Synchronized swimming

Growing up, I was a swimmer. I started swimming competitively when I was nine years old and continued throughout high school. Since high school, I have kept swimming a part of my life by using it for exercise and coaching swimmers from age five to eighteen. Swimming has provided many benefits to me. As the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested, swimming has become my "life sport" (AAP, 2006). For me it's like riding a bicycle, I never forget how to do any of the strokes. It is a…

the team but was willing to put in the extra effort. Since I was new to competitive swimming I started off swimming in the “easiest” events. These included the 50 meter and the 100 meter freestyle. Eventually I became a substitute swimmer that would go in whatever event needed another Hobart representative. This led to me being in the 200 meter more than anything else. Most people on the team to not enjoy swimming any distance above 100 meters. Eventually I would be tasked with one of the most…

Swimming through the Notes I can remember the day in fifth grade band sitting at the long, gray percussion tables listening to our band director teach “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Staring off into space because I already knew how to play it for a few months, I could vaguely hear Mrs. Tripi’s voice telling the flutes to watch for A flats and reminding the trumpets that B flat is first valve. As I waited patiently for the rest of the band to finally pick up on the well-known melody, I sat…

Slimy little fish in my small soft hand. Looking at the fish intensely with my deep brown eyes as it squirm I raised it in the air and tilted my head. Everyone chanting my name. The smell of campfires and s'mores abundant. I let go of the fish… Hang on let's go back a bit. It was my second week long scout camp and we were up at Camp Mapledale in Payson Canyon. We had been at scout camp three days now and that's when all the games start up. We came outside to a tiny and flimsy kitty pool, full…

Obituary of Lora Lee Eaker. Lora Lee Eaker 97 of Cape Girardeau went home to be with her Lord on ++/++/++++ at +++++. Lora Lee was born in Whitewater, Missouri on May 24, 1918 to Nellie M. Proffer and Albert Borneman. Lora Lee had two brothers; Glenn Proffer of Saint Louis and Ivan Grebe deceased. Lora Lee and George W. Eaker Sr. were married on July 23, 1935 at Bloomfield, Missouri. Lora Lee Eaker was the mother of two son’s Don Eaker (deceased) wife Judy, George W, Eaker wife Verna and…

One of my most distinctive long-term goals that I had was to qualify for our varsity swim and dive team as well as to participate in the state meet as a freshman. Being a nationally accredited team, I understood that if I wanted to achieve my goal, I would have to devote a large amount of my time and effort into my practice schedule. This resulted in multiple practice times, an increased workout schedule and participation in outside service involving the swim and dive team. After school,…

Swimming to gold Razorbacks broke their tie with Dolphins in the butterfly to finally win champions. For the first time in 34 years, the Razorbacks won gold at the Rockville Swimming Association Annual Championships on Thursday. After the second-to-last event, the Razorbacks and the Dolphins were tied. Winner of the last event, who were the Razorbacks, would be the tiebreaker to win champions. Boys’ fifteen-and-over one-hundred yard butterfly was the last race. Swimmers were Matt Gratton from…

I defend my friends, especially my teammates. Even though swimming is an individual sport, it is also a team sport. Waking up at 5:00 in the morning for a two-hour morning workout isn’t something that anyone can do. Having a team there to be encouraging is what gets us through the season; so naturally we become very close. This year New Trier Girls Swimming and Diving is doing a different form of leadership. We have a leadership counsel so more people can speak for the team based on what they…

Today was the day that I had been waiting for, for the entire year. It was something that made me practice and play almost every day just preparing for this, and I knew that victory was within my reach. Quickly changing into my ironed clothes, and eating a soggy bowl of cereal, I raced out into the cold, desolate driveway, waiting for my ride as snowflakes flew around me. Breathing in the cold air nervously, I made sure to have everything on me, as to not forget a thing. Pulling the items out of…

It’s almost time. Whitney’s 200 meter relay race is next. Her heart pounds inside her chest, waiting. The first race is now done and it’s time for Whitney and her team to go. The first person of the team steps up onto the block. Whitney can hear the announcer saying “Step up. Take your mark. Go!” The first person jumps in the water and the race has begun. She swims faster and faster. The next person waits patiently to go, and as soon as the first one hits the wall, the next one jumps in. Its’s…