While most fall sports have ended, the girls swimming season hasn’t, and is still going. Park’s girls swimming team persevered through a very long season this fall. While winter sports will be starting next week, girls swimming has sections this week.
Head coach Amanda Forsberg expressed concerns about the adverse consequences associated with an extended season, but swimmers understand that it is a part of swimming.
“Some negative effects of the long season are that there’s definitely a point when you get tired, and want the taper to come. It’s like you’re constantly swimming tired,” Forsberg said. “But that’s a part of swimming and if you’re in swimming you just know that it’s going to come at some point.”
Freshman Dolma Gyaltso said her main priority is to maintain mental engagement throughout the entire season, and her friends are always there to help her stay engaged.
“I stay mentally engaged throughout the season by solely focusing on swimming, and just working on staying engaged throughout the swim season,” Gyaltso said. “My friends are always there to help me stay engaged.”
Sophomore Audrey Mancini said the longer season sometimes takes the fun out of swimming.
“We get tired of swimming, and kind of get sick of each other and practice everyday because it becomes a daily thing,” Mancini said.
Gyaltso said she finds the extended season unenjoyable, and there is a lack of awareness about the events in girls’ swimming.
“I don’t really like having a longer season since it just gets boring because all the sports are done,” Gyaltso said. “Nobody knows what is going on with swimming and what we do.”
Forsberg said having a longer season brings the team together and gets people more involved.
“Having a longer season affects the atmosphere of the team by building more cohesion because you have more time together,” Forsberg said. “It gets them involved in the team and they stay connected for a longer period. It makes me think that they are more excited to come back next year.”
Mancini said the longer season allows the team to form a strong connection with their teammates and stay positive throughout the season.
“It gives a lot of time together so we form a very strong bond,” Mancini said. “We have a lot of pasta parties, so food plays a big role, and we try to do team bonding so that we stay positive the best we can.”
According to Gyaltso, to prevent burnout during the season, one effective approach is to concentrate solely on swimming.
“I avoid getting burnt out by just staying focused and staying engaged on what I’m focusing on throughout the season,” Gyaltso said. “And for sections, keeping up my good work, and keeping it consistent until the end.”
Girls’ swimming placed 6th in sections that took place Nov. 9-11 at Richfield Middle School.
