Diary

Tracy
Shessler

Past Entries

January 19, 2004

This is our second week back after winter break and training has been a busy one.

After returning on the bus late Sunday night (Jan. 11), we had one more "training cycle" before normal practice began. This included doubles on Monday and Tuesday, but Jon cut the cycle short by giving us a well-deserved day off on Wednesday for the first day of classes.

Thursday brought on a little competition with sharks and minnows built into practice. It's amazing how much everyone perks up when we get to deviate from the norm. A few bruises and scratches later we all returned to our next set a little happier. Now we go back to our regularly scheduled practice times for the rest of the season.

With the start of a new semester there is always a sense of excitement and unrest around the team. People have to get used to new class schedules, new teachers, new subjects, and while exciting for some, others may find that they have a class during the middle of their previously scheduled naptime!

Though lucky this semester, I have fallen prey to this dilemma in years past and it can put quite a strain on a person as naps are worth their weight in gold (and for those who may be pointing out that naps don't weight anything, its just a metaphor).

There is always the talk about which teachers are good, which ones are easy, who has a grueling schedule and who has gotten off light this semester. But as all that settles in we are looking down the barrel at taper time.

Oh yes folks, your favorite time of season and mine is coming. Its about time too because we are all broken down from winter training, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. The next few weeks are always important because we need to stay focused and keep our training up so that we can go into taper strong and ready.

There is only one more dual meet this weekend before the conference teams are posted and everyone is antsy for that. So keep your eyes peeled because we're gonna swim out of our minds in Kentucky to build ourselves up for whatever championship meet comes our way.

Tracy Shessler is a senior from North Andover, Mass. She would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.