To be ready to perform at their highest level–and deal with the inevitable nerves–the swimmers are preparing themselves both physically and mentally for the state swim meet this weekend.

Senior Annie Jacob visualizes the details of an upcoming event and described, “I’ll go through the whole race from start to finish, all my strokes, kicking, and the turn.”

For record-breaking senior Alex Peek, preparation occurs throughout the entire season by cutting sugar out of his diet and not drinking soda. In the moments before a race, Peek goes through his usual routine: warm up sprints, breathing exercises, and a prayer.

Jackson Hansen, also a senior, explained, “There is a lot that goes into preparing for a big swim meet. The days before are boring with short easy practices to ensure we don’t tire ourselves out and no other physical activity. We eat tons of carbs and protein the day before our meet to give us the maximum amount of energy possible for our races.”

Jackson’s sister and teammate, Kate Hansen, has a personal ritual she does before each race: “I always splash myself with water from the pool and take a few deep breaths.”

For many swimmers, mentally preparing for a big event wouldn’t be the same without their go-to music. We compiled a list of some of their favorite pre-meet beats.

Take a listen to this preparation playlist, and don’t forget to wish Timpview’s speedy swim team good luck!