October 20, 2003 - Christian Groth

So the semester is already half over! Talk about time flying; I remember my freshman year when the first half of the semester took forever to pass, it seemed like light years from the time that we moved in to the time that I took my first midterm. Now time seems to go by faster than I ever could have imagined.

Last weekend was the annual Emory swimming and diving parents weekend. It was a great chance for all of us to see our family members whom most of us have not seen since we left home. This year the weekend fell during our Davidson College (NC) dual meet. It is always great to have the stands full with people sporting the blue and yellow of Emory.

Swimming, as most of you know, is so much better when there are a couple hundred people cheering you on. The other perks of having parents in town, besides having great fans, is you get good meals, and maybe they will even clean your dishes (thanks Mrs. Sutter!)

At the halfway point of our season, the team is starting to come together and really pull through as a complete unit. It is great when all of our hard work from practice pays off in the meets when it really counts. Our next meet at UNC-Wilmington will prove to be a huge test for us as a team.

October 27, 2003 - Brian Seymour

Last weekend is a little difficult for me to talk about because I wasn't in Atlanta. I was at Heinz Field watching the Pittsburgh Steelers lose. The time I was in Atlanta, though, was a lot of fun.

We didn't have a meet on Saturday, which gave us an opportunity to host recruits for the weekend. Recruit weekends are always a good, since they let us meet some of the kids who will be gracing the team next year. It also gives the prospective student/athletes a good feel for the Emory community, specifically the family that is the Emory Swim Team.

We had a bar-b-que for the recruits on Saturday (primarily hot dogs and hamburgers) after the Swim for Ataxia, and they had other activities and meetings planned for them by both the coaches and University administration. The recruits also got a chance to check out some classes on Friday.

Speaking of the Swim for Ataxia, we had a fund-raiser last weekend to raise money for research and to boost awareness of Ataxia, a neurological disorder that destroys muscle coordination. The event went well, with nearly 100 percent participation by the team members. Other students, faculty, and coaches also participated in the event. In fact, the event went so well that I'm sure we will try to do something similar in years to come.

There is also good news on another fund-raising front. Colin won the ADPi "Big Man on Campus" challenge. He was representing the swim team, and the money he raised will benefit the Ronald McDonald House. So I guess you could say it was a good weekend for fund-raising by the team, and a good weekend for meeting some of the prospective new faces for next year as well.

We face off against North Carolina-Wilmington this weekend. It should be a good meet, so we're all very excited. Plus it's Halloween, and who doesn't love Halloween?

November 3, 2003 - Christian Groth

Halloween has come and gone here at Emory, and I must say it was a very interesting experience for the Emory swim team.

Last Thursday we did our traditional bobbing for apples. However, this is not your traditional bobbing for apples. The goal here is to get one of the dozen or so apples that are thrown into the pool, without using your hands. If you are lucky enough to get an apple you have the option to skip out on the rest of warm up.

It is fun to watch the different techniques that people use, ranging from Jessie Burley's "wait for it to come to the wall and then steal it," to Richard Kinnett's "lose my apple to Chris Halstead, sprint to the other side of the pool and somehow come up with another." I was fortunate enough to use Jessie's technique and relax during the 1,200-yard warmup set.

On Halloween, the people going to UNC-Wilmington packed up and dressed up for our eight-hour drive into North Carolina. Normally, we wear dress attire for travel meets (ties for the men). However, because it was a special occasion Jon (Howell) let us dress up for Halloween.

I've never seen so many college-aged people with so much creativity. We had people dressed up as everything from a Rabbi (Chris Press), David Beckham (Richard Kinnett) and Posh Spice (Jen Kanetsky), God's gift to women (Ryan Kolynych), and a robot (Andrew Schapiro). However, my nod has to go to Dan Weissman and his Captain Kirk outfit, complete with phaser gun and walkie-talkie apparatus.

November 10, 2003 - Brian Seymour

Okay, so here's the rundown of the past weekend.

Friday: We leave for the airport after classes on our way to the great and wonderful city of Pittsburgh, PA. We got into Pittsburgh around 7:30 pm and headed for the William Penn Hotel where we would spend the night both Friday and Saturday.

