Grandma's Kitchen Table

Sunday's Snippets (A Little Late This Week...Oops)

READING:  The Reshaping of Everyday Life 1790-1840 by Jack Larkin.  This is a very good review of the material culture during America's early Republic days.  It reads fast, and even though you might have a good grasp on most of this if you read a lot of history, there was still a lot to learn.  Very enjoyable.

SWIMMING NEWS:  IU Men's Swimming and Diving swim meet this past week was the Big Ten Championships and was hosted/held at the IU pool in Bloomington.  IU came in second to Michigan's first this year...if you know anything about the conference, you know Michigan is hard to beat in Men's Swimming, they have a depth like no other Big Ten team and they are big and strong and fast and numerous and just keep coming at you.  We were very happy with second place.  Standing room only crowd on hand.

      The Wolverines totaled 899 points over the four-day event. Indiana finished second with 664 points and Ohio State was third with 470 points. Minnesota tallied 378 points, while Purdue compiled 328 points to round out the top five in the final team standings.  Wisconsin finished 6th with 277 points, Iowa finished 7th with 245 points, Penn State finished 8th with 212 points, Northwestern finished 9th with 161 points, and Michigan State finished 10th with 126 points.  Illinois and Nebraska do not have Men's Swimming and Diving teams, so in Men's Swimming and Diving at least, the Big Ten is still the Big Ten, meaning there are just ten teams participating.   

      Matt had a very good meet, he swam 50, 100, 200 Freestyles and the 800 Freestyle Relay.   He had a new best time in his 800 free relay leg, a new best time in his 200 Freestyle (finishing in the Top 16 and achieving a B cut for NCAAs), and in his 50 and 100 freestyles he had close to his best times.  His 800 Freestyle Relay broke the school's record and achieved an A cut for the NCAAs later this month.  Matt was awarded an All Big Ten Award for that relay swim (which he was really thrilled with).  His sophomore year ended on a great note.  (Of course he wanted to have new best times in everything, so that's the goal for next year.)  Here's a connect to the meet story from Day 1 from Day 2 from Day 3 from Day 4 and from there you can go to each day's Meet Results. 

      Here are some photos, not all that great because frankly it was very crowded/noisy/nuts and hard to get my camera out/focused/inline with anything remotely resembling a clear shot.

Coach Looze leading the men in the opening cheer.

Enthusiastic yells for the IU swimmers in the water winning the race, taking 1st and 2nd.

The 800 Freestyle Relay lining up to swim the first night of the meet. Eric in red cap ready to get on the block, Matt in black cap, Steve in white Indiana cap, and Jimmie in fourth position with a red cap.

Matt on the block and ready to swim his fastest leg ever in the 800 Freestyle Relay.

And, he's off, swimming as fast as he can trying to beat Michigan.
The school record-breaking Men's 800 Freestyle Relay:  Matt, Eric, Jimmie, and Steve.  Second place finish, enough for All-Big Ten Awards for all four of them (Matt and Eric are holding their awards.) 

Matt's Second Place medal for the 800 Freestyle Relay (Darn that Michigan...lol...first place was theirs!)

Sometimes when you aren't swimming, you have another important task for your teammates who are distance swimmers:  Lap Counter.  Matt putting the board in with the number of laps his teammate is on during the distance swims.  This requires a great deal of focus to be on the correct lap and can be taxing when you are upwards of 38 laps.  Especially if you are a sprinter and 8 laps only seems to be manageable without a counter.

There's always a bit of additional fun when someone you have known your whole life shows up as a student worker at the meet and is assigned to be a timer in the lane you are swimming in...Miss Molly O'Malia with a big smile (Molly is our Godchild and Molly's parents are Matt's Godparents).  They had a good time chatting and cheering...Molly being one of Matt's best cheerleaders always.

This year Mark and I were in charge of the Big Ten Goody Bags for the Men's Swimming and Diving teams.  I vaguely remember volunteering for this in the heat of the moment at last year's Big Tens. lol Anyway, this is the scene in our dining room the week before Big Tens...38 Swimmer/Diver bags, 6 Coach bags, 1 small Secretary Thank You bag, and 1 very large bag for the staff working the meet...all ready for assembly.
All assembled (except for Secretary and Staff bags).  Mark and I did it together and it was actually quite fun.
This was the main gift...a big swim towel individualized with each swimmer or diver's name on it.  The swimmers got Indiana Swimming on theirs and the divers got Indiana Diving on theirs.  The rest of the bag was filled with healthy (and some not so healthy) treats donated by the parents for inclusion in the bags.  Big Ten Goody Bag job, not such a bad deal at all.

COOKING BYTES:   Think I am down to blogging in just one group, Wednesday with Donna Hay, for the time being and then just venturing out on my own with various things as with The Swimmer away at college, we can't dispose of food as easily as has been the case in the past and I am finding that matching all the groups with what is needed/wanted here currently isn't working as well.  So, guess for the time being, my solution is to jump in the groups whenever I can make something work menu-wise, and sit out when I can't.  Except for WwDH, which I can always make fit in around here. 

FAV NEW FIND:  I try to keep this positive, but for this week I will say what my Favorite New Find WAS NOT:  the huge snowfall that appeared out of the west two days ago and dumped several inches of the white stuff covering everything and leaving no blade of grass (or my emerging crocus flowers) in sight.  Spring can't come soon enough.

FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  We were at the Big Tens this past week and it was just a wonderful time.  Although it was in Bloomington (about 72 miles away), we stayed the whole time and made the most of being in B-town.  Matt, Ian, and Steve were required to stay with the entire team at a hotel (so hometown swimmers don't have advantage of being in their own beds, etc.), so Matt offered his house for our lodging and it was great as they have a really nice little house on campus. He was very appreciative that I did all his laundry while I was there.  It was thrilling to watch all our IU swimmers and divers compete in the meet.  
WEEK IN REVIEW:  Not much going on except the Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships all week, if there were other things happening, I missed them all.

LOOKING FORWARD TO:   If you did not get to see IU Opera's production of Akhnaten when it was in Bloomington, you have another chance as it is guesting at the Indianapolis Opera venue here in Indianapolis at Clowes Hall for this weekend only.  Go see it...it is wonderful!  Historical in content (obviously), stage and sets are fantastic, performances top-notch. Read more about it here.  At the ISO:  Son Lux and Shara Worden, click here for details and Sunday a special Dance to the Music performance, click here for details.

Sunday's Snippets

READING:  Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph Ellis, won a Pulitzer Prize, features little-known historical facts involving 6 of our Revolutionary War figures (Adams, Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Washington).  Good read, a little over 300 pages and source notes.

SWIMMING NEWS:  IU swim meet this past Saturday at Louisville was a big success.  IU Men and Women prevailed over the Louisville Cardinals, so that was nice.  (There are few things the team likes better than besting Louisville at Louisville for Louisville's Senior Day, a bit of a rivalry there.)  Standing room only crowd on hand.  Matt had a very good meet, he swam 50, 100, 200 Frees and the 400 Free Relay.   Here's a connect to the meet story and from there you can go to Complete Results. 

Photo: Circling the Troops before the start of the swim meet in Louisville

Always the best seat on the bleachers is the one nearest the refreshments...Ian and Matt get prime position.

COOKING BYTES:   There is nothing better for Super Bowl Sunday than a great bowl of chili.  Just sayin'. 

FAV NEW FIND:  I think that groundhog predicted only 6 more weeks of winter.  I immediately started the countdown.

FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  Watching the swim meet at Louisville Friday night.  The weather was not great so we stayed the night and headed back early enough to catch the IU/Michigan game Saturday night.  Oh, yeah, those were two very nice wins.
WEEK IN REVIEW:  Working, Big Ten Basketball watching, and finally sorting through Vashie's things, putting some aside for another Tibbie someday, and gifting things around that could be used by others, a sad time.  I have to be the first to admit to not wanting to venture outside much, instead I would rather be snuggling in during these cold winter days/nights...reading books by the fire whenever possible seems justified.  

LOOKING FORWARD TO:   Better Hurry if you want to catch Nikon Small World, click here for details.  At the ISO:  The Best is Yet to Come: The Music of Frank Sinatra and More, click here for details.

Sunday's Snippets

   READING:  Lighting Out For the Territory:  How Samuel Clemens Headed West and Became Mark Twain.  This is a fun read, tells of the time that Mark Twain spent out west in the years of his early manhood.

SWIMMING NEWS:  IU swim meet this past Saturday was a big success.  IU Men prevailed over the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Ohio State Buckeyes, so that was nice.  Matt had a very good meet, he swam 50, 100, 200 Freestyles and the 400 Freestyle Relay.  If you would like to hear what the coach had to say about Matt, click here and listen to the little video.  Go, Matt!  Here are some photos from the meet.
Front Row:  Donovan, Ryan, Murray, Matt, Assistant Coach Ryan; Back Row:  Ian (side view walking), Nolan, Grayson, Daniel showing off the Candy Stripe Swim Trunks, and Seth lining up to cheer on their teammates swimming.
Photo:  Matt poised for action.
Photo:  Matt...off the block and into the race.
Photo:  CANDY STRIPE SWIM TRUNKS!! You've all surely heard about the IU Men's Basketball Team wearing the candy stripe warm up pants since the '70's, so this year the Men's Swimming and Diving Team now wear candy stripe swim trunks.  I love them...they are so much fun.  You might need to be a Hoosier fan to get this, but even if you aren't, what's not to love about these candy stripes?  Left to right:  Eric, Matt, Daniel, Jimmie (red cap), Tanner, and Michael (back to camera).
Photo:  Mike V (friend and former CSC teammate of Matt's) swims for the Hawks these days, so I managed one photo (above) of him walking across the bulkhead and one (below) after the meet where I caught up with Mike, his father, and his brother Jimmie.  Was so fun to see Mike swimming for Iowa!

COOKING BYTES:   Roasting cauliflower has become a passion, cannot believe how many ways one can use roasted cauliflower.

FAV NEW FIND:  Downton Abbey...I am way late to the party (as I am with all matters television), but my friends have all been talking about this for the past couple of years and I was feeling totally left out of the conversations, so I have borrowed the first two seasons and am busily catching up on all things DA.  I'm hooked.  

FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  IU swim meet and Men's Senior Day and Banquet.  I took my camera to the banquet...and promptly forgot to take any pictures.  Oops.  However, here is the poster announcing the meet and Senior Day from this weekend, and yes, the swimmer featured on the poster is Matt, so that was fun to see. 
WEEK IN REVIEW:  Besides working, I've been spending a lot of time sorting through things in the house to get ready for the big move later this year...I'm getting better at it as I go along.  I'm almost ready to sort through Vashie's things but not quite, maybe next week.  The silence in the house without the pitter patter of little puppy paws is deafening.   

LOOKING FORWARD TO:   At the Eiteljorg...National Geographic:  Greatest Photographs of the American West, click here for details.  At the ISO:  The "Organ" Symphony, click here for details.

Sunday's Snippets

 

READING:  Loaded up my library card with a new stack of books for a final "I'm on Vacation Plan" as school starts back up soon enough and gone are the days of swimming and reading and calling it vacation time.  My favorite book in the lineup being a book by Charles C. Mann 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus and am eager to get going on that as Mark has the follow up book by the same author 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Discovered and I'm in line for it next so I don't want to miss my shot at it.   

SWIMMING NEWS:  This weekend was the last of the long course season meets for Matt here in Indy at the Nat with USA Senior State.   He did well, posted some new best times, and swam a new swim for him with a fairly decent showing, the 400 Freestyle, which puts him the beginning of a mid-distance swimming addition to his lineup.  IU swimmers are now training tor the U.S. Open Swimming Championships (in Indianapolis August 7-11) or having a small break before gearing up for college swimming (short course) which starts back up August 11.  Matt is on break for this week and next. Will train this week yet, but next week taking a vacation...his first since April 2011. Some photos from the swim meet today.  First up, one of the guys hanging out waiting for their swims:  Top row:  Matt and Ian watching the action; Middle Row: Ryan listening to music to psych up for his 1500 Freestyle and Mike just relaxing; Bottom Row: Murray texting and Daniel concentrating.

Go Ryan! Lots of team encouragement for Ryan in the 1500 race...and Ryan wins.  (Left to right: Stephanie, Sara, Matt, Guinevere, Murray, and Coach L)

100 Freestyle race...Peter (fellow CSC swimmer all those years), Matt, Daniel, and Hunter.  Mike is further down the line in Lane 7.  Ready to race.
And they are off and racing...Peter in Red, Matt in White, Daniel in Red, and Hunter in Black
The Finish...very very close...a 3-way touch out finish with Matt getting caught between strokes and finishing third...Mike finished fourth, the IU guys showing 100 Freestyle Power. (Hunter was IU as well this past year.)  A very fun race for them all, and a great way to finish the meet.
And what they were all looking at in the above photo: the scoreboard.

COOKING BYTES:   Okay, I actually posted some things. Not nearly enough to meet group requirements, but some things.  The hot weather probably has something to do with wanting to fire up the grill and not the ovens and stove.  Probably.

FAV NEW FIND:  Every so often there comes about A Thing that makes me wonder how I ever lived without it.  This would be One of Those Things.  A new app for my phone called Meet Mobile.  I am absolutely giddy even typing it.  It has USA swim meets listed, you click on it, has each and every swimmer entered in the meet, has their rank, the psyche sheet, the times they are seeded, the time and event they swim, the times they post for swimming their entry, the rank going into finals, all the finals information, the meet information, even has a map on how to get there.  Times/locations/results for all the sessions.  You can mark your favorite swimmer and it alerts you as to when that swimmer is swimming and when his/her next swim will occur.  And you can get this for every single swimmer in the meet. At a touch of a button. You don't need to bring pen paper pencil, etc. ever again.  You don't need to write down your swimmer's time as it is right there seconds after the swim, and it even lists the splits!!  And it is FREE!  I have gazed upon the face of Agamemnon and this is it!  For a swim family, there is no greater gift...pure genius.

FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  Matt's swim meet, of course...swimming, it's what we do.  We just ended our 13th year...starting on the 14th now.
WEEK IN REVIEW:  A lot of swimming here at home because it has been dry and hot here and the pool is the best place to be in times like this.  Swim meet started Thursday so Matt came home to stay and motor between here and the meet venues in town and at the Nat.  It's great having Matt around as I have really missed him this year while he was at college, even though we got to see him a lot, it still isn't the same as having him live here and it all takes a bit of adjusting.  He will be around until August 11th so we are looking forward to having the time to just hang out and do fun summery vacation-like things before it's back to the team and college classes.

