The Camas High School boys swimmers have their alarm clocks set earlier this season.
With no practice time available in the afternoon at LaCamas Swim & Sport’s Grass Valley Aquatics Center, every single Papermaker who wants to be on the team must be willing to take the plunge into the pool before school starts.
“You have to show up ready to work. There is no set when you can slack off,” said junior Kasey Calwell. “You push through when you’re hurt, tired, or when it’s dark and cold outside and you just want to be in your own bed. We want the younger guys to know that it hurts for us too.”
Calwell said these Papermakers are not going to get to the district and state championship meets “without all the hard work and pain,” but the rewards are worth it. He finished in fourth place in the 200-meter individual medley and the 100 breaststroke during last season’s state meet at the King County Aquatics Center, in Federal Way.
But, it all starts by punching that clock at 5:15 a.m.
“It really challenges your devotion,” said senior co-captain Xianguang Yan. “To wake up at four in the morning just to get here, that really says something.”
Getting out of bed before the sun rises every morning is no problem for fellow co-captain Joey Wunderlich. The CHS senior serves as the head lifeguard at LaCamas Swim & Sport. He also teaches swimming lessons to children.