Walking through the hallways, junior Trevor Cannon seems like any other high school student. Blue eyes, brown hair: it’s all normal. But when you take a closer look into his life, he is so much more than the standard high schooler.
At age 12, Cannon committed to the sport of swimming. He tried numerous sports, including soccer and tennis, but felt none of them suited him. Swimming did, however, and has still been a part of him for four years.
Flashback to the beginning of the season. 6 a.m. practices, freezing waters, and demanding workouts for 12 months: these are all the things that define the sport of swimming. Even though it seems nothing good can come out of it, swimmer Cannon sees otherwise.
“If you push through the harder part of life, you’ll know there is going to be a reward even if you don’t see it immediately,” Cannon said.
Swimming provides a different atmosphere and level of rigor that is unique to other sports. Not only does swimming force the swimmer to manage their breathing rate but it also requires a substantial amount of mental focus.
“It’s very demanding. You’re constantly thinking about your actions, and there’s no break. You have to push yourself to continue all the way through,” Cannon said.
A typical practice begins with one mile warm ups assigned by the coaches: kicking, pulling, and any of the four strokes are possibilities. The main set follows warm ups and usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Swimmers work to complete the set the coaches have made in an assigned time interval, usually with only five seconds rest. At the end, warm down begins and lasts for the remainder of practice.
On top of these these practices, swimming forces Cannon to sacrifice some social aspects of his life.
“I have to give up two to two and one-half hours of my night, five days a week, so I miss family events and time to hang out with my friends,” Cannon said.
What keeps Cannon going though isn’t just the desire to work hard, it’s all the benefits from working hard.
“Keeping my goals in mind, getting better times, and second dinners are what keep me motivated,” Cannon said.
Swimming has also disciplined Cannon to become a better person both in and out of the pool.
“I’ve learned how to time manage and what it means to really push your body. I work towards doing the best that I can, even though it may not be my day,” Cannon said.
Swimming is definitely not a chore to Cannon and is way more than just a sport. It has been a commitment, devotion, and passion for Cannon.
“It’s fun having a lot of friends and going through all the hard work with them. Every single time is a new practice. You’ll never see the same set and you’re always working towards something new,” Cannon said.
This season, Cannon seeks to obtain multiple regional times. He attempts to attend every practice possible, hoping to improve after each one.