(Photo: Trophy Time...Matt is sitting on the podium, fourth from the left in his CHS warm up suit. Roch is first coach on left with Chris, the head coach, beside him.)
They did it...the CHS boys swimming and diving team won the State Championship on Saturday. I have the worst pictures imaginable because I was just too excited, nervous, distracted, etc. to take photos...fortunately there were photos from others and the professional ones to mark the occasion. Here's some of what I have, be kind. 
(Photo: 200 Freestyle race, Matt leading with Ethan not far behind and Daniel (Matt's good friend from CSC swimming who swims for Park Tudor) in third. A very exciting race right down to the touchpad. Most importantly for Matt, he managed to get in first against very tough competion!)
Matt had the allotted four swims, two individual (200 Freestyle and the 100 Freestyle), and two relays (200 Freestyle Relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay). He placed first in the 200 Freestyle...sorry, no photo of him on the podium, I was absolutely in awe that he won that race and got first, let alone have the presence of mind to get a photo of the occasion.
(Photo: 200 Freestyle race, Matt leading with Ethan not far behind and Daniel (Matt's good friend from CSC swimming who swims for Park Tudor) in third. A very exciting race right down to the touchpad. Most importantly for Matt, he managed to get in first against very tough competion!)
Matt had the allotted four swims, two individual (200 Freestyle and the 100 Freestyle), and two relays (200 Freestyle Relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay). He placed first in the 200 Freestyle...sorry, no photo of him on the podium, I was absolutely in awe that he won that race and got first, let alone have the presence of mind to get a photo of the occasion.
(Photo: For the finals, the top 8 get an escort to the starting blocks before they swim, Matt is fourth back and Jonathan is in this race as well further back.)
He placed third in the 100 Freestyle, which is just where he really was this year as he went into the weekend seeded fourth in that event, Harrison's goggle malfunction knocking him out of the first seed, and Nathan and Tyler really have pretty much owned that swim all year, although Matt did beat each of them prior to this, it finished right where it should have so he was happy with his swim.
(Photo: 400 Freestyle Relay, Matt swimming anchor and in to a big finish against the Munster team, a very tight race right to the end, sealing the deal of a CHS victory over Munster for the state title this year.)
The 200 Freestyle Relay finished second and the 400 Freestyle Relay, the last event of the meet, finished first. Happy Happy Boy, Happy Happy Team!
(Photo: It's a celebration...all swimmers and coaches in the pool!)
He placed third in the 100 Freestyle, which is just where he really was this year as he went into the weekend seeded fourth in that event, Harrison's goggle malfunction knocking him out of the first seed, and Nathan and Tyler really have pretty much owned that swim all year, although Matt did beat each of them prior to this, it finished right where it should have so he was happy with his swim.
(Photo: 400 Freestyle Relay, Matt swimming anchor and in to a big finish against the Munster team, a very tight race right to the end, sealing the deal of a CHS victory over Munster for the state title this year.)
The 200 Freestyle Relay finished second and the 400 Freestyle Relay, the last event of the meet, finished first. Happy Happy Boy, Happy Happy Team!
(Photo: It's a celebration...all swimmers and coaches in the pool!)
Tradition holds that at the end of the meet, the first place team and their coaches gather on the podium for a final jump into the water in a wave of celebration.
It was quite a weekend. Matt ended up with 2 firsts, a second, and a third and had scored the most points for his winning team. Not bad for a junior. What's next? State finals for USA in two weeks, followed by Sectionals for USA at the end of the month. Then I think we have a week off before long course training. I think.
