Casey Sherfey, CSCS
UW Swimming 2000-2004
The first day of my college career was traumatic. I was a walk-on and the UW women’s swim team already had 9 incoming recruited freshmen and 6 girls trying out for only a couple of spots, so my memories of the entire week of tryouts are tainted with anxiety and fear.
I remember walking through the doors of the dormitory to check in for training camp and seeing three girls who were bigger, taller, and probably faster than I, and they were already laughing and talking with the coaches. I also remember wanting to run and hide.
It got better from there.
Your freshman year as a college athlete will be different than anything you’ve ever done. It will feel like summer camp for a while, because you have new teammates, new friends, new classes, maybe a new roommate.
You will be surrounded by very talented athletes and competition will be at a level to which high school simply can’t compare.
During the in-season you will get so busy between games, classes, and training, you will hardly have time to call home.
My advice and top 5 tips to getting through your freshman year is:
1) Take advantage of training with athletes that are older, more-experienced, or more-talented than you. There is a lot that you can learn from them if you open your self up to new ways of training.
2) LISTEN TO YOUR COACHES. They know what they are talking about. They coach at the college level for a reason.
3) Use the academic resources that colleges offer their athletes. Most universities have people who will help you do well in your classes. Some schools’ athletic departments get money based on the percentage of athletes that graduate, so it is to their advantage to make sure you pass your classes.
4) GO TO CLASS!! The easiest way to learn the material is to be there when it is presented.
5) Be proud of how far you have gotten in your sport. Only the top 5% of high school athletes become college athletes!
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