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Story contributions made by Allyson Panton '17

On Saturday, November 21, two Sarah Lawrence College student-athletes will compete in their final home competition—a bittersweet milestone in their respective careers. Senior captains Sam Amberchan (Alameda, Calif./Menlo-Atherton) and Cameron Martinez (Aledo, Texas/Aledo) have been role models during their four-year tenure with the SLC women's and men's swimming programs. With another chapter coming to an end, the story of their success is nearly complete but will not be forgotten.

"I'm a little heartbroken that my last home meet is this Saturday," said Amberchan. "This pool has been practically my home for the past four years, so it's going to be weird to not compete in it again after this weekend, and then never practice in it again after February."

Being a student-athlete takes dedication. Early-morning practices are balanced against late nights of studying. Every hour spent in the pool is met with even more hours spent in the classroom. Swimmers practice for weeks to prepare for a dozen or so chances to compete all season. All of the work takes time, commitment and grit.

Martinez summed up the worst part of his experience. "There's one moment that I do twice a day. It's worse than practice, worse than dry land training, worse than anything else. That's the shock of jumping in the water." Whether it's practice at 7 a.m. or 7 p.m., the rush of cold water tests the will-power and dedication of every member of the team.

For the student-athletes that love the sport, swimming provides a valuable outlet from the rigors of college life.

"I don't remember what it's like to not play a sport," reflected Amberchan. The California native is also a member of SLC's softball team. It may sound overwhelming, but Amberchan thrives on the pressure.

"During my first year, I didn't play softball. Once swimming ended, I had all this free time, and I just didn't know what to do with it. I think I didn't do as well academically when I wasn't playing a sport, so I really like having that added structure that softball gave me in the spring."

For his part, Martinez has taken a similar path as a member of the men's volleyball team each spring. He has been a three-year starter and led the 2015 squad in kills and digs.

The universal struggle of college life requires balancing a copious amount of classwork, maintaining a healthy social network, and finding time for the basic necessities of sleep and food. Adding a sport (or two) to the mix makes the juggle even harder, but the two seniors keep a positive attitude.

"I have lots of other obligations," noted Martinez. "There's always going to be some sacrifice… do I want to hang out with friends, or do I want to swim more, or should I take that 2 a.m. trip to the diner? I do what I need to make it work."

Those sacrifices may pay off for Martinez in a big way in March. The Texas native has his eyes on qualifying for the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming & Diving Championships. With SLC completing the transition to full NCAA membership last summer, Martinez can now attend the championships for the first time, despite having posted qualifying times in each of the past two seasons.

Martinez has an opportunity—though certainly no guarantee—to become SLC's first NCAA national championship participant, a chance he called "something really special." He has the ultimate goal of qualifying to swim at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June: a dream that will be much more difficult, but not impossible, to realize. His personal best times in three events are good enough to qualify, but he will have to achieve those times in the more-challenging environment of an Olympic 50-meter pool.

While Amberchan may not have such lofty goals in mind, her time on the swimming team has been no less valuable. She has won three conference titles and was named to two academic all-conference teams. She ranks among the program's top-five swimmers in four individual events, yet the lasting impact is not what she did in the pool but what she takes away.

Amberchan explained, "The best part about being on a team here at SLC, and what keeps me coming back, are my teammates and coaches. They have always been there for me, and always will be, as teammates, coaches and friends. I have shoulders to cry on, walls to vent to, wells of advice, and people there to encourage me to be a better person, out of the pool and off the field."

After this season, Amberchan plans to move back to her home state of California to pursue something in magazine writing. Martinez is an aspiring filmmaker and wants to work in the industry as a director, writer or producer.

Saturday will be the last time the two captains lead their team in competition in their home pool. The legacy that Amberchan and Martinez leave behind will be long remembered; just as they will never forget the time they spent as Sarah Lawrence Gryphons.