In the past couple of weeks I've had a lot of time to think about 'fresh starts'. Some may know that I recently moved to Decorah, IA to work at Luther College as the assistant Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving coach. For the past few years I've lived at home in Milwaukee, minus my 6-months in Chicago, coaching hs boys swimming as well as a few other jobs. Moving out here to Iowa has not only been about starting a career for myself, but also changing my own life and starting fresh. I've got a new apartment, new responsibilities, new friends, new town, everything is new. As hard as it is to leave Milwaukee, especially this year after the group of friends I've become to know this summer, it's what I need to get myself going in the right direction.
While it isn't always major news, starting fresh is important for any athlete. Whether they've been traded to a new team, coming out of rehab, or just looking to make a change in order to find success again, it's important. Almost anyone can get a second chance at their life or career, but it's what one does with that chance that makes the difference.
For example, let's talk about Michael Vick. In his first years in the NFL he was one of the few QBs who found success right away with the Atlanta Falcons. He fast grew into one of the most athletic starting quarterbacks with what seemed to be a very long career ahead of him. It call came crashing down in 2007 when he pleaded guilty for dog fighting, suspended from the NFL, paying back much of his signing bonus and ultimately serving a prison sentence. Was it really possible for an ex convict to be reinstated to the NFL? Most would say no, but not even a year after his release he as signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in a 1 year contract for $1.6 million. The kicker; none of it guaranteed. It may not have been his most successful season but after what he'd been through, it was better than where he could be. Another year he was back as a starter, scoring touchdowns and getting the Eagles to the playoffs. A fresh start turned in the right direction, now what the future brings is to see if he can keep running on the right path.
Tiger Woods has been on fresh start track since the news of his infidelities broke in late 2009. Announcing his 'indefinite break from golf' the sports world waited to hear when they would see him play again. The 2010 Masters would be it and many anticipated we'd see a newly rejuvenated Woods to come on the course like the player we'd become to know him as. He came out strong with a 4-under 1st round, best ever start at Augusta, starting many to believe he indeed was back, everyone except those who finished 3 places in front of him. It seemed okay though, he played well, it was his first tournament back, nothing to worry about. Withdrawing from the Players Championship in the final round wasn't so promising either. Tried to defend his title at the Memorial; T-19th. U.S. Open; T-4th. The Open Championship; 13 shots behind surprise winner Louis Oosthuzin. In August, he finished 2nd to last at WGC Bridgestone with an 18 over par. Who was this guy? Not the same Tiger Woods who won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes. 2010 was lost for Woods when he finished out of the top 30 in the FedEx Cup rankings for the first time since 1996, but because Corey Pavin knew exactly how good Woods is he took the chance and still invited him to the Tour Championship. He did not play to expectations once again. We're now more than halfway through 2011 and Tiger has yet to win another major or even a regular tournament. Inconsistency has become his new name. As of right now, the last we'll see of him on the golf course was walking off the 9th green at the TPC as he withdrew himself in the 1st round. Various injuries since 2008 have been lingering in his game. Not to say that he's faking it, but when are they not going to be apart of his reasons behind not playing well? Tiger's 'fresh start' after his time off to get his life back together still has us wondering if he made the right choice. He's given himself a second chance, but we have yet to see success. When will we see him play again? Is it possible that one of the greatest golfers in history is never going to win another major?
Shooting himself in the leg on accident ultimately led to Plaxico Burress turning himself in for criminal possession of a handgun. Ultimately returning to Giants Stadium, Burress was suspended without pay, placed on a reserve list, and ineligible for the playoffs. After a 9 mm, rifle and ammunition were found at his home there wasn't much hope that we'd see Plaxico on the playing field anytime soon. Finally in August of 2009, he accepted the plea deal to serve 2 years in prison and an additional 2 years of supervised release. Released from jail he seemed ready to get back into the game, but with the NFL still in lockout he had to wait to see what could happen. Like Vick, many thought he'd never play another game, and at this point we were skeptical to believe there would be a season this year. Thankfully we're now in preseason football and Burress is back in uniform, with the New York Jets. The NFL world waits to see what he's going to do.
