With the spring season approaching, Park synchronized swimming dove into their first captain’s practice on Feb. 21. After last season, the team begins preparing for the new year by making encouraging posters to hang outside of the pool to motivate the swimmers during practices.
Senior and captain Charlotte Cox said she’s excited for the new season and to welcome in new swimmers.
“I’m excited to see all (of) my teammates again and (to) be back in the pool with everyone,” Cox said. “We’re hoping to get a bunch more people to join so we can grow the team.”
Junior and captain Kaylee Crump said going into the new season she looks forward to working with new team members. Crump said she is excited and hopes to see new faces.
“I’m excited to meet the new swimmers and (to) start learning our (new) routines,” Crump said. “It’s a really fun team—you don’t need to have a lot of swimming experience to be able to do the sport.”
Junior Lexa Rischall said the captain’s practices are a good way for the team to start to bond and get to know each other better before the season starts.
“The captain’s practices (help) make new swimmers more comfortable at the start of the season, as well as help the captains and older swimmers get to know each other (better),” Rischall said. “Synchro is a sport that relies on trust so it’s important that we’re all close.”
According to Cox, big changes are taking place in the coming season in comparison to last year with new figures and a potential second team.
“Our figures (have) changed this year—we’re doing a water drop and kip instead of ballet leg and tower, so that’s a big deal,” Cox said. “We might have two extended teams this year which would be the first in a very long time, so that’s exciting.”
Rischall said they’re excited about the new season. They said the team has already started planning some of the music for their upcoming routines.
“We are beginning to think about what music we would like to swim to so that it’s ready by the time we get our routines,” Rischall said. “I’m very excited to see what becomes of our routines, as well as how we’ll all grow as athletes during the season.”
Crump said planning out her schedule helps her manage the balance between the stress of the new season with her academic and personal life.
“(I balance the stress) by remembering to have fun and hang out with my team,” Crump said. “I plan out when I’m going to do homework after practice and times when I can hang out with my friends too”
Park synchro will have their next and final captains practice at 3:30 Feb. 26 outside of the Park athletic center.
