Upcoming Event: Swimming & Diving versus CSCAA Open Water National Championship on December 13, 2025 at All Day
All Day
Swimming & Diving
vs. CSCAA Open Water National Championship
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Dear Letters - Kelsey Witkay
4/20/2020 1:00:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
Collegiate athletics came to a halt in mid-March. With social distancing, remote work schedules and the inability to gather to cheer on our favorite teams, came a void. The void of seeing our favorite teams compete; the void of watching our favorite student-athletes grow and improve.
Florida Atlantic athletics recognizes that void and has seized the opportunity by providing an opportunity for fans to get to know the FAU athletes and coaches in a series called "Owl Letters." It is just one of the #WinningInParadise series that FAUSports.com will bring to you, our loyal fans.
Dear Swimming,
Where to begin? It has been 15 years, four teams, a number of coaches and hundreds of teammates in between.
Swimming, you were my first real passion. You were my escape from daily life. I never knew that I could fall so hard for a sport that I spent hours every day staring at a black line. But, there is nothing that will compare to the bonds created with my teammates and coaches after completing set after set that at one point seemed impossible. There is nothing that will compare to seeing your teammates cheering you on as you reach that new goal that you worked all season or years to finally drop even a couple tenths of a second. I would never trade the early mornings, the constant dry skin, the test sets or the cold pools for anything, as they all were part of the overall lessons I have learned and grown from through the sport.
Thank you, Swimming, for teaching me the value of hard work, and the ability to face failure and continue to endure and keep working, even in times when I was so frustrated. Thank you for helping me step out of my comfort zone and allowing me to step up and lead for what I am passionate about. And thank you for allowing me to travel the world, follow my dreams and put a huge smile on my face, as I found success and watched my teammates find success, too. 15 years is definitely hard to say goodbye to, but, Swimming, you will always be with me, whether through the values I carry with me every day, the memories I cherish and the friendships that continue to flourish.
Thank you, Florida Atlantic University, for being the final piece in my swimming career, and helping me reach and exceed the goals that I set for myself as a little girl, back when this whole journey began.
And ultimately, thank you, Swimming
Kelsey
Previous Letters
Jolie Duffner - April 8, 2020
Alex Smolka - April 10, 2020
Rosa Barnak - April 13, 2020
Alice McCall - April 15, 2020
Bobby Morgensen - April 17, 2020
Kelsey Witkay - April 20, 2020
Florida Atlantic athletics recognizes that void and has seized the opportunity by providing an opportunity for fans to get to know the FAU athletes and coaches in a series called "Owl Letters." It is just one of the #WinningInParadise series that FAUSports.com will bring to you, our loyal fans.
Dear Swimming,
Where to begin? It has been 15 years, four teams, a number of coaches and hundreds of teammates in between.
Swimming, you were my first real passion. You were my escape from daily life. I never knew that I could fall so hard for a sport that I spent hours every day staring at a black line. But, there is nothing that will compare to the bonds created with my teammates and coaches after completing set after set that at one point seemed impossible. There is nothing that will compare to seeing your teammates cheering you on as you reach that new goal that you worked all season or years to finally drop even a couple tenths of a second. I would never trade the early mornings, the constant dry skin, the test sets or the cold pools for anything, as they all were part of the overall lessons I have learned and grown from through the sport.
Thank you, Swimming, for teaching me the value of hard work, and the ability to face failure and continue to endure and keep working, even in times when I was so frustrated. Thank you for helping me step out of my comfort zone and allowing me to step up and lead for what I am passionate about. And thank you for allowing me to travel the world, follow my dreams and put a huge smile on my face, as I found success and watched my teammates find success, too. 15 years is definitely hard to say goodbye to, but, Swimming, you will always be with me, whether through the values I carry with me every day, the memories I cherish and the friendships that continue to flourish.
Thank you, Florida Atlantic University, for being the final piece in my swimming career, and helping me reach and exceed the goals that I set for myself as a little girl, back when this whole journey began.
And ultimately, thank you, Swimming
Kelsey
Previous Letters
Jolie Duffner - April 8, 2020
Alex Smolka - April 10, 2020
Rosa Barnak - April 13, 2020
Alice McCall - April 15, 2020
Bobby Morgensen - April 17, 2020
Kelsey Witkay - April 20, 2020
Players Mentioned
Fly/Free
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