A high school swimming tale

DECORAH - It is the middle of the swim season, walking into the Luther pool for the 57th time.

The air is heavy and humid. I was looking at the light blue water, imagining how nice it would be if I were swimming in the ocean in Florida, though, realistically I know that water is going to be cold.

Day after day at 6:30 p.m., the Decorah High School girls' swim team did a 500-yard swim and a 200-yard individual medley for warm up. Some days, those first 700 yards feel like the water is a hurricane trying to suck me up. Yet the hardest part of practice is the shock of how cold the water is when I jump in.

Over the past four years of my high school swimming career, not one practice started with me diving in. The shock of the bitter cold water brings out my inner wimp. Instead, I sat on the edge of the pool, leaned forward, belly-flopped in, sunk to the bottom, then streamlined off the wall.

After the team finishes the warm up, our eyes immediately turn toward the whiteboard with the first set on it. If the whiteboard had eyes, it would be as if it was looking out at an army of soldiers. When I saw more than four of something, or brackets on the side saying times three or times four, I knew it will be a tough practice.

Several thoughts run through my mind: 'I am going to die” or 'I don't feel good,” but know I am not in a position to give up. I try to tell myself that I can do it and sometimes, it works. Other times, I need an extra push of motivation.

There is only one thing that makes flopping in the frigid water, and doing harsh workouts easier.

That is a very special person.

There's only one person on the entire team that can call me 'bud.” Something about this voice, tone and personality is continuous motivation to my ears. Madi Ondroshek is only a third of my height, but without a doubt, I look up to her. She pushes me to my fullest potential.

The sets that start with eight 100s on the 1:25 and end with 16 25 butterflies are only accomplished because of little Madi and her 'That a way bud!” comments. Little Madi led my lane day after day. She looked at me after every set and yelled 'way to go bud” or 'that a way, Court.”

Those words can come from anyone but when they come from Madi, my body feels a sense of energy. Practice goes by so much faster when she is constantly pushing me.

Not only do I look up to Madi in the pool, but our team does as well. She is a positive role model in the locker room, school, on the bus, in the community and anywhere else she is seen.

This year, Madi is a junior at South Winneshiek High School, a year younger then me. My sophomore year, Madi and I got to be close right off the bat. Our team has a little sister/big sister program where the big sisters are normally juniors and seniors and the little sisters are freshmen and sophomores. The purpose of this program is to have someone to talk to if they need anything.

My sophomore year, our team was one person short a big sister so they nominated me to go with Madi. Since that day, she has taught me so much. She even had a dream about me her freshman year. I got eaten by a stingray. Those are the types of dreams only swimmers have because stingrays can't eat people.

Though Madi and I are not in the same school and don't plan to go to the same college, distance won't separate our friendship. Madi made the shock of the water at the beginning of practice worth it. She also made the 100 or I.M. sets somewhat enjoyable.

Madi is that one person everyone needs in their life. Whether it's pushing me in swimming or being a positive role model, she has a made an impact on my life.