On Oct. 1, 2002 the MCC Men’s & Women’s Swimming and Diving Teams began a 5-½ month journey together. On that first day of practice, MCC swimming coaches Daniel S. Dubois, Phil Baretela and Timothy Dubois outlined three values that the TEAMS would focus on during the course of the season and hopefully throughout their experience at MCC.
Academic Success… Our student-athletes would embrace their educational opportunities while they attend Monroe Community College.
TEAM Success… Our student-athletes would contribute to our team and college community in a positive way and embrace the concepts of energy building and leadership.
Athletic Success… Our student-athletes would embrace their athletic opportunities while attending Monroe Community College.
In October these values were merely theoretical, and their practical application remained the challenge we faced together. Since October, every student-athlete on the TEAM has had the opportunity to interpret and create actions that demonstrate a commitment to the three TEAM values. The student-swimmers collective efforts define this TEAM, and it is the actions they have demonstrated that inspire me to share with our larger TEAM, the MCC community.
How do these TEAMS interpret academic success? During the fall semester the women's and men’s TEAMS attended classes, worked diligently, sought extra help, worked with teachers, counselors, college staff, coaches, and peers in their pursuit of academic excellence. Eighty percent of the second-year student-athlete swimmers had a fall G.P.A. higher than their cumulative G.P.A. The women’s and men’s TEAM had a collective G.P.A. of 3.09, and 2.82 respectively. I would be remiss to state that G.P.A. is the only measurement of academic success, but it might be considered an important tool in assessing the value a student places on learning. It is also an assessment measure that solidifies future learning and opportunities.
How do these TEAMS interpret TEAM success? First off, it might help to explain the coach’s interpretations of TEAM. We organize the concepts of TEAM around energy building, leadership, respect for others, openess, positive attitude, honesty, and selflessness. As an experienced TEAM of coaches, we have had the opportunity to observe the actions of each individual on this TEAM, and we must say that this TEAM has earned an A. One example that might define this TEAM is the way the TEAM raised money for an athlete that could not afford to attend our annual training trip to Largo, Fla. As a TEAM they collected bottles and cans, wrapped gifts at the mall, and contributed their fund-raising monies to their TEAMmate. I believe this act is a powerful demonstration of the value this swimming and diving TEAM places on the concepts of TEAM.
How do these TEAMS interpret athletic success? The key to athletic success, as with the other two values, is the ability of TEAM members to be better tomorrow then they were today. Some examples might include the commitment of student-athlete swimmers. Every TEAM member practices Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 6:00 -8:00 a.m. and Monday through Friday afternoons from 3:00-5:30 p.m., from mid October through late February. Not only have the student-athletes committed time and energy, they have raised their own personal achievement bars during each workout and meet along the way. Every student-athlete has achieved cut-off times for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championships, which means every student-athlete involved in the Swimming and Diving program will be there as we conclude our journey together. The TEAM members have been focused on the end, our championship meets, but it is really the journey they have taken together that has defined their success. The TEAMS are both 7-0 in our regular season Region III meets and hope to continue their winning ways with the Region III/ Northeast District Swimming Championships at MCC February 14-16, 2003, and the NJCAA National Championships to be held at Erie Community College in Buffalo, March 6-8, 2003.
I would like to express my gratitude to the coaching staff and the student-athletes for finding ways to bring our TEAM values to life during this season. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the numerous professionals at MCC that have offered a guiding and supportive hand to the student-athletes and coaches. In conclusion, I’m confident that this TEAM will continue to work together and find success at our championships meets, as they have done all year. I’m also confident the learning the TEAM has experienced this year supports student development and will serve the student-athletes for many years into the future, and in my humble opinion, that fits neatly into the overall mission we share at Monroe Community College.
Dan Dubois
Athletics
02/13/2003 |