A Letter to West Point
Madison Berg '21
It’s difficult to put the strangest year of my life into words. If you had told me even a year and a half ago that this team would compete in only three dual meets and no Patriot League championship my firstie year, I would have thought the world had ended.
I cannot remember a time in my life when I wasn’t a swimmer. I begged my mom to let me join a swim team before I had even finished swim lessons. To let go of such a large part of me this year was painful, but I can honestly say now that I would not trade the challenges and difficulties of this year for anything.
The sport of swimming has taught me a lot about myself. For most of my life, it was a very individual sport. Even though you train with a team, you are the only one who is accountable when you mess up a race. But that changed when I came to West Point. In college swimming, you start to score points as a team. What you do in a dual meet matters because your second place finish could be the difference between your team’s win or loss. Throughout the years, my teammates and coaches have taught me how important it is to believe in yourself, always work your absolute hardest and support your teammates. I think it’s because of these things they have taught me and the support from my teammates that I was able to become a better athlete.
We could have very easily given up on this year, but we persevered. Knowing that swimming could be taken away from us at any moment made us work even harder and cherish the moments that we did have together.
This year, I learned how to find value in the journey. Looking back, it seems so clear now that the hours of training that replaced time spent traveling to meets, the multitude of quarantines and practice pauses only brought us closer as a team. We could have very easily given up on this year, but we persevered. Knowing that swimming could be taken away from us at any moment made us work even harder and cherish the moments that we did have together. When everything around us seemed to be collapsing, I could look to my teammates during practice and count on them to always be giving it their all with me. This team is much better than we were able to show this year. To my teammates competing next year, remember that this hard work does not go away. Continue to work hard like we did this year, and you will do incredible things when you have the chance to show it.
To AWSD, you have shown me a love that will last a lifetime. I will forever be grateful for how you loved me through my brightest moments, darkest moments, and everything in between. You have all taught me the enormous value of friendship, made me a better athlete, a better person, and allowed me to love you in return. You are all the strongest, most impressive women I have ever known. Please believe in yourselves, continue to love your teammates and give this sport the passion and commitment that we did this year. Set goals for yourself that scare you and then chase them. You will continue to surprise yourself and achieve things you never thought were possible. Even if you don’t achieve those goals right away, you’ll be so glad you gave yourself the chance. I love you and I believe in you. Thank you for the insane practices, crying with me, laughing with me, Taylor Swift Tuesdays, and your love. I will never forget this team.
To the plebes, you are all the weirdest, most creative, hardworking women I have ever met. Keep working hard and you will do incredible things with AWSD.
To the yuks, you are some of the strongest women I have ever met. You, more than anyone, need to believe in yourselves. You are capable of so much.
To the cows, you are the most inspirational, humorous, and loving people I have ever known. Continue to bring joy to everything you do.
To Sigma, you have been the brothers I never had and made me a better athlete. You have pushed me in practice, made me laugh, and have been there for me through difficult times. I’m grateful to have been your teammate and for the love you have shown me, even when I yell at the plebe boys.
To my fellow seniors, you have made this the most memorable year of my life and I am so glad to have gone through this with you. I’m so grateful for your support and love.
I would trade 99 passes for the relationships I’ve built this year every time.
All Heart,
Madison “Maddog” Berg