University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL DIARIES- MARY KIRK POLLARD
October 21, 2005 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 21, 2005
Being a part of the Lady Vol Swimming and Diving team is something that I thought I would only dream about. Now that I find myself here as one of its members, I feel privileged to be a part of something so special. The way in which this team functions day-to-day has opened my eyes to what a squad is truly about. Right from the beginning, I have been so impressed by with the team's importance of being a family. Each day brings a new opportunity for us to challenge ourselves, both in and out of the water.
As a freshman, the first couple of weeks could not have been better. With a lot of new information to take in, and a new lifestyle to settle into, it can be overwhelming. Our "big sisters", the upperclassmen, have made the transition as easy as it can possibly be.
As a group, I can tell that we've adapted well to the changes. The team has bonded well in its short time that we've been training together. It seems like we've been together for longer than we actually have! That really says something about what we have.
We've had a hard past couple of weeks with training, but each challenge we face, we face together. Every practice we make it through strengthens us as a team. The setting at practice is inspiring. Every challenge thrown our way is a means for improvement for the entire team. Each member knows that by doing their best at every possible aspect of training, they are strengthening the team. The coaching techniques brought to us by Matt (Kredich) and Jen (Arndt) are a great match. Matt and Jen really know what they are doing, and they are passionate about their jobs. It seems like they have been coaching together for years, even though it's the first year for each of them at Tennessee. Even though it's early in the season, I am confident in what they can do for this team, and that we will achieve great things through them.
The Orange and White meet gave the freshman our first taste of what college swimming is all about. Even though it was a dual meet essentially between each other, the excitement level was high. Through intense, yet friendly competition between the Orange and White teams, we were able to start the season off with a crazy meet. Matt and Jen got us hyped up for the meet with small competitions between the teams throughout the week both in practice and in the weight room. By the time that the meet rolled around, we were all ready to compete! Each team had a theme for the meet, and strangely enough, both teams chose to wear cowboy hats. The atmosphere created by the meet was a perfect preface to the actual start of the season.
The season officially starts on Friday, with a pair of meets at Louisville and Kentucky. I have never been a part of a team that has been so excited to start competing. We are ready to take what we've learned so far and put it to the test in our first competition of the season. For the upperclassmen, it's the start of another exciting season as a Lady Vol. For the freshman, it's the start of our collegiate career. For the coaches, it's their first time to see what their swimmers can do with how we have prepared. This weekend will be a snapshot into the great things that are to come from this team. I know that when the team travels to Louisville and to the University of Kentucky, we will bring the pride of Tennessee with us, and leave behind the stamp of a great team that works well together. I can tell that Matt and Jen are so excited to see us race for the first time this season, and I know that the team won't disappoint.
This year so far has brought about so many changes, especially for someone like me. As an incoming freshman, I have a lot to prove. Not only do I have to prove to my coaches and my teammates who I am and what I can do, I have to prove to myself that I belong on this team and am a vital part of it. Even though it's just October, I feel like I have been a part of this team for longer than I actually have. Already, through intense support of the team and of the coaching staff, I know that I belong here and that being a Lady Vol swimmer means that I am home. Great things lie ahead for the Lady Vol Swim and Dive team, and as Coach Kredich says, "the game is afoot". We are ready to play.