There are so many athletes over the years who get a second chance, fresh start, rebirth, whatever you choose to call it, and it's not always the successful stories that stand out the most. Tiger's near 2 year rebirth still has us wondering if he took the right path. A fresh start isn't always a long engagement, it could be simple as one of Shaquille O'Neal's new season with a different team or an Olympic athlete getting a 2nd or 3rd chance to go for a gold medal. Michael Phelps after being slandered for images of him smoking pot and living the party lifestyle has started to climb back to the top of medal stand even with Ryan Lochte currently standing in the way. Those of us who have been fortunate enough in life to be given a second chance at something can tell with experience that while it takes more work than before, taking that opportunity and running with it is worth every sacrifice. You sometimes have to go further, work harder, sacrifice more, find a little humility but when you bounce back stronger than ever, you realize it was all worth it. So, when you get your second chance, your fresh start, what are you going to do?
Showing posts with label Swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swimming. Show all posts
Monday, August 8, 2011
Sunday, December 12, 2010
2001 WIAA HS Swim & Dive State Champions
Going back and remembering a night, a single night, that happened a little over 9 years ago can be very difficult even when it's one of the most important nights of your life. However for me, remember this night, it seems like it was yesterday. I can remember it all perfectly. Friday November 10, 2001 changed my life forever.
August of 2001 was the beginning of my high school swimming career, a new chapter in my life. As a freshman, myself and the entire team knew that I was going to come in as one of the top swimmers immediately. Regardless, I was still scared shitless of the upperclassmen and the pressure of being at Shorewood. In the late 1990's, Shorewood had won 4 state championships in a row and were the team. Dominating every meet they went to and at the beginning of my freshman year there were some talks about our team in the next few years had potential to be almost as good. With a new coach we were nervous about how we were going to adapt to a new coaching style, but as the season progressed we started winning meets and swimming fast. Something was obviously clicking.
Conference and sectionals came and went and the next thing we know, we're preparing ourselves for the state meet. In Wisconsin, hs swimming is divided into 2 divisions, the smaller schools in division 2 and the larger schools in division 1. As one of the smallest schools with a swimming program in division 2, we were still able to have a dominant force. Winning our sectional and qualifying a number of swims to state our coach sat us down and Monday and told us how real it was that we COULD win state. Of course we wanted to win, but I think in the back of our minds we weren't sure if it really was possible. We had a week to prepare for the final meet of our season and come Thursday night, we were ready. With only 11 or so girls on our state team, we found it wildly hilarious that when we got to the parking lot Friday morning, our coach Rob had rented a full size school bus (that was the last year we did that) but of course it just made the day even better. We got in our bus and headed to Madison but before we went to the pool we stopped for lunch and a movie. Of all movies to see we sat down for Serendipity, a Christmas romantic comedy. Finally it was time to get to the UW-Madison Natatorium.
Now for anyone, the Nat can be a frightening place. Walking into the pool area, the pool itself and the separate diving well aren't so intimidating, except for the 2.5 ft high gutters and walls that make it nearly impossible to get out of the pool after you're done swimming, it's the stands that are the kick in the stomach. You walk on deck, turn around and look up to see the stands that seem to go on for an eternity, holding nearly 4,000 people. We walked onto the deck not really knowing what to expect, and as soon as our parents, teammates and other Shorewood students saw us a huge roar erupted followed by Shorewood cheers. If we weren't nervous before, we were at that moment. We got in for warm-ups and kept our routine the same as it had been all season. I don't get nervous often for a meet, I was always a very relaxed swimmer, but that night was one of the first moments I ever truly felt sick to my stomach with nerves.
We started the meet off with a bang, placing 2nd in the 200 Medley Relay. We had a good relay team all through the season, but unlike Whitnall, we weren't a sprinting team, so we knew that was their relay. With that energy that we got in that relay we continued to swim right where we needed to be, placing in the top spots either at our seeds or higher. What helped us win that meet wasn't just our swims that got us on the podium, but rather the ones that didn't. Everyone says that in order to win you need to win all the events, and yes that will help immensely, but it's the people who bring in the small points that can creep up on you. We had a few swimmers who got in those 4,5, and 6 points to keep us near the top of the leader board. To me there is no other meet quite like any high school state meet. Being in the Nat, you can barely hear yourself think at times because it's so loud. Everyone one of the competitors are there to win, there is no extra bonus or side incentive, pure competition to win the trophy and state title. We don't get paid to be there, we're there simply because we love the sport. Every stroke, race and finish is for ourselves and our team, nothing else.
