The sport of swimming brings with it the opportunity to travel and meet new people.
Schuylkill YMCA swimmer Joann Butkus got to experience that earlier this month.
Butkus, 17, traveled to Atlanta to participate in the 2013 YMCA Long Course Nationals held July 29 to Aug. 2 at the Georgia Tech University Aquatics Center.
There were roughly 1,200 swimmers who attended the five-day meet. Butkus qualified for nationals by beating the qualifying standard during the USA Swimming Middle Atlantic Regional Championships held two weeks prior at Bucknell University.
"Once I qualified, I started to plan my training," Butkus said. "The only thing I did different was that I tapered the week before the competition and I just tried to conserve my energy."
Once at the meet, Butkus actually felt calm and not at all nervous.
"I was relaxed in the sense that it's not a very intense meet," Butkus said about the atmosphere of
the YMCA Nationals. " You are there to swim and perform and have fun."
This was only the second long-course meet that Butkus ever swam in. Normally, she swims in a short-course pool, so the transition was something new for her and something to build on.
Butkus and Blue Mountain's Nathanael Marino competed in the 2013 YMCA Youth Short Course Swimming Championships April 3-6 in Greensboro, N.C., the first Schuylkill YMCA swimmers to qualify for Y Nationals.
"Knowing that I don't have much experience with swimming in a long-course pool made me feel nervous in that aspect," Butkus said. "Overall, I was happy that I was consistent with the Bucknell meet."
The Tamaqua resident did more than just swim while she was on her trip to Atlanta. The time she spent outside of the pool was time spent well.
"I was able to spend a lot of quality time with my mom and my coach. I had a lot of fun exploring Atlanta and visiting The Georgia Aquarium, which was beautiful," she said. "This was also where the 1996 Olympics were held, so it was neat to know that Olympians were here. It made it really feel like the Olympics for me."
Meredith Boris, Schuylkill YMCA head swim coach, accompanied Butkus on her trip and coached her throughout the meet.
"I think Joann had some fantastic swims," Boris said. "I know she was frustrated with some of her times, but overall it was a great meet."
While at the meet, Butkus swam in three individual events. She placed 70th in the 50 LC meter freestyle, 71st in the 100 LC meter freestyle and 98th in the 100 LC meter breaststroke. She is looking forward to going back next year.
"The Schuylkill YMCA hopes to get more swimmers to qualify next year," Butkus said. "I would like that too because I have fantastic coaches and teammates."
Butkus, who will be a senior at Tamaqua this fall, is already thinking about her high school swimming season.
The two-time Republican-Herald All-Area Female Swimmer of the Year has qualified for states the past three seasons and helped Tamaqua to the 2011 and 2012 Schuylkill League team titles.
As a junior, Butkus was the Schuylkill League champion in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay, won a silver and three bronze medals at the District 11 Swimming Championships, and qualified for states in two events.
At states, Butkus placed 14th in the 50 freestyle in 24.90 and teamed with Miranda Amey, Danielle DeCindio and Caroline Kanaskie to place 16th in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:47.38.
"I just want to continue to improve," Butkus said. "The 100-yard butterfly has really been giving me trouble, so I want to overcome that plateau. I would love it if I could repeat my district and state performances."
Boris is confident about Butkus' future in swimming and in life.
"She will be successful no matter where she goes or what she does, because she is a hard worker," Boris said.