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Shelbi
Luchini
Now as I start to move
into the future and head off to college, I would like to share how
Orinda Aquatics has made me a better person and swimmer in every
way. The first and most important virtue that OA has taught me is
to live with the most impeccable character as possible. Character
first is the motto of the team and whenever I am at a swim meet, I
always see that character shine through in every OA team member.
They are always cheering, encouraging and supporting their fellow
team mates. My teammates are much more - they are my best friends.
Every day I look forward to seeing them and I will miss them so
much when I go to college. I will always cherish the times we spent
together and I know we will continue to have amazing experiences in
the future.
I have learned to be
respectful, humble and to always look at the brighter side of a
situation. I am so grateful that Orinda Aquatics has given me
something that I never thought I could achieve in my high school
career; confidence. This new found confidence that I now have has
changed my life completely and I owe that all to this swim program
because I can now walk with my head held high and look a person in
the eyes without feeling uncomfortable.
The
Orinda
coaches are truly one of a kind. They are unlike
any individuals I have ever met in my life. Donnie is one of the
most sincere people I know; he can always help us to see the glass
as half full. For example, he is always looking for ways to
encourage us, either with articles or his own words of wisdom.
Ronnie’s friendship is something that I will cherish forever.
There have been discussions beyond swimming that have included
philosophy, religions, politics and diversity…I could go on
forever. These discussions have helped me realize the bigger
picture; life beyond swimming. Ronnie and Donnie have held us all
to a very high standard throughout our years with Orinda Aquatics,
and I believe that it has molded us into better swimmers, better
teammates, better students, and most importantly better people, and
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know if I
truly understood the journey that I was about to embark on as I
entered the OA family, but now as I move forward as a young woman,
I realize the impact that this program has had on my life and will
continue to have from this point forward. God bless all of you as
you continue on your journey with Orinda Aquatics, and know that
the OA family is always going to be right behind you every
stroke of the way.
Best Regards,
Shelbi
Luchini
Chris
Chuck
Dear swimmers, coaches, and parents of Orinda
Aquatics,
I never thought that I would be sitting here
writing my own going away letter to the team like my many role
models once did as seniors. Where to start? I don’t know, but so much
has shaped me during these past five years.
Last week, I was counting down the days until I
leave for UC Santa Barbara and my nerves hit. I was not a 48 second 100
butterflyer, a 1 minute 48 second 200 IMer, or anywhere near a 44
second 100 freestyler like the other incoming freshman were. I didn’t even have a
Jr. National Time, which was the bare minimum for everyone
else. I was
scared! But it finally
hit me… Orinda Aquatics has given me so much more than time
standards.
Next year, I may not be bringing a NCAA quality
breaststroke but I know that I can contribute in so many other ways
with just the same amount of importance. I know that I can bring
sportsmanship, class, personality, and camaraderie to the
team. I now know what
it takes to climb to the top of the mountain and immediately set
forth on another one off in the distance. And, I have finally learned that
it truly is “the journey that matters, in the
end.”
Thank you Matt, Marc, Dave, Ronnie, Donnie, and
Christina. I
don’t know where I would be without all of you. Ronnie, thank you for deciding
not to “cut the cord” on me, but instead pushing me to
my limits. I have
developed into a swimmer and a person that I had never imagined
becoming when I first joined the team. Thank you for all of the great
times and memories that I will always cherish. Just remember: “When the
going gets tough, the tough get going!” Best of luck to all of you in the
future and never hesitate to contact me!
Godspeed,
Chris Chuck
Caroline
Lukins, aka, CABL
Dear Coaches, teammates, and
parents,
Thank you for more than words can
say.
Excerpt from college essay
draft:
“…When I was twelve, my best friend
and I begged our parents to let us swim for the year round swim
team, Orinda Aquatics. My parents were skeptical, as the team was
somewhat expensive and inconvenient given the multiple sport
commitments of our big family. I was allowed to join the team only
after promising never to complain about waiting for rides, swimming
in the cold, or competing without parental cheerleaders. The thrill
of being on “OA” was soon dulled by the reality of
intense practices and exhausting meets. Those first few months I
learned how to feign being “sick” better than ever
before, and contemplated quitting before the cold winter
started. Nevertheless,
my best friend convinced me to stick out that first season—we
hadn’t made any friends on the team yet, and she didn’t
want to have to swim in her lane alone. I often look back on this moment
and wonder how different my life would be had my best
friend’s 12-year-old insecurities gotten in the
way.
I have been on Orinda Aquatics for 7 years now,
and it has undoubtedly been the best experience of my life…
…My teammates and coaches have enhanced my growth and
experience as a swimmer and as a teenager. The same obstacles that I
experienced at the beginning of my swimming career plus the many
that have accumulated over the years shrink in the presence of
their unwavering support. My teammates and coaches have
taught me how to mix companionships with rivalries and intensity
with pleasure. They
have shown me how a smile can ease hard work and how valuable it is
to stay focused, disciplined, and most of all, hopeful, even at the
most despairing of times.
Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned from
both my team and from the sport itself is humility: ‘Regardless of how a race
ends for a swimmer, neither the clock can be beat nor can the swim
be completely perfect.
That makes the sport one of the most humbling on the planet. Ultimately, satisfaction
must come from within’
–P.H. Mullen. At the end of a race there is
such obvious room for improvement—a tighter turn, a faster
dive, a smarter pace-- that the time on the clock holds little
meaning. Fulfillment
only comes when one remembers the hours of meticulous practicing,
hard work, and pain put into this one race—times, splits, and
placing are simply the outcomes...”
