So far i have been here for almost 4 weeks and
each week is both new and exciting. The first week I
was just getting settled in and meeting both the
swim team and my new room mate Lauren who is from
Van Couver British Columbia. She is very nice and
her personality is alot like my own which makes it
easier to get along and live together. I have found
that after talking to her that Canada and the United
States are very different in both culture and the
way we say certain things. For example knives and
forks are "cutlery" and the bathroom is the "wash
room." Not any words that i havent heard before just
different. Also in the first week I got a chance to
meet the rest of the men and women's swim team who
are all very nice and willing to fill me in on any
information about both school and swimming.
The second week got a little tougher with school
starting and trying to find all of my classes and
getting used to walking long distances. But after
awhile i found that all of my classes are all in the
same area so it was very simple. I am taking 6
classes this semester and they all seem to be very
managable so far. I havent had any tests yet so that
will be the deciding factor! My favorite class so
far has to be my sports psychology class. The
teacher is the cross country coach for the
University of Missouri and he really knows
alot about the topic. He has us reading a book
called Flow in Sport which i have really
enjoyed so far. It just talks about how to mentally
prepare for big competitions and events and what to
expect. The class is mainly athletes which makes it
very interesting when I see the football players on
tv during a game on the weekend that are sitting
next to me in class during the week!
Once school started so did captains swim
practices and mandatory dryland and weights. The
swimming was optional but i made sure that I went to
each practice just to make sure that i did not get
behind. At the captains practices we just learned
the drills that we would need throughout the year
for both freestyle and backstroke. Many of the
drills are very similar to the ones that you have
taught at practice so I feel well prepared. They
also use alot of the same equipment including the
snorkle, which i have found is not very common on
other swim teams and many of the freshmen are
nervous about using them during practice which again
is one less thing i have to worry about because we
use them all the time! The mandatory weights I have
had three times. So far we havent lifted, but have
done alot of conditioning with medballs, abs,
running, and arm and leg strenghtening. This is
probably my weaker area like it always has been but
i have been giving it my all each time we go in. I
try to keep an open mind and try not to get
discouraged when the drill or exercise looks to
tough. There are many new abs and med ball drills
that i have learned and so when i get back i would
be willing to show you because i think they help out
alot! I do feel well prepared though for dryland
especially with the medballs using them with proper
form. The weight coach we have hear is a former
gymnast and looks like she could bench press 3
football players! At the end of each lifting
session in the morning we are allowed to take one
gatorade shake which are very similar to the
slimfast shakes that you have recommended. Along
with the shake we can take up to 3 protein granola
bars to take and eat throughout the day. This really
helps me keep not as hungry and I can snack on them
between classes.
This past labor day weekend on both Saturday and
Sunday we had a team building activity day where we
were not informed what was planned and only the
coaches knew. They told us what teams we were on,
either black or gold, and where to meet. I was on
the black team so i had to dress head to toe in
black. Once we got there we did team activities
against the gold team keeping track of points such
as water balloon toss, egg toss, a scavneger hunt,
relays, and jeopardy where prior to the weekend we
were given fact sheets with information about each
member of the womens team and had to memorize
interesting facts about them such as where they were
from, brothers and sisters, and favorite food. The
black team won, but the team building continues next
weekend as well.
Overall my experience here so far has been great.
I feel very prepared from all that you have taught
me over the four years i have swam with the stars.
You have given me so much knowledge about the sport
of swimming that i can apply here. All of the tough
dryland and difficult swimming sets that at the time
I may not have been excited for now mean so much to
me in that whatever the coaches here give me i will
be ready. I can not thank you enough for all that
you have done for me because without you i would not
be swimming for the
University of Missouri.
I know that Stars Practice starts soon and i will
miss walking into practice and seeing everyone. I
also have learned since i have been here the
importance of a team, and how much i enjoyed being
apart of the Stars. Everyone on Stars was always
very supportive and encouraging. I knew that
whenever i came into the pool that i had teammates
that cared as much about their improvement as a
swimmer as they did my own. The friends and coaches
that i had on the Stars can never be replaced, and I
will be thinking of you this season! I can't wait to
come back during thanksgiving and get to swim and
see everyone again!
I will keep you updated on how practices are going
and once the meets start up how I am swimming. I
believe our first meet is the 3rd weekend in October
agaisnt
Indiana. Tell everyone hello for me and have
a good first day of Stars Practice!!!!!
~Margaret
