Flower Cap Time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kaitlin!  Check out some of Kaitlin's warm-up with the cap.

Maybe this should be an everyday cap for Kaitlin?????



Tatum Boehnke swims Lake Tahoe and English Channel

During the Summer of 2010 Sophomore AquaBear Tatum Boehnke swam Lake Tahoe, the summer before that she swam the English Channel, now Tatum is leading the Bears in the Distance events.  Boehnke is from Carson City, Nevada and is majoring in Sport and Excercise Science.

Follow the link to read UNC Northern Vision's article on Tatum's accomplishments.  Way to go Tatum!

 Tatum Boehnke swims English Channel and Lake Tahoe

A Day in the Life

This week's A Day in the Life feature come from JJ Smith, a junior from Centennial, Colorado.  JJ, who swims sprint freestyle for the AquaBears, talks about majoring in Physical Education, swimming, and daily rehab for her recent shoulder injury.


Junior JJ Smith

 A Day in the Life of JJ Smith

Yet another dream is interrupted by the sound of that dreaded alarm clock.  Up before the sun sneaking out of the house trying not to wake the others and on my way to lifting.  Tuesdays my schedule differs, a little, due to a recent shoulder injury.  At 5:30 I start off with rehab, and seeing as it is way too early for any normal person to be up, it is just our trainer, Katie, and I.  Rehab and daily trips to the training room, multiple times a day, have become a habit for me this year to keep my shoulder healthy.  After a session of rehab it’s back with the sprinters and divers to finish the morning with abs.  Heading home to an empty house I breakfast and do some last minute reading before classes.

Being a Physical Education major is fun and games in class but also involves learning and tons of work, of course.  Today we learned how to teach running, dodging, fleeing, and chasing.  Easy right? Yes and no.  I do get to play everyday in classes but it does involve a lot of work.  In my next class we work on developing lesson plans, the objectives that we want the students to learn, and work on psychomotor, cognitive, and affective goals.  Right after this class we go into doing activities and practice teachings.  We teach each other skills that we will also teach in middle school including team handball, rugby, soccer, and ultimate frisbee.  We get to play and learn specific goals from all these sports.  Everyone finds it very impressive that a swimmer has eye-hand and eye-foot coordination.  After playing for a little bit it is time to sit down with each other and reflect on the teachings we just finished.  In the PE program we all stay together throughout classes and years until we graduate and we all have become very good friends through the past three years. After classes I head off with my lunch to study hall for some homework before practice.

Next I head to practice ready to go and put in a good work out.  Being a sprinter we have specific goals on what we need to get done for each practice to be the best we can at meets.  But today differs from others because we have our camp fire meeting. We talk about what is going on and what is coming up in the next few weeks including meets, recruits, community service, etc.  We always manage to get a little off task and always have a few good laughs before jumping in.

After practice it’s a quick run home, get some dinner, and back to study hall for a couple hours and a quick visit with a few friends to top off the day.  The day finally comes to a close and my bed is calling my name getting me ready for another day of practice and school. 

An outsider walking in and seeing our team would see a crazy team of 28 girls jamming out to music, sometimes dancing, and swimming back and forth in the pool.  What I see is my teammates, my friends, and my family.  I usually do not remember what practice was from yesterday nor do I remember those extra hard days Coach and the sets really test my mental and physical toughness.  What I do remember is all the great times I have had with this team.  And can’t wait to see what crazy, fun times are in store for me.  

Bear of the Week!



Freshman Kaitlin Sorensen

Congratulations to Kaitlin Sorensen who was chosen as "Bear of the Week" by the captains for her constant hard work, attentiveness to details and constantly bringing a smile and laughs to the pool deck.

Kaitlin is a freshman from Westminister, CO graduating from Ralston Valley High School, she swims both sprint freestyle and the breastroke events for the AquaBears.