It turned out that we had the luxury of staying in the same hotel as Emmitt Smith because the Arizona Cardinals were in town gearing up to play the Steelers on Sunday. So that was pretty cool.

In addition to the excitement of staying in the same hotel as a future Hall of Fame football player, I got to drive around the city in my very own Rent-A-Van, taking people to and from the meet. Speaking of the meet, you're probably wondering what the Emory swim team was doing in the City of Bridges over the weekend, so here goes.

Saturday and Sunday: We took part in the annual Emory/Hopkins/Case/Carnegie Mellon quad meet hosted by Carnegie Mellon, which happens to lie within the city limits of Pittsburgh, my hometown. We ended up getting second to Hopkins, and nudging out Carnegie Mellon in the end.

This was the closest the meet has been for as long as I've been on the team, so that made it all the more exciting. We had some great swims, some people made NCAA B cuts, which is always a good thing, while others had season best or lifetime best in-season times.

Unfortunately, we were unable to check out the ESPN College Game Day coverage of the Pittsburgh-Virginia Tech football game on Saturday night, but I'm pleased to say that Pitt came out on top. So, aside from a few encounters with angry drivers and pillars in the parking decks, the weekend was wonderful.

I certainly enjoyed being home and swimming fast and look forward to going home again in two weeks to eat lots of turkey. Until then, we've got UGA to think about, and I've got some work to do.

November 17, 2003 - Christian Groth

Last week we swam against University of Georgia. This presented great opportunities for many of us on the team.

First, it gave those of us that traveled the chance to compete against some of the fastest swimmers in the world, and yes, I do mean that. Seeing Olympic rings tattooed on people's hips, backs, and shoulders is not only intimidating, but also inspiring.

Second, it gave those of us who needed a break from traveling the chance to take a weekend off and get caught up on any school work that we may have put off, or even give us the chance to get ahead for once.

Third, the UGA pool completely rocks, I must say, not that ours is anything to be embarrassed about (it is not at all), but being surrounded by banners proclaiming national championships, with the huge 10-meter platform towering over you is quite a sight to behold. And, oh yeah, it's super fast.

This meet was different from most of our meets, other than the obvious in that is we were swimming against one of the best teams in the country. We got to swim on a Friday night, which we do not normally do.

Swimming on Friday presents another kind of opportunity, but this one is for Jon. We have not been able to train much long course this season because of the way that our meet schedule has worked out, so Jon took full advantage of his chance to get some 50-meter training in.

And boy did he, with a tough practice to end the week on. It was the perfect situation for us to come together as a complete squad, no specialties to divide us, just the whole team doing the same practice, suffering through the same sets, and encouraging each other through the end.

January 12, 2004 - Brian Seymour

We're on our last leg of winter training, thank goodness. The team got back into Atlanta late Sunday night and we started the last cycle of a rigorous training program Monday morning.

Most of the team hitched a ride with Doug "Young Blood," the bus driver, but those who couldn't fit drove their own cars or rode with friends home from our meet with the University of Tampa on Sunday. Despite near-freezing temperatures and overcast skies on Saturday night, the meet was a success, with the men victorious for the first time since my freshman year (a nice way to bring everything full circle).

The gods must have been smiling on us because the unseen sky of the night before became a cloudless, blue masterpiece on Sunday with temperatures eventually reaching the mid 60s. Enough about the meet though, that's just a small finale to the excitement of winter training.

For me, this year's training began on December 29, when Shea Loper and Jeff Klug and David Hiller, three of the previous season's graduates, came to town in anticipation of the New Year. It was great seeing all those guys again and we all had a smashing good time on New Year's Eve together.

On the second of January, however, all of that fun came to an end when we (that is the rest of the team and myself) hit the road for the luxurious Royal Flamingo Villas in fabulous Boca Raton, Florida.

While in Boca, we had many difficult workouts. In some ways this was the hardest Florida training trip I can remember, but it's all good because the hard work will pay off immensely come UAAs and NCAAs.

Between the hard sets and long runs, we spent a lot of time on the beach. I always enjoy coming back to school after Florida training because the team is so tan and buff, we're definitely the best looking people on campus.

