Lexi Plogger - Full Circle
5/31/2023 11:30:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Below is a feature story provided by FanWord.com about Lexi Plogger.
If you had told my younger self that one day I would be a senior team captain for the Liberty Flames swimming program, I definitely would not have believed you.
After all, I didn't even learn to swim until I was eight years old and only joined my first swim league in an attempt to keep up with my neighborhood friends at summer pool outings.
From that very first practice, however, I knew that there was something different about this activity.
The culture, the people, and all of the things associated with swimming were far different than anything I had previously been a part of.
Not to mention, I seemed to have some raw talent and innate abilities when it came to the sport.
It just came naturally to me.
While I had no idea what the future had in store, I knew I wanted to see how far I could take it.
Gaining momentum
In those early years of competing at the club level, our team held practices at Miller Park Pool in Lynchburg, Virginia.
After we got done with our sessions, our team would vacate the pool to make room for the next team.
The Liberty Flames.
I would casually pass those collegiate swimmers in the locker room, quietly observe early portions of their practices, and dream of one day having the opportunity to compete right alongside them.
While those dreams seemed far-fetched when I was young, those aspirations started to feel more realistic as I got older.
As a junior and senior in high school, I notched regional championships in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter fly, and 100-meter breaststroke.
I felt ready to take this sport to the next level of competition.
Finding a home
With all of the confidence in the world, I took an official visit to Liberty University.
While I was just eleven miles from my hometown of Forest, Virginia, stepping onto campus felt like I was in a completely new world.
The Natatorium was state of the art, the campus was undeniably beautiful, and I felt an immediate connection to this university.
From the coaching staff to the current sprint-team swimmers, everyone I encountered on that visit was kind, supportive, and incredibly invested in me, both as a person and athlete.
Right then and there, I knew that I had found my home away from home.
While this was obviously one of the most exciting moments of my young career, it also came with a few feelings of apprehension.
I instantly learned, however, that the culture surrounding this program is unlike any I had ever been a part of.
Whether you were an athlete on scholarship or not, you were an equal part of the team. Collectively, everyone works together to be the best they can possibly be in order to promote individual and, ultimately, team success.
So, it's safe to say that all my fears faded quite quickly, allowing me to fully live out this dream of mine.
A welcomed change
Throughout my days here at Liberty, that inclusive culture has remained, and the level of support has never faded.
I am now a senior team captain and have grown leaps and bounds both in and out of the pool.
Being a team captain has been one of the highest honors of my career, and I am thankful for this particular opportunity.
It has allowed me to use my experiences here at Liberty to guide the younger athletes who are just joining the program or going through similar ups and downs in their careers.
You see, while my time here has been largely successful, it hasn't been free of hardships.
In my first three seasons, I focused primarily on the 50 and 100-meter freestyle as my main events. I was making progress and dropping times, but something just wasn't clicking.
While I have always tried to remain positive in my approach, I remember days of discouragement and frustration, and would experience some internal battles.
In those days, I relied heavily on the love and support of my teammates and coaches to continue to push me forward.
At the suggestion of my coaches, the summer before my senior season, I went back to my roots and began practicing the breaststroke. I had not competed in the event since my freshman season, so jumping back into it this late in my career was a nerve-wracking experience.
Looking back, however, this was one of the most impactful choices I could have made.
Everything clicked.
The pressure was off.
I saw significant drops in time, earned top finishes in meets, and proved that hard work and trusting the training process — as well as those guiding it — truly pays off.
Gratitude
I am proud of my accomplishments here at Liberty, but more importantly, I am full of gratitude for this journey.
The triumphs and the hardships have collectively made me into the athlete, captain, and overall person that I am today, and there is not a single part of this adventure that I would change.
From the days of quietly observing Liberty swimmers and admiring them from afar to leading this same program as a captain is truly remarkable.
I guess you could say that life has come full circle, and I am incredibly grateful that it did.