As the meet progressed we started to realize that we really did have a chance to win the meet. We continued to place high in every race with at least one swim keeping ourselves in the mix. By the 100 Breaststroke, we were in 3rd place, but not by much. The rest of our team and coaches had figured out that if we won the final event, 400 Freestyle relay, we could win the meet, but for good reason did not tell us on the relay. Rob pulled us together before we walked to the blocks for the final race of the meet. Word for word he said (yes I still remember it): "Ladies, it's the last race of the night, you're in lane 1, outside smoke, no one's going to expect us. Swim fast and I better need a fucking crane to pull you out of the water when you're done". Our relay team of Marika Ross, Emily Whipp, myself, and Allison Clark had been together nearly all season. We knew exactly how we swam together and we ready for our final swim of the season.
Marika was our lead-off swim, she had the best start and got us out in front with Sauk Prairie and Oregon. Emily then dove in and kept us right there in the mix of things. Between us and the other 2 teams at this point we knew it was going to be a close race. Standing on the block for the 3rd leg we had the lead, I was shaking with nerves thinking "don't false start, don't false start"(and I'm shaking right now). Emily came into the wall and rather than making it risky I stayed safe, but still fast and dove into the water. I could barely see the other girls in the water because we were outside in lane 1, but I knew all I had to do was swim fast and keep my stroke strong and I could either pull ahead or stay with these girls. Finishing my 100, Allison dove in. She was our anchor our go to girl, if she was in the water we knew she'd be doing anything in her power not to lose the race. I pulled myself out of the water, out of breath, legs nearly dead, but I somehow mustered up the air left in my lungs to scream as Allison swam the final leg of our race. Allison swam that leg against two of the fastest girls in the state, Brittany Shutes (Oregon) and Lauren Bruenig (Sauk Prairie, 100 Freestyle state champion) and it all came down to the last 5 yards, the last stroke into the wall.
All 3 relay teams, state teams, fans in the stands, watched intently as these 3 girls came into the wall. With us being in lane 1 you could barely even see us swimming from the stands. The girls came into the wall at what to the naked eye was the exact same time and the entire natatorium went dead silent as everyone (including other teams) turned their heads to the scoreboard to see who won. What seemed like an eternity for the scoreboard to release the times it finally showed:
Shorewood 3:40.56
Oregon 3:40.62
Sauk Prairie 3:40.68
12-hundredths separated us from 3rd place. Chills ran up my back and all through my body with excitement and before I could even fathom what was going on we were jumping up and down with pure excitement that we had won the relay. We looked into the stands and saw the Shorewood cheering section erupting chanting "Shorewood Relays... Shorewood Relays!!!" Allison got out of the water and we were beyond ecstatic as our the rest of our team on the deck came running to us screaming "We won! We won!" we looked at them and were like of course we did, but then we realized as they changed the scores on the leader board that we had done it... we won state. That relay, those .06 hundredths of a second, won us the meet. Allison's perfect finish won us that meet. We couldn't believe it. Jumping up and down, looking to the stands, the feeling can't be described, it just can't no matter how much I try. Joy, excitement, elated, exhausted, pride, overwhelmed, nothing can describe how amazing it felt.
We waited impatiently as the award ceremonies happened then finally we got our chance to stand atop the podium for the 400 FR relay. The four of us squished on thee small podium didn't matter, we looked into the stands to see our teammates, family and friends, raised up the #1 and it was perfect. Finally, it was our chance, they announced the runner-up team, Whitnall, acknowledged their great meet. Then our trophy was handed to us, it was even better to see in person in our hands. Holding it up to the rest of the team, it was our time, our moment, and no one can take that away from us. We jumped in the water all together didn't matte if clothes were on. Once we were able to change in the locker room we walked out to the main hallway to an eruption of cheers and a mob of hugs. The amount of pride that came from our high school couldn't be matched that night. Even our principal and other teachers were there to support us. Our tradition was to go to the Olive Garden after the meet, they keep it open for us and bringing that trophy back there once again was indescribable. We ate, laughed, and shared stories from the night. Getting back onto the bus to drive back to Milwaukee we were rowdy and on such an adrenaline high we thought we'd stay awake the whole ride home, but alas we fell asleep. I woke up about halfway home and looked to the back of the bus, between the 11 of us there, everyone was laying across the aisle on two seats parkas on, we were a team, we won together and now we were all sleeping together. A perfect way to end the night. I can't help but smile right now thinking about how amazing that day was for us. No event in my life has been able to match the joy of that night and to this day I still remember it like it was yesterday.