This year I had the pleasure and good fortune of learning to surf on the couple of afternoons we had off. The surf was uncommonly large and a couple freshmen, Pat Mulligan and Ted Hamilton, showed me the ropes on Pat's boards. Of course those who didn't want to learn to surf enjoyed the best weather we've had since I've been around (so watch out freshmen, you've been spoiled).

It was a bittersweet trip back to Atlanta, knowing that I'll never again experience the fun and hard work that make winter training so wonderful. The car ride gave me an opportunity to reflect on this season and all the seasons past.

I guess it's true that all good things must come to an end. For now, I (as well as the rest of the team) have to focus on the second half of the season. Now is when things start to get fun, and if winter training is any indicator of what the championship season will be like, it should be a great one this year.

January 19, 2004 - Christian Groth

So, we have been back from Florida about a week now, and our schedules for this semester are beginning to solidify. For me, there is an inherent excitement involved with starting a new semester, especially second semester.

I love second semester for several reasons. One, new classes are always great. It's fun showing up the first day of classes and finding out who you know in your class, and figuring out whether or not the class is going to be a struggle.

Two, the hardest part of the season is over after Florida winter training, and it's great to be back and ready to rock again on campus. We have put in so much time in the water for the past two weeks, not to mention the past five months, and we are all ready to see some of it pay off.

Lastly, TAPER!!! Second semester signals taper for everyone, and as every swimmer knows taper is by far the greatest (and most fun) part of the season because everyone has newfound energy.

Right now, the UAA/Emory Invite taper group is in the "pre-taper" phase, which is very deceiving actually. There is nothing taper-ish about pre-taper; it involves lots of hard, fast swimming.

This is something that the freshmen have never experienced, and the upperclassmen annually despise because of its confusing name. However, spirits are always high because, again, it signals that taper is merely days away.

In the coming week we have our meet in Lexington, Kentucky against Wittenberg and Transylvania Universities. This meet is going to probably be the last chance for those of us who are concentrating on the UAA meet for our championship meet, so it will be both fun and exciting to perfect our races that we have worked so hard on throughout the last five months.

After Kentucky, the UAA/Emory Invite teams are finalized and posted so that everyone knows exactly when they will be swimming out of their minds. Personally, after looking around at my fellow teammates, I have no doubt that this is going to be the best of my three years here; we are all ready to rip up the pool.

January 26, 2004 - Brian Seymour

Meet in Kentucky
Many hours on a bus
"Young Blood" the driver

Ryan's Steakhouse meal
Spreads disease like gentle breeze
Steak, chicken, or fish?

Night at LaQuinta
Watching "The Mask of Zorro"
Sometimes people snore

Waffles are tasty
So too are smashed sandwiches
Can mayo go bad?

Where are we going?
Even Elvis doesn't know
Nolan makes a friend

Two heats of mile swims!
Some teams would whine about this
But we're cool and tough

What?! No team warm-down!
Jon also wants to get home
ETA, Sunday

Arby's or Wendy's
Ryan's loses endorsement
Airplane is a plus

I drank too much Coke
Can't sit still for much longer
Oh joy! Now we're home!

Time spent with this team
Is more than most could handle
But always well spent.

February 2, 2004 - Christian Groth

After reading Brian's entry last week I was overcome with a feeling of jealousy. His literary genius is impossible to top, I thought. I entertained thoughts of iambic pentameter, or something equally as witty; however, I soon realized that I am a neuroscience major, not English. Thus, I am doomed to writing diary entries in boring prose.

The UAA team officially started taper last Tuesday, so the team split up into the three respective groups: UAA taper, Invite taper, and NCAA taper. The invite group does an extra week of pre-taper, while the NCAA groups keeps on getting their butts whooped while the UAA kids get to drop yardage and intensity in preparation for the big one.

As I have said before this is my favorite time of the year. Only in taper time can the whole team come together under a common goal and feel totally unified. Our first goal is to win the UAA championship, and it will take every person on the 22-man squad to win that meet.