Way to go Kaitlin!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-2011 AquaBears at Ault Pumpkin Patch

The Aquabears spent a few hours picking pumpkins in Ault, Colorado for Stellar Elementary's Pumpkin Run last week.  Our ladies had a lot of fun picking over 200 pumpkins for the students.  Follow the link for more pictures!  AquaBears Pumpkin Patch Pictures



A Day in the Life



Sophomore Hannah Hurd



This week's A Day in the Life is Sophomore Hannah Hurd who is from Loveland, Colorado swimming Mid-Distance Freestyle and Backstroke for the AquaBears.  Hannah is majoring in Elementary Education.

“Nine-tenths of education is encouragement.”

Anatole France

            Some people say majoring in Elementary Education is the easiest thing ever, that it shouldn’t even count as a major! If these naysayers were to spend one day in my shoes, they would recognize the vast complexities and demands of education that are not reflected in the colorful posters and candy jars that welcome visitors in a typical school office.

            In the mornings, I walk into my math class ready to learn any and every method a student can use to find a correct answer to a given math problem. We learn ways to implement the use of manipulatives, such as geoboards and tangrams, into our lessons to create a hands-on learning environment. Some of the concepts learned in my high school AP Statistics and Trigonometry classes are being integrated into these new elementary math curriculums. Our elementary students are going to be very math savvy by the time they finish the fifth grade!

            Next, I head to a class where I am learning all about Colorado history. From fur trappers to Indians, gold miners to farmers, we are garnering an in depth understanding of this state’s background.  A challenge we face is to present this information in kid-friendly formats such as concept webs, venn diagrams, and reading guides.

            My night wraps up with discussions and articles on how every pupil learns differently. I am reminded there is no single “right” way to teach to all students. It is our job to learn everything we can about our students so we can create a successful learning environment for each individual.

            Swimming has taught me lessons I will carry with me all of my life. It has taught me how to lead through my actions. It has taught me that the people I can rely on most are just a lane line away. It has taught me how to juggle a sport, schoolwork, family and friends. It has taught me how to give more to a team then I take from it. It has taught me to never go to the grocery store after a workout because you might end up buying the whole store you’re so hungry! It has taught me dedication should not be something left to dry on the pool deck. But most of all, it has taught me the strength of encouragement. I am growing every day, not just as a person, but as an educator and the basis for this is swimming.

            Whether through rote memorization, the dissection of various theories on learning or racing in the pool, UNC is enabling and encouraging me to become a successful teacher. I can only hope that I will be able to encourage the next generation as much as my predecessors have encouraged me!

Bear of the Week!

Bear of the Week-
Diver Sara Moldenhauer

The AquaBear's Captains have awarded Sophomore Diver Sara Moldenhaur with the "Bear of the Week."  Since starting practice with Diving Coach Kevin Oswalt, Sara has learned a 205c(Back 2 1/2)  305c(Reverse 2 1/2) and  405c(Inward 2 1/2) off the 3-meter board.

Sara is orginially from Colorado Springs, CO and a graduate from Doherty High School. 

Congrats Sara!!!  You're team and coaches are proud of you!

MPSF Swimmer of the Week

 

Freshman Courtney Van Oost



This past week Courtney Van Oost was named Swimmer of the Week for MPSF!!!

A HUGE pat on the back goes out to Courtney, a freshman from Elgin, IL for her accomplishment which not only marks UNC's first recongnition in the MPSF but also the first ever Swimmer of the Week for the whole conference.(8 Swimming and Diving Members)

The UNC Bears Swimming and Diving Captains also award a weekly "Bear Award" to a member of the team for their performance at a meet or work ethic during practices.  This week's Bear Award went to Courtney to compliment her MPSF Swimmer of the Week in recongnition for her overall performances at the Intermountain Shootout Oct 8-9 hosted by Mesa State.

The opportunity for our athletes to be awarded this accolade weekly and also receive numerous other accoclades at the end of the season(Newcomer of the Year; All-Academic Team; All-Conference Team) are among the top reasons why we are excited to be a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference.

