By Audrey Harman ‘22
Recognizable in the Regis Jesuit High School hallways by her thick, curly blonde hair, freshman Greta Leege is now known as a Regis Jesuit state qualifying swimmer, with fast times and the parka to prove it.
She remembers how hard she worked, and how nervous she was for her first race when she looks back on her state experience.
“I was so nervous for state, state was definitely the meet I was most nervous for. I just rested the entire night before, I read affirmations. I was so nervous so I brought rollers and stuff. It was scary,” said Leege.
Before their final meet, the swim team writes each other notes to get them mentally prepared for the last races of their season. They also get ready physically by having one last team lunch at school before C Leagues the next day. This lunch is the last time that the girls will all be together before their final races. Everyone on the team enjoys them, especially Greta.
“I love them and I love to carbo-load. And most of the time I think that it will make me sink to the bottom of the pool but it just tastes so good,” said Greta.
The next morning, all of the swimmers board the massive greyline bus and wait for their requested song to play so they can get hyped up for their races.
“I chose Forbes by G-Easy. And I chose Forbes because at the first dual meet we have a little pre ritual where we dance in the locker room,” Greta said.
The sounds of Forbes by G-Easy are replaced as they arrive at VMAC swimming center in Thornton. You can hear the sound of wet feet slapping the cold concrete and the sound of swimmers crashing into the water. You can see the swimmers getting psyched up for their races by doing their favorite warm ups. Greta’s personal favorite is to shake her arms six times, and then shake her legs six times. Then she shakes them five times, and then four, all the way to one. But once she is on the block she likes to clap three times and adjust her goggles.
Greta gets into ready position, the horn blares. The race is on, the girls dive into the water creating huge waves in the pool.
Through the echo of the voices of exctatic fans, you can hear the shouts of Greta’s teammates, led by head coach Nick Frasersmith as they cheer her on in the 100 meter butterfly and 100 meter freestyle.
When her hands hit the wall for the last time and her head emerged from the water. Her teammates, or as she calls them, “sisters,” are there to congratulate her.
Though she, “didn’t do as well as she wanted to,” she placed in the top 30 and dropped time from her previous races.
Looking back on past seasons, Greta has many memories that made her swimming career worth the commitment. From people “just starting to throw up” in the pool, to “finally shaving [her] legs after four months.” Though her favorite memories are with her sisters on the swim team.
The sisterhood that has developed between the swim team is unbreakable.
Greta gushes about her teammates, “I just treasure it, and I cannot wait to go back. All of these girls are so unique and contribute to the team in their own way. And everyone is so loving and nice, and I couldn’t imagine a better sisterhood.”