By: Savannah Halle
Emma Dees, a first-year biology student, just finished her first collegiate season as a swimmer on the SNC co-ed Swim & Dive team. Her previous 14 years of swim experience and countless hours of practice had undoubtedly prepared her for the season, and Emma even claims the transition was easy due to her previous knowledge of the sport, but also because her team was incredibly welcoming and insightful when necessary. For everyone on the team, their practice schedule usually contains a 6 a.m. lift twice a week and practice every day in the pool (their choice of morning or evening) where they do warm-ups and split into their 3 main training groups, working to enhance skills and stamina on their specific event. In total, the team swims about 5,000 yards every 2-hour practice, which is essentially three miles in distance. Emma’s favorite memories of the season were the training trip to Key Largo in January, the team’s energy, and the quality time spent connecting with the team in Ruth’s Marketplace for team meals. Her most treasured moments during meets throughout the season were placing well in her events at conference and, most excitingly, breaking the team and pool’s 400 IM record. Additionally, two other Honor students, Adelle Polzin (Diver) and Dominick Azzolina (Swim), broke team and pool records in their personal events. Adelle broke records for the 1, 3, and 6-meter dive, and Dominick broke records in the 500, 1000, and 1650 free. Additionally, Adelle was also named the Female Diver of the Midwest Conference.
Being in the Honors Program has benefited Emma’s freshman year immensely. It has made it easier for her to connect with people both on the team and in the dorm. Emma loves living in Bergstrom because of the community aspect within the walls. Everyone is incredibly supportive, she knows that she can ask anyone for help and that there will always be a friendly face for any new environment that she finds herself in. Emma also balances her academics as an Honors student and her athletic timetable by creating a semi-strict schedule she sets for herself that allows her to have consistency and make sure that nothing slips through the cracks. Looking forward, Emma is incredibly excited not only for the next season as a whole but also to meet the new freshmen joining and to see how much faster the team can get!
