Still a whole lotta swimming going on over here...yesterday's results resulted in an embarrassing display of hardware by evening's end. 
Let's see...First in 200 Medley Relay and a Top 16 National Time (Matt, Mike, Harrison, John); Second in the 400 Freestyle Relay (another touch out ending but this time Munster's first place win) and a Top 16 National Time (Friday's first place relay was also a Top 16 National Time); 
Third in the 100 Backstroke (photo Matt in lane 3, making the Sign on the Cross, with Kevin Behrens beside him in lane 4...the FORCE in the water); Tied for 4th in the 50 Freestyle (with Harrison). Kevin Behrens is breaking records right and left out there...Matt has decided to swim his best and just let Kevin have at it...there is no way anyone can touch Kevin in the water, he is just amazing to watch. Matt and Harrison ended up tying in the 50 Free for 4th place and I thought neither one of them was going to be able to get out of the pool as they were laughing so hard when they saw the scoreboard with the exact same time. They were having a lot of fun with it...which is so great to see. Up on the podium, they both occupied the 4th step and were just dancing and enjoying the moment together. That's what it's all about...those team friendships that make everything so much fun. 
(Photos: Matt (Lane 2) and Harrison (Lane 1) before the start of the 50 Free; their scoreboard tie; Matt and Harrison sharing step 4 on the winner's podium)
Who is Harrison? Harrison is a friend of Matt's (they first met in first grade in the cub scouts) and the best way to describe Harrison is that he is the team party boy. Harrison always has a good time...and when Harrison is around, so does everyone else...he is just tons of fun. The week before state is usually supposed to be one of thinking about the swims, resting, eating healthy, attending practices and really listening and focusing, practices being shorter and fewer for taper. Taper? Taper to Harrison meant, "Hey guys, let's get the moms to take us all to King's Island since we don't have practice that afternoon!" Ian's comment: "Dang, Harrison, you aren't going to party all week...you are supposed to rest and let the rest of these guys rest, too." No King's Island. Monday was Cameron's birthday...everyone partied that night over at Cameron's house. Wednesday was Harrison's birthday...everyone partied that night over at Harrison's house. Harrison was on the move all week and everyone kept saying, "Harrison, you gotta rest up for the meet...this is STATE!" Harrison just laughed and all weekend long so far he has been blowing everyone out of the water...he is swimming like never before and we are laughing and saying..."Harrison's a star out there...who knew...." He's been pulling off relay finishes, accumulating all new best times, and partying down on the deck. Last spring at state Harrison managed to break his foot jumping off a bleacher seat and he swam anyway that day by not telling anyone he was hurt. It's hard to describe Harrison...he is very bright (straight A and a year ahead in school) and he plays Lacrosse and Hockey as well as swimming...it is a testimony to his swimming ability that he attends practice "when he can" and still swims circles around most of the team. Go, Harrison!
Ali took my camera down on deck yesterday so I had a lot of fun shots to view when I got home last night and I have to tell you, it is so much fun to give your camera to someone else once in awhile and let them shoot away...you end up with such diverse and fun photos...shots I never would have gotten, not to mention that the kids all pose differently for another kid than they do for an adult...their personalities come alive. The last photo is Ali with Matt's medal from the 100 Back as Matt was reporting for his next swim, putting Ali in charge of his medal. What a day! (As I am writing this and posting these veryoutoffocusphotos, Mark asked me, "Can I throw Didgy's manual away since he is no longer with us?" "What? Throw it away...no, no, no...he may return, someone may return him...maybe he is coming on the slow boat as we speak...don't throw it away yet!" Maybe when I figure out a new camera sitaution...in the meantime, we keep Didgio's manual, and these foggy photos will have to do...sigh.)