On the Millard North Swim Team, we are more than just a bunch of kids swimming in a six-lane pool, 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. We can't be just that. After that much time together, we tend to bond a little. Here are some of the activities the swimmers take part in during the season:
- Team Dinner: After the first dual of the season, the team gathers at a local restaurant (usually Valentinos) and has dinner together. This is a great way to get to know new teammates, parents, and have a good time.
- Girls Rams: To kick off the season, the girls' have the Ralston Ram Relays. With this, the night before the meet, the boys team gathers together to eat right after practice. Then, they all set out to all of the girls' houses that are participating in the meet. One by one, the boys stop at each house, doing a little skit for the girls, simply to wish them good luck. The girls usually donate food to the guys to eat during the night. And the guys are encouraged to give the girls something as well. After they get to all of the girls' houses, the boys crash at one of the guy's houses for the night. Then they are encouraged to go to the girls' meet to cheer them on.
- Boys Rams: In January, the boys team has their Ram Relays as well. The girls do all the same things as mentioned above. And it is a great time for team bonding and lots of fun! And eat food- of course.
- Toga Party: The annual Millard North Girls Invite in January, is the day the boys get to be held captive by the girls team. The girls get to race and work hard all day, while when night comes, the boys basically become their slaves. The annual "Toga Party" is what it has been deemed as. The entire boys team dresses up in the Roman Togas, while the ladies get to clean up from the meet and wear dresses. Many, many pictures are taken. Then, the ladies are escorted to their seats, where the guys then serve them their dinner. Once everyone is done there, both genders disperse to change into their costumes, which are related to a theme that is picked out by the boys team. The boys take over a house's basement (usually) and decorate it entirely to accommodate the theme. Once everyone is done changing, they all go to where the party is, and dance the night away. This has been said to be most swimmers' favorite part of being on the team. You'll just have to find out for yourselves!
- Progressive Dinner: Next in the season is the Millard South Boys Invite. A few nights before this meet (which takes place on a Saturday) the girls host a 'Progressive Dinner' to give their share back from the Toga Party. There are three houses where the boys and girls teams will travel to throughout the night. The first house being Appetizers/Entrees, the second house will offer the Main Course (usually some sort of pasta) and the last house will have desserts. Usually at the last house, the team will stay for a little while and hang out.
- Metro Dinner: As if the food would never stop! The Metro Conference meet, held in early February, is many of the swimmers' last chances to either get to the State Championship, or just make a personal best time. The Wednesday before the two-day meet (Friday and Saturday) a host family lets the Metro team gather in their house for a team dinner. This is many of the swimmers' last time to all be together.
- State Dinner: And for those who do make it to the State Swimming Championship, there is another dinner, just for them. This is also held at a volunteer's house, where the State team gathers for the evening to eat, talk, watch past state meets, or whatever.
- Team Banquet: Last but not least, is the End of the season MN Swimming Banquet. Congratulations to everyone who made it through the season, no matter how far you went! At the end of each season, usually about two weeks after the State Championship, the entire team is invited to the Champions Run Golf Club for food, picture swap, award presentations, superlatives made by the swimmers themselves, and saying their goodbyes till next season.
These have been traditions for many years now, and we hope to keep all of them going forever. There is nothing wrong with starting new traditions either, but we (along with many past swimmers and parents) would love to see their traditions kept alive forever. So have fun! Join the swim team to see what it's all about for yourself!