A great example of how the team comes together is our meet against Georgia Tech last weekend. We got to compete in their pool, the 1996 Olympic outdoor pool that was recently enclosed. I, for the first time, had to watch a meet from the stands. It was a completely different experience, and honestly it wasn't one that I want to experience often.

Against Tech, the whole team stepped up and swam up to Tech's level. In the past Tech has beaten us hands down, but last weekend we weren't scared, or intimidated by them. Led by our upperclassmen, we were able to come within 25 points of beating the NCAA Division I team.

Watching the meet really made me want to be down on the pool deck, in the pool, using the tight Omega touch pads, and ripping up my races as much as everyone else did. I am proud to be a part of this incredibly talented group of men, and I can not wait until the UAA and NCAA meets when everyone else will see how we can come together and get things done like nobody else in the country.

February 9, 2004 - Brian Seymour

A phone conversation between Brian Seymour and Emory women's swimmer Jen Kanetsky at 9:30 pm on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004:

JEN: Hey Brian!

BRIAN: Hey Jen! How ya doin?

JEN: I'm doing well, just watching "The Surreal Life," starring Ron Jeremy and others. I feel like we haven't talked for a while, what with the different taper groups and all. Let's catch up.

BRIAN: Great idea Jen! Speaking of taper groups, how's that going?

JEN: It's just swell. I only did 1850 today. I love sprinting.

BRIAN: Wow! I'm so jealous, I had to do 2300, cause I'm in the mid-distance group. But at least it wasn't 6700 like the NCAA group. Suckers.

JEN: Yeah, but remember they didn't have to come in on a Sunday.

BRIAN: True. You're always thinking on your toes, Jen. I can't seem to think straight today.

JEN: Why's that? Rough night last night? Ha, ha, ha.

BRIAN: You'd like to think so, wouldn't you? Actually, I was at the Professional Bull Riders of America Rodeo at the Georgia Dome. It was just such a mind-blowing experience that my head hurts today.

JEN: Really? Tell me more.

BRIAN: Well, it was like being at a country music concert. Except, instead of fresh, young artists playing today's hottest country tunes, it was fresh, young cowboys riding today's toughest bulls. Plus, my two good friends Colin Roussil and Jimmy McGee came along to enjoy the good times.

JEN: Wow! Now I'm the one who's jealous. That sounds like so much more fun than what I did last weekend.

BRIAN: Oh, come on. It couldn't have been that bad. Tell me about it.

JEN: Well, if you insist. On Friday we had the girls' team dinner at the Densley, that's my house. That was fun. We cooked dinner for each other and watched the critically acclaimed movie, "Pirates of the Carribean," starring Oscar nominee Johnny Depp.

BRIAN: Sounds like a great Friday night. Did you save any fun for Saturday night?

JEN: I certainly did. After spending all day shopping with Jessie Burley, I hung out with Donley Zifkin. Together, we went to the Biltmore house to watch the even more critically acclaimed film, "Schindler's List."

BRIAN: That doesn't sound like such a terrible weekend. But it will probably pale in comparison to this weekend, what with UAAs and all. I'm not gonna lie, Jen, I'm pretty excited for the meet. The team is looking great.

JEN: I agree, Brian. Plus our team meeting on Saturday morning got me really pumped to do well, like a burning key car. There's just so much to look forward to this week.

BRIAN: I know I'm excited to get off campus and to see my parents. I always look forward to seeing what the locker decorations will look like.

JEN: Not to mention the goody bags and team gifts.

TOGETHER: Parents rule!!!

BRIAN: Well, Jen, it was great catching up with you, but I should be getting to bed. I need my rest this week.

JEN: That makes two of us, Bucko. Don't be such a stranger in the future. Good night.

BRIAN: Don't let the bed bugs bite!

February 16, 2004 - Christian Groth

The theme for last weekend: Domination. Going into the 2004 UAA championships, we had no doubt in our minds that it was our year to shine once again.

As our practices dwindled down to merely our meet warm-ups, the apprehension, and excitement skyrocketed. Wednesday morning we all moved off campus into the hotel, so as not to be distracted by the vices of college life. After a gloriously green lunch at Lettuce Souprise You, we went to see the new Disney movie, "Miracle," decked out in our brand new "Emory Swimming and Diving" hockey jerseys courtesy of our parents.

