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Two-a-day practices scheduled for St. Teresa’s swim and dive teams

Swim and dive teams show dedication and unity by practicing twice a day | by KATIE HYDE
To boost team endurance, strength and unity, STA’s swim team initiated two-a-day practices at the beginning of their season and plans to continue holding these early morning practices all season.
The team has optional 45 minute practices Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings in the Goppert Center in addition to mandatory two hour and 15 minute practices every week day at Longview Community College. According to swim and dive head coach Andy Wilcox, this schedule is part of a plan to elevate the team’s level of competition.
‘I was hired to bring the swim and dive teams up to the competitive level of the other sports,’ Wilcox said. ‘Many swimming and diving programs in the state are able to practice twice daily in the water. Using the gym in the morning is one way that we can bring up the level of the girls’ competition.’
Sophomore Christina Barton, who has been on the swim team for two years, sees a distinct change in the team’s level of competition  now that Wilcox is head coach.
“Although last year’s coaches had coached for a really long time, Wilcox is very committed to us improving and being the best athletes we can,’ Barton said. “The early morning practices help us improve and become more competitive. Last year we did not have the same level of competition.”
Sophomore Erin Twaddle agrees that Wilcox has increased the competition on the team.
“The team is a lot more serious than we were last year,” said Twaddle “Last year we hardly did any conditioning, and practices were really easy. This year practices are hard, conditioning is important and the coaches are a lot more serious.”
At the early morning practices, the team focuses on shoulder and core body strength along with working antagonistic muscles, muscles that work opposite those used in swimming. For example, the team does bicep curls because biceps work antagonistically to triceps, the primary swimming muscles. Aside from balancing the musculature of the swimmers, these workouts prevent injury.
Although the morning practices are dedicated to improving strength, Wilcox said they are also an opportunity for bonding that the team would not get at their afternoon practice.
‘It is very hard to talk to someone when you’re face down in the pool for two hours,’ Wilcox said.
According to Barton, the practices are effective but tiring.
‘The early morning practices are a good opportunity for the really dedicated swimmers to improve,’ Barton said. ‘But on the other hand, after I go,  I am always tired later that day.’
Wilcox agrees that the early practices are tiring for the players but hopes the players will eventually see the benefits.
‘I doubt [the players] like getting up before school and staying late at Longview [Community College],’ Wilcox said. ‘However, if you ask them again at the end of the season, I wager they answer ‘Ëœit was worth it.”
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