Okay, here are my last photos from state, until I round up some from other parents who were there with (a) better cameras and (b) better camera operators. It is probably obvious who takes the photos around our place...and who doesn't, although he did do a fairly good job in Italy (despite losing Didgy, of course). All playful teasing aside, Mark was more focused on the actual viewing of the swim than the actual photographing of such and such. At any rate, here was Matt swimming at state in Lane 1 at the Nat in Indy in the 100 backstroke so you can feel like you were sorta kinda maybe there. He was seeded 21st out of 33, not bad at all for a freshman (or anyone for that matter), and he finished 20th out of 33...so he was a happy guy knowing that he didn't go down in seeding and that he gave it the best he could for this year, ailing shoulder and all. It was a great season.
And now what does a swimmer do that high school swimming is over? Well, let me tell you. This weekend in USA Short Course Divisionals, followed by next week Short Course Senior State USA swimming, followed by Short Course Senior USA Sectionals at the end of March. At that point we have a couple of weeks before embarking on Long Course USA swimming which winds up sometime in August. And then we do it all over again beginning in September for our tenth year! The fun never stops. We swim.
(In the foreground wearing blue shirts are Mike's parents, Sue and Ron. I thought I would point that out so that Ron can show off his "still great at almost 48" hair -- no balding pattern in sight, Ron! Mike is so going to appreciate those genetics one day!)