Combat Training - Part I

Since around 2:10PM yesterday afternoon, the Bison had engaged themselves in some of the most rigorous training of the trip.  This is always a dicey proposition as nerves have been frayed and tempers just a little shorter with the continuing workload and competitive nature of the trip.

I give the team a lot of credit, yesterday, for pushing themselves during our long course practice.  I'm a big believer that while your ingrain yourself in the training trip experience, there has to be at least one practice where you proudly remember a challenge and subsequently conquering it.  You are permitted to have several of these memories and we certainly have many qualified candidates who can lay claim to these memories.  Below was that last long course meter memorable opportunity:

ROUND ONE - no fins
3:06PM 2x200s on 3:00 / 3:15
3:12PM 4x100s on 2:00 - Stroke, descend 1-4
3:20PM 8x50s Choice on :40 - rest 1 minute after number 4

ROUND TWO with FINS
3:27PM 2x200s on 2:40 / 3:00
3:33PM 4x100s on 1:45 - Stroke, descend 1-4
3:42PM 8x50s Choice SPRINT on 1:00 - rest after number 4

When warm down concluded and the team gathered outside, it was time for our annual game of Hooverball.  Those of you aware of how Hooverball is played: we took our 10-pound medicine ball to the nearest sand volleyball court.  We made two teams, of which we decided that 7 athletes can be on the court for each time at one time.  You must catch and throw the 10-pound medicine ball over the net and try to have it hit the ground on the other side before a member of the opposite team catches it.  You may make one pass to a teammate before throwing it over, but you can only take two steps when throwing.

Darien reminds his teammates how many steps you're permitted to take after catching the Hooverball

We played best two out of three games, first team to score 15 points, win by two.

This year's epic battles were no different that last year's, complete with sore arms, legs and occasional bloody thumbnail.  In our first game, Team Fire Fist rallied from early deficits to win 15-12.  In the second contest, Team Iron Claw took no prisoners in their late-game charge to win 15-13.  In the final match, Team Fire Fist forged a 8-0 run in the middle of the contest to win the coveted Hooverball Title with a score of 15-11.

The first day of 2011 was an outstanding one!  We trained like gladiators, competed like enraged bull fighters, and glistened in the Florida sunshine like the stars from Miami Vice (please take a moment to picture your favorite Bison in each of these scenarios.)  With all of this, there were some swimmers that separated themselves from the herd with their desire to start the year with a bang.

#3 - Frank Lynch - the freshman's finest practice of Florida came by switching lanes into a harder interval and sacrificing his body on a number of occasions for the good of Team Iron Claw (7.5.)
#2 - Damjan Strbac - Damjan looked fantastic in the water in the afternoon - dominated the 50s on :40 and splitting the fastest times on the team in the 100s and 50s with fins (8.)
#1 - Omar McKenzie and Darien Washington - normally we do not split the Prime Popcorn Practice Performances, but today is an exception.  If you remember from our Gulf swim, Darien and Omar and photographed for their mettle in swimming the farthest and longest.  Additionally, they joined Frank and Damjan in having tremendous afternoon practices, bypassing lane members with great purpose and form (8.5.)

This sea creature, whom we spotted in our Gulf swim this morning, weighed-in on Omar and Darien receiving a chalice meant for champions

It's going to be a sensational 2011...more to come as our time in Fort Myers approaches its final 12 hours...