LOOKING FORWARD TO:   At the IMA, Printmakers in the Cafes in Paris (if you haven't seen it or want to see it again, go now as it leaves August 22), click here for details.  At the ISO:  40 Years of American Pie: An Evening with Don McClean, click here for details.

Sunday's Snippets

READING:  Abby's book group was reading People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, she thought I would enjoy the history bits in it and mentioned it to me, so I read through that, excellent, and then started on another book, March, by the same author,  again, excellent, and now the group is reading The Buddha in the Attic, by Julie Otsuka,  also excellent and I read that quickly in two days. (Click on book titles to see descriptions.)  Abby's book group is widening my reading horizons with novels.  

SWIMMING NEWS:  IU swimmers are busy training for various USA summer meets and quite frankly I have lost all track of who is swimming where when as they are all over the country and some out of the country swimming in meets.  Matt's roommate, Steve, did quite well at the Olympic Trials, as a freshman he finished 11th in the 400 IM, and Cody made the top heat of the 200 IM (finishing 7th overall), swimming with the top guns for a spot in the Olympics (only the top 2 in each swim go to the Olympics with the exception of freestyle relay positions, top 6). Cody managed to make additional national news with this little wardrobe malfunction, click here.  (From the insider's take on that little story, Cody needed a suit and James wasn't swimming in that event, so James did a quick deck change as well and handed over his suit for Cody to wear...of course the IU guys were all saying that it was James' new job at the meet to "cover Cody's a _ _, literally.") Nick is swimming in the Olympics for the Dominican Republic, Margaux is swimming in the Olympics for France, Dorina is swimming in the Olympics for Hungary, and Kate is swimming in the Olympics for the Ukraine, all having dual citizenship from their parents.  You can read about it here.  Lots of other swimmers did lots of other impressive swims, for further information check the News button here.
I love this photo of Matt's roommate, Steve (far right with the white cap) swimming at the Olympic Time Trials.  He did such a great job...11th as a freshman...wow, wow, wow. Congrats to Steve.

COOKING BYTES:   Well, well, well...it remains to be seen if I am going to keep posting to my food blogs as I keep thinking I will fire up but summer is busy and we are grilling and eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables so I'm not looking in the recipe books coming up with things new and different.  I am also cooking quite a bit from Pinterest as I'm using my boards there as recipe storage.  We shall see what transpires.  Hopefully my blog groups haven't given up on me completely.

FAV NEW FIND:  I'm finding that I am enjoying reading novels again after a long bout of not.  When the boys were growing up I found I had limited time for reading so my first choices were history books...still my first choices...but now that I have a bit more time for reading, I am adding novels back in again and enjoying reading new authors. Send me your recommendations!

FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  This week we celebrated some major milestone birthdays...Mark's dad turned 90 July 16th, Mark turns 60 on July 19th, and Matt will turn 20 the last day of the month.  Rolling over the "0"s this year.  Celebrating three great guys always a favorite thing.

MONTH IN REVIEW:  The summer has been speeding by with lots of swimming, a trip to Boston, Symphony on the Prairie is in full swing, lots of swimming here at the house, friends/family/fun. Here are a few photos to catch up...Clarice crashed and I had to get a new hard drive for her, so I am busy hunting to see which photos I have lost and which ones I haven't in that whole process.
Hightlight of Boston Trip for Mark was a trip to Fenway Park to watch the Boston Red Sox.
Matt and fellow IU swimmer Nick S, at Taste of Bloomington trying to decide on what to eat at the food festival...swimmers/food/choices, what's not to love on a summer night.
Alex and Matt at Fourth of July Symphony on the Prairie (no fireworks with the 1812 Overture this year due to dry conditions here in Indiana, but oh, well, music was great anyway).  17 years of tradition and they are still loving it.
Matt, Mark, Alex...badly in need of haircuts but enjoying a hot summer day nonetheless.
Matt loading up Clarice after the big crash.  It's good to have someone around who is happy to fix all computer related incidents.  I'm happy to cook for him, he's happy to computer for me, a great trade in my mind.

LOOKING FORWARD TO:   At the IMA, Snapshot:  Painters and Photography:  Bonnard to Vuillard, read about it here.  At the ISO:  The Best of Broadway, click here.

Sunday's Snippets

READING:  I would really like to know the answer to this as I have about ten things going at once and bits and pieces of other things I keep delving into.  This is not good...by next week I promise to whittle it all down to my standard four books going at once and pick my favorite one to post. I think I need more focus in my life at the moment.

(Photo: Matt at Panther Quarterback's locker while touring facility in Charlotte, NC.)
SWIMMING NEWS: IU swimmers headed out to Charlotte, NC for the Ultra Swim Grand Prix last week Thursday through Sunday, Matt's flight came in on Monday morning, he was tired but happy as he had a wonderful time in Charlotte at the meet.  The IU swimmers were all hosted by various families volunteering for such in Charlotte and Matt was super-excited about his host family, who he just loved.  The father in the family is a marketing executive for the Charlotte Panthers football team and he arranged for Matt to see the facility and the locker rooms, etc. during session breaks.  The family was just wonderful to Matt, very supportive...they went to his swim sessions and cheered and filmed him, which was so very nice since we were not able to be there.  He had great meals, rides to and from the pool and airport, wonderful accommodations at their beautiful home, and just a whole lot of extra fun besides enjoying the swim meet.  Here are some photos from all of that.
(Photo:  Matt and his host family at the Charlotte Grand Prix meet, "Best Host Family Ever.")
(Photo:  Student and Teacher:  Matt and IU Swim Coach L.)
(Photo:  Indiana! Where did my little guy go...look at those shoulders...a lot of changes from swimming this year.) 
COOKING BYTES:  My goal is to get back on the path to proper posting (this is for my benefit primarily as it keeps me interested in trying new things each week and gives Mark more of a variety...left to my own devices, soup and salad always look like viable options for every meal).  Back to committed food planning and blogging this week...I hope.
FAV NEW FIND:  I now know how to use a flash drive.  Keep your laughter to yourself...I was only tentatively moving into the 20th Century when they somehow switched it to the 21st. 
FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  Getting Matt and his roommates (Ian and Steve) settled into their rental house at college was definitely my favorite thing this past week.  It was fun to be a part of all of that and see them so happy with their choice.  Swimmers and dorms are not a good combination.  Swimmers sleep 10 p.m.-5 a.m., most dorm residents do not follow such hours of quiet and sleep, so the goal for the new place for the next three years for the boys, from their viewpoint, was to rent a house rather than an apartment so there would be no people above, below, or beside them who might quite possibly like to play loud music and be active for a good many of those hours between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.  The house they found is close to campus and pool and is quite comfortable.  It comes with three bedrooms and three off-street parking spots for the three roommates.  It has two bathrooms, a lovely kitchen with a counter that accommodates bar stools (especially good as they see no need for a kitchen table to "clutter things up"), a most generous sized living room, and a nice little porch out front for bikes and lawn chairs. Since so many have asked about this, and requested photos...here are some from move-in day (since Ian and Steve are not quite as compulsive as Matt about their rooms and closets, I didn't shoot photos of their rooms at this time).  So here's a bit of where Matt will call home these next three years.
(Photo: Steve, Matt, and Ian in front of the new digs in Hooville...home for the next three years.)
(Photo: Front door enters into entry and living room off to right side. Ian, Matt, Steve on move-in day, i.e. you have a couch each, a tv, a bedroom/bed each, and you are moved in. Girls might be slightly different in this regard.)
(Photo:  Kitchen on move-in day, all cabinets loaded, miscellaneous junk sitting around but basically doing great on neatness and organization through the whole moving process.)
(Photo:  Matt's bedroom...yes, it will probably always look this neat.  And please don't sit or put anything on the bed, he's not fond of that, just so you know. I have no idea where he got all these compulsive tendencies.)
(Photo:  Matt's bathroom...and yes, it will probably always look this neat and orderly. Again, I have no idea where he got that tendency.)
(Photo:  Matt's Closet...and yes, it will probably always look this neat and organized.  And again, I have absolutely no idea where he got these compulsively neat tendencies.)
WEEK IN REVIEW:  Spent a good deal of time in Hooville getting the boys settled, Mark's firm also moved offices after 40 years of being in the same place, so that was a lot for Mark to get his office packed up for the movers.  His new office has a lovely view of trees and greenery, something other than just downtown buildings and rooftops, so he is looking forward to that...the all-cement view from his former office not being his favorite by a long shot.  Too bad it didn't look out over a golf course!
LOOKING FORWARD TO:   There is an art "sculpture" exhibit in Bloomington (ends in October) which honors the human brain called Brain Extravaganza.  Sounds a little strange, but is rather fun as there are 22 brains located all over town and on the IU campus which detail/showcase different aspects of the brain.  Each has a little pedestal of written information describing that particular brain's focus.  I've seen half a dozen so far, but hope to get to them all before October.  Here's a photo of Matt with Brain #21 a couple of blocks from his house.
You can read (and see photos) about Brain Extravaganza and the brains here.  Nothing at the ISO this week...come on...this is Indianapolis and it's Race Weekend coming up, nothing else is going to attract more than a handful of fans.  It's May, It's Indy, It's The Race.

