It's kind of wild - win your first conference title and your school goes nuts. Articles in the papers, congratulations from people you've never seen, a nice prime rib dinner from the president, better looking dates . . . seems like everything is a little better after you win that trophy.I can confess that it was a good feeling getting thrown in the pool, but I distinctly remember sitting there, looking at the guys saying, "Ok, gotta get ready for Nationals, have to replace this senior class, have to keep moving forward."
That's kind of the way it works when you're in our sport because nothing comes easy. Think about it - in plenty of other sports (not all of them mind you), you get together for some practices, rehearse your shot, your plays, your moves, then go out and decide in a 40- or 60- minute game whether you're a winner or a loser. Not so in swimming where the preparation for championship competition is a daily process. How you train, what you eat, how much you sleep, how you balance the three S's - school, social, & swimming - they all contribute to the end goal - championship performance. Hopefully by now you're well into your training for the long course season. It works the same way as a coach and the process of building a championship-caliber team is a year-round process.
Part of that process is attracting quality student-athletes and that's the reason for this site. I believe the best way to attract student-athletes to Carthage is to show them everything we have to offer. Over the coming weeks and months, this site will do just that. You'll be able to learn everything there is to know about Carthage swimming. Who we are, what we aim for, how we train, and more. I also want to encourage you to ask around because if you do, you'll see our tradition, while young, is growing rapidly, just like those articles, congratulations, and prime rib dinners.
Swim Fast!
GE