by Molly Preston
The YS swim team is one of the most decorated teams in the school. Our swim team is very dedicated to their season, every season. Swim pre-season begins in mid-September, and it is expected of swimmers to attend as many pre-season practices as possible. Regular season practices begin in early November, and the postseason goes well into March. That includes early morning, after school, weekend, and holiday practices.
Many students who do not swim often wonder how swimmers maintain good grades, a social life, and intense swim practices. “I don’t.” Said senior swimmer Keely Walsh, “I either focus on swim or I focus on school. I mean, a lot of times I cannot make plans during the swim season because it’s just impossible to get my schoolwork done AND have friends, so I’m AWOL during the swim season.”
As many students know, there are rules that student-athletes need to follow in order to be eligible to compete in games and meets. In order to be eligible, student-athletes need to be passing at least four credits and failing no less than two. So while swimmers admit it is difficult to balance school and swim, they still manage to keep their grades up enough to stay eligible. Junior swimmer Sophia Guyer attests to the effects of her sport on her grades: “Swim has both a positive and negative effect on my grades, but I do feel as though they would be better if I didn’t swim.”
Based on testimonies collected from swimmers, they practice an average of 20 hours a week. That number is high because swimmers have before and after school practice almost every day during the regular swim season. “[Morning practice starts at] 5:45 A.M., I’m usually tired and groggy for the rest of the day,” said senior swim captain CJ Zortman. It’s all tough love from the head coach, Coach Guyer. Coach Guyer has been coaching the York Suburban Swim team for 50 years.
At the end of each day, the swimmers continue to swim because they love it. It’s a physically challenging and time-consuming activity, but they still love it. Sophia Guyer said she persists in swimming because she “always wants to get [her] goals.” CJ Zortman said that “[The] end of the season results are usually pretty rewarding” and “growing relationships with everyone one the team keeps me going.”