By Derek Blalock
Oakland Athletic Communications

A team's bond can sometimes make or break an otherwise promising athletic season. If it's not strong enough, the most talented of teams can fail. However, if the team's bond is tight, that can lead to greatness.

Senior Hannah Burgess and head coach Pete Hovland notes that the bond between the Oakland Golden Grizzlies swim teams could be considered one of the strongest assets the program has at its disposal. And it comes out in full force every year during the final meet of the year — the Horizon League Championships. It is also a major reason why the women's swim and dive program, even when there are ups and downs throughout the year, has 25 consecutive conference championships to show off.

How does a program sustain that kind of success and always is able to peak at exactly the right moment? Burgess' favorite moment of the swim season might be the answer.

Every year leading up to the conference championship meet, the Oakland swimming and diving student-athletes come together for their annual candlelight ceremony. Just the athletes. No coaches allowed.

"We start with one person and they light their candle and talk about their memories of the year," Burgess said. "We get to sit down and really thank each other for what we've done and helped each other through the struggles. A lot of people don't really thank people for what they've done and I think to be able to come together especially with 55 people and show that we have everybody's back. It's a really cool moment I look forward to every year."

It's a long-standing tradition that started years ago. Hovland can't pinpoint the exact time when an athlete approached him with the idea, but he was on board from the get-go.

"That is part of the fabric of who we are," Hovland said. "We know what it's all about but we don't hear the individual testimonies. They pour their heart and souls into it, and this is the final piece that pulls us all together and really puts us over the top in terms of preparation heading into (conference championships)."

Like the past 24 years, 2019 was no different for Burgess and the Golden Grizzlies notching that illustrious 25th consecutive title. Burgess, a native of Oakville, Ontario, placed fifth in both the 400-yard IM and 200-yard backstroke at this year's championships, which included a career-best time in the 400 (4:28.28) — her best finish at the conference meet since placing second in the 200 backstroke as a freshman. But, it wasn't without a long road in between.


During her sophomore year, Burgess herniated a disc in her spine and was in pain for six months without an answer why. The more she kept swimming the worse it got.
           
"I just wanted to feel better so having the athletic trainers were really helpful," Burgess said. "But the hardest thing about being injured is not being able to do what you love. When you can't (swim) it makes you miss it much more."

After the conference championships that year, she took a month off from the pool but had to watch as her other teammates kept going. Kept improving.

It's one of the hardest things to deal with as a coach, Hovland admits, but it is part of the job, and it is a prime opportunity for him to appreciate the support system the Oakland program has in place.

"It's always tough because they feel isolated when they're not around us," Hovland said. "Our kids come a half hour to 45 minutes early just to sit around and shoot the breeze and talk with one another. It's fun to see. When that's taken and you're alone without that, it leaves a huge void in your day. Swimming is a big part of who they are and their life and when they don't have that, it leaves a huge void and they're not prepared," he added. As a staff, you just try to be as supportive as you can. When it's all said and done, it's that camaraderie and friendship and being around their teammates (that helps the athletes)."



Being from right outside Toronto, it was a unique experience attending school in the United States, something Burgess never thought would happen. It wasn't until her junior year when other girls started getting offers from outside Canada that she realized this was a possible option. From the moment she stepped onto Oakland's campus, she was hooked and knew it was the place to be. When she and her dad got home they both looked at each other and said, "That's the one." She committed the next day.

Being nearly four hours away, especially when injured, a support system is a must, and Burgess says she's lucky to have met Bethany Abramcyzk when they started at Oakland four years ago. Burgess says whether it's needing help when your car breaks down or whatever the situation, Abramcyzk, just like any Oakland swimmer or diver, are always there for you.

"We're literally best friends since the day we met each other so it's been quite an experience," Abramcyzk said. "And she doesn't live in America, so I really don't want her to graduate and move away. It's forever friends."

It's these types of sturdy friendships that are fostered and nurtured under strong leadership and moments like the candlelight ceremony. When all 50-60 athletes share their story the candles that fill the room are finally extinguished on that night, Hovland knows that their lights will still shine bright.

"She's like a light," Hovland said. "She's very very positive and has a bubbly personality, and she's fun to be around and loves to work hard and she appreciates when the hard work pays off. She's one of those people that you pull for. We're going to truly miss her in a lot of ways."



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