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My name is Dustin Branch I joined the swim team about a year ago. I may not be the best swimmer on the team but it has been one of the best experiences of my high school years. It hasn’t only changed me physically but mentally. Since I joined I lost almost 20 pounds, if not more. I am more determined to get things done now. It is a very challenging and fun sport.
I remember when I first got into swim I weighed about two hundred and thirty pounds. I was slow and I couldn’t really keep up with anyone. It took me almost eleven minutes to finish my mile! If it wasn’t for Coach Martin pushing me and telling me to try harder I’d probably be twice that size and three times as slow.
 One of my favorite parts of swim is the long drives we take to get to the meets. I like sitting there talking to all my friends. It’s also really nice to see all of the sites on the way there. And that’s only if you’re not getting one of the best naps of your life.
One thing most people don’t realize is that swim isn’t only a physical sport but it is also quite technical. Whether it’s learning to reach when taking a stroke or working on coming off the wall in streamline; you have to make it instinct to do all the things it takes to get better. But don’t get me wrong it’s also a very physical sport.
When I got in swim I wasn’t in good enough shape to swim a fifty as fast as I could. Thanks to coach pushing me; my best events are the 100 meter freestyle and the 500 meter freestyle. I’m still not as good as I would like to be but I have this year to get better.
Last year at districts, we took first place. Our diver went to state and did great there. At the swim banquet I got the best newcomer award. I enjoyed all of the work it took me to get to where I am and I only hope to get better from here. |