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For Alex Wood, balance is the key to the state swim finals.
The Warsaw senior has been there three years and enjoyed moderated success, but for him, enjoying the moment at the IUPUI Natatorium is just as important.
"Enjoying it is important too, there is a point where you can get too serious, and you psyche yourself out because you are focusing too much," Wood said. "But I do need to be focused on my event, and what I need to do and go out there and have confidence in myself."
But when is there time to relax and enjoy the moment?
"It all comes together because you have time between events," he said. "You have time to go out and enjoy the time with your friends and see your friends from around the state that you haven't seen most of the year that you know from past years when you swam with them when you were younger. There is also a time you absolutely need to shut most of everything out and think about what I have to do in competiting."
This year, Wood qualified in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. He finished third in the 200 free and second in the 500 free at the Warsaw Sectional.
Wood is seeded 10th in the 200 free and 11th in the 500.
"Both events are pretty tough this year," Wood said. "We had a tough sectional in the 200, six guys from our sectional ended up going to state. That is unheard of."
Without another swimming teammate at the state finals, Wood trains alone and has only himself to motivate himself during training sessions.
"I liked to get to the finals on Saturday," Wood said of his goals "That is a big goal of mine. I would like to get into that top eight. I don't know if I will. I would at least like to swim in the consolation on Saturday, but my goal is finals.
"I would like to definitely drop my times from sectional and do better there and shoot for some personal records," he said. "It would be nice to get a school record. That is something I am shooting as well."
Wood's past state finals history includes competing in the 200 free, 500 free and 200 free relay as a sophomore and 200 free relay and 400 free relay as a junior.
"This is the first year, I have been competing for high up there at the state meet," Wood said. "It will be enjoyable."
