For ISB’s dedicated Varsity athletes, morning practices are about more than just building skills or honing techniques. They are also a way to show commitment and resilience to their sports and teams. In morning practices, the athletes push their limits, find motivation, and bond with teammates over shared goals. So, what exactly fuels their passion? Let’s learn more about what makes these early mornings worth every missed hour of rest.
“The team motivates me to come every morning.”
Bente Geraets, the Varsity Swimming Captain and a senior at ISB, shows unwavering dedication to her team. She shared her method to keep herself focused on tougher mornings: “When I don’t feel motivated, I tell myself the alarm has already woken me up, so I might as well go because I know once I am there, I’ll enjoy it.”
As captain, Bente leads with skill and commitment, ready to guide the team for the next season. “I attend all morning practices to set a good example and ensure I am or seem in a good mood to keep up the team’s spirits,” she says. Bente encourages her teammates to push themselves in the pool and gym to improve faster by aiming to break her personal best in the 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke school records this year. Reflecting on her motivations, she says, “The team motivates me to come every morning. I love our team spirit and bonding each morning, whether swimming or in the gym.”
“It’s always fun to start the day with sports.”
For many Varsity athletes, morning training is about more than perfecting skills; it’s also about the energy and leadership they contribute to the practice. Vanille Newman, captain of the Varsity Girls’ Football team, shares her motivation: “It’s always fun to start the day with sports and then get ready for school with our team.”
As a senior and team captain, Vanille always motivates her teammates, even in the early hours. “I try to bring some kind of energy to practice. With it being so early in the morning, I start off the team with energy and a positive attitude,” she explains. This year, Vanille’s main goal was to foster team bonding and help her squad perform their best at IASAS. With their shared commitment, the team dedicated themselves to practice every Friday morning, striving to improve individually and as a team.
“My drive to succeed”
For sophomore Htet Wun (Shin Shin) Yan, morning practices are a crucial part of her pursuit of excellence in swimming. “I don’t like making excuses for poor performances in races, so I believe in maximizing the effort I put into training,” she says. “It’s simple: the more you put in, the better your results will be.” Shin Shin’s goal to improve keeps her focused, even when facing the toughest challenge—waking up before dawn. “Dragging myself out of bed when it’s dark is a mental battle, but I see it as a test of mental toughness. It’s almost a personal challenge: How many days can I go without skipping a session?” Showing up each morning shows Shin Shin’s commitment to her team. From each practice, she also strengthens her skills and shapes her leadership within the team.
As a sophomore on a highly competitive Varsity team, Shin Shin takes her role seriously and works hard to set a positive example. “I enjoy the harder morning practices—they may be painful at the moment, but I know the pain will lead to progress,” she says. She feels determined to push her limits and encourage her teammates to do the same, whether through tough swim sets or gym workouts. Her long-term goals include earning a spot on the podium and helping the team to win an IASAS gold medal. “Morning practice is crucial to reaching these goals because it gives me extra time to refine my technique, build stamina, and improve my mental strength.”
“I am an avid supporter of morning training!”
Senior Guy Sreesangkom, this year’s Varsity Cross Country Team captain, drew motivation from the cool morning air, which makes running much more enjoyable than dealing with Thailand’s afternoon heat. “With these temperatures, I can run much better,” he says. He also shares an overlooked benefit of morning practices. “This is the hidden beauty of morning training that people don’t know: Morning runs are a phenomenal way to start your day.” Though waking up early isn’t easy, Guy has adapted by changing the focus to how refreshing morning runs are. “I ignore the tediousness of waking up early by replacing that thought with how nice it would be to run in the morning.”
As captain, he led by supporting his teammates, cheering them on, and taking initiative when needed. However, Guy doesn’t let the title get in the way of the team’s bond. “My teammates are my teammates, so it doesn’t change that we’re a great team.” He was determined this year to improve from last year’s IASAS finish and aimed for a personal best of “low 19s or sub-19 if possible.” Morning practices are vital for Guy—they provide better running conditions and build persistence and passion for the sport.
“The best feeling of the day is when I finish my morning swim and hit the showers…”
Rylan Gulkin is a junior and a member of the Varsity Swim team. Morning practice allows Rylan to improve his skills with more attention. “Morning practice is the only time I’m able to have my coach focus on me more since fewer people attend, so it helps me improve a lot.” Despite having an early start to the day, he accepted the toughness of waking up at 4:40 a.m. “It becomes a habit, and my body adapts to it.”
While some might find the early mornings challenging, Rylan brings a positive energy to the team. “I’m a very lively person in the morning, so I tend to make everyone smile and sing to lighten the mood,” he says. His determination is evident, intending to push himself closer to breaking school records. “By coming to morning practice, I get that extra training that most don’t.” The sense of accomplishment comes into mind when the practice is over. “Probably the best feeling of the day is when I finish my morning practice and hit the showers—it’s so refreshing, I feel ready to start the day.”