As a guy from Detroit, Hockeytown, there could not have been a more suitable movie to get my competitive juices flowing. Heading back to the hotel everyone was excited to get on with the afternoon, which consisted of the tried and true tradition of shaving. For most the women, it was the first time shaving since October, and for the men it was a chance to flaunt our beautifully sculpted legs.

We headed out to dinner at Grady's after a quick loosen at the pool, and oh, what a dinner it was. The service was less than up to par, taking 40 minutes to get water, and a wholesome two hours to get a meal that was pre-ordered, yummy. We finally got out of Grady's around 9 o'clock and got back to the hotel to finish our shaving, and relax for the night.

On Thursday we came to win and from the first event (the 200 free relay) we showed that our work throughout the season was going to pay off. The tone was set from the start and continued throughout the session. The divers dove stupendously, taking the top two spots. Notable swims include: Ted Hamilton's 500, Chris Halstead and Ryan Kolynych's 200 I.M., John Sutter's diving, and the notorious 400 medley relay.

Friday was our weakest day on paper; however, that did not mean that we were going to let anybody challenge the lead that we had established on Thursday. Even after someone tried to throw a wrench in our well-lubricated gears, we still came out blazing, and madder than ever. Friday's notables include an amazing 200 medley relay, David Black's unshaved 100 breaststroke, and Chris Halstead's unshaved 100 backstroke.

Saturday was by far our strongest day with the 200s of strokes, and the mile. This far into the meet there was no chance that we could lose, but that did not dampen our will to perform. Having five of the eight people in the final 1650 heat was a great way to start the night, as well as watching Ted Hamilton rocket his way to a UAA record. The rest of the night followed Ted's swim. The night was capped off with Ted Hamilton winning the conference's male Rookie of the Year award, and John Sutter winning the conference Diver of the Year award. And of course, we won our sixth straight UAA title.

This year's UAA meet was the most exciting of my three at Emory. Every person swimming stepped up in their own way and brought their very best to the meet. The unrested NCAA group performed like champions, fueling everyone else in a reciprocating cycle that led to everyone taking on the attitude of champions. Eighteen of our 22 men who swam at the conference meet swam "B" NCAA cuts or better.

This weekend is the Emory Invite, which is great because the whole team swims. I'm looking forward to seeing all those who did not get a chance to swim at the conference meet to tear up the water, hopefully we'll add a few more to the NCAA list too.

March 1, 2004 - Christian Groth

Anticipation is in the air this week because there is a group of us who do not know our fate. For some, the season is over, concluding with a fantastic Emory Invite two weekends ago. For others, their goal is nationals and they are geared up and ready for St. Louis.

However, there is a group of us that is "on the bubble" meaning that our times are may or may not get us an invitation for the Big Show. For those of us in this position we must carry on as if we expect to swim in St. Louis.

The worst part about being in the "bubble" group is that our season could come to a screeching halt come Thursday when the invitations are sent out. That would mean two weeks of hard training go towards nothing.

But I know that all of us have up in so much time in the last six months that an extra two weeks for a chance to make it to NCAAs is more than worth it. Thus it is obvious why those of us on the bubble wait in anticipation.

Taper started (again) today. For the non-UAA taper swimmers it is the highlight of the season because it brings newfound strength and energy. For the UAA taper swimmers it is a familiar feeling experienced not even a month ago.

No matter which group we fall into, it is an exciting time because the team has been whittled down to 20 guys. After the week, we will have a maximum of 18 people still practicing. This reduction in numbers brings the team together very closely because everyone finds themselves training with people they have never swum with before. Everyone is getting excited for what is going to prove to be an amazing nationals (if the UAA meet was any indication of our preparedness).

Until then we have stressed a few things: sleep, nutrition, and health. They all are intertwined and each affects the other drastically. Getting sick during taper is the worst thing possible, so for the next two weeks we will all be doing our best to stay healthy by washing our hands incessantly, not sharing water bottles, and eating our fruits and vegetables.