Swimming is a popular high school sport across the country, and Gloucester High School is not an exception to that. However, many people have wondered about how the swimmers are able to handle such early practices.
GHS swimming practice starts at 5 a.m. and school starts at 7:40 a.m.. Each practice lasts 75 minutes, meaning that by the time practice is done the swimmers have less than ninety minutes to travel back home, eat breakfast, get ready, and get back in the car to be to school on time before class starts.
While one would expect this to be extremely stressful, the swimmers on the GHS swim team have learned to adapt.
GHS swimmer Breanna Hawley said that the swimming practice times help her to get motivated and feel focused since she is “already awake.”
“The cold water makes my brain feel more awake, and gets me pumped and ready for the day,” said Hawley.
The practice times are done early on purpose. Not only is swimming so early in the morning an “excellent workout” according to Coach Crystal, but the pool availability and responsibilities of students after school make 5 a.m. the most ideal time to practice.
“Swimmers have after school jobs and activities,” the coach said.
Even though the swimmers put in hard work and effort every day, swimming is not necessarily recognized by the student body as much as the other sports teams.
Coach Crystal said that if “more general information” were spread about the GHS swimming team, that there would be more excitement surrounding the meets and events.
As of the publication of this article, the swimming interest meeting has already taken place, but students can be on the lookout for more information on the GHS athletics website.
