This team visit was just with Glenn, as Rachel and Maddy took a quick trip back to Maryland to spend the Halloween weekend with some friends. A well deserved break from the road.
How we like the facility:
G: The college pool is sometimes a tough place to run a team, but Middle Tennessee State was a very accommodating facility, with great, wide lanes, nice blocks, and a nice outdoor space for dryland and stretching prior to practice.
What we thought of the coach to swimmer ration:
G: This is a smaller team, so per typical, when you have knowledgeable coaches who are engaged with the swimmers, you don’t need a bunch. With that said, the coverage was perfect.
Was there a practical application of skills during practice:
G: Gareth has been around the sport for MANY years, and his involvement in year round teaching, plus the competitive knowledge, he demands proper skills from the athletes. When we worked with the kids, he knew exactly what they needed to improve on, and it’s always great to show how much more you can see when you start filming underwater. Obviously, working with Amy Caulkins was amazing. We came from the same era, very similar coaches, who instilled a specific work ethic, as well as the attention to detail that’s necessary for long term success.
What we liked best about our visit:
G: Old friends are very tough to compete with… so while I enjoyed the kids, the families, nothing compared to visiting again with Amy Caulkins, and a surprise visit from my dear friend Karinne Caulkins (Miller). This took me way back to those formative days as an elite athlete, and learning from the victories, and hardships we all went through. Understanding the path to long term success isn’t always the smoothest, but making it through to the other side comes with great and educational memories makes it all worth it.
How is this team unique:
G: While I can’t say it’s unique, but the openness of the coaches, and families, and their ability to take a last minute situation and make it something very positive, showed what we’ve learned to understand as southern hospitality. Maybe not unique, but completely appreciated.
Our take-a-way:
G: The first thing I can say is, you KNOW you’re in Tennessee when you work with a swimmer with the last name “Bryant”, and he has no idea who the BEAR is! These are coaches with great knowledge, and swimmers with solid futures. The families seem very supportive of the program, which in Nashville will be a big determining factor on the future.
Categories: Team Visits, The Quest
Our Quest Blog 
Hi Glenn! This is also the home pool of the MTSU Masters Swim team!! This team did fundraising for many years to have those nice blocks installed.
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