I have been blessed to be able to take part in
such a genuine program as Orinda Aquatics. I don’t have to look past
the heavy eyelids after morning practices, the freezing rainy days,
the social sacrifices, or the never ending health problems that
came hand in hand with swimming to believe this-- Because with this
team I was able to find humor in the loopy morning practices,
growth throughout the freezing rainy days, companionship on the
pool deck, and unconditional support when my health took unexpected
turns. OA has taught
me morals and values that I take pride in believing, and will
undoubtedly help me excel in swimming and
life.
Thank you to teammates for your friendship - your
character, depth, and loyalty are
unparalleled.
Thank you to Ronnie for understanding- Your faith
in me gave me faith in myself.
Thank you to Donnie for your perspective- You
never fail to see the brighter side.
Thank you to Matt Coach- You taught me to love
the sport.
Thank you to Mom and Dad for everything- Your
unreserved support, trust, and love was more than I could ask
for.
Caroline Lukins, aka, CABL
-
Sean Haufler
These past five years on Orinda Aquatics have
been an enlightening part of my adolescence. Rather than recounting
the details, I’d like to make my final farewell by addressing
the swimmers. To the
underclassmen: all of you are ready to become
leaders.
When I was a freshman, I looked up to Kris Kao. I
strove to emulate Kris; he was a beast in workout and the nicest
guy you could ever meet. Kris drove me to morning workouts my
entire freshman year.
During the summer, Kris scheduled for us to meet
in
Orinda
at
5:20 for the 6 o clock workout because he “liked to be
early”. Every day, for two and a half months, Kris would
drive me to the
Soda
Center
and then we
would wait in his car for practice to start for about 25 minutes.
Neither of us mentioned changing our meeting time so we could glean
another few minutes of sleep. Rather, we bonded. We talked about
swimming, Giants baseball, and life in general, developing a
legitimate friendship. On days when I didn’t have a ride home
after practice, Kris offered to drive 15 minutes out of his way to
bring me home. When I thanked him for his kindness, he brushed me
off. He say, “I’m happy to do it”, or
“Don’t worry about it”. I respected Kris’s
humility, but I still wanted to return the favor to him. Kris was
just too generous, and I didn’t know how to repay
him.
After one particularly arduous swim meet, Kris
once again went out of his way to drive me home. Again, I thanked
him profusely. He replied, “You don’t have to thank me.
Just make sure when you’re a senior, you give rides to
another freshman. Pass it on.” That statement stuck with me
to this day. For the next three years, whenever someone on the team
needed a suit for practice, they could have mine. When someone
needed a ride, they got one. I was repaying
Kris.
Kris Kao’s attitude epitomizes the strength
of character possessed by the entire Orinda Aquatics swim team. He
put the team’s interests ahead of his own. His unselfishness
was, and continues to be, contagious.
To the team: If I’ve given you a ride, pass
it on. If I’ve done you a favor, pass it on. If you were on
the receiving end of some tough love (*cough cough* Robbie Ashby),
feel free to pass that on as well.
Finally, the viral proliferation of kindness on
Orinda Aquatics is a byproduct of Ronnie and Donnie’s
coaching. Without their emphasis on integrity and “the big
picture”, none of this would exist. There is no freshman
hazing on
Orinda Aquatics, nor are parent chaperones needed
on travel trips. The coaches are confident that every swimmer will
“do the right thing”.
Thank you Ronnie, and thank you Donnie. Thank you
for the coaching, and thank you for the life lessons. But most
importantly, thank you for the team atmosphere of Orinda Aquatics.
You created a positive feedback loop; every year, the character of
the team gets better and better. Thanks to Matt, Dave, and all the
parents and swimmers. See you next summer.
- Sean Haufler
Jeremy
Chang
Summer, 2005. He stared back at me with
full focus, not even hesitating to blink. As the final phrase stumbled out
of my mouth, I slowed down my pace and chose my words carefully:
“I’m just frustrated and… I don’t know if
I want to swim anymore.” Silence. The season was coming to a close,
and I would finish with no best times, a lot of disappointment, and
a serious decision to make. “I understand your
frustration,” Matt Ehrengerber said, “but I think you
should stick with it.
You still have many more years ahead, and the hard work will pay
off, trust me.”
It was a simple piece of advice that led to the best choice
I’ve ever made.
They say that some
things in life just can’t be described, that they have to be
experienced first hand. Some experiences are so powerful,
so significant that words can’t come close to capturing their
true essence. Right
now, I find myself struggling with just such a problem: attempting
to explain what this team means to me, how it’s altered my
life. Maybe it’s
impossible to truly convey this message… but I’ll give
it a shot.
For the past six years,
I’ve been part of something much greater than just a
sport. Swimming, and
more importantly, Orinda Aquatics, has not just shaped me into a
better man, but become part of my own identity. I still remember my mindset when
I attended my first practice: “Why am I here? Why did I join? How long until I can
quit?” The
negativity was rampant through my thoughts, affecting not just my
work in the pool, but every other aspect of my life. Nonetheless, I gradually
understood that this was no ordinary program that solely strived
for fast times, but a team that was founded on strength of
character and all-around success, just what I needed.
Now that I have time to
reflect on what I remember most, I’ve come to realize that
it’s not the memorable swims or hours spent in practice, but
the camaraderie that defines Orinda Aquatics. The sea of red shirts, the dozens
of booming cheers, the trust we put in each other to do our best
and race for the good of the team, that’s what is clearest in
my mind and what I can appreciate the most from my OA
career.
In the end, I could
never have ended up where I am today without this team and the
support from everyone around me, so I can only offer my sincere
gratitude to all those who have helped me along the way. Ronnie, Donnie, Matt, all
my friends and family, thank you so much for everything that
you’ve done. It
has truly made me into the person I am today. Keep on pushing and never
sacrifice your character for anything. Follow the black line. It will guide you on your
journeys.
Best of luck, Jeremy
Chang
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