MPSF Release and Weekly Re-Cap
UNCBears.com Official Release

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A Day in the Life..

To give us a glimpse into her day-to-day life is Alana Dauman who is a Senior from Thornton, Colorado representing the Bears in the backstroke events.


Senior Swimmer Alana Dauman

A Day in the Life of Alana Dauman.................................

A straight plunge into the depths of what ultimately lies beneath the surface.   Diving only deep enough to where there’s no point in returning.  We are faced with the unknown, our fate is yet to be determined and the challenge has already been set up for us.  I stand frigid behind the blocks, watching the ripples of the water disappear.

 It’s another day, and after almost hitting the snooze on my alarm I jump up, and race to practice to get ready for a morning of weights.  In an instance, my 8 am class calls and I am in for another day of classes and a good amount of studying.

  Today, I learned about the different parts of the body and how they react to exercise from a physics point of view. I learned that EKG’s, or in other words the heart monitors that are hooked up to people in the hospital, aren’t as easy to read as they look.  And it really isn’t just, is the person alive or not.  I learned that knowing your sexual identity isn’t based just solely on your personality and what you like to do.  It’s also how you view yourself as a person, and how you react to others.  I learned that the human body is made up of many different systems all working together as one.  I’ve learned in college it’s not how smart you are its how much you apply yourself.  Knowledge is ultimately contagious! 

Off to swim practice, we start with dry-land and then move onto two hours of intense swimming, the day is almost over.  Studying is the next item on my agenda.  Swimming at the collegiate level has taught me how important managing your time is.  It’s a skill that I have acquired and learned to stick by in order to get the grades needed.  At last, it’s time for some sleep, fatigue has set in to the extreme and sleep is easy to come.         

The time is now, the time is here, and nothing else matters.  It’s my last chance, my last big meet at the end of the season, its three years of hard work and all of it’s soon going to pay off.  It’s the last glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel and I couldn’t be more excited to see how it’s all going to end.  This team is what has gotten me through, made it worth it, and when everything else fails they’re the ones still there! 

First Wins of the Season!

Congrats to the AquaBears on securing their first two wins of the season this past weekend against Mesa State and Adams State at the 2010 Intermountain Shootout in Grand Junction, CO.

The team was a little rusty on Friday evening after a 5hr. bus ride through the mountians but came out strong on Saturday securing the wins and posting numerous Top Ten All-Time Performances over the weekend.  Top Ten Performances were posted by Courtney Van Oost (200 Back-2:07.75), 200 Medley Relay-1:51.10(Sammy Leonard, Amanda Donegan, Gina Riggle, JJ Smith), 200 Free Relay-1:42.83(Leonard, Riggle, Hattie Oats, Smith).

And as with every trip there are memorable moments................Coach Kelly or Bus Driver Kelly!?!?!??

A Day in the Life of an AquaBear

Mostly you see our AquaBears in the pool as swimmers and divers but in reality our athletes are much more than just a swimmer or a diver.  In addition to practices, meets, team meetings, weights, study hall and traveling our AquaBears also take a full load of classes and sometimes find time for socializing....typically at a meal with the team. 

Senior Captain Tori Gutt

Every Thursday we will be highlighting an AquaBear with a recount of their daily schedule including insight to experiences and lessons learned over the course of their career as an AquaBear.  We hope to give you a behind the scenes look at our swimmers and divers.

Our first AquaBear is senior and co-captain Tori Gutt.  Tori holds UNC Top All-Time Times in both the 200 Breast and 400 IM with many other times in our Top Ten list.  Originally from Tucson, AZ here is A Day in the Life of Tori Gutt.................

Sometimes, people ask me why I chose to swim in college.  This question used to be hard to answer because the schedule is grueling, and the sport is demanding. But now, as a senior, and after 3 years of this life, I think I have figured out the answer to that popular question. . .

The alarm clock always goes off early.  I roll out of bed and head to the pool.  The morning practice goes well. After practice is over, I feel good.

