Around the Senior State Pool: Day 3 - 100 Backstroke

      Another day at the pool.  Matt's big swim was today, the 100 Backstroke. 

       This morning he went in seeded 5th with a time of 1:01.63, swam it with a time of 1:02.92, and even made it back for finals in the top heat.  Photo at the right shows Matt and The Kevin side-by-side in this stretch.  He wasn't too pleased with the swim, but he rallied by the time he headed back to the pool for the evening session with the hopes that it would be just the extra determination he needed to see at least the 1:00.29 time he would need for a Junior National cut in that swim, which was his goal from the very beginning of this meet, well, really from the beginning of this long course season, actually.   

      During the finals, the top heat winners are led in for the final swim with much fanfare and a little parade...the photo above shows the 100 Backstroke entry with Matt in the first position in a light blue shirt (the team state shirt this year that reads:  Carmel Swim Club on the front and on the back:  No Themes, Just Dreams).  These little parades always give me goosebumps and bring tears to my eyes...we are just so proud of everything Matt has accomplished this year.  It is wonderful to get to watch him walk out like this.

      The photo to the left shares the heartbreak...I am sure you can all do the math and figure out the shoulder did not hold up, he lost concentration going into the wall and it messed up his turn offsetting his stroke.  He could not recover it in time to save the race. 

      These are times it is difficult being a parent...being supportive, but realistic, being encouraging, but not too much so that the child thinks you will be disappointed if the goal is not met...they really should have classes in this sort of thing.  I was hoping for being somewhere in the middle with all this support business.  So, this evening the swim came and went, and while we have visible proof via actual hardware, the 8th place finish was not quite what he had hoped for in the long run.  Places 1-8 in regular swims get to ascend the podium and receive a medal for their efforts, so here is a nice photo of Matt receiving his medal. 

      Going up the podium:  Matt, Andrew, Justin, Dillion, Zack, Geoff, Austin, and The Kevin taking the first spot.  These are boys Matt has been swimming with throughout the years.  It was just wonderful seeing them all up there together. 

      We are very proud of all that Matt has accomplished this year in swimming.  He far exceeded anything anyone thought possible for him as a 15 year old.  Tomorrow he will swim his last swim for state this year, the 200 Freestyle, and then he will have a chance to rest the shoulder, regroup a bit before he starts the short course season next month.  The great deal is that once you have a time, it's yours, you get to keep it and work from there, so he has two new best times in the 50 Free and the 100 Free, and he still has that very good time in the 100 Back...all great places to start for the new season.  While he has to relinquish the dream of Junior Nationals this year, the dream continues for next.

      Thanks for all your encouraging emails, calls, and messages...they were all very sweet and so kind of you to be so supportive.  Junior Nationals are every year...he'll be there next year!  And, in the meantime, we still have that 200 Free to swim tomorrow...go, Matt!