While most students are still asleep, members of the SMU water ski team are already out on the lake. By sunrise, the boat is in the water, coffee is in hand and the first skier is getting ready to go.

“We practice very early in the morning… usually drivers wake up at like 5:30,” Water Ski Team President Jess Silverstein said.“We’re on the water by around 6:45, and the first skiers go at 7.”

Practices run several days a week and require balancing intense time commitments with classes and campus life. Skiers rotate through events like slalom and trick runs, squeezing in time on the water before heading back to campus for morning lectures.

But for many on the team, the early call times are worth it.

“It’s really like spending the morning with my favorite people,” Silverstein said.

For sophomore Nick Cusson, an electrical and computer engineering major from Tucson, Arizona, the team wasn’t even on his radar when he first arrived at SMU.

“I didn’t even know that collegiate water skiing existed,” Cusson said.

Growing up around water sports like wakeboarding and wakesurfing, Cusson said he was drawn in by both the sport and the people.

“What ultimately drew me to the team was my love for water sports and my desire to grow closer with friends already on the team,” Cusson said.

That sense of connection is something both members emphasized.

“I would describe the team culture as extremely positive, welcoming and supportive,” Cusson said. “The team is open to everyone, regardless of experience level.”

Unlike many competitive sports on campus, the water ski team offers multiple levels of involvement. Some members compete on the travel team, while others simply come out for the social aspect or to learn the sport for the first time. Silverstein said this accessibility is part of what makes the team so special.

“The barrier to entry is so low… we are welcoming to anyone and everyone who’s interested,” Silverstein said.

Beyond time on the lake, the team spends time together in ways that look a lot like your typical friend group. Going to concerts, cooking meals, country dancing and even holding weekly meetings where they eat together and catch up.

“It’s more than just a ski team,” Silverstein said.

Cusson agreed, saying the team has become central to his college experience.

“Every moment that I am not on the water, all I can think about is the next time I’ll get to be with the team,” Cusson said.

The team saw significant competitive success during the fall 2025 season, placing higher at regionals than ever before and earning national recognition.

“We placed sixth overall at regionals… the highest we’ve ever placed in school history,” Silverstein said.

But for many members, the wins aren’t the main focus.

“It’s not about the award,” Silverstein said. “It’s more about the conversations that happen around it.”

The team’s growth has extended beyond results on the water, with leaders focused on building recognition across campus.

“We’ve really improved in name recognition,” said captain Mila Oliva, a senior corporate communications and public affairs major. “A lot of people didn’t know about our team, so we’ve worked on getting our name out there and inviting new people into our community.”

That visibility has translated into success, with the team earning nominations at both the regional and national level.

“We were nominated for team of the year in our region and nationally, which was such an honor,” Oliva said. “We’ve really established ourselves as a legitimate team.”

Even with its competitive side, the team continues to emphasize community first.

Silverstein said the relationships built through early mornings and shared experiences are what truly define the team.

“Being together at five in the morning… You really get to go through life together,” Silverstein said.

Unlike many student organizations, Oliva said the team’s dynamic is shaped by the amount of time members spend together, both on and off the water.

“Because we’re a coed team, it really feels like a family,” she said. “We’re driving out to the lake together, going on road trips to tournaments and you get really close with people that way.”

That closeness carries into competition, creating a supportive environment where members focus on growth as much as results.

In collegiate water ski competitions, athletes compete in three events, slalom, trick and jump, with individual performances contributing to the team’s overall score. Teams travel to tournaments throughout the season to compete against other schools in the region, and placements are determined by combined results across all events.

“We’re constantly hitting personal bests and encouraging each other,” Oliva said.

As the team continues to grow, Silverstein said her main goal is to maintain the momentum the team has going.

“Just continuing what’s happening now,” Silverstein said. “The team has grown really far already.”

For students looking for something different on campus, the water ski team offers more than just a sport, but a place to belong. And for those willing to wake up before the sun, it might just become the highlight of their college experience.

“It’s really about stepping out of your comfort zone and finding something different,” Oliva said. “Your first few times are completely free, so anyone can come try it.”