By Taylor Konyk
Elm Staff Writer
It’s been a while since the Shoremen last competed at the Casey Swim Center, or anywhere else. Their last meet, a crushing victory against Widener, dated all the way back to Dec. 8.
While most students were home, enjoying peace away from school, the Washington College swim team took a detour to Key West Florida for an intense week of training.
“Though the weather is much nicer in Fla., this trip is a lot more than a vacation,” said sophomore Greg Lee. “This trip brings the team closer in many ways. We swim together, eat together, work together, and live together.”
Freshman Eric Burcin echoed Lee’s sentiments, chalking his first winter camp up to a great team bonding experience.
In the dead of winter with no competition, ambition runs low, and the water turns stagnant—pun intended. Motivation may have dissipated slightly due to the long layover between competitions. Sitting at a 3-2 record on the season, the Shoremen couldn’t afford to have a lapse in focus before the next meet. They couldn’t afford to be out of shape in the middle of the season.
Though the team’s core group has been through this ride before, the majority of the team’s freshmen have not. Therefore, the Key West swim camp was designed specifically to “kick us into shape physically,” but “also helps the team get a little excited for champs,” said Lee. “This is the peak of our in season training, and we run two practices almost every day we are there.” Noting the refreshing change of pace, Lee said, “Unlike the rest of the season, our only focus is swimming.”
Rather than struggling with school and athletics, the Shoremen focused solely on their swimming ability. For a week straight in the sunny paradise that is Key West, WC’s swimmers lived to swim.
With the batteries recharged and motivation high, the Shoremen prepared mentally and physically to get back to work. Their first challenge came Wednesday, Jan. 23, when they took on the Elizabethtown Blue Jays. The Shoremen expected a desperate swim team, because the Blue Jays arrived in Chestertown with startling 2-8 record.
The Shoremen disposed of the Blue Jays with ease, dominating race after race. They would move on to win 130-64.
Captain Robert Mix said before the race, “We really want to see good races.”
Fellow Captain Spencer Van Cise echoed Mix, stating this meet was “more of a mental test,” because the long layover between competition.
Before break, the Shoremen broke the 200 medley relay pool record. Though the long break was refreshing, they were anxious to get back to racing.
“The key is to not let it get in your head,” said freshman Charles Logan, understanding his relay’s capabilities. Looking forward he said, “We are going to champs, going to place, and going to break the team record. We have the pool record, now we need the team record.”
WC’s President Mitchell Reiss also sat in attendance. “It’s fully gratifying to see their classmates here cheering them on—winning is just the icing on the cake,” he said.
The win was not without some adversity though. Freshmen Sean Stevens is out indefinitely with a hand injury. Stevens was the last leg of that record breaking 200 Medley Relay, and his absence will be sorely missed.
Ultimately, the Shoremen lost to Dickinson 74-130.
The swim team’s senior day is this Saturday versus Ursinus at 1 p.m. , so come out and sport Goose Nation.