Swim team rises early, eats lots

Swim team rises early, eats lots

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by Elizabeth Rieth

Which GHS sport gets up ridiculously early, eats constantly and is a crazy close family? The GHS swim team.

The three morning and six after-school practices make for a committed team. “Swimmers and divers are some of the hardest working people I know,” said junior Karla Hernandez-Walton. “We all just give 100% everyday.”

“I really love this team,” Hernandez-Walton continued. “It’s always exciting to see new people going for this sport. You know because the sport is so hard that these people want to push themselves and others.”

Hernandez-Walton is a diver for the team. She joined swimming for the great experience, a chance to meet new people and to push herself.

The way most swimmers push themselves is through the dreaded morning practices. 5:45 am sharp. Be ready, be awake, it’s time to swim.

While Hernandez-Walton might not have to go to these practices as a diver, she thinks morning practices would be hard to get up for.

Senior Ben Sommers swims for boys relays on December 3, 2016 (Branden Beachy / Network Administration).

Senior Ben Sommers swims for boys relays on December 3, 2016 (Branden Beachy / Network Administration).

Swimmer senior Ben Sommers agrees: “In theory, morning

practice sounds like an exhausting period of mental and physical decay. In reality, it’s an exhausting period of mental and physical decay.”

“That being said, it’s a great opportunity to get more time in the water and the work definitely pays off,” Sommers continued.

Senior Will Gaby has a very optimistic view on morning practices. “I like morning practices,” he said. “Honestly, getting out of bed is the hardest part. Having the opportunity to get an hour and a half of exercise before most people even wake up is fantastic.”

Sophomore Sam Metcalfe agrees. “I feel that morning practices are genuinely helping us improve, and while they may not be the most fun to get up and go to, in the end it is for your own good,” he said.

Metcalfe joined swimming all the way back in sixth grade because of his siblings. He joined thinking he could enjoy it; now the team is his family. “To be honest you end up spending more time with your team than with your actual family,” Metcalfe said.

“When you spend over 20 hours a week with the same people, it’s hard not to be close,” Sommers added.

Sophomore Joey Wade went so far as to say that swimming is more than a family. “We have a sacred brotherhood with an unbreakable bond,” Wade said.

Wade dives for GHS because the first time he saw diving in the Olympics, he just knew he had to do that. “Diving, is the best sport. It’s super aerobic, and in the air you can do whatever you want, flips and twists. You can’t get hurt, so it is perfect and unique to any other sport,” he said.

One of the best things about swimming for Wade is the positivity and camaraderie. “My team is so supporting, they make such a great environment,” he said.

Perhaps the most interesting aspects of swimming is the food.

Because swimmers and divers alike do tons of cardio in the week, they burn tons of calories. This means they go through food like crazy.

“I eat 2 to 3 times as much food when I’m in season compared to when I’m not,” Sommers said.

“You won’t go one day without seeing one of us eating something at all times,” said Hernandez-Walton. “I eat way more food during the swim season because swimming burns up carbs and fat like crazy”

Gaby loves the food he can eat in swimming. To him, it’s one of the best parts. Gaby enjoys how during swimming he can eat just about anything he wants, anytime he wants.

If you would like to see these hungry athletes compete, check out Goshen High School’s calendar.

“Also, most of our meets are home, so please come support us!” said Hernandez-Walton.

Author

lshetler

GHS English Teacher

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