Swimmers push for self improvement

Thu, 14 May 2009 16:15:32 GMT

By Jera Machuca

Tito Molina
Junior Kayla Crawford, top, races the 200 I.M. Senior Kenneth Trusty, left, gasps for air while racing in the 100 breast stroke.

Being on a team is like having a second family. They help one another through rough times. But there are times when the team doesn’t “think about the competition,” said sophomore Patrick Woodbury. Woodbury is a part of the swim team. For them it is not about the competition that surrounds around them, but the competition within themselves. Similar to Woodbury, Carson Williamson is more focused with his inner competition. Their inner competition comes from being better than before. Woodbury says he wants to beat his own time, while Williamson is “inspired to do better than before.” The two swimmers do not believe the meets they compete in are about winning, but improving along every step of the way. These two swimmers don’t focus on trying to beat the people around them but beating themselves each time around. To them, personal perfection is the rule of the sport. Other swimmers like Kimberlina Gomez joined for their love of swimming.Even though the team has struggled, they still find a way to continue swimming by setting their own goals. Gomez, just like Woodbury and Williamson, said she “wanted to beat (her) own times, get faster, and push (herself) which is something (she) believed (she) accomplished.” The group of students on this swim team push themselves to do better and it’s what keeps them swimming. These students are passionate about what they do, since they have to travel to Edison to practice and back and their only goal is to beat their own time. They are passionate about what they do and that is what keeps them going.

Stagg Line

Swimmers push for self improvement