I eat a quick breakfast after practice and complete some final homework assignments before classes start.  I live in an apartment within walking distance to campus.  I walk with my roommate to our classes.  I enjoy learning and love putting my best effort into a difficult assignment.  Working hard in the classroom is just as important as working hard in the pool.

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After a full day of class, it is time for our afternoon practice.  As a group, we stretch and do dryland—abs today.  Then we jump in the pool for a hard workout.  When we have finished, I am exhausted, but I have such a feeling of accomplishment.  Each day of hard work is one day closer to the team showing it off at conference.

Following practice, I eat dinner at the dining hall with the team.  I am all about the dining hall!  It is all-you-can-eat, which I am a huge fan of, because who doesn’t like unlimited food?  Duh, sign me up—love it.  The food is delicious, and the conversation is great.  We always share lots of laughs at dinner.  I walk back to my apartment to start a long night of homework.  I have a quiz to study for and a lot of assignments due tomorrow.  My studying is productive, and I feel ready for my quiz in the morning.

I wish I had some extra free time after I finish my work to relax.  But, it is bedtime.  I have learned that sleep is just too important.  School and swimming are time consuming, but I know it is all worth it.  Swimming has taught me how to manage my time, and how to juggle it all. 

I don’t do it for the early morning wake up calls.

I don’t do it for the rushed breakfasts or the hurried homework.

I don’t do it for the endless crunches, the sore muscles or the grueling workouts.

I don’t do it for the long, late nights of homework.

I don’t do it for the lack of sleep or the full body fatigue. 

We all sacrifice a lot to live this life, but it is something I will never forget.  When things get tough, it is the little things that get me through it all.  It’s the little jokes in the locker room.  It’s late night story time on long bus rides.  It’s a smile from a teammate in the hallway at school.  It’s the pancake breakfasts after Saturday practices.  It’s the team movie nights after a long week.  It’s funny, because I don’t remember practice on October 4 of my freshman year.  I don’t remember my time in the 200 breaststroke at the Early Bird Invite 3 years ago.  I don’t remember weight room workouts from last month.  But what I do remember are the memories.  And those memories will last a lifetime.  I remember meeting the team for the first time.  I remember making friends that will last a lifetime.  I remember sharing stories at team sleepovers.  Some of the best times of my life have been spent with the girls on this team.  By next week, I probably won’t even remember yesterday’s workout.  But I will always remember this team, and that is what is important.  The team is what gets me through it all. 

And that is why I swim.

Blue vs. Gold Innersquad and Alumni Weekend

The Blue vs. Gold Innersquad was a great meet for our team. Compared to last year's Blue and Gold Meet over half of the events swam had faster times this year. Great job AquaBears, we are on our way to a great season!

Alums Art Wolverton, Ron and Ella Mae Brown

We would also like to Thank the Swimming and Diving Alumni who came out to support the current AquaBears. Divers Art Wolverton, Caty Cook and Swimmers Ron Brown, and Lynette Washburn who pulled out the cap and goggles to compete on the Gold Team.

After a few tense moments after the 400 Free Relay the Gold Team proved to be the best that evening edging out the Blue 116 to 113. Follow the link below for our Official Release on the Bears Athletic website.

Gold edges Blue in 2010 Innersquad

Next up for the AquaBears is the Intermountain Shootout in Grand Junction, CO hosted by Mesa State

Flower Power II

Apparently it has gotten around to team about how fun it is warm-up with The Flower Cap because.........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON!!!!


 









FLOWER POWER!

Many different sports and many teams carry on traditions.  Here at UNC the AquaBears have started a new tradition........FLOWER POWER!!  On each of their respective birthdays the athletes will warm-up in a Flower Cap that just might resemble something they'll wear a few years down the road while lap swimming.

In true form it was the youngest of the AquaBears that got to wear it first.......



 



Happy Birthday Christina!!!



The Coaches unanimously agreed to let technique slide for about 10 minutes so the Flower Cap could be adequately used.