A Quality Finish

Chris DeZwaan pointed out to me a couple weeks ago. Swimming season has such an abrupt end. 16 weeks of hard work leads to one big meet, then . . . it's over.

But what a way to finish! Both of our championship meets, Conference and State, were great successes. Though we missed some goals this weekend, we hit far more than I would have expected and swam at a higher level than I could have imagined at the beginning of the season. Some great swims in relays. Our medley moved up 11 places and just missed the finals. Our 200 Free relay swam fast enough in prelims to put themselves in the HC top five all time (22.88 from Caleb . . . Huh??)  Our 400 Free relay swam 2 seconds faster than I thought they would (a time that most years would put them in the top 8, but not with this year's meet. Brad finished diving with a personal best and a score and rank higher than the last two divers that made it to finals as sophomores (Alex VanderBie-330.1/13th in '04 and Shane Lonergan-313.55/13th in '11). Levi made the finals in the Backstroke and improved from there. And Parker, though narrowly missing a state record, repeated and three-peated in the 200 and 500 and was honored with the Swimmer of the Meet recognition.

I couldn't ask for, or expect much more.

I am so proud to of this entire team. Even though there were only 7 competing at the State meet, it takes a seasons worth of work to get there and that work is not done in a vacuum.  Everyone contributes to the individual success of the others. I think swimming and diving are more comparable to life than most other sports. In life, it seems like our success and failures are the result of our own hard work or lack of it, much like our individual performance in the pool. In reality, the success we have in life is the result of all of the others, especially those most important others, that we do life with on a daily basis as well as the guidance of a God that shouts and cheers in our success as our biggest fan. Likewise, each individual performance in the pool or on the board this season is the result of the teammates that encourage us and the parents and friends that cheer us on. Sometimes, in our sport and in life, we don't want to hear what we need to hear, sometimes those friends and teammates (and maybe a coach) could encourage in a kinder, gentler way, sometimes we need those fans to cheer for us less and push us more, but all of it shapes us into being the best athlete, the best person we can be.


Thanks to ALL of you for making this a great season.

Todd

Final Top Times list

Final List with Relay Splits

State Splits

Banquet Night

Reminder that the Team Banquet is Monday, March 17 at 6:30.  We will meet in The Loft at Providence Church across from the Middle School. Karin Bol should be sending details on who should be taking what.