jess's blogs: October 2013

During my high school years, I thought it would be good to join clubs or try out for a sport. So I would try to find what I could be best at: Swimming. I asked my friends Kelly and Solai, about joining for the winter season of 2009-2010, and going for another year in 2010-2011, which was my 12^th grade year. And my final opportunity to swim, almost practically ever, competitive wise.

“ We will have signups after school at the end of this month.” They said.

I was relieved on what I could possibly do, and achieve. Swimming. Once this time has come, the coaches were waiting in the cafeteria for all the regulars, and newer members to come into the cafeteria, so they can talk about what it’s going to be like.

“ You will need a physical, in order to compete during our meets, and to participate in daily practices. We also practice on Saturdays and holidays, except for Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years’ Day.”

“ The physical date, for free physicals here in the gym is November 4^th.” The assistant coach said.

So After that, I went home to explain everything to my aunt and family. They did have concerns of when I would be home every day. And I would need to call home for a ride. Unless my friends gave me rides. So November 4^th came, and I had to be at the school by 9 because the girl’s physicals were at quarter after 9, or 9:30. So I was one of

the many people that were there, because of swimming, wrestling, basketball and cheerleading. The guys that were there had to wait until 10 to get their physicals.

Once it was time again for Thanksgiving, practice had started to begin, and our scrimmage meet, wasn’t until December 5^th. I was set up with a bunch of first year swimmers as well, in the first two lanes of the pool. We were practicing our different strokes. Written on the whiteboard it says
“ 3 x 100 fast, 5 x 200 medium, 8 x 75s: first 25 sprint, 2^nd 25 relaxed, and last 25 sprint 50%.”

This terminology was new to me, since I have never swam competitively in my entire life. This felt like an accomplishment for me. Though my time in the 50 freestyle was over a minute, and that is not a good thing. The coaches time me and my teammates so that we can mark progress and what we need to do better.

Then December 11^th rolls around. Our first meet of the season. And my first meet ever. This meet was against Southern Lehigh. My younger sister’s school, and our non-conference rivals. Though it is hard to beat them, b/c they have many going to states every year, unlike us, where we send a few to states every FEW years or so. But I was anxious to wake up at 7 am, so I could eat a decent breakfast so I could board the bus, for 8:45. I did my chores, as accurately as I could, and got my stuff together. It was a Saturday morning on top of that. I rushed to the bus, having like 30 minutes to spare.

“Hey guys.”

“Are you nervous Jessica?” said Claire, one of my best friends.

“ No, not really.”

As we got on the bus, the coaches did head count to see who was missing. So after that, we started to head over to Saucon Valley’s pool since Southern Lehigh doesn’t have a pool in their school. So it was an extra 15 minute drive for us. The team were chatting about or listening to music on their iPods. About a half hour later, we arrive. We were directed to the locker rooms, while the other team was already in the pool practicing. We were all then looking at our game plan sheet, and who’s swimming what lane or stroke. About 15 of us line up to see if we’re even going to even swim an event. I got picked for the 50 freestyle in the 100 free relay, 100, in the 400 free relay, and 50 free and 100 free. I was events 1, 7, 17, 23. So I had time in between to rest up then.

As the competition started we were all shouting our team chant.

“ Let’s Go Allen!”

So I swim my events, and I don’t do horribly in my first meet ever, but the times are pretty bad. So with each and every meet, my 50 free has dropped 5-6 seconds, until my average was 40 seconds. And my best 100 free time was 1:50. Still awful, yet not too shabby for a first year. So the end of the Junior year is here, waiting for senior year. Where we get senior night, captain/co-captain spots.

“ Claire, Solai and Kelly are your new girl’s captain. Jessica, Ebelin are your senior co-captains. And Julia is your Junior co-captain.” The coach proclaimed.

As my final season on the swim team has arrived, I have practiced as hard as I could to get my time for my 50 free, to 35 seconds. And my 100, 1:29. Which came to the Easton meet, where I lead a leg of the 400 free, and was the fastest of the group. Also to mention that, a couple meets before the Easton meet, during the Liberty meet, my relay team beat out the two fastest Allen relays, and placed 4^th or 5^th out of 7^th.

“I was so close to beating you, but good race.” Said myself to the Liberty relays.

“Thanks.” They said.