Sunday's Snippets

READING:  Still reading this as it is very long and I don't want to skim over any of it in a hurry.  I keep having to stop to look up locations of battles, and then get distracted by other accounts of same battles, etc.  -- Ulysses S. Grant's Ulysses S. Grant: Personal Memoirs.  Yes, the one that Mark Twain published all those many years ago.  It's a wonderful read, Grant is a very good writer and battle after battle is recounted in a manner that keeps one interested and moving through the pages quickly, as well as the more personal bits. 
SWIMMING NEWS:  IU swimmers in training for the Charlotte Grand Prix May 10-14th, their next stop on the competition circuit.  Not sure what Matt is swimming in that, possibility that they are adding more distance events to his freestyle lineup and resurrecting some of his backstroke events. 
COOKING BYTES:  Have I mentioned how much I love the return of grilling season?  I happen to be married to a man who is absolutely useless in the kitchen but absolutely a genius at the outdoor grill.  Very nice. 
FAV NEW FIND:  Matt finished his last final today, so we can now say that we have a sophomore at IU...where did that year go???
FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  Watching the IU swimmers compete this past weekend. Over the year I have come to know the swimmers, identify each one on sight, and even know some of them in the water by their swim styles/strokes...it feels like home again after watching the CSC swimmers all those years and knowing them all so well in and out of the water.   I didn't take a single photo all weekend...left all electronics at home to just unplug for a bit.
WEEK IN REVIEW:  Working every day last week made the week fly by, being gone all weekend for the swim meet made the weekend fly by...I can't remember a week that passed so quickly...but fun, all of it.  Weather has been so great...all the greenery and the flowers just make my heart sing every day.  Pacers Playoff game tonight...Mark and Matt headed there.
LOOKING FORWARD TO:   At the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site (House): Victorian Theatre By Candlelight's last weekend of Amusing Ambiguities.  Click here, still a few tickets left.  This is what's happening at the ISO this coming week:  Berlioz Requiem, click here for information.

Sunday's Snippets

READING:  Bits and pieces that I could cart about with me to Iowa, from my stack of things I set aside for just such occasions.
SWIMMING NEWS:  The Indiana University Women's Swimming and Diving Team won second place in the Big Ten Championships in Iowa City week before last, scoring 651 points, second only to Minnesota, scoring 680 points.  Great show by the girls' team, although they were a bit disappointed as they were hoping to recapture their 2011 Conference title...next year, girls...next year!  Here's a recap of the swims and stats, and as Coach says, "...on with the training for NCAAs coming up...."
Photo:  Guys waiting patiently on the sidelines for their swims. Front Row:  Daniel, Ian, Cody, and John; Back Row: Tony, Steve, Matt, Mike, Patrick (standing), and Ryan. 

      The Indiana University Men's Swimming and Diving Team won third place in the Big Ten Championships in Iowa City this past week, finishing only 3.5 points behind Ohio State, who finished second, the University of Michigan finished first.  Had it not been for a few mishaps during the meet, that second place crown would have been sitting securely and then some on the IU team.  Ah, well, next year...oh, yeah, next year they are going for the Big Crown...and it will be definitely feasible.  Go Hoosier men!  Our divers are terrific, and while the swimming and diving teams practice separately, they come together at meets for a combined effort.  Very few times have I seen the swimmers line up and watch their divers at a meet...except for IU...Coach RL has all the swimmers line up and watch and cheer for our divers, beginning to end...a very classy thing to do in my opinion.
      Matt had a wonderful meet, he took of big chunks of time on all three of his swims, so he was feeling pretty good about all that all four days.
Photo:  Doesn't hurt to have a little extra help as you step to the block for the race...Matt always makes the Sign of the Cross before mounting the block...at one meet a swimmer we have known through the years from another team came up to me and asked me why Matt always did that little "voodoo good luck thing."  I explained that Matt was Catholic and he was making the Sign of the Cross and saying a short prayer for a good swim.  The swimmer turned to me and said, "I'm gonna try that as Matt has beaten me every swim I have ever swam with him, it must be good luck and it must work!" 
Photo:  Stepping up to the block in all seriousness before the 200 Freestyle...result:  he took off 3.5 seconds, got a new best time, and a B cut for NCAAs. 

      Here are results and various links to other bits of press coverage, here, and  here, and here and here, and here and here and here.  You can click on the little "Results" tab on each day's recap to see the heat sheets and results for all the swims.  All in all, a really good freshman year for Matt.  What's next...training begins immediately for Olympic Trials in June.  There's always something! 
COOKING BYTES:  I have cooked/baked almost nothing in almost two weeks...between being ill and being gone...nada on the baking/cooking. Very unusual.  Hope to change that this week...I am certain Mark is hoping that as well. 
FAV NEW FIND:  One of the reasons Matt chose to go to IU to swim for college was that he loved the feel of the IU Men's Swimming and Diving Team. They were welcoming, fun to be around, encouraging, and made no secret of wanting Matt to join the team.  Recruiting is one thing...anyone can say anything to get someone to want to be in their program.  This year Matt learned first-hand that IU was true to every single thing they represented on recruiting trips.  He had the opportunities to swim, improve, compete, and challenge himself that he wanted.  He had a respected place on the team.  He had a good relationship with each and every coach, respecting them and they in turn respecting him as well.  He had teammates who were good and honest and kind and encouraging.  He had upperclassmen teammates who gave generously since the first week...generously with their time and commitment to helping the freshmen succeed as fast as possible.  The coaches and upperclassmen have included the freshmen swimmers every step of the way.  The upperclassmen took the newbies under their wings and carted them around (they don't have cars their freshman year on campus), they invited them to their places for video games and ball game watching and meals and pretty much just any time the guys wanted to get away from the dorms and just hang out.  When the college buildings were closed for breaks, the upperclassmen let the freshman dorm guys bunk at their places so their parents wouldn't have to pay huge hotel bills for them.  They have been most generous with their friendship and guiding the new guys through the rigors of the swim program as well as the academic programs.  What a deal for them and what a deal for us as parents who have been able to say, "Child okay at school socially, academically, and swimming-wise: CHECK."  Indeed, a favorite find.
Photo:  Coach RL is one very wonderful coach, no one disputes that at all.  He is also one very wonderful person.  Each time his swimmer finishes a swim, he walks over to the lane they swam in, shakes the swimmer's hand, gives him a cup of Gatorade, and walks him back to the bench chatting about the swim.  This seemingly little gesture, means a lot to the guys...a sign of respect and honor to have your coach treat you so well in front of thousands of people and swimmers.  Very nice. 
FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  Going to Iowa for the Big Ten Championships for Men's Swimming and Diving.  I had hoped to go early, but was still ill and ended up heading out of town on Wednesday, the day the meet started, so basically it was mostly a "working" trip as with two long sessions of swimming each day, there wasn't a whole lot of time for extra curricular activities.  It was fun just being back in Iowa City and running around on all the favorite streets...so much has changed, and so much has stayed the same.  We had a wonderful time.   One of our favorite things was getting to spend some time catching up with this guy!
Photo:  Mike and Matt...old teammates and friends at CHS...with their new college teams at Big Tens.  Sorry for the poor quality of the photo...it was a dimly lit restaurant and my phone camera is dying a slow and painful death. 

