University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL DIARIES - LAURA FEHRMAN
December 06, 2005 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Dec. 6, 2005
Being a Lady Vol student-athlete is something I never really thought I would have the opportunity to do until my senior year of high school, when I got recruited by the swim team. I was absolutely amazed that a division one school actually wanted ME to be a part of this amazing team. When I came on my recruiting trip, I automatically felt welcomed. From the ladies on the team, to the amazing staff members here at UT, they made me feel like this could be my home away from home. Being so close to my family, it showed me this is exactly where I needed to be. The ladies on the team made me feel like they were the family that I had never met.
Last year was quite an experience. When I heard people say that I would probably have a rough time going through the whole transition from high school to college, I just kind of laughed it off. I said nah, I'm so ready for this. Little did I know it was going to be the biggest transition of my life. Being a part of this team last year was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Never did I think that it could get any better than what we had. It definitely has gotten better in so many different ways.
Entering this year, we had a new coaching staff. At first, I am not going to lie, I was very nervous. I am a person who does not like change at all. Switching coaches was something I thought I would have trouble with. Within the first two weeks, I was very comfortable with the way that Matt (Kredich) and Jen (Arndt) approached our team, and I really liked their coaching style. To me, this year is kind of like freshman year all over again just because it is a whole new coaching staff with all new ways of training. I really do believe that this could have been the best thing that has happened to this team. When I look at the way we have been competing this year, it is like a whole new team from last year! I walk into practice thinking that I am going to give my all in whatever is thrown at me. Success is something that Matt (Kredich) and Jen (Arndt) have demanded of us. It is not a question as to whether or not we want to be successful. We will be successful with everything we do.
As for my teammates, I love every single one of them. This year, I believe that we have become closer than we ever were before just because of some of the obstacles we have come across. With everyone's diversity on this team, we can still come together and work toward the same goal. Since some of us are so far from home, this is the only family we have here. I get goose bumps thinking about how close I have become with a lot of these ladies in such a short amount of time. These ladies are like my sisters, and there's nothing better than being around people you can be yourself around. I know any one of these ladies, including myself, would bend over backwards for anyone on this team. Love you ladies!! You mean the world to me!!
