Unity and togetherness are sometimes the most important ingredient in the success of a team. After a year at the University, no one knows that better than sophomore swimmer Sarah Burston.

Burston, who was born and raised in the swimming capital of Sydney, Australia, had to adjust to life on the other side of the world, literally.

“I have some people convinced that I have a pet kangaroo,” Burston laughed. “When I first got to BG I didn’t unpack my bags for four weeks, I was scared and a bit homesick.”

If the culture shock of moving from the biggest city on an entire continent to the city of Bowling Green wasn’t enough, Burston had an even more difficult time adjusting to the concept of swimming as a team.

“In Sydney there are no high school swim teams, it is a true individual sport, where only your own times matter,” Burston said. “One of the reasons I chose to become a Falcon was the closeness of the team.”

For Burston, who was raised in a family of athletes – her brother Sam is a World Cup tri-athlete – swimming came easily.

“In Australia, swimming is a huge sport – front page news,” Burston said. “Swimming is part of the curriculum in elementary school; you can’t graduate until you learn to swim.”

Originally recruited by assistant coach Mark “Howie” Howard as a butterfly and backstroke specialist, Burston found her stride right away in the pool swimming the 100- and 200-yard butterfly as well as the individual medley.

“Sarah has adjusted really well and is a real team player,” Howard said. “She has put herself in a leadership position over the past four months.”

Burston’s transition toward more of a team concept came slowly.

“It took me time to adjust to the idea of swimming as a team sport, coming from Australia where it’s very individually oriented, but I feel like I have made some strides toward becoming a good teammate,” Burston said.

Other Falcon swimmers couldn’t agree more.

Freshman Jessica Lewis talked about Burston’s effect on the team, which includes 12 freshmen.

“Sarah is great,” Lewis said. “She is always very vocal in encouraging the team, but she also knows how to tell us when we need to be better.”

Fellow freshman Kristen Tetuan appreciates Burston’s demeanor away from the pool.

“Sarah is always there to talk to and confide in, and as a freshman, it’s nice to have someone like that to lean on.”

Being so in tone with teammates wasn’t always the case for Burston.

“As a freshman it was difficult to voice my opinion, especially as my performances were below my expectation levels early in the season,” Burston said.

But with Burston finally getting over bouts with bronchitis and walking pneumonia, she was 100 percent well going into the Ohio State Invitational, a 13 team meet which showcased some of the best college swimmers in the country.

“I really did well at the OSU invite,” Burston recalled. “I finished eighth out of nearly 50 girls in the 100 fly, and recorded personal bests in each event I swam.”

“Did well” may be an understatement: Burston’s time of 55.5 seconds in the 100 fly is the fastest time recorded in the Mid American Conference this year.

With her in-pool performance peeking and her leadership ability outside the pool evident, Burston may be a prime candidate to become a team captain in the future.

“Clearly, it would be an honor to be a team captain,” Burston said. “At this point I am comfortable just getting better and helping the team one meet at a time.”

For news, notes and opinions on all BG sports, check out www.bgnewssports.com.

Contact sports reporter John Lopez at [email protected].