Ava McLeod

Junior Campbell Murawski prepares for her second meet of the new year. Murawski brought in her stuffed animal good luck charm, Good-Luck Chicken, for the meet against Nerinx Hall High School. “Since it was finals week, and the team was down nine swimmers, I thought it would be a good idea to bring in Good-Luck Chicken to lift the team’s spirit. But, most importantly, remind everyone to have fun and take advantage of a home meet,” Murawski said.

The smell of chlorine filled the air as the announcer declared it was time for swimmers to approach their blocks. Junior Campbell Murawski steps on the platform and bends over—grasping the edge. Little did she know, a surprise visitor awaited her at the end of the lane.  

“When I was 13, I tried to get into this [selective] meet where you had to swim a fast enough time. I couldn’t make the cut in my 100 Freestyle all season. So, finally, I went to a meet which was my last chance before the selective meet. After I got on the block, my mom came running [to] the end of my lane and took out my pet chicken, Amelia. [She pulled Amelia] out of her purse and put her down on the ground. Then I swam so fast,” Murawski said.

After Amelia assisted Murawski with her first meet, Murawski received a gift from her mom’s friend, said to bring good luck. A stuffed animal chicken. Murawski named it Good-Luck Chicken. She now brings Good-Luck Chicken to all her important meets.

“Good-Luck Chicken went to the state championship my freshman year when we won state. That was really exciting. I think we won because of her. She was on the podium. If you ever look at any pictures of me on the podium, Good-Luck Chicken is with me and the whole team,” Murawski said.  

Good-Luck Chicken has been by Murauski’s side through her highs and lows. Having faced obstacles in her swimming career, Murawski used Good-Luck Chicken to keep a positive mindset.

“I can hold [Good-Luck Chicken] if I’ve had a bad race. In swimming, you have to pick yourself up. If you have one bad race, you’re gonna have all bad races unless you can turn your mindset around,” Murawski said. “She’s a reminder that you need to be focusing on what you’re doing. You need to turn your mindset around to make sure you’re doing the best things for yourself and not just getting in your head.”

Good-Luck chicken has also reminded Murawski that she has a whole support system by her side: both her team and her family.  

I have a training partner [for club swimming], and we keep each other’s splits. We make sure we’re showing up to practice. When someone is slacking we’re like, ‘you gotta speed up, you gotta do better.’ It’s kind of the same thing with high school [swimming],” Murawski said. “High school [swimming] is much more of a family because it is all about being a team and bonding, but there are still expectations. I swim in lane four, and my lane mates hold me accountable,” Murawski said.

Good-Luck chicken has taught Murawski how to make light of challenging situations.

“Seeing a chicken at a swim meet just makes you laugh. You remember that it is not that serious and, at the end of the day, you’re just playing a game,” Murawski said.