At 6 a.m., Newbury Park High School [NPHS] swimmers find solace during their morning practices every Tuesday and Thursday.
Juliet Schohn, senior, is in her third year on the NPHS swim team. “It really started off my day on the right foot [and] I felt super energized. It is always difficult to get in the pool in the morning, especially when the sun’s not up and it’s cold outside, but I felt energized and ready for my classes afterward,” Schohn said.
She also recognizes the opportunities that come from morning practice. “I really enjoyed doing dives with my teammates in the morning, when you’re not as tired, when you haven’t gone through a whole day. It’s much easier to nail that perfect position every time and perfect those dives for our competitions,” Schohn said.
Sebastian Ayala, the coach of the NPHS swim team, uses the early time slot to continue practicing. He also finds that it is a great way to improve a swimmer’s technique. “Morning practice is one of those things that people can look at and choose to do it if they want. So when they [go], it shows me the type of kid that wants to get better, the one that wants to take those opportunities. And me seeing that makes it easier to coach that swimmer, because they have goals,” Ayala said.
“My favorite memories are seeing the amount of kids that show up that want to get better, that choose to be there. It’s a lot of effort to set your alarm for 5:30 a.m. to show up to a 6 a.m. practice, even though you have a full day of school ahead of you,” Ayala said.
Although the time may seem inconvenient, Mia Marshall, junior, feels that morning practice provides extra opportunities in a swimmer’s inflexible schedule. “Not as many people want to get up or have the ability to go in the morning, but it’s also better for some people, because they have jobs, so they’re able to go to the morning practices and then not go to the afternoon practices on the days that they go,” Marshall said.
Schohn reflects on the positive gratification gained after morning practice. “After we finish a hard set and we’re cooling down, and you watch the sun come up from behind the clouds, it gives you a new perspective on the day [and] you’re ready to see what the day has to offer,” Schohn said.