Sam Eckert:
"I can't believe that I'm actually writing my senior blog and I'm sure my coaches and teammates are surprised as well. The first week of freshman year I got lapped in the 50 meter pool by everyone and didn't know how to use paddles. I had completely forgotten how to race and train after taking 9 months off of swimming just because "I didn't want to swim". I almost quit.
Going into sophomore year, I thought it would be my last. I wasn't very good and I didn't think that swimming was going to benefit me in any way. That year, the men's and women's teams got combined and we brought on 2 new coaches. I was lucky enough to move from the sprint group to the mid-distance group with Aaron Bell (the best and worst things of my college swimming career). I began swimming much better that year and learned how to use paddles :) I went into the MAC Championships thinking it was going to be my last championships ever. Surprisingly, I did way better than I thought I would so I decided to stay for another year.
Junior year started out rough. Once again, I almost quit. My coaches talked me through it and I made it through another successful season.
And now senior year. It would be stupid to quit now after making it so far and overcoming so many challenges and meeting so many great people. I am one of ten girls who have made it through the last four years of college swimming together and I am extremely proud of myself that I can be a part of that group. Looking back on the last four years, I would have never predicted that I would even make it, let alone learn more about myself and life. I have to thank my coaches, Andy, Aaron, Courtney, Mike, and James, who have spent so much time and energy picking me up when I'm down and encouraging me when I wanted to quit. I couldn't have done it without them. I have always felt "out of my league" swimming on UB's team, but I have been able to overcome those feelings and fit right in. YAY!"
GO BULLS!
Sam
