For most students, swimming is something they do infrequently. They will hop in a pool while on vacation and do any stroke humanly possible.
However, for UW senior Sarah McCauley, swimming is a competitive sport. It means waking up at 5 a.m. five days a week and practicing twice a day. On the outside, it appears as individual a sport as golf. McCauley used to think of swimming as an individual sport. However, she was mistaken and would soon learn a lot about herself and even more about the importance of her teammates.
As a captain of the team, Sarah McCauley would not be swimming today if not for her teammates. Individually, McCauley had gained the respect of her peers by her sophomore year.
Accomplishing numerous individual feats, such as being voted an All-American in the 800-meter freestyle relay and finishing 15th in the 200 back stroke at the NCAA championships, McCauley also finished in first place at the Texas Invitational in the 800 free relay. However, there was something wrong mixed in with McCauley’s successes. She had strong doubts and questioned whether she wanted to swim competitively anymore.
“I hit a plateau. I didn’t think I was improving at all,” McCauley said. For a girl who had swam since she was 11, McCauley grew increasingly unsure of what she wanted next from the sport.
She approached coaches and team captains in search of answers to her dilemma. This may not seem life threatening, but to McCauley swimming was her life. She decided to take the summer off between her sophomore and junior years and go home to Tualitin, Ore.
“It was shocking to us all because Sarah had been so successful,” head coach Eric Hansen said.
“I took a step back. I needed to be by myself and go home where I could do some different things,” McCauley said.
While on the West Coast, McCauley swam on her own, lifted weights and ran everyday. She also went on several vacations, something that she had never done before due to her commitment as a swimmer.
“I thought that swimming had taken over my life, rather than simply being a part of it,” McCauley said.
And then it hit her– she needed her teammates.
As the summer winded down, McCauley returned to Madison for fall classes. She made up her mind to join the team again. She believed her career as a collegiate swimmer was just beginning.
“Initially, people were skeptical, but [Sarah] earned the respect back from her peers very quickly,” coach Hansen said.
Consequently, McCauley had a new team-oriented attitude toward swimming.
“Rather than making any individual goals, I just made goals for the what the team should accomplish and how I could help the team,” McCauley said.
While helping her team, McCauley also realized who her closest friends were at UW.
“My teammates are my best friends here in Madison. If it wasn’t for them, I probably would’ve walked away from the sport,” McCauley said.
As a result, McCauley enjoys swimming more than ever.
“Swimming for my teammates has really helped me not put as much pressure on myself and has made it more fun for me,” McCauley said.
Behind McCauley the Badgers are currently ranked No. 8 in the nation and are setting their goals even higher.
“She has provided great leadership and is the driving force behind our progress,” Hansen said.
McCauley’s collegiate career will come to a close this March at the NCAA Championships in Auburn, Ala. As she straps on her swimming cap, jumps in the pool and waits for the whistle, she’ll be thinking of one thing: her teammates. After all, they are the reason she’ll be there.
