On Wednesday, SPARKS co-op swim and dive competed against the HumWOW (Humboldt, Washington and OWL) co-op at Humboldt High School.
The swim meet began with both teams sending out their first swimmers to warm up in circle swimming and divers with pencil and no rotational dives. Coaches Stacy Overgaard and Max Rowland shouted advice at each swimmer across the echoing chamber.
The SPARKS team was on its off day after a dominant previous meet against Como Park. The off-meets are when swimmers practice events that they most likely won’t be swimming in, such as conferences and more critical competitions.
Captain Deviyani said, “I was in the 100 fly, which I don’t usually swim, but it’s good that I got to try something new.”
All the swimmers shared the same sentiment with Nelson and were happy to each do an event foreign to them.
The win against Como Park didn’t come easy. Many swimmers began to develop their goals and dream times after rigorous training and competitions.
“[We] have practice six days a week and one or two meets a week, give or take,” Overgaard said.
Each of the swimmers maintains this training regime. Many traditions, such as singing “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups” before events, sing-alongs on the bus and having swim buddies breaking down the events, each contribute to the moral and overall success of the team.
Even though it was an off meet, many swimmers still PR’d at this meet.
“I think we have great potential this year. There are a lot of swimmers who have been PRing every single meet and are just doing great overall,” sophomore Bea Davies said.
Being a part of the team almost makes personal goals harder to remember, but Davies, like the captains, has one event they want to shave a couple of seconds off of.
The cheers and encouragement from coaches and teammates didn’t subside until the end of the four-hour-long meet. There were reminders of personal goals that coaches would remind players to reach and the method was unique. Their shouting would be at intervals so swimmers could hear the loudest support when they rose out of the water to breathe.
SPARKS’ next meet is the Laker Invite at St.Kate’s University at 1 pm on Saturday.