"Shorewood Re-lays... Shorewood Re-lays..."
We... We are... We are the mighty... We are the mighty Greyhounds...
August of 2001 was the beginning of my high school swimming career, a new chapter in my life. As a freshman, myself and the entire team knew that I was going to come in as one of the top swimmers immediately. Regardless, I was still scared shitless of the upperclassmen and the pressure of being at Shorewood. In the late 1990's, Shorewood had won 4 state championships in a row and were the team. Dominating every meet they went to and at the beginning of my freshman year there were some talks about our team in the next few years had potential to be almost as good. With a new coach we were nervous about how we were going to adapt to a new coaching style, but as the season progressed we started winning meets and swimming fast. Something was obviously clicking.
Conference and sectionals came and went and the next thing we know, we're preparing ourselves for the state meet. In Wisconsin, hs swimming is divided into 2 divisions, the smaller schools in division 2 and the larger schools in division 1. As one of the smallest schools with a swimming program in division 2, we were still able to have a dominant force. Winning our sectional and qualifying a number of swims to state our coach sat us down and Monday and told us how real it was that we COULD win state. Of course we wanted to win, but I think in the back of our minds we weren't sure if it really was possible. We had a week to prepare for the final meet of our season and come Thursday night, we were ready. With only 11 or so girls on our state team, we found it wildly hilarious that when we got to the parking lot Friday morning, our coach Rob had rented a full size school bus (that was the last year we did that) but of course it just made the day even better. We got in our bus and headed to Madison but before we went to the pool we stopped for lunch and a movie. Of all movies to see we sat down for Serendipity, a Christmas romantic comedy. Finally it was time to get to the UW-Madison Natatorium.
Now for anyone, the Nat can be a frightening place. Walking into the pool area, the pool itself and the separate diving well aren't so intimidating, except for the 2.5 ft high gutters and walls that make it nearly impossible to get out of the pool after you're done swimming, it's the stands that are the kick in the stomach. You walk on deck, turn around and look up to see the stands that seem to go on for an eternity, holding nearly 4,000 people. We walked onto the deck not really knowing what to expect, and as soon as our parents, teammates and other Shorewood students saw us a huge roar erupted followed by Shorewood cheers. If we weren't nervous before, we were at that moment. We got in for warm-ups and kept our routine the same as it had been all season. I don't get nervous often for a meet, I was always a very relaxed swimmer, but that night was one of the first moments I ever truly felt sick to my stomach with nerves.
We started the meet off with a bang, placing 2nd in the 200 Medley Relay. We had a good relay team all through the season, but unlike Whitnall, we weren't a sprinting team, so we knew that was their relay. With that energy that we got in that relay we continued to swim right where we needed to be, placing in the top spots either at our seeds or higher. What helped us win that meet wasn't just our swims that got us on the podium, but rather the ones that didn't. Everyone says that in order to win you need to win all the events, and yes that will help immensely, but it's the people who bring in the small points that can creep up on you. We had a few swimmers who got in those 4,5, and 6 points to keep us near the top of the leader board. To me there is no other meet quite like any high school state meet. Being in the Nat, you can barely hear yourself think at times because it's so loud. Everyone one of the competitors are there to win, there is no extra bonus or side incentive, pure competition to win the trophy and state title. We don't get paid to be there, we're there simply because we love the sport. Every stroke, race and finish is for ourselves and our team, nothing else.
As the meet progressed we started to realize that we really did have a chance to win the meet. We continued to place high in every race with at least one swim keeping ourselves in the mix. By the 100 Breaststroke, we were in 3rd place, but not by much. The rest of our team and coaches had figured out that if we won the final event, 400 Freestyle relay, we could win the meet, but for good reason did not tell us on the relay. Rob pulled us together before we walked to the blocks for the final race of the meet. Word for word he said (yes I still remember it): "Ladies, it's the last race of the night, you're in lane 1, outside smoke, no one's going to expect us. Swim fast and I better need a fucking crane to pull you out of the water when you're done". Our relay team of Marika Ross, Emily Whipp, myself, and Allison Clark had been together nearly all season. We knew exactly how we swam together and we ready for our final swim of the season.
