Making a Splash: My Experience with the Carleton Varsity Swim Team

My Experience with the Carleton College Varsity Swim Team

At Carleton, there are a plethora of different activities you can participate in. Dance, theater, mock trial, and varsity athletics are a few of the great things that can occupy your time at Carleton College! I, like 360 other Carleton students, complete as a Carleton College Knight in Varsity Athletics! More specifically, I am part of the Varsity Swim Team.

What is the Carleton Swim Team like?

In my humble opinion, the Carleton College Varsity Swim Team is awesome! There are technically two swim teams on campus – the Men’s and the Women’s Swim Team. While these are two teams, we usually feel one united team because we practice together and attend the same swim meets. It’s really fun to cheer each other on! 

What is the Practice Schedule?

One of the awesome things about swimming at Carleton College is that the program is set up so that you can request your practices to correspond with your class schedule. This is really nice, because you do not have to avoid taking certain classes to make it to practice! Each swimmer’s schedule is different. Sprint athletes usually lift two days a week, and swim in the morning and afternoon one day a week. Distance swimmers usually swim two days a week in the morning and afternoon, and lift one day a week. Yet, each swimmer is different, and the coaches are really great at helping you find a practice schedule that works best for you!

The Best Time of the Year: Training Trip!

One of my favorite weeks of the season is when the Carleton Knights escape snowy Minnesota and travel to a warm destination. These last two years we have flown to the Florida Keys! Usually our training trip is around 7 – 8 days, and we practice twice a day on most days. We have two “field trip” days where you can go to the beach, snorkel, or go paddle boarding instead of having afternoon practice. These are super fun, and are often my favorite days of the trip.

Final Meets: MIAC and Minnesota Challenge 

The end of the season varies for each swimmer. There are two final meets of the season, the Minnesota Challenge and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Both of these meets are high energy and enjoyable. The team rests for these meets, and this is when many swimmers get season bests in their races! This is the crescendo of the sport, with everything concluding in one final bus ride back to Northfield. To celebrate the end of their college swimming career, seniors will often tell funny stories about their experiences with the team on the bus ride back. It’s an amazing full circle moment. 

My Final Thoughts

Carleton College Varsity Swimming has been a really great experience for me. I am grateful to have been able to be a Carleton Knight, and to meet all of my teammates, and I am super excited to have one last year with my team.

Around campus you’ll find Aleia (she/her/hers) competing on the varsity swim & dive team, dancing in Synchrony II, and crafting (Aleia also up-cycles clothes!). She is currently majoring in Political Science/International Relations and minoring in Education. Her favorite spot on campus is the Gould Library (aka “the Libe”) – be sure to ask her which floor is her favorite!