Now that the swim season is over, I would like to recognize the efforts that go into this sport.
In this sport, the participants have been individuals who have been involved with swimming on a near-daily basis since their early youth. They have had to endure many two-a-day plunges into the pool. This often means early morning and evenings as well.
Pool time is often hard to find and needs to be used when available. Spending one's life in water is not what most adolescents would find desirable.
The training is most demanding and often solitary. These athletes do this for the love of the sport.
My niece, Kristen Hyland, has just finished her swimming career at Tufts and has found it to be a great experience. That is what prompted this letter.
Her dedication over the years, as well as [that of] her parents and all the swimming parents, is laudable.
Coach [Nancy] Bigelow has been a tremendous role model, as she recognizes each swimmer as an individual while maintaining a strong feeling of "Team."
Tufts should be proud of its program, as I am of the swimmers I have met and heard about. They could use a new pool facility. Congratulations and best of luck to those senior swimmers.