      Mike goes to U of Iowa and swims for the Hawks, so it was fun to see him on his new "home turf" and just really nice to sit down to dinner with him and hear about his life at Iowa now.  
WEEK IN REVIEW:  Trip to Iowa was great...45 degrees on one day, in the 30s the other days, one day a skiff of snow...this is not the Iowa I remember from my youth, but there were no complaints.  I'd like to say how well-rounded my week was, but frankly, almost all of my time was spent watching the Big Ten Championship swim meet.  And, yes, that was a lot of fun for us...many swimmers on the other teams are kids we have known throughout the years through swimming.
Photo:  Swimmers would line up by their bench and start a cheer for the parents to echo back, or we would start one for the swimmers to echo back...we had a great time cheering for the guys and they loved every cheer, crazy or not, that the parents put out there for them.  So proud of all of them...a great group of guys.  Left to right:  Steve, James, Daniel, Matt, Patrick, Mike, and Ian.
LOOKING FORWARD TO:   Heartland Art - Selections from Your Indiana Collection opened at the Indiana State Museum in October, here's a little preview to entice you.  It features 140 years of Indiana art created by Indiana natives. This is what's happening at the ISO this coming week:  Copland's Appalachian Spring concert, click here.

Sunday's Snippets

(1st photo:  From the sidelines cheering on the team, Ian and Matt are on either side of the gray hooded swimmer.)

(2nd photo: The final Victory Cheer after winning the meet, both boys and girls were victorious...Matt is center toward the back but facing camera with a bare chest...he's tall so one can easily find him most of the time.)

READING:  Tackling my stack of bits and pieces I've marked and set aside to read.  It was growing deep.
SWIMMING NEWS:  Before I get to this week, let me just say that Steve was selected as Big Ten Freshman of the Week the week before, so here's the info on all that, congrats to Steve! The swim meet this weekend was finally a home meet...the guys had not had a home meet since October, so we were very happy to be able to cheer from the sidelines in our home pool...against Purdue.  For the first time, BTN aired a live dual meet, so that was exciting as well.  Lots of huge cameras, etc., and they break for commercials, interesting at a swim meet. We watched it when we got home and it was fun seeing them all on camera swimming, etc.  It was also senior recognition day with the banquet at night, so that was a bit of extra fun as well...we stayed the night as Boomington was iced over from the time we hit town until the time we left the next day, which made for some interesting navigational issues, both in the car and on foot.  Matt's times were okay, he did get to swim on the A Relay again (and he had the fastest time of the four guys swimming it, so that was a good high note for him).  It was just a very enjoyable time with the meet and getting to spend time with Matt and his friends at the banquet.  Here's the recap of the racing.  Matt swam the 50 Freestyle (7th place), 100 Freestyle (6th place), 200 Freestyle (6th place) and the second position in the 400 Free A Relay.  Not all the results are posted there, but you can find them here.  He's doing nicely for his freshman year.
(Photo:  Ian, Steve, Tyler (one of the seniors), and Matt at the Senior Recognition Banquet Saturday night.)
COOKING BYTES:  Determined to finish that Bread Baker's Apprentice book, I think I have maybe half a dozen to go yet. 
FAV NEW FIND:  Last week was final bid week for the sororities so it was fun finding out where all Matt's friends and the GCHS friends pledged.  IU Swimmers aren't allowed to pledge fraternities or sororities so Matt wasn't involved in any of that...just as well, he has enough going on with the swimming and school. 
FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  The swim meet and getting to spend a couple of days in Hooville. 
WEEK IN REVIEW:  We went from lovely temperatures to horribly cold ones, not my favorite thing, but now there is promise of other bearable ones on the horizon and for that I am rejoicing.  How far off is spring?  It was a good week to stay inside and read in front of the fire after work. 
LOOKING FORWARD TO:  At the Eiteljorg, a film series called The Urban Indian:  click here for the schedule for the remaining ones.  This is what's happening at the ISO this coming week: Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, here is the calendar for it. 

Sunday's Snippets

READING:  I didn't quite make it to the library last week to get books by James Fenimore Cooper as the weather was a bit nasty and I contented myself with a new book that was already here...well, new to me, not new as in copyright date as that is 2009...the book is The Big Burn by Timothy Egan.   I happen to be on a late 19th/early 20th Century kick at the moment so this one fit in nicely...about a huge fire out of control in the summer of 1910 in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.  Lots of excitement and people like Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot popping up constantly and the movement for public conservation in the nation with national parks, etc., what's not to love about that?  JFC will need to wait...maybe this is why I have never read JFC before:  I get distracted easily with historical bits.
SWIMMING NEWS:  Matt and the team had no swim meet this past week, which might be good as the boy has had a cold which has been hanging on for a bit too long, so a week of not having a competition meet might have been nicely timed for him.  As of today, he says he is on the mend and almost over it all.  Just in time for the IU/Purdue meet this weekend.  Fingers crossed.
COOKING BYTES:  Caught up a bit last week for the blog-along groups, doing more of it again this week, maybe soon I will feel like I am where I am supposed to be with the rest of the group...although, truth be told, most of the groups are all over the place with where they are in keeping up each week, so I'm actually doing pretty good.   With the exception of the Flavors group, that one may have to be a just read-along participation at this point.  Sigh.
FAV NEW FIND:  Lately my favorite new finds have been people-related instead of material-things-related.  Just as well actually.  This week I came in possession of a photo that just warmed my heart...it's a photo of Daniel's mother and Matt at the Yuletide concert over Christmas break.
It's my favorite new find as in all the years of Matt and Daniel's friendship, I don't think I have a photo of Matt and Kathy like this and Kathy is just such a big part of Matt's swimming years, always so encouraging and always bringing her mother along to the meets to help in that endeavor for the CSC kids...the swimmers always knew they could look up in the stands and get a big smile and thumbs-up from Grandma and Kathy no matter what their time or placing was in the event. Kathy got Matt out to California for Nationals this past year and made sure he got to celebrate his birthday with a nice birthday dinner and little cake with a candle in it since he was away from home that day.  She's just that thoughtful always.  It's a very good photo of the two of them, Kathy as lovely as always and Matt as happy to be included always with Kathy's great plans for the boys over the years.  Kathy is one of those moms who is always looking for ways to brighten the lives of everyone around her and Matt and his CSC swimming buddies have benefited greatly from those ways over the years with invitations to concerts, meals, various house invasions for food, games, movies, hanging out, and trips to their lake house for boating weekends.  Over Christmas break she had all the college swimmers over for breakfast after swim practice on the day before they all had to leave to go back to their schools. Fun times, a fun photo for me to have for Matt's scrapbook. (Below is a photo of the Christmas break breakfast at Kathy's house, this was the dining room group, there was a whole other group eating in the kitchen...unfortunately I only have a photo from the group Matt was sitting with: hint to you swimmers out there who were in that other group, send me a photo of you all for the scrapbook!)
 
FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  It was a great weekend for watching Big Ten Basketball.  Okay, I know those Hoosiers did not win either of their games this week, and we were a bit disappointed, of course, as that removes us from the top ten in the national rankings, but one was a road game no one thought they would win and every team has growing pains...no one ever thought we would be as far as we are this year, so this didn't particularly devastate anyone.  There were some great games and wonderful surprise endings to a lot of games this week...which is what makes it all terribly exciting.  When it is cold and snowy outside there is always NCAA Basketball to keep one warm and happy. 
WEEK IN REVIEW:  This was a very slow week in printable news around here...a nice week, but nothing particularly noteworthy at all.  Mark and Alex went up to Grandma and Grandpa's to make sure they had everything they needed, help with a few household chores, salt the driveway for them, and have a nice little visit on Sunday.  The guy-time portion of the visit, i.e. ride to and from, went reasonably well, giving them some time to chat together.
LOOKING FORWARD TO:  Checking this out because it leaves in February:  Flow: Can you see the river?  It all looks so different in the winter! (click here) at the IMA.  This is what's happening at the ISO this coming week: Mozart, Symphony No. 40, here is the calendar for it. 

Sunday's Snippets

 

READING:  Continuing with Paris from 1872, not one certain book, just a variety of history books and sources.

 
Photos:  I did not get a lot of swimming photos this weekend, so you get an in-the-water shot, a waiting-for-the-meet-to-begin shot, a line-up-cheering-the-team-on-shot, a line-up-to-swim shot, and a scoreboard shot.
Photo:  Matt in the middle of the back row watching the Texas and Michigan swimmers warm up and thinking, "Man, those guys are BIG and FAST!" 

SWIMMING NEWS:  The IU/Texas/Michigan three-way meet in Ann Arbor this past weekend was a little disappointing for the Hoos...at least from the guys/coaches standpoint, I thought it was wonderful watching them swim.
Photo:  IU swimmers watching from the sidelines, Matt second from the left.

Since Texas was the National champ in Men's Swimming last year, and Michigan the Big Ten champ in Men's Swimming last year, we got to see some very fast swimming and our guys got to see firsthand what they need for inspiration for the coming year.  Matt did a nice job on his swims and enjoyed swimming in the U of M pool, which is both a nice place to watch and a nice place to swim.
Photo:  Matt lining up for the 100 Freestyle.  He did really well, close to his personal best time in that event, but I think the realization has set in that being a freshman means setting new goals that are faster than he had imagined he would need to be this early in his college career, probably a good thing to get that in mind right now from the beginning...those Michigan and Texas guys are FAST!  He will get there, and it will be fun to watch it progress!  Go, Matt!
The IU divers took first place at the meet, so they were happy about that, as were the rest of us.   
COOKING BYTES:  Those persimmons are still sitting on my counter in a state of firmness after two weeks that has me perplexed.  I am uncertain whether to keep waiting...they appear to be neither getting softer or rotting after all this time...or whether to just cut into them, use them as they sit, and see what happens.  Persimmons are confusing little things.
FAV NEW FIND:  The swim meet this past weekend was just the men's team...the women's team competed the week before...so in the stands for the Hoos were just the guy parents and that made it very easy for us to chat with everyone and figure out who is who and who belongs to whom on the team.  After swimming with CSC for 12 years, and pretty much knowing all the parents and swimmers within a certain age range of our swimmer, it is a new experience to get to know college swimmers and their parents.  We had a very nice time chatting and learning about it all.  Parents of the older swimmers are very helpful with all their tips and advice, a very nice deal.
FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  The Trick-or-Treating brought Cindy's grandkids down our street in their festive costumes:  Stella (puppy), Grace (Ariel), and Jack (Spiderman).
It doesn't seem that long ago that Cindy and I were dressing up the moms of these little ones and then in turn, Matt, Alex, Andrew, and Molly.
Photo:  Molly the Princess, Alex and Matt as Knights, Andrew as Batman (ages 4-5) at the time.  Where did those years go so quickly?? Matt was a Hawaiian guy for a Halloween party the swimmers at IU threw this year...photo at right with one of the girl swimmers, Ashley, not a date, just happened to be best photo of him.  
WEEK IN REVIEW:  This is the first year in I don't know when that we did not carve jack-o-lanterns...a bit disappointing, so will need to correct that next year.  The week went fast with working and then leaving early Friday morning for Ann Arbor for the IU swim meet.  Three days in Ann Arbor was a nice time...swim meet Friday night and Saturday afternoon, touring the U of M campus (really lovely with the colored leaves and gorgeous weather and beauty of the campus buildings, etc.), enjoying some great food here and here.  Sunday morning we got up early and headed to the Henry Ford Museum, but only had a few hours so Mark's choice was to do the Greenfield Village part as it was a lovely day for walking and being outside and touring from exhibit house/shop/buildings.  He was most excited about the building where the Wright Brothers built their first plane, but all of it was wonderful.   When Mark says he will return to a place again, you know it was worth it.  Since we will be in Ann Arbor again for swimming, this is probably a definite repeat in the next few years, as is the main museum which we hope to do when the weather dictates a more enclosed atmosphere in January.
LOOKING FORWARD TO:  Checking out the Frogs exhibit here.  This is what's happening at the ISO this coming week:

 

• Anton Webern (1883-1945) audio preview  
  Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind)
• Richard Strauss (1864-1949) audio preview  
  Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life)

PRAYING FOR:  People searching for jobs, it's a particularly hard time of year to go into the season without a job, please join me.

 

Sunday's Snippets

READING:  Various sources on the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and the end of the Second Empire in France.

SWIMMING NEWS: Friday we left for Tennessee to attend Matt's first college swimming competition meet at the University of Tennessee, a 3-way meet between IU/Tennessee/Kentucky.  The meet was Saturday and we stayed an extra day, driving back Sunday. The IU boys beat both Tennessee and Kentucky while the girls beat Kentucky but fell to the Tennessee Lady Vols.
Photo: Matt swimming the backstroke at a meet for the first time in about a year and a half...he did well with a nice finish time.  Watching Matt swim was so much fun, he did really well, no new best times yet as it is early in the season, but he was very close to his best times, so that was encouraging and he was chosen to swim on the A relay, so he was very happy about that, a great deal for a freshman.
Photo:  Matt in white cap with red "Indiana" in lane 5. 100 Freestyle, Matt finished first in heat 1 of 2...was so much fun to see his name up on the board with that "IU" affiliation and that number 1 finish...let's hope we keep seeing a lot of that through the years!
He swam the 50 Free, 100 Free, 100 Back, and on the 200 Free A Relay.
Photo:  IU guys getting fired up, Matt is at the top.  Coach Mike at the left, Coach Loos at the right in the white shirt, Coach Donny seated.  Matt really likes all his coaches, which is terribly nice to hear as a parent!

