Katie Portz was a four-year letterwinner for the Aggies and a member of the school record 800 free relay team. She concluded her A&M career as a three-time SEC Champion and three-time All-American, while helping team claim a conference crown in three of her four years.Â
Little did I know four years ago I committed to a rollercoaster of a collegiate swimming career.
It was Thursday afternoon, 2:23 p.m. on March 12, 2020 at the Texas A&M women's swim practice. We were putting on our caps and goggles, pulling out our kickboards and pull buoys, and waiting for our head coach to announce warm-ups. As we waited, rumors began to spread about other collegiate teams pulling out from various NCAA Championship meets… I jokingly said something about early retirement. Our coach called us in for a meeting and said he had just received THE call. The Women's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship was canceled. I began laughing thinking of the joke I made earlier, how karma works its way into our lives. I felt various teammates put their hands on my shoulders, and soon I realized I was crying. Not only was it my senior year, but it was supposed to be my redemption year.Â
In the previous season, I swam through a back injury. The year in itself was extremely difficult. I knew to reach the team and my personal goals, I needed to push through my injury. After the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in 2019, I desperately needed surgery. I decided to forego NCAA's because I knew I wasn't going to be able to compete at the level I needed to for the team. Shortly after withdrawing from NCAA's I had back surgery. I remember people telling me how hard it was going to be to come back, and that it would be "okay" if I didn't. The summer after my surgery, I juggled two jobs to build my resume (only athletes know how bare it really can be) and trained at nights to hopefully resume training with my team in the fall. I remember going to train on my own at The Rec after 8 p.m., forcing myself to do lap after lap, slowly integrating flip turns and dolphin kicks back into my practices. I truly never understood the importance of practicing with a team more than at this time. I was lonely and missed racing my teammates and encouraging the girls to do their best. Practice after practice, I began to regain my strength and by the end of October, I was released to train with the team. This was my chance. I soon learned that getting back into shape was one thing, but coming back from surgery was another. I was still limited in the pool and weight room, and began to worry if I would ever be the same swimmer again. I soon learned I wasn't going to be, but more importantly I didn't need to be. I had found happiness in the sport again and mental strength I could never have dreamed of. Every practice, limitations or not, I always had the Aggies by my side, pushing me to be the best I could be.Â
To no surprise, time flew and once again we were back at the SEC's. One year later, I was able to taper and compete with the best teams in the nation. Although 2020 SEC's wasn't quite the same outcome as it had been in the previous four years, I wouldn't have changed it. It was an honor to be part of a team through its best and… not so best. After SEC's I knew I wasn't done. I was proud to have swam after the uphill battle of the prior year, but I knew I had more left in me before retirement.Â
The few days before THE call, I remember having some of the best practices I have had since my surgery. I called my parents and told them "this is going to be it, I'm going to drop time, things are finally clicking". The excitement was building, and I had one more meet as an Aggie.
THE call changed everyone. For me, I became upset, angry and sad. After my four years of blood, sweat and tears it was going to end like this? Unforeseen events happen, but I need to believe they happen for a reason. I try to reflect about what I learned this year beyond the pool, the knowledge and experience I can take into my future career, but to be honest... I'm not there yet. The one thing I do know is I will get there, because I am fortunate enough to have the Aggies by my side every step of the way.Â
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Little did I know four years ago I committed to a rollercoaster of a collegiate swimming career.
It was Thursday afternoon, 2:23 p.m. on March 12, 2020 at the Texas A&M women's swim practice. We were putting on our caps and goggles, pulling out our kickboards and pull buoys, and waiting for our head coach to announce warm-ups. As we waited, rumors began to spread about other collegiate teams pulling out from various NCAA Championship meets… I jokingly said something about early retirement. Our coach called us in for a meeting and said he had just received THE call. The Women's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship was canceled. I began laughing thinking of the joke I made earlier, how karma works its way into our lives. I felt various teammates put their hands on my shoulders, and soon I realized I was crying. Not only was it my senior year, but it was supposed to be my redemption year.Â
In the previous season, I swam through a back injury. The year in itself was extremely difficult. I knew to reach the team and my personal goals, I needed to push through my injury. After the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in 2019, I desperately needed surgery. I decided to forego NCAA's because I knew I wasn't going to be able to compete at the level I needed to for the team. Shortly after withdrawing from NCAA's I had back surgery. I remember people telling me how hard it was going to be to come back, and that it would be "okay" if I didn't. The summer after my surgery, I juggled two jobs to build my resume (only athletes know how bare it really can be) and trained at nights to hopefully resume training with my team in the fall. I remember going to train on my own at The Rec after 8 p.m., forcing myself to do lap after lap, slowly integrating flip turns and dolphin kicks back into my practices. I truly never understood the importance of practicing with a team more than at this time. I was lonely and missed racing my teammates and encouraging the girls to do their best. Practice after practice, I began to regain my strength and by the end of October, I was released to train with the team. This was my chance. I soon learned that getting back into shape was one thing, but coming back from surgery was another. I was still limited in the pool and weight room, and began to worry if I would ever be the same swimmer again. I soon learned I wasn't going to be, but more importantly I didn't need to be. I had found happiness in the sport again and mental strength I could never have dreamed of. Every practice, limitations or not, I always had the Aggies by my side, pushing me to be the best I could be.Â
To no surprise, time flew and once again we were back at the SEC's. One year later, I was able to taper and compete with the best teams in the nation. Although 2020 SEC's wasn't quite the same outcome as it had been in the previous four years, I wouldn't have changed it. It was an honor to be part of a team through its best and… not so best. After SEC's I knew I wasn't done. I was proud to have swam after the uphill battle of the prior year, but I knew I had more left in me before retirement.Â
The few days before THE call, I remember having some of the best practices I have had since my surgery. I called my parents and told them "this is going to be it, I'm going to drop time, things are finally clicking". The excitement was building, and I had one more meet as an Aggie.
THE call changed everyone. For me, I became upset, angry and sad. After my four years of blood, sweat and tears it was going to end like this? Unforeseen events happen, but I need to believe they happen for a reason. I try to reflect about what I learned this year beyond the pool, the knowledge and experience I can take into my future career, but to be honest... I'm not there yet. The one thing I do know is I will get there, because I am fortunate enough to have the Aggies by my side every step of the way.Â
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