WEEDSPORT - Wednesday night, during the final practice, nerves were a little taught. But that didnt stop the Weedsport Starfish from exuding confidence.
When we go I think well beat them, said Jenny Ryan, a Starfish swimmer for 20 years. I think were going to do good. We just have to do our best.
The best is what theyve been giving all season long.
It has been a long road to the state Special Olympics swimming meet, that will be held June 15-18 at the State University of Albany but one that has been incredibly rewarding.
We started practice back in September, head coach Mary Enge said. We practice all year and have meets here and go to other invitational meets and everyone on the team has put in a lot of hard work.
And hard work is something these swimmers wont shy away from.
Ive been trying to learn to do the butterfly, said Kelly Schwarting. It is a very hard stroke to learn, and Im still practicing it. I just put my mind to what I am doing and what I want to learn and I know that eventually I will swim it.
This year 20 swimmers made up the team, which this season had some truly great performances that they never let slack off at any point in the season.
They love to compete, coach Dan Carlton said. All of their times were so much better this year. They really love to go all out.
Charice Hayes, new to this years team, said that while she swims twice a week at the YMCA, she really loves the thrill of competitive swimming.
I like beating the other teams, Hayes said. It feels good to beat them and to get the medals. Its exciting.
Enge said the teams ability to perform came from the bond the team itself has created in and out of the pool.
There are times in practice when you think you might not be accomplishing anything, Enge said. But the next thing you know they will just shine through. The way they have all come together as a team is truly awesome. They are all friends, and they all applaud each other and work together as a team, and that is great to see in any group.
For swimmers such as Michelle Stoecker, making new friends has been what being a Starfish is all about.
My mom asked me if I wanted to be on the team and I said yes, Stoecker said. I swim a lot at home because we have an in-ground pool. But here I meet a lot of new friends. They are all really nice, weve never had a fight or anything and we all get along.
Seeing the sense of accomplishment this team gives their kids has been a very rewarding experience for parents such as Barbara Ryan, Jennys mother.
It gives them a chance to develop and gives them a skill and (a chance to) meet a lot of friends, Barbara said. Doing this, they get to go to different places, like Jenny went to Greece. As a parent when you see them it gives you a rush of adrenaline to see them do this and to see them improve. It is very rewarding.
In the past Jenny has competed in track and field as well as swimming, but she said swimming is her favorite.
I get to be with all my friends and my boyfriend, Jenny said. I like being with them and I like the competition and I especially like swimming.
After a season of competing and qualifiers, three girls have made states.
Hayes (100 freestyle, 50 backstroke and relay), Ryan (100 backstroke, 100 individual medley and relay) and Schwarting (100 backstroke, 200 freestyle) will be joined by Stoecker as an alternate.
We had to choose three to go to the meet, Enge said. We looked at sportsmanship and determination and ability and we decided we should let the girls go this year.
Even for Schwarting, who will be making her second appearance, theres a little anxiety about the meet.
The first time I went I was nervous going against other swimmers, Schwarting said. Now Im nervous going against a guy. But Ive been working out my arms and running and jogging and riding my bike and I think Ill do pretty good.
It is this kind of confidence that Enge and the other coaches like to see.
It is absolutely fantastic to see how excited they get, Enge said. They really have worked hard and it has shown. That happiness when they compete just shines through and that is great to see.
The best is what theyve been giving all season long.
It has been a long road to the state Special Olympics swimming meet, that will be held June 15-18 at the State University of Albany but one that has been incredibly rewarding.
We started practice back in September, head coach Mary Enge said. We practice all year and have meets here and go to other invitational meets and everyone on the team has put in a lot of hard work.
And hard work is something these swimmers wont shy away from.
Ive been trying to learn to do the butterfly, said Kelly Schwarting. It is a very hard stroke to learn, and Im still practicing it. I just put my mind to what I am doing and what I want to learn and I know that eventually I will swim it.
This year 20 swimmers made up the team, which this season had some truly great performances that they never let slack off at any point in the season.
They love to compete, coach Dan Carlton said. All of their times were so much better this year. They really love to go all out.
Charice Hayes, new to this years team, said that while she swims twice a week at the YMCA, she really loves the thrill of competitive swimming.
I like beating the other teams, Hayes said. It feels good to beat them and to get the medals. Its exciting.
Enge said the teams ability to perform came from the bond the team itself has created in and out of the pool.
There are times in practice when you think you might not be accomplishing anything, Enge said. But the next thing you know they will just shine through. The way they have all come together as a team is truly awesome. They are all friends, and they all applaud each other and work together as a team, and that is great to see in any group.
For swimmers such as Michelle Stoecker, making new friends has been what being a Starfish is all about.
My mom asked me if I wanted to be on the team and I said yes, Stoecker said. I swim a lot at home because we have an in-ground pool. But here I meet a lot of new friends. They are all really nice, weve never had a fight or anything and we all get along.
Seeing the sense of accomplishment this team gives their kids has been a very rewarding experience for parents such as Barbara Ryan, Jennys mother.
It gives them a chance to develop and gives them a skill and (a chance to) meet a lot of friends, Barbara said. Doing this, they get to go to different places, like Jenny went to Greece. As a parent when you see them it gives you a rush of adrenaline to see them do this and to see them improve. It is very rewarding.
In the past Jenny has competed in track and field as well as swimming, but she said swimming is her favorite.
I get to be with all my friends and my boyfriend, Jenny said. I like being with them and I like the competition and I especially like swimming.
After a season of competing and qualifiers, three girls have made states.
Hayes (100 freestyle, 50 backstroke and relay), Ryan (100 backstroke, 100 individual medley and relay) and Schwarting (100 backstroke, 200 freestyle) will be joined by Stoecker as an alternate.
We had to choose three to go to the meet, Enge said. We looked at sportsmanship and determination and ability and we decided we should let the girls go this year.
Even for Schwarting, who will be making her second appearance, theres a little anxiety about the meet.
The first time I went I was nervous going against other swimmers, Schwarting said. Now Im nervous going against a guy. But Ive been working out my arms and running and jogging and riding my bike and I think Ill do pretty good.
It is this kind of confidence that Enge and the other coaches like to see.
It is absolutely fantastic to see how excited they get, Enge said. They really have worked hard and it has shown. That happiness when they compete just shines through and that is great to see.
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