By Chris Balbo, Swimming World College Intern.
Joining a college team as a freshman is a daunting but thrilling experience. A new team, new schedule, and new practice methodology. With those changes also comes a different meet format: endless weekends spent racing at dual meets. For those freshmen now exploring new territory, here are five unique elements of college dual meets.
1. The Energy
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Club swimmers might think that high-level taper meets are the real deal, high energy, fast swimming and a great sense of team unity. However, college teams are tight-knit and packed with energy you cannot imagine. At dual meets you can feel the energy in the cheering, screaming and constant jumping of coaches, teammates, and spectators. Witnessing the success of your teammates is exhilarating, breathtaking, and an experience college swimmers never forget. The atmosphere of high school dual meets may have seemed energetic, but college swimming takes dual meets to new heights.
2. Quick Turnarounds
Photo Courtesy: David Torres
Most club meets have sessions that last for three to five hours, excluding warm ups. A traditional college meet, one heat of each contested event, can go by quickly. Opposed to a high school meet, the event line up includes the likes of the 1000 freestyle, 200 butterfly, and occasionally the 400 I.M.
3. Winning IS Everything
Photo Courtesy: David Wegiel
A premium is placed on winning. Meet scoring formats for college swimming allocates nine points to the winner of an event. Meaning if one team places 1st and 5th, they still “win” the event. Winning an event is crucial to making up points on an opponent. Relays especially are critical to the success of the team due to higher point values for winning relays.
4. No Warm Down Pool
Photo Courtesy: Brian Jenkins-UVM Athletics
Most elite meets have warm up, warm down facilities. Most college programs do not have the pool capacity or space for warming down between races, besides the incorporated breaks in the meet line-up. Being able to race with lactic acid is difficult but necessary for a college swimmer. It’s the grit and muscle fatigue that prepare swimmers for conference race day.
5. There is no “I” in Team
Photo Courtesy: William and Mary Athletics
Both figuratively and literally, swimming becomes a team sport much more in college swimming. Dual meets are won by team efforts. The swimming of one individual cannot carry a whole team. Multiple swimmers must take the helm and lead their team to victory. Your teammates are no longer your competitors, teammates talk race strategy, psych each other up, and attack races communally. College swimmers celebrate teammate success more than their own.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
So true!!
Northern Swim❤️?