Archive: Sports

On June 25, 2010, Erin O’Brien did one thing she’s never done, and one thing she rarely does… Erin graduated from Lansing High school, and she missed a swim meet, read on and learn how missing a swim meet is a big deal, and why Erin is a valuable member to the Lansing Community Aquatic Team and the entire Lansing Community as well.

Erin has been a member of the Lansing Community Aquatic Team (lcats) for 6 years, but has been swimming competitively since she was 6 or 7.   When her parents, Tim and Amy Obrien left Bar Harbor Maine and the MDI~ YMCA team, they knew they had to relocate someplace with a competitive swim team, and Lansing seemed perfect.

When I asked Erin what it was like to be on a team, her face lit up and she had the most curious smile on her face.  She said it was fun, lots’ of fun… I asked  how practicing 2-3 hours a day, 6 days a week during the fall, winter, and spring ; and 6 hours a day during the summer was fun.

"I love swimming, especially the breast stroke and the IM, but more than the act of swimming, I love the opportunity it gives me to set individual goals and work towards achieving them," she said.  "I get really excited and love the feeling of accomplishment when my hard work pays off."

"My teammates are also amazing,  they’ve helped me achieve at a level that makes it possible for me to continue swimming in college – I’m really excited about the opportunities I’m going to have over the next four years. I’m attending SUNY Geneseo in the fall, and I’m very excited to have the opportunity to continue swimming at the collegiate level. Swimming has instilled a great deal of discipline and responsibility in me, showing up to practice isn’t just about me, but also it’s about my responsibility to my teammates who are counting on me being there just as much as I am them.  That’s a pretty important life lesson I think.”

I think Erin could have talked for hours about her love of swimming and her experiences of being on a team, but I wondered if there was anything she didn’t like about swimming… Always positive, Erin said her biggest frustration comes when she doesn’t reach her goals.

In addition to spending so much time in the pool, academics are important to Erin as well as service to her community.  Erin has volunteered at Loaves and Fishes, has participated in food drives for the Lansing food pantry, and has gone as far as blowing kazoo’s to help support Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Erin had a somewhat difficult time recalling which memory was her fondest, but after some thought, she shared her excitement of traveling to Austin, Texas with a group from LCATS to participate in the Grand Prix.  The Grand Prix, is a huge event that members of the USA Olympic team participate at.  All swimmers must have qualifying times In order to participate in that meet, Erin attended with 7 other swimmers from LCATS.

Erin isn’t sure what she wants to do when she grows up, but she is very interested in foreign languages, and is going to pursue that passion at SUNY Geneseo, I have no doubt that if Erin puts her mind to it, she will be successful in whatever path (lane) she chooses for herself.

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