As the toughest part of the year rolls around for the few winter collegiate sports, we begin to return to school earlier than anyone else. It's honestly one of the hardest things as you grow up and older, to leave home, to leave the place that you soon realize you will be branching out from permanently as your college years come to a close after a fast-paced four years. It's crazy. Absolutely insane at times. Yet here we are, soaking up every last chance to be at the home we created four years ago, college. More importantly, when we leave home after a brief holiday break, we leave our beloved families. That to me is one of the hardest things to do after being apart for so many months out of the year as it is. However, what I am ever so grateful for is the family I still have here at school, my swim team.

I wrote a letter not too long ago about how important my college swim team is to me, but as the months have flown by, and I don't even know where nearly four years has went, I begin to reach a more sentimental view on what my team means to me.

To my second family, no one quite knows me like you do. No one understands the grueling pain we put ourselves through. No one understands how we can leave home weeks before school starts again in the spring to put ourselves through rigorous workouts three times a day. Sure, they may know it's the love of the sport, but they cannot understand how powerful and intense that love is. They don't understand the overwhelmingly refreshing feel of the water after returning to start yet another season. They do not understand the countless miles, yes MILES, we swim (and sometimes run). But most of all, they will never understand the bond we have with one another.

Our bond is certainly a special one because of the amount of time we spend together. It's even more unique because it's treated like a co-ed sport here at Westminster. We do not train as separate men's and women's teams, and for that I am even more grateful. Men and women alike, we push one another, we are not adversaries, we are teammates, we are family. The person in the lane next to you is only there to push you harder, make you swim far greater lengths than ever before, and reach the levels you've never thought you could achieve. I will always stress that swimming is much more of a team sport than people take it for. In fact, my favorite memories are on the relays I've been apart of at Westminster. The adrenaline felt behind the blocks with your three other family members is unparalleled. It is an honor to be apart of that relay because your team is deferring to you to help them achieve there goals, to ultimately win. Win together, lose together. No matter what, we still have each other at the end of the day.

To my training partners, my team, my family- as we are just beginning our grueling days on training trip, some of the hardest days of training we have during the year, I ask you to continue rising to the challenge. Help each other. Continue to strive for excellence. It is not enough to be great. We must work to be excellent in every aspect of the sport. It is time to keep pushing, keep working, and keep encouraging. The man or woman in the lane next to you needs your help, so keep reminding them what we're working towards.

With every insane distance, sprint, or stroke workout, we are doing great things. If nothing else, like the wonderful Meg Douds says, "It's exercise with all of your best friends." So here's to getting fit with my best friends, to success, to challenges, to failures, to excellence. May this last month be one to always be remember. It's not the end just yet, so let's make it count. Let's make it last a little longer. Let's be excellent.

Lastly:

To the underclassmen in particular- please take the time to enjoy every moment you have on this team. As I've stated many times, you never know how fast four years can go by in the blink of an eye. Make the best of memories with the best of people- your second family, your team.