I can vividly remember watching William and Mary for the first time from the stands. Below, on deck were my former teammates and friends, swimming their hearts out against some very formidable competition. Graduation took me away from the ring-side view and I was left to feel the unparalleled intensity and fight in each of the competitors as a member of the raucous crowd. From high in the bleachers, I remember thinking to myself, "wouldn't it be great to have the opportunity to be on deck with a college team?"
And five years from that notion, I stood on deck for three memorable days in February at the University of Georgia's beautiful facility to marvel at a team that I could claim I was a part of. This past weekend was THAT image I had in my head when I decided to pursue collegiate swim coaching.
For the guys' team, the goal was to finish in the top eight to make in the championship heat at night and, depending on who the girl was, the goal was the same or to swim well enough to make the top 16. On deck, way heart was flying with every race. The most difficult part for me was the start; "please just make it to the water," I would think. Once the racing began, you live and die with every stroke, every turn, every finish. The kids are basically on their own, but if there's even the smallest bit of difference that you can make by whistling or being visible, with arms flailing and fists pumping, you would do it. Anyone would.
As intense as the morning sessions were, the night was twice as enchanting. Could the kids swim faster than in the morning? Can we move up in place? Is there anything left in the tank? How will this affect tomorrow's swim? There is something supremely different about swimming for points and for your team. It no longer becomes about returning for that second swim or achieving that best time. It's now about beating the guys and gals next to you. You've all made it - now who's better. With some of the longer distance, there may be some strategy involved, but it's minuscule compared to the physical and mental fortitude showcased.
On deck, we keep our poise until the rubber meets the road. I would gyrate and whistle and signal at what I thought were the most opportune moments. It's a guarantee that not everyone saw or heard me, but you would have reacted similarly if you had a front row seat as well. Points would be earned, medals would be won, records would fall, and champions were carved.
Two races in particular brought the most out of me: the 400 IM and the mile. The 400 IM was on the second day of competition and we had a tremendous wealth of talent firing on all cylinders in the morning and evening. On deck, we would implore the Wildcats to kick harder, reach longer, turn quicker over 16 grueling laps. To see how well Kerman, Seo, Ben, and Colin did for the guys and Anna, Lauren, Alanna, and Casey did for the girls was really enjoyable for me. As long as the race is compared most of the others, it can seem like a sprint when the kids maneuver as quickly as they do.
However, for me, none of these races compare like the mile. For the distance swimmers (whom you see at the top of this site) this is the race you train for. It's Saturday, the final day, and you're beat-up for the distances you've already tolled on your body from the first two days. But there they were, grinding out every yard with great intensity, pain, and purpose to achieve that place and split there were destined to attain.
This is as close to "play-calling" as you're going to get during a swim meet and I absolutely loved it. The race may take over 15 minutes, but you felt that every second mattered. We're jumping signaling the swimmers to stay long of the walls, signaling to the counters to move the placement of the lap counter, signaling who to chase, signaling to kick and on and on and on. All of our milers swam best season times. Colin brought the house down with his 40-second drop. Merritt and Alanna set new school records with Merritt taking the title. Caitlin shaved 20 seconds, Meagan and Seo battled to season bests, Porter and Hailey willingly swam the event for the good of the team and looked magnificent in doing so.
When it was over, just like the other races, the hugs were aplenty with the occasional tears getting the best of the kids. They had come to grips with how much it hurt and how they fought through that hurt. The mile exemplified what it meant to be on deck during a conference championship. You live and die with every stroke, every turn, every finish. You would give anything in the world to see your team swim their best when the spotlight was the brightest. It was a treat for me to say they did just that.
Part II - The races
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