Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Swimming and Diving Blog - Meg Lattimer
2/13/2013 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 13, 2013
Ask any swimmer about their favorite part of the season and you're guaranteed to hear a similar response: taper time. As the Bucknell men's and women's swimming season comes to a close, my teammates and I prepare for the most thrilling part of our year. With championships right around the corner, the team can't wait for all our hard work to pay off. Tensions are high, and everyone can feel the volume and energy levels steadily increasing on the pool deck. With yardage decreasing each day, our excitement and anticipation continues to grow. The joy and relief of taper time echoes our success throughout the season. I believe that our team has done an excellent job combining the three main ingredients for swimming fast: health, past performance, and excitement.
While staying healthy and fit is always difficult on a college campus, my teammates have put a lot of effort this season into eating right, staying hydrated, and avoiding sickness. This may seem like a small component of swimming, however, we have all learned from past experience what a healthy and fueled body can do for an athlete.
In addition, the team has shown true dedication for a sport we all love. Everyday our women and men step on deck ready to improve. We encourage each other in the water and we all share a passion for performance. We faced every obstacle this season together, succeeding as a team with elegance and excellence.
The last ingredient, and possibly the most important for my team, is the excitement that comes from unity. This year we focused on having fun, staying relaxed, and supporting each other. With fantastic leadership and enthusiasm, our team has reached a new high. I know that everyone will be on their feet and ready to experience the highlight of the season. Until then, we take time to rest our bodies and envision the success we desire.
For my teammates and me, everything comes down to one special moment. You step out of the warm up pool and make any last minute preparations. You take off your towel and place it on the bench as your heart races. The butterflies in your stomach refuse to stay still while you walk to the block, ready to compete. The previous heat finishes its last few laps as you enter an intense zone of concentration. Nothing can break you. You take a large breath that seems to fill your lungs in a way it has never before. As you adjust your goggles and cap, your whole body focuses solely on the water in front of you. The whistle blows. Your time has come. The crowd is cheering your name but you don't hear them. You hear nothing, just the complete silence of your mind. With a beep of the starter the excitement crashes upon you as you streamline below the water's surface. With the first few strokes you are in a rhythm, a rhythm that cannot be stopped. The whole race seems to move independently of time. Every extension is perfection, every wall is just right and before you know it you have finished. The team is cheering so loudly and the scoreboard reads exactly the way you imagined. Your joy and excitement overwhelm you as a smile erupts on your face.
These are the moments we love. The culmination of every 6 a.m. practice, every lap spent staring at the black line, every lift, every ache and pain you endure just to drop a second off your time. I am so excited to see how this season plays out for my fellow Bison. With all the energy on the pool deck, I know we are in for one crazy ride! Here we go BISON!!
