Crowned Captains & Camera Flashes: A Swedes Experience of Homecoming - Week 5
Wake up. Swim. Eat. Class. Nap. Eat. Class. Swim. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. That pretty much sums up my life these days. It’s a constant cycle, but there’s something oddly satisfying about the routine. Each day feels like a step closer to reaching my goals, both in the pool and in the classroom.
Today was a bit different—it’s Sunday, and we had Media Day! It was a nice break from the usual grind. The whole swim team got together for a photo shoot, and it was cool seeing everyone looking sharp in our team gear. The pictures will be released on Friday at noon, and I’m excited to share them. It’s a great opportunity for my friends and family back in Sweden to see the team and what I’ve been up to. After the photo session, I tried Taco Bell for the first time! It was pretty great at first, but once I was full, I realized it might have been a bit too much.
The week started off pretty slow, but once Tuesday hit, things picked up fast. We’ve had midweek breaks on Tuesday and Thursday, which helped break up the long stretches of classes and training. We’ve been focusing a lot on form during practice, getting ready for our first competition next week. I’m really looking forward to it—it’ll be a great test to see where I’m at. Next week, we will also have a “mini-taper,” which basically means Coach will ease off the intensity a little to make sure we’re well-rested and in peak shape for the meet. It’s nice knowing there’s a bit of rest coming, especially since my body is still adjusting to the rigorous training schedule here.
Midweek, we also had a Fresh Health Event. It was pretty informative, with different stations covering important topics like Narcan usage, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention. I’ve got to admit, it’s nice seeing the university take these issues seriously, especially since mental health is such a big deal for athletes. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure, so having access to information like this is important. I appreciated the chance to chat with people who really know their stuff.
Now, the highlight of the week—Homecoming! This was such a fun event, basically a giant party week that wraps up with a major celebration to kick off the school year. And get this—both of our swim team captains were crowned Homecoming King and Queen! It was awesome to see them win and represent us so well. During Homecoming, we sold raffle tickets, showed off some of our team merchandise, and got to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere together. I even won some gear from other athletic teams, which was a nice bonus. Three of our practices were canceled due to Homecoming events, but honestly, it was worth it to take part in everything.
I also got to watch my first live rugby game, which was an awesome experience. Wheeling Cardinals are no joke when it comes to rugby—they were National Champions last year, and you can really see why when they play. The intensity and skill on the field were impressive, and it was fun to witness such a strong team in action.
To top it all off, I managed to finish and submit my first big assignment of the semester—a business paper on management decisions. It took a few days to finalize, but I’m proud of the end result. I found the project pretty interesting and actually enjoyed working on it. Hopefully, my teacher feels the same way!
Looking ahead, next week should be another busy one, but at least there’s the excitement of the first competition to keep me motivated. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m ready to take it on!
