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Shelbi Luchini
Now as I start to move into the future and head off to college, I would like to share how Orinda Aquatics has made me a better person and swimmer in every way. The first and most important virtue that OA has taught me is to live with the most impeccable character as possible. Character first is the motto of the team and whenever I am at a swim meet, I always see that character shine through in every OA team member. They are always cheering, encouraging and supporting their fellow team mates. My teammates are much more - they are my best friends. Every day I look forward to seeing them and I will miss them so much when I go to college. I will always cherish the times we spent together and I know we will continue to have amazing experiences in the future.
I have learned to be respectful, humble and to always look at the brighter side of a situation. I am so grateful that Orinda Aquatics has given me something that I never thought I could achieve in my high school career; confidence. This new found confidence that I now have has changed my life completely and I owe that all to this swim program because I can now walk with my head held high and look a person in the eyes without feeling uncomfortable.
The Orinda coaches are truly one of a kind. They are unlike any individuals I have ever met in my life. Donnie is one of the most sincere people I know; he can always help us to see the glass as half full. For example, he is always looking for ways to encourage us, either with articles or his own words of wisdom. Ronnie’s friendship is something that I will cherish forever. There have been discussions beyond swimming that have included philosophy, religions, politics and diversity…I could go on forever. These discussions have helped me realize the bigger picture; life beyond swimming. Ronnie and Donnie have held us all to a very high standard throughout our years with Orinda Aquatics, and I believe that it has molded us into better swimmers, better teammates, better students, and most importantly better people, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know if I truly understood the journey that I was about to embark on as I entered the OA family, but now as I move forward as a young woman, I realize the impact that this program has had on my life and will continue to have from this point forward. God bless all of you as you continue on your journey with Orinda Aquatics, and know that the OA family is always going to be right behind you every stroke of the way.
Best Regards,
Shelbi Luchini
Chris Chuck
Dear swimmers, coaches, and parents of Orinda Aquatics,
I never thought that I would be sitting here writing my own going away letter to the team like my many role models once did as seniors. Where to start? I don’t know, but so much has shaped me during these past five years.
Last week, I was counting down the days until I leave for UC Santa Barbara and my nerves hit. I was not a 48 second 100 butterflyer, a 1 minute 48 second 200 IMer, or anywhere near a 44 second 100 freestyler like the other incoming freshman were. I didn’t even have a Jr. National Time, which was the bare minimum for everyone else. I was scared! But it finally hit me… Orinda Aquatics has given me so much more than time standards.
Next year, I may not be bringing a NCAA quality breaststroke but I know that I can contribute in so many other ways with just the same amount of importance. I know that I can bring sportsmanship, class, personality, and camaraderie to the team. I now know what it takes to climb to the top of the mountain and immediately set forth on another one off in the distance. And, I have finally learned that it truly is “the journey that matters, in the end.”
Thank you Matt, Marc, Dave, Ronnie, Donnie, and Christina. I don’t know where I would be without all of you. Ronnie, thank you for deciding not to “cut the cord” on me, but instead pushing me to my limits. I have developed into a swimmer and a person that I had never imagined becoming when I first joined the team. Thank you for all of the great times and memories that I will always cherish. Just remember: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” Best of luck to all of you in the future and never hesitate to contact me!
Godspeed,
Chris Chuck
Caroline Lukins, aka, CABL
Dear Coaches, teammates, and parents,
Thank you for more than words can say.
Excerpt from college essay draft:
“…When I was twelve, my best friend and I begged our parents to let us swim for the year round swim team, Orinda Aquatics. My parents were skeptical, as the team was somewhat expensive and inconvenient given the multiple sport commitments of our big family. I was allowed to join the team only after promising never to complain about waiting for rides, swimming in the cold, or competing without parental cheerleaders. The thrill of being on “OA” was soon dulled by the reality of intense practices and exhausting meets. Those first few months I learned how to feign being “sick” better than ever before, and contemplated quitting before the cold winter started. Nevertheless, my best friend convinced me to stick out that first season—we hadn’t made any friends on the team yet, and she didn’t want to have to swim in her lane alone. I often look back on this moment and wonder how different my life would be had my best friend’s 12-year-old insecurities gotten in the way.
I have been on Orinda Aquatics for 7 years now, and it has undoubtedly been the best experience of my life… …My teammates and coaches have enhanced my growth and experience as a swimmer and as a teenager. The same obstacles that I experienced at the beginning of my swimming career plus the many that have accumulated over the years shrink in the presence of their unwavering support. My teammates and coaches have taught me how to mix companionships with rivalries and intensity with pleasure. They have shown me how a smile can ease hard work and how valuable it is to stay focused, disciplined, and most of all, hopeful, even at the most despairing of times.
Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned from both my team and from the sport itself is humility: ‘Regardless of how a race ends for a swimmer, neither the clock can be beat nor can the swim be completely perfect. That makes the sport one of the most humbling on the planet. Ultimately, satisfaction must come from within’
–P.H. Mullen. At the end of a race there is such obvious room for improvement—a tighter turn, a faster dive, a smarter pace-- that the time on the clock holds little meaning. Fulfillment only comes when one remembers the hours of meticulous practicing, hard work, and pain put into this one race—times, splits, and placing are simply the outcomes...”
