Newcomers Wasting No Time Settling In
November 26, 2018 04:54 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The transition from high school to college can be difficult for any new student. Throw in the added responsibilities of being a Division I athlete, and suddenly that first semester away from home can become a daunting one.
But inside the West Virginia University swimming and diving program, first-year student-athletes aren't exactly seeing it that way. In fact, many agree that the challenge of starting new classes, at a new school, with a new team, in, at times, a new country, has gone as well as possible.
Sure, there have been some adjustments. But with the help of veteran teammates and the Mountaineer staff, it's been an enjoyable, successful start to the next chapter of the newcomers' swimming and diving careers.
"It has honestly been easier to settle in than I thought it was going to be," freshman Lauryn Kallay said. "I remember when I first visited here, I thought the campus was the biggest thing I've ever seen. I didn't know where anything was. But, as soon as I got here, it became pretty easy to find everything."
Kallay has had as much early success in the pool as any of the newcomers so far this season. She already has multiple individual wins under her belt during the fall portion of the schedule, and her confidence – as well as her familiarity with her surroundings – has already come a long way.
Still, getting used to the competition at the college level can take some time, as can the training regimen at the Division I level. But as freshman Josh Harlan says, it's all about adapting and improving.
"Racing has been a big adjustment for me," Harlan, who hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of furthest distances away for any Mountaineer freshman, said. "It's a lot different not being the top dog. I came from a pretty small swimming community, so racing next to somebody that can bust out one of the top times in the nation is a big change. It's been a big leap, for sure, but I try to use it as a motivator."
The freshman experience in the diving well is off to a great start, too. The tight-knit group has wasted no time in welcoming the team's newcomers into the family. Such a move not only shows effective veteran leadership, but it also adds to the Mountaineers' daily camaraderie, which translates into useful, positive energy on meet days.
The atmosphere has certainly been appreciated by all.
"After only a week or two, it felt like I knew (the team) for years," freshman Nick Cover, who was named the Big 12 Men's Diver of the Week on Oct. 17, said. "My first year has been such a great experience; everyone is there to help if I need them. They have my back, and I have their back."
The Mountaineers recently completed their competition schedule for the fall semester, which included first-place finishes at the West Virginia State Games, dual-meet wins over Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier and solid performances at the Ohio State Invitational (swimming) and Navy Diving Invitational.
Next up, WVU will prepare for all-important winter months by traveling to its annual training trips in Key Largo and Coral Springs, Florida, in late December. While intense workouts await the team, so does the opportunity to come even closer as a team.
That's what the Mountaineers hope will be the case, as the aspirations for a feeling of family inside the program continues to unfold.
"The transition to college diving has definitely given me some challenges, but I've never had to go through them alone," freshman Emma Longley said. "The amount of support we get here is amazing, and that has made this a lot easier to handle."
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
But inside the West Virginia University swimming and diving program, first-year student-athletes aren't exactly seeing it that way. In fact, many agree that the challenge of starting new classes, at a new school, with a new team, in, at times, a new country, has gone as well as possible.
Sure, there have been some adjustments. But with the help of veteran teammates and the Mountaineer staff, it's been an enjoyable, successful start to the next chapter of the newcomers' swimming and diving careers.
"It has honestly been easier to settle in than I thought it was going to be," freshman Lauryn Kallay said. "I remember when I first visited here, I thought the campus was the biggest thing I've ever seen. I didn't know where anything was. But, as soon as I got here, it became pretty easy to find everything."
Kallay has had as much early success in the pool as any of the newcomers so far this season. She already has multiple individual wins under her belt during the fall portion of the schedule, and her confidence – as well as her familiarity with her surroundings – has already come a long way.
Still, getting used to the competition at the college level can take some time, as can the training regimen at the Division I level. But as freshman Josh Harlan says, it's all about adapting and improving.
"Racing has been a big adjustment for me," Harlan, who hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of furthest distances away for any Mountaineer freshman, said. "It's a lot different not being the top dog. I came from a pretty small swimming community, so racing next to somebody that can bust out one of the top times in the nation is a big change. It's been a big leap, for sure, but I try to use it as a motivator."
The freshman experience in the diving well is off to a great start, too. The tight-knit group has wasted no time in welcoming the team's newcomers into the family. Such a move not only shows effective veteran leadership, but it also adds to the Mountaineers' daily camaraderie, which translates into useful, positive energy on meet days.
The atmosphere has certainly been appreciated by all.
"After only a week or two, it felt like I knew (the team) for years," freshman Nick Cover, who was named the Big 12 Men's Diver of the Week on Oct. 17, said. "My first year has been such a great experience; everyone is there to help if I need them. They have my back, and I have their back."
The Mountaineers recently completed their competition schedule for the fall semester, which included first-place finishes at the West Virginia State Games, dual-meet wins over Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier and solid performances at the Ohio State Invitational (swimming) and Navy Diving Invitational.
Next up, WVU will prepare for all-important winter months by traveling to its annual training trips in Key Largo and Coral Springs, Florida, in late December. While intense workouts await the team, so does the opportunity to come even closer as a team.
That's what the Mountaineers hope will be the case, as the aspirations for a feeling of family inside the program continues to unfold.
"The transition to college diving has definitely given me some challenges, but I've never had to go through them alone," freshman Emma Longley said. "The amount of support we get here is amazing, and that has made this a lot easier to handle."
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Back/Breast/Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
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