We’re at the midseason mark, and I’m seeing lots of great progress in many of our swimmers, but some have some catch up to do. Since this is a non-Hawaii year, I want to reiterate a few things. Below is a synopsis of winter workout information and a revisiting of the team’s attendance policy.
First, practice is the only way times can drop and our team can win. We’ve had record attendance at dryland, and water practices have been happily full; however as Christmas break approaches, I want to reiterate the importance of working out over the break.
Hawaii Years Vs. Non Hawaii Years
Last year, at the start of the season, one of our principle rival coaches asked us if last year was a Hawaii year. It was. Their reply: “Uh oh.” Hawaii years are usually successful because we throw 40 or 50 members of the team on an island and make them swim twice a day for two full two hour practices and do dryland. On non Hawaii years, we have practice once a day in the morning at Gallaudet and nary a palm tree to be seen.
A couple of observations about this. During Hawaii years, family obligations like going to the aunt’s cookie party seem to be able to missed; during Gallaudet years, they are command family performances. Of course, family and family vacations are going to take precedence during the holidays, but the rate of guys going to practice on non-Hawaii years drops. Let’s reverse that trend this year. If you are in the area, be committed; make your vacation count.
The Importance of Practice Wherever You Are
Could you take Christmas vacation off from swimming? No. It’s non negotiable. Wherever you are, you need to find a pool or a suitable alternative. Could you miss Gonzaga practices? Yes, but you have to have a valid reason, and going to a CYO basketball game is not one. A fun fact to think about is that for every week you take off, it takes almost two to get back the gains you lost from when you were training. With nearly three weeks of Christmas break, you’ll be three weeks in the hole when we swim our two biggest meets one week into our return from school. You don’t want to put our team in that situation. You’re solution: come to practice.
What if you’re in Idaho visiting Grandma? If there’s a pool available, USE IT. I’ll have workouts posted that you can use to swim on your own. No pool? Go to a sporting goods store, buy some stretch chords, and get out there working the dryland: push ups, sit ups, running, sprints, weight lifting or any other kind of resistance training. You might have three weeks gone from the water, but you’ll be in shape and ready to work hard when you come back.
One of The Best Gonzaga Teams in Years
We have one of the best Gonzaga teams we’ve seen in years. Our seniors are unbelievable, our freshman are prodigies, and our sophomores and juniors worked so hard in the off season last year that their strokes and times from last year are unrecognizable today. We have a good thing. All it takes is a winter of xBox and no pool to take it away. Make the right choice. Work over break. Let’s go for the banner!
