Hi, my name is Rachel Tat.
And my name is Brianna McBride.
We are currently incoming seniors at Noblesville High School, representing the Noblesville Swim Club on this year’s summer training trip. I am entering into my 10th year of swimming.
For me, I am entering into my ninth year of swimming. This is our last training trip and we are so excited for all it has to bring. We both have a deep passion for swimming since we have done it for so long, and these training trips always help us focus on our goals.
From first attempting a flip turn to racing at IHSAA Sectionals. From learning how to do a start to placing at state level competitions. We have gone through a lot to achieve our goals, but we couldn’t have done it without the rest of our team; this training trip helps us grow not only as swimmers, but as people and a family as well.
Our trip started on Sunday with a long 14-hour drive to Savannah, Georgia. There were many bumps in the road.
And a lot of traffic.
Although we were all cramped inside our vans, there is no better time and place for some team bonding. We spent our hours getting to know each other quite a lot and periodically taking short 10-minute nap breaks.
And my van decided to make a little music video amidst the occasional nap. But even though the ride was long, we arrived in Savannah at a reasonable time to rest up before our 5:30 a.m. practice the next day.
To say the least, the Chatham County Aquatic Center has been treating us well. Thirty of us practiced at the spacious pool while the rest completed a land workout nearby. Some of the team struggled with the transition into the new pool and atmosphere, but we got through the first practice successfully as a team.
And after our first challenging workout, us tired swimmers trekked back to our hotel where we greeted warm delicious waffles. The free time after breakfast was definitely needed to relax and wind down, but don’t forget that this trip isn’t just a normal vacation.
The team met up by the pool to discuss our core values: Teamwork, commitment, leadership, selflessness and continuous improvement, to name a few. We hold these qualities close to our hearts when in and out of the pool.
Everything we do in swimming is related to real life, and in many ways, the sport has helped all of us build character, which is the theme of this year’s trip.
We all kept this in mind as we all headed to our second practice of the day. It kicked our butts as much as the morning practice did, but we left in high spirits, ready to discuss our theme of the day—integrity.
Within our conversation on integrity, we focused in our own lives where we have struggled with maintaining integrity, in swimming, school, and just life in general. We emphasized having integrity to gain respect, being honest with ourselves and to others, and holding each other “wickedly accountable” to quote teammate Jack Wolfred.
Without integrity, we hinder our ability to improve our skills as student athletes. If each one of us does not know the difference between right or wrong, injury or soreness, hard work or slacking off, we will not be the best team we can be.
And with that, we headed back to our hotel ready for dinner and ready to close off the night with a Noblesville Swim Club tradition: Stupid human tricks.
There really is no better way to get to know each other than to discover the weird talents that our new teammates have.
Shout out to teammate Aaron Crosby for winning this year’s talent show with a show-stopping belly flop into the pool, fully clothed, synchronized to the tune of Kung Fu Fighting.
To say the least, it has been an amazing first two days in Georgia. Rachel and I cannot wait for the adventures to come. Please stay tuned!
-Rachel and Brianna
Brianna McBride (left) and Rachel Tat will both be seniors at Noblesville High School this fall. Both are varsity swimmers and are involved in National Honor Society and the Our Lady Of Grace Youth Ministry. Rachel would like to go into Biochemistry after high school. Brianna is undecided on a possible major but also has many options. (Bret Richardson)