Swimmers on Land, How the Rams are Powering Through Adversity.
By Kenzee Hampton
Searching for something before the season, the Owasso Rams swim team has been in a desperate search for a pool before the season starts. Our team swims at the Claremore Rec Center but the pool is currently being remodeled. So in the hunt for a pool, the Rams found one to swim at, Union. The Rams can swim at Union in the mornings on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
With limited time in the water, they have been staying in shape and getting ready for the season.
Coach Casey Stelzer, has said, “We are still practicing. We are utilizing our contract with the Claremore Rec Center everyday after school during 6th period to condition; strength training, we are doing CrossFit training, we are doing cardio training, such as cycling and running.”
For the Rams, not having a pool definitely has some negatives but without a doubt positives too. Stelzer remarks, “We have to stay positive and we are swimmers without water, it's a challenge. Like putting a goldfish in a bowl with little water… However, the positives are we are still getting to know each other. It has actually given us the advantage to train in strength where we haven't necessarily had before. Just because historically we have had to spend ‘X’ amount of time in the water and that takes up so much time we're not able to utilize the strength as much as we need.”
The swim season starts on October 1st, the Rams don’t have much time before their first meet. You would think our swimmers would be nervous right? Wrong, our swimmers are confident and ready to show what they have to bring to the table!
For the Coaches, they are not anxious one bit. Stelzer states, “I'm not intimidated by schools like Jenks or Bartlesville that have been swimming... because what they don't know, what they haven't been able to learn is what we have been learning for 4 to 5 years now, is adversity… Our team and our kids can adapt overnight to a new situation. It happens, we have busses break down, we have facilities close due to weather, we have a thousand different things happen in our daily routines… (We are) making the best of it.”
As our fellow athletes learn each day to roll with the punches, they find new ways to better themselves and their team. Beals said, “I definitely am going to try to swim by myself and do my best to do some dry land and in the water. I know I already have written my goals for the season and those always motivate me. ”
The swimmers have a big obstacle in their way, but that's not stopping them. They have big goals for this upcoming season, they are ready to shatter records and go to state.
The Rams first meet (depending on COVID) will be on November 5th against Booker T. Washington. Come support our Owasso Rams at Booker T. Washington it starts at 5:30 PM. #NoPoolNoProblem #RamStrong
(Haley Raburn Senior and Team Captain- Picture taken by Alexia Sang)
(Sean Wood Senior and Team Captain- Picture taken by Alexia Sang)
(Elizabeth Patterson Senior and Coach Casey Stelzer and Coach Tammy Wood- Picture taken by Kenzee Hampton)