PRIYA COOPER / ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

 The USD women’s swim and dive team is reaching the end of their 2023-2024 season, marking not only the end of a competitive chapter, but also the departure of the current senior class. As they get ready to graduate and start the next stage of their life, they reminisce  about their first dives into the cold water and the sunrises that never fail to lift spirits at early morning practices. 

 USD senior  Hannah Hintermeister shared the experience of just watching the sunrise with her team. 

   “Sometimes when it’s super hard practice, you just want to see the orange and red in the sky. It’s insane to see at 6:30 a.m., and suddenly it’s all worth it. And you’re just so grateful to be there and have this community around you, and it feels like this bigger picture experience of our lives.”

     From   the   exhilarating  victories to the challenging defeats, the members of the team have forged unbreakable bonds with each other. The season has been successful for the swim and dive team as they approach championship meets in the coming weeks. These women have not only honed their athletic skills but have also learned lessons about teamwork and the unwavering spirit required to navigate the demanding world of competitive swimming, not unlike the demanding world they will join upon graduation. 

      Hintermeister explained how her experience with swimming has prepared her for the future. 

   “Four years of swimming has given me a high level college athletic experience while also feeling like I’m prepared and set up to be successful afterward is super, super cool. And now, because of swimming, I have the tools to be a driven and motivated employee, wherever I am,” Hintermeister said.

   USD senior Elsie Harrison had similar thoughts to her teammate. “It’s  taught me to never be afraid and how to go after what I want. I feel like swimming makes it easy for me to go after my dreams.”

    USD senior  Mia  Griffiths expressed that athletics have helped prepare the team for the future by giving them the skill to overcome challenges with grace. 

   “Some lessons that I have learned during my time swimming have been how to be a good teammate, learning how to be gracious when winning and losing, and how to stay driven and committed to a sport that can become very tiresome.”

   USD senior Maya Nugent’s challenge this past season was “to get confident on the three meter dive.” The strategies she is able to use for swimming are bigger than just practice. 

 “The biggest goal I’ve accomplished is just overcoming fears and mental blocks,” Nugent said. “We always say it’s 99% mental and 1% physical, because once you kind of figure out how to do it, you can do it, but just mentally doing it is the hardest part.” 

  The time the team spent together formed bonds that will exist for life. USD senior Jayden explained, “We are one big family and I am so thankful for the bond I have with each and every member of this team.” 

  USD senior Emma Peters was enthusiastic about how the team gave her “40 best friends, all with the same passion and values.” 

   “Our team manages to have fun in and out of the pool, and always keeps the energy high. I rarely finish a set without hearing Gigi Zinnis cheering me on or Mia Griffiths singing whatever song was stuck in her head that day,” Peters mentioned.

   Harrison, who has been on the team for all of her four years at USD, reflected on the end of the season feeling. 

   “[It’s] like a beginning to a new chapter in my life, which is exciting. I’m sad, but I’m also really excited, and these girls are friends that I’ll have forever and people who are going to be with me for the rest of my life.”

  The experiences the team shared together from travel meets to early morning practices will be remembered forever, Griffiths  explained.

  “My favorite memory from this season has to be the bus ride home from our Midseason meet. We got 2nd place to Pepperdine by eight points. As a team, we were all really upset about it but reflecting on that moment, I know that these girls have my back no matter what and that it’s such a testament to our team and that win or lose we are still best friends no matter what.”

    Ruth felt all of her hard work pay off during their senior meet. 

    “[It was] a long time coming and so bittersweet, but it was so special because of the endless love and support from my teammates,” Ruth stated.

    The near end of the season is time to highlight the dedication and perseverance that have defined their collegiate swim careers. Those who dove into the unknown waters of collegiate athletics four years ago are now ready to navigate the currents of life beyond the pool. 

  USD senior Jayne Brandt, expressed her gratitude for everyone who made her experience with swimming life changing.

      “I’m    just    proud    of   all the seniors who have made it through all four years of swimming. I want to highlight the team,” Brandt said. “I think I can speak for everyone on this, that it’s the people on the team that make us love it and make us want to come back day after day.”

USD’s pool during the sunrise, a familiar sight to the swim and dive team. Photo courtesy of  Hannah Hintermeister