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01/16/2024 11:27 AMThere is not a single minute, nor solitary second, or any day, where Josh Colandrea is not contemplating some fact of the sport of swimming. It is that unnerving dedication and relentless tenacity that has brushed him up to high tide in the endeavor collegiately.
The Haddam-Killingworth Class of 2023 graduate didn’t actually start in the pool competitively until his junior year, when he joined the Cougars’ boys’ swimming and diving team, and also competed in the offseason for the Cougars Aquatic Team (CAT)–both under the direction of H-K Head Coach Steven Cusano.
After graduating last spring as a senior captain, he has now embarked on the swimming lanes at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) and its men’s swimming team as a predominately freestyle competitor.
“My coaches have really helped me along the way. I have been with Coach Cusano since the start through H-K and CAT, and [ECSU Head Coach Sarit Gluz] has also been a fantastic coach. Swimming in college has been one of the greatest things for me,” says Josh. “For college, I had to make a rigorous routine to stay on top of it all with swimming and schoolwork. The biggest adjustment has been being around new people and teammates, but I have found a new community here, which is great.”
Josh’s pride and passion when it comes to swimming strokes is the freestyle, without a shadow of a doubt. He adds, though, that when it comes to being part of a fearsome foursome on the relay circuit, it can also unlock an added measure of adrenaline with motivating others.
“The 100 freestyle is my baby; I just love it,” Josh says. “I have trained for it for months leading into this year. I also enjoy relays, because when you have other guys cheering you on, it gives you an added level of excitement. The relay races are super fast, and it is great cheering each other on.”
Swimming is a waiting game that can test the patience of even the most iron-willed athletes. Josh details that sometimes the wait can weigh down heavily on a person’s mind. Though when you stick it out, the payoff is worth the hold out exponentially.
“The mental component of it can be the hard part, because you put in the training and you are waiting for the pay day in the form of the results,” says Josh. “I actually downloaded a meditation app to help me stay balanced and patient. Having more confidence in myself has helped me, too. You may not see improvements for months, but when you hit that taper and you see your work, it pays off. My motto has always been to just trust the process.”
Harkening back to his humble beginnings in the water just two years ago at H-K, Josh notes fellow classmate Jack Ferguson was Josh’s canal into the waterways. He confesses that college swimming was not on his immediate radar until his senior season. But with the encouragement of his coach and cohort, he decided to stay the course, defining his identity.
“Jack talked to me in English class during junior year and asked if I wanted to try out swimming, and I fell in love with it,” says Josh. “Jack was a great peer to help me get acclimated to the team and sport, as well as the best strategy and techniques for each stroke. I did not expect to swim in college until I talked to Coach Cusano last season, and I just kept with it. Without Coach Cusano and Jack, I would not be where I am now.”
In only a short stint thus far with the Warriors at ECSU, Jack has already had a watershed moment in his career at a recent event. He also learned the power of mental manifestation towards tangible targets.
“For the CT Cup event at Wesleyan University back in December, I took part in the 100 free. I went on to record probably one of the best times of my career [52.14 seconds]; it was an amazing moment,” says Josh. “The coaching staff asked me to try new things, but also to tell myself that I got this. So, whenever I get behind the block, all I keep saying to myself is that I got this.”
Gluz praises Josh’s hyper focus on the seemingly minor items that are essential towards making big time notoriety within the Little East Conference.
“Josh has been a great addition to our team this season. He is a hard worker, is focused on his goals, and has been able to understand the details that go into finding success in swimming,” says Gluz. “He has made the transition to college swimming well, and is learning the ropes on how to balance academic success with his athletic success. I expect Josh to make a tremendous impact on our success at the end of the year at our conference championships.”
Even down to the detailed diet, Josh’s dedication to his craft envelopes itself around every facet of his life. In his quest to continually shave seconds off his times, he utilizes every possible resource at his disposal–including other coaches and Olympic-level athletes.
“I am ruthless to myself. I do not drink soda or eat anything processed. I condition my body to the max,” Josh says. “I also talk to coaches from around the state, and always ask them for input while watching videos of other teams’ meets. I have also spoken with [2016] Olympian Cody Miller for his advice. I want to keep getting more personal-best times, learn new techniques, and just keep going fast.”