Not Just a Swimmer Anymore

How do you take a seasoned swimmer and help them to increase their endurance and stamina? Put them on the O’Dea cross country team. 

When senior Jack Leclercq didn’t make the golf team, he was upset but wanted to do something his senior year, so he joined the cross-country team. Leclercq thought about playing football but thought it was too much work since you have to work out over the summer, so he gave cross-country a shot to see if it could grow his endurance. 

LeClercq states, “I have significantly grown in my endurance and that will translate into swimming when I have to swim long distances.”

As the cross country season has progressed, LeClercq learned that this might be more than just a training season for swimming.

He stated, “One of my biggest goals is to make it to districts and run in districts.”

He thinks the team has a very good chance of making it to districts and being competitive. 

Ultimately, LeClercq has hopes of making it to state as an alternate or a competitor. He hopes to “build that cardio, endurance and stamina and have it translate into other aspects of my life.”  

What started as a backup plan turned into something Jack did not expect. Cross country wasn’t just a way to build endurance for swimming; it became another sport with goals and aspirations.

From trying something new to setting big goals like making districts or possibly even state, Jack’s senior year took an unexpected path. He may have joined the cross-country team for the benefit of improving as a swimmer, but he is walking (or running) away with a lot more than just improved cardio and endurance. He has new goals and aspirations as a cross-country runner.