Dec. 12, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - While the winter chill settles on the Chicago area, the Northwestern men's swimming team will depart Saturday for the sunny islands of Hawaii and its annual winter training camp.
The Wildcats will spend two weeks training, returning on Dec. 29. During their stay they will take part in a meet against St. Olaf College on Dec. 26 at the Duke Kahanamoku Pool on the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus in Honolulu.
Head coach Bob Groseth's approach to training is simple-eat, sleep, swim.
"This is a time when we can increase the volume and intensity of practices without the athletes having to worry about classes or studying," he said. "Of course, some of the practices will probably include going to the beach and surfing."
Senior captain Nick Barnes (Frankfort, Ind./Frankfort) agrees that while the practices are more intense, it's necessary to make the 23rd ranked team stronger and more competitive.
"It's a good opportunity for the coaches to work us out really hard, but that's the main purpose for being there," Barnes said. "Coming out of camp, we've had the workouts of our lives, but it just makes us that much stronger."
"It's like having practices from hell in heaven," sophomore Mark Hamming (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) said. "It should be a great time, because we're all friends, and that camaraderie helps us get through extremely difficult practices."
And what about being away from the comforts of home for the holidays?
"They'll miss me, but if there's any consolation, it's that we're in Hawaii," Hamming said, noting that he will return to Lake Forest between the end of the trip and the beginning of NU's winter quarter.
Barnes' parents have made a habit of traveling along with the team during the holidays. "They look at it as a chance to go on vacation," he said.
Meanwhile, senior diver Elliot Massuda will travel to Ft. Lauderdale Dec. 27 to Jan. 5 to will compete in events at the Swimming Hall of Fame.