Feb. 25, 2011

Hi! My name is Chelsea Hartman, I am a Junior distance swimmer from North Liberty, Iowa and co-captain of the UNI Women’s Swimming and Diving Team.

 This past weekend the UNI Swimming and Diving team competed in the MVC Swimming and Diving Conference Meet in Carbondale, Illinois.  We left on Tuesday for Southern Illinois, all with goals that had been set way back in August.  The trip was long, but well worth the wait. Thursday was the first of three days of competition and we started it off with a bang.  We had top 8 swims in almost every event, 2 new school records, and our only sophomore diver, Bethany Olson, became our first MVC Champion in 8 years!  Everyone left that night with the highest of enthusiasm for the next day.  Friday, was just like Thursday, we had yet again even more top 8 finishes, 2 more school records, and personal bests from almost everyone on the team.  Saturday was just icing on the cake of a great weekend, we finished strong with great swims from all grades, 3 more school records were broken, the most points team points we have had in a while, and we were able to get Illinois State, Southern Illinois, and Evansville to do the Interlude with us on deck!!

  All together, the past weekend was one that will stick out for a long time when I look back at my swimming career, but that isn’t because of the fast swims or the broken records.  This past weekend was about so much more for the UNI Swimming and Diving team, we worked together and became the closest we have been all season.    Before every race we all could count on at least five of our teammates to be behind our lane yelling “Go Cats!” when the whistle blew.  We all knew that no matter what our time was when we touched that wall, there would be girls there to give us high fives and hugs.  Basically, we all knew that we all had support from each other no matter what, and that is the true meaning of being a team.  

 Next year will be my last year with the UNI Swimming and Diving Team and I am looking forward to it being the best so far.  We have come such a long way since the beginning of the year, and it is amazing to me to think what we will be next year. I want my teammates to know that I am so proud of all of us for the growth that we have all made in the last six months and the strong women we have all become.  Also a special shout out and congratulations to the Seniors on amazing careers, and Kelly Rose McCullough for being such a great person to work with as Captain this year.  Thank you all for taking the time to read the diary entries this year, it truly shows your support and dedication to the team and this great institution.  I am proud to be a UNI athlete, and a UNI competitor, but most of all a UNI teammate.  Have a good week! Go Panthers!

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