Photo:  Matt seated in red towel...just in case you thought I was kidding last week about how much his body has changed with the weight lifting...look at those shoulders...he did not have those two months ago!

Here's the connect for the college swimming site with the article about the meet, girls at the top (Lauren did a great job but I unfortunately did not get a good photo...next time!), boys further down in the page, and Matt's name is mentioned four times, so that is fun.  

Photo right:  Matt and Ian (Ian is Matt's roommate)

Anyway, we all had a great time and Ian made the travel squad as well so we enjoyed sitting with Ian's parents at the meet and getting to know them better.  The Tennessee pool is just a few years old and it is gorgeous, a wonderful place to watch swimming. 
COOKING BYTES: I still cannot find fresh persimmons at the market.  They are fast becoming the most elusive thing to locate and I am going to need them soon for the Thanksgiving round-up post the Twitter pals are participating in.  The search continues.  Where are these things hiding out?  Anyone?  I am figuring they were/are in season as Mitchell, IN had their big persimmon festival a few weeks ago, surely they were ripe by then, right?  It's a mystery.
FAV NEW FIND:  Nick Malgieri's The Modern Baker:  Time-Saving Techniques for Breads, Tarts, Pies, Cakes, and Cookies cookbook has been reissued and is now out in very nice paperback book with beautiful photos.  This is a wonderful book of recipes and I was so happy to hear that it is available again for order.  You might want to put this on your Christmas list as the recipes are delicious, well-written, and, best of all, you get successful results on the first try, so here's a connect for you, nice and handy, click here.
FAV THIS PAST WEEK:  Going to Tennessee was very nice.  The drive was lovely with all the changing leaf colors and the beauty of the mountains of eastern Tennessee.  We had terrific weather all three days.
WEEK IN REVIEW:  The week went really fast with work, getting ready for the trip, driving to Tennessee, etc.  All fun.  The Hawks beat the Hoos in football in IC, no surprise.  It's a win/win when one is a HooHawk fan...I like either team to win...this does not, however, hold true when it is basketball season...I'm Hoo all the way then, except when Hawks are playing the Boilermakers, then I'm definitely on the Hawk side of the blacks and golds.  Big Ten Basketball season cannot get here fast enough. 
LOOKING FORWARD TO:  Checking out this Heartland exhibit at the ISM.  This is what's happening at the ISO this coming week: Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony.   
PRAYING FOR:  Stuart, a 16 year old boy at GCHS battling cancer for the past 17 months, please join me.

Sunday's Snippets

 

       READING:  Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland. There is a bit of a dreamer in me for all things historical, something magical happens when I read history or things of the past:  it transports me to another place, another time, another world.  I usually prefer reading factual (non-fiction) accounts of history as I enjoy the reality of it all. 

      Sometimes a book comes along that sounds intriguing that isn't non-fiction and I delve in with great enthusiasm, knowing that it will drive me insane with the inaccuracies and freedom of artistic expression that often happen with such books, but am sometimes willing to put up with all of that if the story line is well done.   Nicole was reading this book for her book club and while she wasn't actually enthusiastic in her endorsement, it intrigued me and I went to the library in search of this author. 

      I first read Vreeland's Girl in Hyacinth Blue which is rather fun as it traces a painting through its owners throughout the years from the 1600s to present, how the painting began, how it was sold/traded/acquired by the various owners, what it meant to them, etc.  Totally fictional, totally fun for me, so onward I headed to Luncheon of the Boating Party which fictionalizes the painting of that title by Auguste Renoir.
       It fictionalizes the artist, the people in the painting, and the time period in France.  Again, absolutely delightful. A good author to visit before I head back into more serious reading.

LISTENING TO:  The Indpls Sym Orch was performing Elton John and Billy Joel tunes this weekend, so certainly it is my duty to carry this over around here for a week, don't you think?  Good, I think so, too.
SWIMMING NEWS:  Matt went to Nationals (that's him left in the middle diving in for the start of the 4x100 Freestyle Relay and he and Daniel in photo below watching Harrison swim his leg of the relay)  out in California and had a great time, no real new gains in swim times.  There reaches a point in every season when that's all that season will net for a swimmer, so looking back in total, there were some great moments, new best times, and a lot of fun, all that one can ask.  

      Speaking of "all that one can ask," here's another photo of the 4x100 Freestyle Relay team at Nationals, again, Harrison is in the water swimming his leg of it.  The guy adjusting his swim cap is the person who makes it possible for the boys to have a National entry in this relay, Coach Chris.  Since CSC did not have four boys able to qualify in the last couple of years, Coach Chris (who happens to be 36 and definitely able to keep up with these 18/19 year olds) trained and was able to qualify with his times to swim so that the boys could have a fourth man for the National relay.  Not sure how many coaches would do that for their team, but we are awfully happy that this one does.  It started last winter at Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, and who knows how long it will continue!  It's been a great ride for the boys to have Chris swimming with them.

      Now they have two weeks off from formal swim practice, a time I like to characterize as "when Mermaids and Mermen grow legs and feet and traverse the earth for a bit before returning to their watery world."  Next up:  college swimming for IU!

COOKING BYTES:  Rebecca and I are having Pickle Up Weekend this weekend...she mentioned on Twitter that she was going to make pickles, I had seen a couple of recipes here and here and am a huge pickle fan, so I decided to join in and she sent me a recipe she was going to use as well.  Since I haven't a clue how to do processing/canning, I made refrigerator pickles that don't require that.  I might get around to posting them this week.

FAV NEW FIND:  I found an interesting little melon at the market today, something called a Lemon Melon.  It's rather smallish, smaller than a cantaloupe.  It is cantaloupe colored on the outside and light green on the inside, sort of a honeydew color but doesn't taste like a honeydew melon.   It tastes like citrus (lemon), hard to describe, but very lovely.  Just perfect for a lemon-lover like me!

FAV THING THIS WEEK:  It's been rather fun having Matt around to enjoy these summer days before he heads off to college...no practices or real commitments when he returned from California, just so nice to have him hanging around doing silly kid-like things like making smiley faces on his burger bun with the ketsup bottle...it's the little things I'm going to miss the most.  

WEEK IN REVIEW:  Mark and I did great with Empty Nest practice...we were married 14 years before the boys came along, so I guess we have that part down pretty good actually, so maybe it will all be fine and I will adjust quicker than I imagine.  Maybe. 

PRAYING FOR:  Bill and Jim, two great guys whose gals are depending on them to recover quickly.  I know I mentioned this last week, but keep praying, we have a ways to go yet.

 

CSC Annual Awards Banquet

      Each year our swim club has an awards banquet this time of year.  All the families are invited and the swimmers all get a chance to win awards and be recognized for various accomplishments throughout the year, both long course and short course seasons. 

