Okay, here are some fun photos (by request) taken at the Arizona Elite camp and meet last week. The first photo is Team Indiana, 12 boys, 14 girls, and the 4 coaches standing in the back. Matt is first on the right side in the first row. Lauren is second from the left side in the second row. Mike is the first one on the left side in the third row. (Those are our Carmel Swim Club swimmers that swam for Team Indiana.)
The second photo is of the pool at the Brophy in Phoenix. They loved swimming here with the mountains in the background, really fun for them to see that each day. The temperatures were record breaking for the days they were there, between 110-118 degrees. Matt said it was HOT. He said the pool stayed cool, however, as it has some sort of system of sprayers that constantly keeps the water moving so the surface does not heat up from the sun. The pool water was nice and cool the entire time they were there.
He didn't seem to think the rippling interfered with the swimming as it was "not like a wave pool or anything like that," and they shut the sprayers off during swim competitions. He was very interested in this whole set up.
While Team Indiana, boys and girls, brought home the trophy, I have not been able to locate a photo of the girls with the trophy, and so far, only this one of the boys with it...but please note that the girls had just as much to do with bringing that first place high points trophy home as did the boys. I played around a little with this trophy photo so that there was not quite as much skin showing...it was originally body length, so I will post it as this, which basically shows a bunch of shirtless swimmers and a good portion of the trophy. I know...you all wanted the full version, but my diligence says this shows the trophy and the boys enough to get the gist of it, Kevin wearing a drag suit over his Speedo brief, so that seemed okay. 12, you say...but there are only 11 in the photo...the 12th is Sam, who is taking the photo. Reading from First Row, left to right, are Addison, Alex, Ben, Tyler, Mike, and Raymond; Second Row, left to right, Blake, Cameron, Joe, and Matt. (Cameron was Matt's roommate. Mike had Tyler for a roommate.) In the Back Row, center is Kevin, yes, THE KEVIN himself, Matt's state swimming nemesis since they were very little, and the one who can swim circles around anyone else in the pool...you just stand back and watch with gaping mouth when he is in the water. (He and Matt are on friendly terms, so we say this with the utmost respect.) They all had a fantastic time and will be seeing each other again at upcoming meets, so that will be fun for them.
The coaches were great...the kids learned a lot and they also had a lot of fun. Here is one the bits of fun...each swimmer got a can of this to open on the day of his fastest swim. What is in this lovely little can? Fruit. The boys, of course, just thought this was the funniest thing going. Again...who can figure out guys and what makes them tick? Obviously the coaches figured it out as the boys really got a kick out of toting their can to the meet the day of their fastest swims and opening and eating it before they swam. Apparently there was just enough silliness to keep everyone happy without losing focus on the reason they were there...a good combination.
All in all, Matt had a wonderful time and brought home five new best swim times. Lauren and Mike were equally successful and the trophy just made it all that much sweeter. Now, onto the sectionals in July and another try at that elusive 100 Back Jr. Nat. time. Keep your fingers crossed!