Marika was our lead-off swim, she had the best start and got us out in front with Sauk Prairie and Oregon. Emily then dove in and kept us right there in the mix of things. Between us and the other 2 teams at this point we knew it was going to be a close race. Standing on the block for the 3rd leg we had the lead, I was shaking with nerves thinking "don't false start, don't false start"(and I'm shaking right now). Emily came into the wall and rather than making it risky I stayed safe, but still fast and dove into the water. I could barely see the other girls in the water because we were outside in lane 1, but I knew all I had to do was swim fast and keep my stroke strong and I could either pull ahead or stay with these girls. Finishing my 100, Allison dove in. She was our anchor our go to girl, if she was in the water we knew she'd be doing anything in her power not to lose the race. I pulled myself out of the water, out of breath, legs nearly dead, but I somehow mustered up the air left in my lungs to scream as Allison swam the final leg of our race. Allison swam that leg against two of the fastest girls in the state, Brittany Shutes (Oregon) and Lauren Bruenig (Sauk Prairie, 100 Freestyle state champion) and it all came down to the last 5 yards, the last stroke into the wall.
All 3 relay teams, state teams, fans in the stands, watched intently as these 3 girls came into the wall. With us being in lane 1 you could barely even see us swimming from the stands. The girls came into the wall at what to the naked eye was the exact same time and the entire natatorium went dead silent as everyone (including other teams) turned their heads to the scoreboard to see who won. What seemed like an eternity for the scoreboard to release the times it finally showed:
Shorewood 3:40.56
Oregon 3:40.62
Sauk Prairie 3:40.68
12-hundredths separated us from 3rd place. Chills ran up my back and all through my body with excitement and before I could even fathom what was going on we were jumping up and down with pure excitement that we had won the relay. We looked into the stands and saw the Shorewood cheering section erupting chanting "Shorewood Relays... Shorewood Relays!!!" Allison got out of the water and we were beyond ecstatic as our the rest of our team on the deck came running to us screaming "We won! We won!" we looked at them and were like of course we did, but then we realized as they changed the scores on the leader board that we had done it... we won state. That relay, those .06 hundredths of a second, won us the meet. Allison's perfect finish won us that meet. We couldn't believe it. Jumping up and down, looking to the stands, the feeling can't be described, it just can't no matter how much I try. Joy, excitement, elated, exhausted, pride, overwhelmed, nothing can describe how amazing it felt.
We waited impatiently as the award ceremonies happened then finally we got our chance to stand atop the podium for the 400 FR relay. The four of us squished on thee small podium didn't matter, we looked into the stands to see our teammates, family and friends, raised up the #1 and it was perfect. Finally, it was our chance, they announced the runner-up team, Whitnall, acknowledged their great meet. Then our trophy was handed to us, it was even better to see in person in our hands. Holding it up to the rest of the team, it was our time, our moment, and no one can take that away from us. We jumped in the water all together didn't matte if clothes were on. Once we were able to change in the locker room we walked out to the main hallway to an eruption of cheers and a mob of hugs. The amount of pride that came from our high school couldn't be matched that night. Even our principal and other teachers were there to support us. Our tradition was to go to the Olive Garden after the meet, they keep it open for us and bringing that trophy back there once again was indescribable. We ate, laughed, and shared stories from the night. Getting back onto the bus to drive back to Milwaukee we were rowdy and on such an adrenaline high we thought we'd stay awake the whole ride home, but alas we fell asleep. I woke up about halfway home and looked to the back of the bus, between the 11 of us there, everyone was laying across the aisle on two seats parkas on, we were a team, we won together and now we were all sleeping together. A perfect way to end the night. I can't help but smile right now thinking about how amazing that day was for us. No event in my life has been able to match the joy of that night and to this day I still remember it like it was yesterday.
"Shorewood Re-lays... Shorewood Re-lays..."
We... We are... We are the mighty... We are the mighty Greyhounds...
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