I have been blessed to be able to take part in such a genuine program as Orinda Aquatics. I don’t have to look past the heavy eyelids after morning practices, the freezing rainy days, the social sacrifices, or the never ending health problems that came hand in hand with swimming to believe this-- Because with this team I was able to find humor in the loopy morning practices, growth throughout the freezing rainy days, companionship on the pool deck, and unconditional support when my health took unexpected turns. OA has taught me morals and values that I take pride in believing, and will undoubtedly help me excel in swimming and life.
Thank you to teammates for your friendship - your character, depth, and loyalty are unparalleled.
Thank you to Ronnie for understanding- Your faith in me gave me faith in myself.
Thank you to Donnie for your perspective- You never fail to see the brighter side.
Thank you to Matt Coach- You taught me to love the sport.
Thank you to Mom and Dad for everything- Your unreserved support, trust, and love was more than I could ask for.
Caroline Lukins, aka, CABL
- Sean Haufler
These past five years on Orinda Aquatics have been an enlightening part of my adolescence. Rather than recounting the details, I’d like to make my final farewell by addressing the swimmers. To the underclassmen: all of you are ready to become leaders.
When I was a freshman, I looked up to Kris Kao. I strove to emulate Kris; he was a beast in workout and the nicest guy you could ever meet. Kris drove me to morning workouts my entire freshman year. During the summer, Kris scheduled for us to meet in Orinda at 5:20 for the 6 o clock workout because he “liked to be early”. Every day, for two and a half months, Kris would drive me to the Soda Center and then we would wait in his car for practice to start for about 25 minutes. Neither of us mentioned changing our meeting time so we could glean another few minutes of sleep. Rather, we bonded. We talked about swimming, Giants baseball, and life in general, developing a legitimate friendship. On days when I didn’t have a ride home after practice, Kris offered to drive 15 minutes out of his way to bring me home. When I thanked him for his kindness, he brushed me off. He say, “I’m happy to do it”, or “Don’t worry about it”. I respected Kris’s humility, but I still wanted to return the favor to him. Kris was just too generous, and I didn’t know how to repay him.
After one particularly arduous swim meet, Kris once again went out of his way to drive me home. Again, I thanked him profusely. He replied, “You don’t have to thank me. Just make sure when you’re a senior, you give rides to another freshman. Pass it on.” That statement stuck with me to this day. For the next three years, whenever someone on the team needed a suit for practice, they could have mine. When someone needed a ride, they got one. I was repaying Kris.
Kris Kao’s attitude epitomizes the strength of character possessed by the entire Orinda Aquatics swim team. He put the team’s interests ahead of his own. His unselfishness was, and continues to be, contagious.
To the team: If I’ve given you a ride, pass it on. If I’ve done you a favor, pass it on. If you were on the receiving end of some tough love (*cough cough* Robbie Ashby), feel free to pass that on as well.
Finally, the viral proliferation of kindness on Orinda Aquatics is a byproduct of Ronnie and Donnie’s coaching. Without their emphasis on integrity and “the big picture”, none of this would exist. There is no freshman hazing on
Orinda Aquatics, nor are parent chaperones needed on travel trips. The coaches are confident that every swimmer will “do the right thing”.
Thank you Ronnie, and thank you Donnie. Thank you for the coaching, and thank you for the life lessons. But most importantly, thank you for the team atmosphere of Orinda Aquatics. You created a positive feedback loop; every year, the character of the team gets better and better. Thanks to Matt, Dave, and all the parents and swimmers. See you next summer.
- Sean Haufler
Jeremy Chang
Summer, 2005. He stared back at me with full focus, not even hesitating to blink. As the final phrase stumbled out of my mouth, I slowed down my pace and chose my words carefully: “I’m just frustrated and… I don’t know if I want to swim anymore.” Silence. The season was coming to a close, and I would finish with no best times, a lot of disappointment, and a serious decision to make. “I understand your frustration,” Matt Ehrengerber said, “but I think you should stick with it. You still have many more years ahead, and the hard work will pay off, trust me.” It was a simple piece of advice that led to the best choice I’ve ever made.
They say that some things in life just can’t be described, that they have to be experienced first hand. Some experiences are so powerful, so significant that words can’t come close to capturing their true essence. Right now, I find myself struggling with just such a problem: attempting to explain what this team means to me, how it’s altered my life. Maybe it’s impossible to truly convey this message… but I’ll give it a shot.
For the past six years, I’ve been part of something much greater than just a sport. Swimming, and more importantly, Orinda Aquatics, has not just shaped me into a better man, but become part of my own identity. I still remember my mindset when I attended my first practice: “Why am I here? Why did I join? How long until I can quit?” The negativity was rampant through my thoughts, affecting not just my work in the pool, but every other aspect of my life. Nonetheless, I gradually understood that this was no ordinary program that solely strived for fast times, but a team that was founded on strength of character and all-around success, just what I needed.
Now that I have time to reflect on what I remember most, I’ve come to realize that it’s not the memorable swims or hours spent in practice, but the camaraderie that defines Orinda Aquatics. The sea of red shirts, the dozens of booming cheers, the trust we put in each other to do our best and race for the good of the team, that’s what is clearest in my mind and what I can appreciate the most from my OA career.
In the end, I could never have ended up where I am today without this team and the support from everyone around me, so I can only offer my sincere gratitude to all those who have helped me along the way. Ronnie, Donnie, Matt, all my friends and family, thank you so much for everything that you’ve done. It has truly made me into the person I am today. Keep on pushing and never sacrifice your character for anything. Follow the black line. It will guide you on your journeys.
Best of luck, Jeremy Chang
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