Though the drop in temperature may be a burden for some, Marywood’s swim team remains unhindered by the cool weather.

Sophomore Kevin Drennen, undeclared major, a swimmer for fourteen years, spends most of his time in the indoor pool at the Lynett Haggerty Family Fitness Center.

Having grown up swimming, Drennen is relentless in the water and does not let the colder weather inhibit his abilities.

Originally from Hartford, Conn., Drennen was on the swim team his freshman year, and continues to make waves in the pool. Since he was five years old, Drennen loved the water, and has made swimming an enormous part of his life.

“Swimming takes a lot of time and effort,” said Drennen.

“Practices can be tedious, but my teammates and I persevere. We can only do as well as we train, so we train hard to prepare ourselves for meets.”

Drennen’s day typically begins between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. “My classes don’t begin until 10 a.m. but I’m an insomniac so I don’t get much sleep, once I’m up, I’m up,” said Drennen.

In the hours before classes begin, Drennen eats breakfast and completes any coursework he has. After classes, Drennen heads over to the pool for practice.

“We go from 3 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. every day. Our coach, Greg (Brown), implemented a dryland workout this year in addition to our in-pool regime,” said Drennen.

A dryland workout is an out-of-pool conditioning workout and includes spending about 45 minutes in the weight room. The goal is to build strength so the swimmers can improve their stamina in the water.

Following practice, members of the team go to Nazareth Dining Hall for dinner. Junior Brian Shanahan, a pre-physician assistant major on the swim team, usually joins Drennen for dinner.

“I see Kevin every day he really looks out for the entire team and truly cares about the well being of everyone,” said Shanahan.

Practice and dinners are not the only time the teammates spend time together. The swim team typically has meets every weekend.

The strokes that are judged at the meets are the butterfly, free, breast and back strokes. Each swimmer participates in either a sprint or a distance race and is judged based on best times. Relays are also a part of the meets.

“The meets are what we work for every day. Though we are a team, it really is a very individualistic sport. You’re the only one in the water, so it’s not like you can pass the ball to a teammate to make a play. It’s all you; you either sink or swim,” said Drennen.