Team,
Attached are the results for today's 2k as well as last month's. Several guys still need to test. Also retests can be done until Sunday evening. Blake, Michael, Connor, Tyler and Niko will need to test still.
It goes without saying overall this was a disappointing test. Of the 13 who tested 9 of you were slower than last month with an average speed loss of about 8 seconds or 2 splits. The 4 guys who did go faster averaged about 3 seconds or .75 splits of speed gain. That is a substantial loss in speed overall.
Granted it's not abnormal to have minimal gains or stay at almost your same split over this month, but losing an average of 8 seconds means you were either very mentally or physically underprepared. As you guys well know by now I don't sugarcoat where you stand because I never want to sell you unrealistic expectations. We'll see what happens when what I hope will be many of you retest, but this raises a question to me.
How serious would you like to take the rest of this season? I appreciate that you guys all enjoy one another and have fun when you're at practice, but I think you're losing sight of what the goals of your team are. If performing as well as you can on the water is not your priority anymore please let me know. I'm not saying this to any individual as there have been some good efforts at improving, but the entire team is displaying a lackadaisical approach to winning right now. You may not be world beaters, but you're capable of far more than you are displaying.
As most of you are novices I want to remind you that you only have one shot at being a novice. You've come this far and worked hard, so why let it slip now? Also keep in mind that you set the precedent of the next 3 years. What you do and how you participate now will dictate the future of your team. If doing what it takes to win is not your priority, I'll stop making it the coaching staff's as well.
We coaches can watch video and tell you to back the blade in until we're blue in the face, but only your efforts at practice and outside of practice will make you win. I can never teach you to pull hard every stroke and put in extra time outside of practice. I can only tell you those are the things it takes to win. So the question I pose to you as a team is, do you want to win?
Adam Swetlik
Men's Head Coach
Colorado Crew
