Swimming is unique. Most swimmers can run, but not all runners can swim.

According to David Aierstock, Coach of Rhinebeck Girls Varsity Swimming,”Out of all the full body sports you can do at RHS, swimming is arguably the most demanding.”

Swimming uses all the muscles in the body so whether you swim a gentle breaststroke or hammer butterfly,you will get a full body workout.plus, exercising in water makes your body work harder so 30 minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land

Very few athletes can make such a commitment. When you are a part of the swim team you have to go to school,go home and go to swimming at 7-9pm. Balancing is hard\; there is not a lot of free time as a swimmer.

But if you ask our swimmers,it can be an extremely gratifying sport.

Class of 2022 Varsity Swimmer, Brooke Pociask made headlines when she qualified for the NY State championships this year.

Pociask also swims year-round for the Northern Dutchess Aquatic Club team (NDAC).

Swimming competitions are usually on the weekends at Bard. You have to get up early and stay at the pool all day long. She said the 6 hour practices are a great time for team bonding.

Swimmers have to swim 3 events per meet: 2 hearts, 1 exhibition, 1 scoring, 11 races, 3 relays, and 8 individual events.

The shortest is a 50 freestyle, and the longest is a 500 free lap. You swim for about 6 min each time, and there are 30 second races in between.

Interested in attending a swim meet or practice? Support the school and team next season, and check out the NDAC website for a calendar of their practices.

More information about their schedule can be found on the bard college website. and Talk to Coach Aierstok if you want to join the school or travel team.