By Jacob Laux & Andy Groebner
The article addresses the busy life of the UWGB swim and dive team, along with what it takes to manage a Division I swim lifestyle alongside an internship. From an objective perspective, the day-to-day life of a niche sports athlete can seem routine or unnoticed. Three swimmers were interviewed, two of whom have internships, to explore what their day-to-day college life looks like while balancing sports, academics, social life, and work.
Many people may not be aware of the demanding and structured schedule that swimmers follow for six months out of the year. From September to February, the swimmers wake up and arrive at the Kress Events Center before 5:15 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to lift and swim for two hours. They then return later in the day for another two-hour swim practice. They also swim every Saturday when they are not competing, totaling 20 hours a week of practice time, not including the 1.1 meets per week on average.
Interviews with some of the UWGB swimmers revealed that the primary time commitment in their schedules is swimming, with approximately 26 hours a week dedicated to practice, meets, and travel. During these meets, the swimmers compete for 4-6 hours, swimming 3-5 events ranging from the 50 Free to the mile. For the athletes with internships, an average time commitment of 14 hours a week is spent involved in the internship or commuting to the internship location, with the main reason for pursuing these opportunities being résumé building, and the secondary reason being compensation. Lastly, on average, 16 hours a week is spent on classes and homework. With a total of 56 hours dedicated to required tasks, the potential for stress is evident. Nathan Halbach, a free/fly swimmer, recommended that other athletes manage this load by “front-loading everything possible. Leaving a task to do later is asking to not reach your best.”
As previously mentioned, Halbach demonstrates a strong work ethic when it comes to academics. When not in the pool or at the coffee shop, he is often found in his study spot working on accounting assignments or preparing for the LSAT. Many swimmers share this work-focused approach, diligently addressing each task.
The swim and dive team is a team whose schedule and work ethic often go unnoticed by much of the student body. The team spends over 20 hours a week at the Kress training for meets. Additionally, they must balance social life, academic responsibilities, and, for some, jobs and internships. Managing these commitments is a challenge for any college student, particularly for student-athletes who dedicate significant time to their sport. The swim team has access to various resources and supportive individuals to help balance these responsibilities.
