Normal Community Girls Swim Team
Getting involved in a high school can be a difficult and nerve racking task, especially if you are just going into high school. Not only is this an important page for interested swimmers but also the parents. Parents can get involved as well as their child. Also if you are going to Normal Community High School but not interested in joining the swim team, you can learn more about your school. As it is important to learn about different sports and activities, so you can cheer on your classmates and also have a good understanding of the school as a whole. Included in this page is information about the coach, experiences from past swimmers, and how much time is invested in the team. Most sports at Normal Community high school have a girl and boy team. However, this page is focused on the girls swim team. The school also values athletic performance along with academic. The girls swim team teaches many life skills, like working together, and is a great way to meet new people.
About
The girls swim team is an awesome way to make new friends in high school. Even though swimming may seem like an individual sport, it truly betters everyone by working as a team. Swimming is a great sport and a great way to get your body in shape. Even if you aren't a fast swimmer, still consider joining the team. The time and effort put into practice will surely pay off when it's time for a swim meet. Swimming does take up a lot of time, so be sure to carve out time for it. The coach is there to encourage swimmers and help them improve. There are usually many girls that join the team and it becomes one great big family. The team puts in effort and goes to meets during the school week and a lot of Saturdays. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask the other swimmers. And remember, it's all about the team!
Schedule
The season begins about one week before school does. So be sure to get in contact before the first practice. Practices during the school week are every afternoon and three mornings. Sometimes, there will be a meet on a week day. If the meet is out of town, the swimmers will get out of school early. Most of time there are Saturday meets, and those will take up most of the morning. If there isn't a meet on a Saturday, there is still a practice. Sunday is the off day for the swimmers, no meets and no practices will be scheduled on Sundays.
Practice and Time
Time is a very important factor on the swim team. Returning swimmers, meaning if you have swam before or were on the team the year before, have two practices Tuesday through Thursday. One before school and one after school. Morning practice sounds rough but you are given enough time to get ready for school and breakfast is provided by swimmer moms. The breakfast is a great reward after the practice. Time management is a skill you need to have. Balancing school work, practice, meets, and a social life is hard but it is possible. Many swimmers learn how to balance everything, it starts as a challenge but it is possible. Be prepared for some hard times, mentally, physically, and emotionally. There will be break down moments but that doesn't mean it's not worth joining the swim team.
Meets
Remember you are part of a team. The races may be individual but the work and confidence is as a team. The coach requires all phones to be used as music only. Listening to music between races may help some people, however texting does not. Texting or other social media distracts the swimmer from being focused on their next race.
At the end of every meet, the swimmers from both teams line up and high-five each other (all part of good sportsmanship and respect). When going into a meet, coming prepared is always best. In a bag a swimmer may need; water, snacks, Gatorade, flip flops, team suits, towel, cap, goggles, and much more. Being prepared allows a swimmer to perform their best. Also healthy snacks and drinks can provide great energy.
Meet the Coach
The head coach is, Coach Budak. She has high expectations for each and every swimmer. She wants everyone to perform well. She has high expectations for every swimmer. The coach expect the same amount of work from all of the swimmers. It is a team, meaning not just a few people put in effort and the others use it as social time.
The coach expects, "Respectfulness, hard work, and dedication". She said those words herself in an interview and wants nothing less from her swimmers. I asked the coach, in an interview, if she wanted to warn new swimmers about anything. She replied "It is a LOT of hard work, but we have fun doing it". Being a part of the team comes with its drawbacks and hard times, but it is also a great way to come together and work as a team.
Coach Budak has a lot of experience in swimming, she was a swimmer in high school and college. She also has been a coach for about eleven years. That means, she has a lot of knowledge when it comes to swimming.
Heather Budak is also a Spanish teacher at Normal Community High School. Knowing that, be respectful that she has her own responsibilities.
