While the winds thrash and the snow blankets Tufts' campus, the women's swimming and diving team will be in sunny Florida over winter break. For the Jumbos, this trip serves as more of a strength-builder than a luxurious vacation away from the blistering cold of New England.
From Jan. 5-15, Tufts will embark on a 10-day adventure full of two-a-days, constant laps around the pool and grueling land workouts at the Deerfield Beach Aquatic Center in Deerfield, Fla.
"It's always a crucial part of the season," senior tri-captain Lyndsey York said. "It's really important because it's the only thing we're doing. It's really intense and all you think about is swimming. You don't have classes or homework or anything else going on at Tufts that gets in the way of practices. It's really important to help us get in shape but we come out of it a lot stronger."
Last year, it was estimated that each Jumbo swam 85,000 meters when the squad went to Puerto Rico, and this season's trip should be no exception in terms of strenuous conditioning and two-a-days. For a 2-2 unit that has already exceeded last year's dual-meet loss total, Tufts welcomes the training trip with open arms.
"After our training trip we should be ready to go," York said. "It's really important to have that focus in those few weeks during the winter break dedicated to swimming, because it really sets the tone for the rest of the season."
Upon returning to Medford, the Jumbos will square off against NESCAC rivals Williams and Wesleyan in Middletown, Conn. Given that Tufts has already fallen to conference opponents Middlebury and Conn. College, the Jan. 16 meet should give the Jumbos a good idea of how 2010 will play out. Williams finished first at last year's NESCAC championships and fourth in the NCAA National Championships.
If the dedication Tufts displays on the training trip is any indication, though, the Jumbos will be just fine.
"I think the first few meets were good, but it's really important for everyone to look forward and keep a positive mental attitude," York said. "It's been tough coming off of the 8-1 season; it's been a little more difficult this year. It's important to keep working hard; we've done a really good job so far, so it can only improve from here. We're in good shape right now."
