Brenna Roberts ‘21
Sports Editor
On February 14, the swim team will have their first and only meet of the season before the NEC Championship meet in March in Ohio. The first meet is at home at the Andover YMCA against Sacred Heart at 3:30 p.m. Sacred Heart is a strong and fast team that is also a member of the Northeast Conference.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions and not having a pool on campus, the team has faced many challenges. Finding times that the team can practice was tough enough without the virus, but now that the team has to split into cohorts, it makes it even more difficult. Although the team has faced many obstacles, they continue to train hard and prepare for the meets ahead.
“Even though covid has made training so tough, physically and mentally, we won’t let that stop us,” Freshman Abigail McLeavy said. “I Can’t wait to feel the racing atmosphere again.”
Many sports teams have been at a standstill due to Covid-19, which means not being able to have a full season, or worse, no season at all. Swimming typically begins in September, and the first meet takes place in October. Because of the virus, the team has not yet had a single meet. The team also typically goes on a training trip in January after the New Year for a week. But that also was canceled. The only teams that stayed on campus were Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Hockey because they all had games.
“It’s been important for us to stay positive, and motivated, considering what is going on in the world around us, but we have been trying to focus on controlling what we can, which is giving our 110 percent in the pool and the lift room every opportunity we have,” said Senior Captain Erin Claflin.
The Northeast Conference Championship meet is in Geneva, Ohio, at the Spire Aquatics Facility. This meet will span from March 29 to April 2, which will give the team more than enough time to practice and prepare for some hopefully fast swims in a very difficult season.
