The Aquinas
swim team has struggled to survive in the past, and this year it has finally
come to an end. The team usually swims during the usual boys’ winter season
even though our team is co-ed. That didn't stop our girl swimmers from winning
races against all boys. The swim team has been around for years except no one
has ever been able to swim at the AQ building. The pool was built back in the
day when Aquinas was an all-boys school but it was never filled with water, just
concrete. Not having a pool is just one issue. We have mostly swum the
past few years at the Maplewood YMCA, but that is costly even if we just need to
rent a few lanes. Money is something the swim team doesn't have, and because of
that we have always been on the verge of being cut. This year money and
commitment issues have led to us not having a team.
Even though the swim team doesn't
bring Aquinas any money or any Section V titles, it means more to the members
than that. The team loves the building of character, strength, and sportsmanship, as
well as coming together as a family. It doesn't matter if they win or lose,
they compete with the pride of knowing that they always try their best. They
encourage spirit and sportsmanship at practice and meets. They always made up
their own unique cheers at the end of meets and would even cheer on the
opposing team and teammates during races. The motivation brings the team closer
together as a family and allows the swimmers to have memories that last a
lifetime. Aquinas has also had many alum become Division 1 and Division 2
swimmers in college. Their love and attitude towards swimming is something they
will never forget, and it started at Aquinas. The swim team may sometimes smell
like chlorine, but that proves how much they enjoy being with each other in the
pool and how they just want to have fun and try to make a new personal record
in their next race.
By: Anna Schum
0 comments:
Post a Comment