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01/09/2024 11:06 AMAdam Signorello relished more in the wherewithal required to complete a mission, rather than the destination–pushing him to perform in the pool on a consistent basis daily, no matter how much is in his personal tank.
The Hand junior began swimming around the age of 3, and began it in a competitive fashion around three years subsequently. After sophomore year, he dropped football for the Tigers to focus more on the water. This campaign, he has truly submerged himself into the depths of the Hand boys’ swimming and diving team as a junior captain.
“I love how with swimming, that everything you put into it is perfectly reflected when you go out and perform; there is no subjectivity,” says Adam. “I will always see the work I put in when I touch that wall and see my time, and it just makes me feel so happy. I just keep showing up to practices and meets. Even on days where I do not feel good or confident, I keep going. Even when you make mistakes or aren’t at your best, you can learn and see what you need to work on, and grow as an athlete and person.”
When it comes to his strokes, Adam truly plays to his strengths. He utilizes the bulk in his skill set that was acquired via the gridiron to help him with the waves.
“I am predominately a freestyle and butterfly swimmer, and I think a lot of that comes from the strength it requires, and I have gotten stronger through when I played football,” Adam says. “I became pretty strong from playing football, and I just felt more inclined to grow myself in those strokes, because I was better at them than the others from the start.”
Adam’s adversity comes from those days where maybe he needs that extra push of motivation to get himself motoring. Yet he details that in taking on a grander responsibility, he gets that added fire to fuel him.
“I have gained an understanding of dealing with adversity by being a captain,” says Adam. “Because as a captain, I am setting the example every day and have a big influence on what the rest of the team will look like and how they will perform. If I am not trying, then they won’t either.”
Hand boys’ swimming Head Coach Scott Butler details that Adam literally has leadership attributes in his genes. Still, Adam knows it takes more than genetics to go forth and guide, and he has taken that to heart.
“From the onset, Adam really embraced the role. His older brother, Jack, had been captain just two years ago, and Adam saw firsthand what needed to be done as a captain of this team,” says Butler. “He really has become the team leader that we all needed. And with his experience from watching his brother, he knew exactly what that meant. He was ready to step up his game to embrace this role.”
While his colleagues have had to adjust to Adam as a captain, he explains it has caused a mental metamorphosis from him. He conveys it is more about going outside of his comfort zone to create connections with every last member of the roster.
“Being captain is definitely a change; it is a role I was hoping to assume since I started high school,” Adam says. “It is challenging because I cannot just be the normal guy who does not speak. I have to get to know everyone on the team. I am expected to be the liaison between the coaches and the entire team. I like it, though, because it forces me to meet new people I would not have otherwise.”
The Tigers are certainly in the middle of a youth movement when it comes to the composition of their club for the 2023-2024 campaign. Adam counters that by stating the younger boys have bought in very soundly when it comes to dedication to improvement.
“We are a really young team. We have one senior, and then a third or more of the team is made up of freshmen,” says Adam. “We knew we needed to change the culture and show the young guys that this is a varsity sport. The freshmen have grasped that right away, which is helping us succeed so far. They are all showing up, growing, and improving.”
Participation in any endeavor can be the most pivotal factor towards personal production, per Adam. He also adds that in his newfound role, three internal controllable elements for any competitor are attitude, effort, and focus.
“I have discovered showing up is 90% of it all,” Adam says. “Even with a bad workout for example, I will get more out of that bad one than someone just not doing one at all. What you put into something is what you get out of it. I also came into this year with a decision that I was going to have a stronger attitude, and give more with my effort and focus.”