Sarah Christianson a first-year? A senior? Or frenior?

Last fall after being off campus for a year due to studying abroad, and then interning in the Cities, she decided to go out for the St. Ben’s swim team. Most seniors continue the sports and clubs that they started back in their first year of college; she committed herself to a varsity sport whose season runs almost six months longs and includes over 300 hours of practice

“I like to find a new challenge” Christianson said. “I e-mailed Kathy (the CSB swim coach) on Oct. 1 asking if she thought I would even be able to survive practice.”

Christianson swam in high school. However, it had still been five years since she had swam competitively.

Christianson started the season by setting small goals, the first being to finish a practice, then to finishing sets, then to actually making the intervals in the sets she swam, and finally to finishing the whole practice swimming every yard on intervals. The coaches and swimmers really admire her hard work.

“Coming in as a senior, that’s a pretty respectable thing to do,” first-year Caitlin Borys said.

Christianson calls herself a “frenior” because she has the experience of a senior academically but has the experience of a first-year swimming competitively.

“Being a senior, and it being the first time on the team, it must be hard. All the girls look up to her, she presents herself as a leader,” senior Jill London said.

Everyday Christianson finds herself crossing off another completed goal on her list.

“I’m not on the team to set records, I’m there to be with the girls, and for the challenge,” Christianson said.

Christianson decided to go out for the swim team because two of her older brothers swam for St. John’s and she had gone to many meets and even knew some of the swimmers. She liked swimming in high school and she decided it was something she wanted to try again.

“I knew I didn’t have anything to lose, I set goals and I was just happy to finish them. I didn’t worry about my times,” Christianson said.

Christianson likes how she fits-in with the women on the team. She can relate to both younger women and the upperclassmen on the team.

“I feel like I can connect with all the girls on the team,” Christianson said. “The younger girls are not threatened by me just because I am a senior. They ask me about campus life. But at the same time I’m asking them how to swim the next set in practice. We both give each other advice. I am able to socialize with the junior and seniors and talk about study abroad experiences”

Although this experience has been challenging for Christianson, she finds herself really enjoying the season.

“If I could have four more years it would be amazing,” Christianson said.

“She’s a great addition to the team. She smiles a lot and she’s always really positive. It makes practice easier,” Borys said.

“I think this just goes to show that it’s never too late to participate,” Head Coach Kathy Walker said.

Christianson’s next endeavor? Train for a triathlon, pass her CPA exam, and attend law school.