The Freestylers and Backstrokers arrive to swim their events. Stevie, Matt, Josh, Michael, Charles, Adam, being given a little pep talk by Chris with his hand on Daniel for demonstration purposes. Ian looking on. 
Pow-wow on the floor and a chance to sing Happy Birthday to Amber who turns 15 today! 
Coach Chris' pep talk...the swimmers really like and respect Chris. Matt is in the lower left corner. 
Line up time for warm-ups. Matt is in the center of the photo with no Carmel cap and for some strange reason, wearing a blue warm-up drag suit...sometimes it is best just not to ask where his cap and suit are...things have a way of being strewn about at these meets and everyone just grabs whatever they can and they sort it out later. The blue suit makes him easy to spot. 
The team cheer being led by Michael, Charles, and Josh (JJ)..."Don't mess with the best, cuz the best don't mess, Don't fool with the cool, cuz the cool don't fool..." Matt would be the bareback one trying to bring harmony in song where none has heretofore ever existed. Lots of fun to yell out the team cheer always. 
And, now, for the serious stuff. Matt getting ready to swim his 100 Backstroke. Coach's advice: "Get out there and MOVE. I better see you swimming like your life depended on it, because it just might. Your team needs the points, so get out there and score some. We need a Top 16 in this." Matt, seeded 38th out of 79 swimmers in this swim is thinking, "Sure, Chris, sure I can get you that Top 16 in this swim, no problem. NOT." So he swam like his life depended on it and guess what: Top 16!!! Can you even believe it? He is seeded 16th for the finals tonight: HE MADE FINALS in a ZONE meet. His time going in was 1:04.60 and he swam this morning at 1:01.68. Huge drop. Can you imagine how excited we are at this point? 
And, here is the happy swimmer looking up at me in the stands and shouting, "Mom, MOM, MOM...I am in the TOP 16 for finals...I can't do any worse than finishing 16th in this swim. I am so happy!" Needless to say, so am I! 
Mark had to miss it as he is up with Alex launching scout rockets, also very important work. And, as luck would have it, I had gotten prior permission from the Cool Dude to post his photo with his rocket yesterday as he was loading up at the school for the trip. This is one tall rocket...Alex is about 5'5" tall.
Now, back to Butler to pick up Matt from choir rehearsal and back down to the pool for FINALS!!! We can't do any worse than 16th in this event! What a deal!