A Home Pool Kind of Day

There's something about swim meet days that always feels familiar. Early Morning alarms, the smell of chlorine, and the quiet focus that sets in during warm-ups. But this meet felt different in the best way possible. It was Ohio Northern University's first home meet of the season, and getting to race in the recently renovated pool in the King Horn Natatorium made the day feel extra meaningful. 

Walking onto the deck, I could feel the energy right away. Teammates covered the pool deck, stretching, talking, and getting ready to race, music was playing, and the stands were slowly filling up. Racing Ashland University brought a competitive edge, but there was also a sense of excitement knowing we were finally back in our own pool racing in front of friends, family, classmates, and teammates. 

As a distance swimmer, meet day is all about patience and mindset. My events were the 1000 freestyle and the 500 freestyle, two races that demand focus more than anything else. Before the 1000, I tried to say calm and remind myself to trust the work I've put in during practice. Once the race started, it became about finding a rhythm and sticking with it. Lap after lap, I focused on staying consistent, especially though the middle part of the race when fatigue starts to creep in. Hearing teammates cheer from the deck helped me get though all 40 laps and it gave me something to lean on when things got tough. 

Later in the meet, I stepped up for the 500 freestyle. Compared to the 1000, the 500 feels fast from the start, and there's less room for mistakes. Having already raced once helped settle my nerves, and I felt more confident heading into it. I focused on strong turns, good underwaters, and finishing the race with purpose. Racing that event at home made it easier to stay locked in and push through the final laps. 

Beyond my own swims, the team energy throughout the meet stood out. ONU and Ashland went back and forth with strong performances, and the deck was loud the entire time. Whether someone had a great race or a tough one, there was constant support and encouragement. 

By the end of the day, the results mattered but what stuck out to me more was the feeling of racing at home with m team. Being part of ONU's first home meet of the season at King Horn was a reminder of why I love this sport. The challenges, the people, and the moments like that make all the early mornings worth it.