"A Coach's Perspective"

March 6, 2008

Swimming Coach Neil Virtue:

Inspiration. That is the word that kept coming to mind this past weekend as the Mills College Swimming Team competed at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Swimming and Diving National Championships. It began at 4am when we met to catch our flight to San Antonio. There was no complaining. Well, maybe a little.

The team was all dressed in their warm-ups and looked sharp, like a team. I loved listening to the answers the student-athletes gave for where they are going and what are they doing. It inspired me and made me proud. While in Denver waiting for our next flight, we ran into the women’s basketball team from Chapman University. Did they know that just over a month ago we were swimming their school? Athletic teams in airports are a great site, you can’t miss them. And it seems there is a mostly unspoken respect, sense of community and shared inspiration from seeing these teams as we travel.

Then, once we arrive at the airport, the team is always excited to see what kind of car we get. It makes me chuckle. We hurry to the hotel as I am late for a coaches' meeting. This meeting steers the direction of the NAIA and it is important to represent the smaller schools that don’t offer athletic scholarships. Just getting to this meet as a school that does not offer scholarships is inspirational, as is being on all teams at Mills. It is a choice, a commitment, a community and a sense of pride, I hope the students realize this.

We head to the competition pool for a pre-meet warm up. This is important after traveling for 7 hours. A few swimmers mention how cold the pool is. This could be because the pool is indoors, but also there is a range of temperature that is optimum for fast swimming. It might feel good to get in what feels like warm bath water, but working out or competing in it? No, thanks.

After a quick change into some fancy clothes, we are off to the banquet where 200+ athletes are sharing a meal. It is a great sense of community and common goals, not to mention some much needed food.

As we compete throughout the weekend I get to watch other teams and how they seem to be at the meet. Some humble, some not, some intimidated, some not, some silly and friendly, and some not, but all are inspirational. This is our fourth year in a row at this meet and it is getting faster every year. Chrissy Fisher was there for the first one and she would agree it is getting much more competitive. Good for the athletes, coaches and teams. Seeing as how this is the ‘big one’, it is an opportunity not to be taken for granted. It is a chance to go all out. Not to say every stroke, practice, workout, competition, test, homework, and life’s work for that matter isn’t an opportunity to go all out. But to work out for 21 weeks with this as the goal can seem a little abstract. Hence the importance of making it all count and being present at all times.

As Hettie Belle Ege said; “Remember who you are and what you represent.” This rings so true. You can get lost in what everyone else is doing. The important thing to remember is to do what you need to do while keeping your eyes open to what others are doing around you. To get out of yourself while being solid in who you are. In these high anxiety situations doing just that can be challenging. This is an opportunity that will be valuable for life. There will always be times where ‘others’ will make you question. Questioning is good and making adjustments is good and learning is critical. This meet is an opportunity for all of that.

I found out there is Mills College alumna class of 1964 in San Antonio from 1964. She and I met and she told me about the migratory birds that flood downtown San Antonio, they are called Grackles. She also told me That she initially found out about Mills in a Life Magazine story about their Occupational Therapy Program. She has also helped the history department out by giving decades of Gourmet Magazines to for the History of Cuisine Course at Mills. I am inspired. About by what Mills meant for folks in the past, is for those students now, and will be in the future. I am refreshed by then sense of community Mills creates and inspires in California, Texas and around the world. This alumna and her husband own a restaurant in downtown San Antonio called “The Original Mexican Restaurant” where we happily ate at our final night in town. That night, I was also inspired by the parents of one of the swimmers coming out to support. They have been doing the”swimming parents” thing for a long time and this was, the last time since their daughter will be graduating.

Getting up at 6am to leave on Sunday (the team will tell you it isn’t a trip with Neil if we don’t travel at VERY early hours and if we don’t get lost at some point) and checking in at the airport again my ears perk up to listen to how the student-athletes respond now to the questions from other travelers of “What are you here for?” and “How did you do?” There was a sense of pride, a little more confidence, and also some talk of next year. Already. A few student-athletes sat next to a person who is going to be in the 2008 Para Olympics for Judo. She said there are many people who challenge her spot so she travels to compete against them, and so far she is heading to Beijing in 2008. Inspiration is everywhere.

I want to thank the entire team for the a great season. They teach.

You have taught me a lot, challenged me a lot and make made me grow. Your support and commitment is inspirational.

Coach Neil