Rams Hit Open Water for Unofficial Start to Season

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Consider it a rite of passage, an official inclusion to team membership.

The Horsetooth Open Water swim isn't an official competition for the Colorado State women's swimming and diving team, but most years it marks the first event on the schedule. Last year's swim was postponed due to the pandemic, meaning two class of swimmers were finally getting to sign off their membership. And finally, after 10 years on the job, head coach Christopher Woodard did the same.

He took the short form (the 1.2 mile swim), as did assistant coach Lisa Ginder and the team's strength and conditioning coach, Kelsey Ise.

"Now I've been inducted," he said, entering his 10^th season atop the program. "I'm finally legitimate."

There's more to the day than just the 2.4-mile competition, even with teams from Denver, Northern Colorado, Colorado School of Mines and Wyoming in attendance – all of whom the Rams will see in a more traditional fashion this season. That put around 100 college women in the water shortly after the sun appeared in the sky.

It's a mass start, bringing about a bit of chaos, and definitely a lot of contact. There are no lane lines to guide you, the water can get choppy and technique and form go out the window. You may run into a fish or two, and instead of flipping at walls, you turn at bouys.

Not even a month into training and just a 19 days away from the Intermountain Shootout in Grand Junction, it also provides an alternate training tool.

"It's great because there's so many college swimmers here," Woodard said. "There's great camaraderie, and I think as much as we all tend to think swimmers can swim in any situation, well, they're used to swimming in clear water with lines and walls, so this is sometimes a challenge for some of them who haven't done an open water swim before or aren't adept at it."

Horsetooth Open Water cheer

Also, the water was a crisp 69 degrees, not the 79-80 they're used to at the Moby Pool. Not exactly a polar plunge, but a very effective alarm clock, to be certain.

And they do it as a team, those who know and the others who do not, distance freestylers and sprinters alike, and that means something to them.

"I think it's an awesome way to team bond," senior Abbey Owenby said. "Being able to cheer for each other, even if you feel like you're uncomfortable and putting yourself out of your comfort zone, and just helping each other through it makes it exciting to look forward to the rest of the year knowing you have a bunch of teammates behind you and on your side.

"Again, I think it's a great team opportunity, and it's an awesome way to start the year."

Only a few swimmers sat out due to illness, but they were there on the beach to cheer, joined by the divers, a few of whom took in the festivities with a box of donuts. As each member of the team finished the race, they were there at the line to cheer them on as they ran up the hill to the finish line.

Owenby is a veteran of open water swimming, having competed at the open water juniors meet while a prep, as well as part of triathlons in her youth. She knows to stay calm, breathe less if things feel uneasy and stay the course as best you can.

The freshmen and sophomores, all in for their first time, were told these things, but if they never had done an open water swim before, they found the best teacher was just doing.

Erin Dawson had never swam an open water race, and as nervous as she was, she was also excited about the chance, having seen social-media posts from past swimmers.

"I was nervous for all the people and not seeing where I'm going," she said. "It felt shorter than 2.4 miles, for sure. It was fun at the end. I was a little wobbly, but it was fun. It was a little tough, because people didn't know where they were going, either, so they were running into me. Other than that, it was good."

Well, other than one more thing – swallowing water. It just happens, no matter how hard a swimmer tries to avoid it, and it's a taste which doesn't just go away. Nor does the queasiness some feel for a spell afterward.

Dawson understands that part now, too.

"So much," she said. "I literally still feel it. It tastes so bad. It tastes so fishy."

Owenby was the team's top finisher, with Hannah Sykes and Kendra Preski following after. One by one as they hit the beach, they did so with smiles on their faces, and sophomore Rachel Saxon and freshman Katie McClelland exited the late holding hands to cross the line together. Owenby finished fourth overall in a time of 51:44, while Sykes was seventh in 52:03. Preski (15th, 53:34), Emily Chorpening (16th, 54:00) and Katelyn Bartley (18th, 54:17) gave the Rams five finishers in the top 20 percent of the field.

The seniors missed having the event jumpstart the season a year ago, and they were happy to have one more crack at it before they exit the program. But it is a race, and they are competitive, so Owenby was out to claim bragging rights on her roster.

"Oh, no. Sure, but no," she said with a grin. "I think honestly, I was just excited to represent CSU, and that's the best part, is getting to say I do it for a team."

And, finally, Woodard can rightfully say he's part of the group.

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