Accomplishments
Over the years the team has obtained many wins and trophies. The team has won the Big Twelve Conference a hand full of times. Each year the team is able to send a few girls off to sectionals and state. Some seniors even go one to college swimming and are granted scholarships for their achievements. Each year the team is built of different swimmers but with hard work every year seems to be a good year for wins. In 2014, the swim team placed first in intercity, second in the Big Twelve Conference, second in sectionals, and thirty-first in state.
Testimonies
"After being on the swim team I changed a lot due to the things I learned being a part of it. I learned how to manage time so that I did well in school, during practice and at meets, and at work. As a captain of the swim team my senior year, I learned how to lead by example and how to be there for anyone who needed someone to lean on. I learned how true friends will cheer you on at all times and as silly as it may sound it showed me what it feels like to be loved by a group of girls." -Rojas
Even though it may be hard at times, being a part of the Normal Community High School girls swim team, teaches one many lifelong lessons and creates great memories.
Competitors
The team races against many schools. Like U-High, Champaign High Schools, Urbana, Dunlap, Peoria Richwoods and Notre Dame, Pekin, Olympia High School, Bloomington High School, Normal West Community High School, and many more that are around central Illinois. One of the biggest competitors is U-high, they have a strong team and bring great competition to any meet. All of the meets are listed on the girls swimming website (link below). Including the times, if it is home or away, and who the meet is with. Having good sportsmanship is big, no matter what team you are on. Even if you win or lose, remember to be respectful of the other team(s).
Parents
Parents are the biggest supporter for their children, as they should be. One the swim team team their are many ways for parents to get involved. When hosting a home meet, the preparations requires all hands on deck (literally).
Some ways to help...
- Timers- during a home meet, it is the responsibility of the home team to provide timers. Each race and each swimmer needs to be timed. Sometimes the scoreboard messes up so a backup must be in place. Parents can volunteer to be at the end of a lane with a stopwatch and a time sheet. This slot always needs to be filled.
- Breakfast- as stated before, during the school week morning practices are required. After a long and hard practice a healthy breakfast is needed for the swimmers before going to classes. Parents can sign up with another parent to provide this meal.
- Concessions- most of the time at home meets there is a table located by the bleachers for the viewers. This includes water, pop, and snacks. Parents can help in two ways. One by purchasing drinks or snacks to go towards the concessions. The second is running the concessions during the meet. This just involves taking the money and making change. The money then goes towards the team funds
- Caramel apples- at home football games, the swim team sales caramel apples to all that attend the football game. The money made is used to fund the team. Swimmers sign up to help be a part in the process. However, there is usually one parent or a couple who runs the stand. They oversee the money coming in and set up the tables and signs. This is a very helpful part of making money for the team.
- Team dinners- the team will have team dinners every so often. The swimmers need a house to meet at for this dinner. A parent can decide to offer up their house for this event. Parents can all chip and make the food or order it if it is easier.
Fans
Every sport needs its fans. Swimmers need people around them to cheer them on and encourage them to do there best.
Who can be a fan?
- Parents
- Classmates
- Family members
- Friends
- Teachers
- Anyone
What can a fan do...?
- Stands- sit in the stands for a meet and be there to cheer the team on
- Support- the life of a swimmer or any sport player can be overwhelming, be there to talk to that person
- Gifts- providing the swimmer with little things before a meet, like drinks or snacks
- Signs- make signs to show your team spirit
- Be there- simply being there shows the swimmer that they are supported and makes them feel encouraged
Fun Facts
- The team does secret Santa gifts each year
- As a team, the swimmers do no shave October (the season doesn't go all the way through November)
- The swimmers do things as a team, like homecoming decorations or extra activities
- They have team dinners, allowing team bonding
- Cheering your teammates on at the sides and end of the pool fills your free time at swim meets
- The bus rides to and from swim meets are filled with laughter, memory making, and sometimes nap taking
More Information
https://localwiki.org/bloomington-normal/Normal_Community
http://il.8to18.com/nchs/activities/swimming/g
http://www.unit5.org/Page/5066
