endurance, and strengthen my stroke. Miramonte gave me my first
experience on a tight-knit team where everyone worked towards the
same goal of improving the team’s success. I was enthralled
with the team spirit and support for every single swimmer. Coaching
over the summer is without a doubt the best summer job I could
imagine. The kids are eager to learn how to become better swimmers
and I love watching their relationships with each other grow over
the season. I also become very attached to the kids. My favorite
part of coaching is when you work on a stroke with someone and they
take your advice and run with it. Nothing makes me prouder than
when one of my swimmers comes running to me in excitement after a
race because they crushed their previous time.
A swim team may have the fastest times in the country, but
that team will never be the greatest until it has the best
character in the country. Integrity is the core of every
team’s foundation. The people who have made the greatest
impact on me aren’t necessarily the fastest swimmers in the
pool. I have been coached by, coached with, and swam in the same
lane as Vinny Liang, an Orinda Aquatics alumnus. I don’t
think he will ever know how much respect I have for him. Not only
does he have a vast knowledge about swimming and how to critique a
stroke, he is loved and respected by his swimmers, teammates, and
co-workers. Vinny is an extremely competitive swimmer, but he
stands out because of his humility, work ethic, and friendly
demeanor. I am truly grateful to Orinda Aquatics and Miramonte Swim
Club for introducing me to Vinny and so many other incredible
people like him.
People always ask me why I swim year-round. They ask me
how I make myself get up for morning practices and how I endure the
intense workouts. My answer is pretty simple. I love swimming. I
love the life lessons that the sport teaches me. Practices relieve
my stress by keeping my mind focused on the here and now. I feel
proud of my physical and mental strength when I work through
difficult sets. But more importantly, I swim year-round because of
my team. My teammates are some of my closest friends. We have
coaches that are like father figures because of how much they care
for us inside and outside of the pool. The environment is always
positive and geared towards “putting character first,”
as our team motto says. I’m sure that Orinda Aquatics will be
the best group of people that I will ever have the chance to be a
part of.
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