      This was our last banquet...after 12 years, our very last one.  I only cried a little.  I had big plans to get all sorts of photos of everyone and wanted to make sure to capture the moments one last time.  "Had" being the operative word as one of us left the camera on all night, did not notice it until we got to the banquet and had a mere whisper of battery life left so I only have a few photos and I will need to go begging for photos other parents took today.  Here's what I do have...our yearly photo of Matt and Ali:
Our yearly photo of Buddy, Ali, and Laurie...Ali is heading out to Boston University for college next year so Buddy is going to need to head down to IU to watch Matt swim if he wants to continue to cheer for the other half of his favorite swimmers, i.e. Ali is not going to swim in college.
I tried to round up as many of the seniors as I could, but still missed a few key ones...the ones I managed to snag:  Lauren (going to IU next year), Kiernan (going to Xavier next year), Elizabeth (going to Dennison next year), Matt (going to IU next year), Rhiannon (going to Purdue next year), Devon (going to IU next year but not swimming in college), and John (going to the Naval Academy next year).
And, before the battery died, one quick shot of Matt on the podium giving an inspirational talk to the club about all that swimming has meant to him over the years...the bottom line:  "Was it all worth it?  Oh, yeah, it was definitely all worth it!"  We agree, we have gotten way more out of swimming than we ever dreamed possible.  That first year my thoughts were running something like this:  "Great, we have an activity that will allow them to be safe around water, gives them a nice little practice/workout, and they are clean afterward!" It's turned out to be a whole lot more, yes, it has.

They Did It! State Champs 2011

      The 2011 High School Boys Swimming and Diving Champions - Carmel High School with the Trophy (Matt is top left holding the trophy).

      They did it!  The Carmel High School Boys Swimming and Diving Team won the state swimming championship on Saturday.  

      The kid did well.  Matt got first in the 200 Freestyle, a repeat performance from last year, second in the 100 Freestyle (first in that went to one of his best friends, Harrison), a step up from last year when he finished third in that swim, second in the 200 Freestyle Relay, a repeat performance from last year, and first in the 400 Freestyle Relay, another repeat performance from last year. 

      What a day!  Very very happy boy, team, coaches, and parents.  So proud of each and every single one of these boys who have worked so hard to win this trophy and title...what a way to end the high school swimming years.  Time now for next year's team to step up and carry on the winning streak!  Go Greyhounds! 

CHS Boys State Team - Pre-State Dinner

Photo: (from left around the table) Mark, Max, Vic, John, Mark, Michael, Mitch, Kiernan, Matt, Nate, Mike, Jonathan, Roma, Oneil, Jack, Elliot, and Clayon (Cameron was not able to make it)

      The weeks leading up to swimming sectionals and swimming state find the boys enjoying various activities, meals, and fun times together, each milestone marked with a dwindling number of swimmers as they swim their way toward cut times, some making the cuts while some will try again in the coming years. 

      There are 18 out of the 55 boys going to state with individual swims and/or relay times. Tonight they met to eat a pre-state dinner and to hear encouraging words from one another and the coaches.  As the moms brought in contributions for the dinners, 4 very large lasagnas, three huge salads, 4 large loaves of garlic bread, 2 dozen yeast rolls, cheese, crackers, milk, chocolate milk, apple juice, water bottles, three angel food cakes, a huge container of strawberries, whipped cream, sherbet....I was thinking, "this is a whole lot of food."  How much was left?  I think Matt said maybe one or two slices of cake.  These boys can eat after a practice! 

      Two more days until we cheer them all on at state:  Go Greyhounds!  While they, of course, are hoping for another state title, we are all so proud of each and every one of these guys, and all the rest of the guys who make up the team just for being who they are in or out of the water.  Each of them is already a winner! 

CHS Boys' Turn: Lead-in to State Swimming 2011

      While the CHS girls' swim team has finished their season, the CHS boys' swim team is in the middle of their championship season.  The final high school swimmers' Saturday morning spirit breakfast was held two Saturdays ago to a reduced crowd of hungry boys after morning practice.  I thought we were cooking for the entire roster of 55 but when the boys started coming up after practice, realized that only the sectional swimmers were at practice that day...no matter, the boys were happy to eat up and enjoy what was offered.  

      Sunday the boys met and all dyed their hair blonde...this is a tradition I don't understand, but I go along with it anyway because apparently it is just something they do/have done forever and day, so at this point, it's tradition.  Surprisingly enough, it doesn't take me that long to get used to Matt being a blonde, shocking at first, but by the second day, seems fairly normal.  Don't know what that says.

      On Wednesday the entire roster of 55 boy swimmers showed up for the traditional night before sectionals Spaghetti Dinner and Hair Clipping.
The food line, seniors first...spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and dessert...when one crockpot runs out, there are more waiting in the kitchen to replace it...these boys can eat!
Senior boys get seated first at the senior table:  John, Matt, Mike, Kiernan, Sean, Tyler, Fillipo.
The up and coming classes...I promised Jimmy I would put this photo in of them...Jimmy, Clayton, Elliot, all outstanding CHS swimmers ready to take over when the seniors depart.
Each year the seniors from the previous year send an encouraging letter for the team and the current seniors read these letters aloud, much fun and a great time for the boys.  Letters from Nik,  Daniel, Johnny, Matt F., Cheffy,  and Charles were read by (left to right) Eric, Tyler, Mike, John, Matt, Kiernan, Cameron, Fillipo, and Sean.

      Another tradition.  The senior boys man the hair clippers, giving the underclassmen very strange hair cuts, each unique, different, and without a bit of consent or not from the owner of the hair.  It's tradition.  The Seniors then hand the clippers over to someone they trust to clip their own hair, again, the person clipping gets to choose the new hairstyle.  Matt cut Jonathan's hair and in turn Jonathan cut Matt's hair.  I think you will agree that normally Matt would not let Jonathan anywhere near his head with a pair of clippers.
I knew when they started that nothing good would come of these two being let loose with a pair of clippers on each others' hair. The boys sported these fancy hairdos at school the next day and then to sectional prelims on Thursday last and by Friday morning, the hair was gone, and we have the official state haircut for boy swimmers:  the buzz.          Despite the silly hairdos, the boys were all very serious at sectionals and managed to take first in every event but one, ending up with 21 swims, a large number indeed, with 11 CHS boys going to state. 

      At Sectionals Matt placed 4/4 in first place finishes for his swims so he is looking good going into state this weekend.  All the same, keep the fingers crossed and the thoughts good and positive as we all know:  any swimmer can beat any other swimmer at any pool on any given day.  It happens.  Go, Matt, Go Carmel...looking for another state win for the team this year. Here are some photos from sectionals.  Let the serious busines of swimming begin...Matt getting ready to swim the 200 Freestyle, he won this swim at state last year so this is his goal to win it again this year.

Finished and waiting for the rest of them to swim in...a good start to the meet for Matt and also Kiernan and Peter...finishing 1, 2, and 3.
And the 100 Freestyle, again Matt, Peter, Jonathan finishing 1, 2, and 3, with Max in 6th.  (Although Peter swims for a different high school, he is in the CSC USA Swim Club and he and Matt joined the team at the same time, Matt was 7 and Peter was 6, so although he isn't technically a CHS swimmer, he is still one of "ours" from the swim club.)

And, at this point in the meet, someone just lost track of taking stills during the relays...that would be me.  The CHS 200 freestyle relay (Matt, Jonathan, Vic, and Roma) took first and the CHS 400 freestyle relay (Matt, Kiernan, Jonathan, and Max) also took first.  There should be photos but sometimes one just gets all caught up in the cheering at relay time and picture taking goes by the wayside.  Oops.

      I did get a photo of the guys with the sectional trophy, one very happy team! That would be Matt in the center holding the trophy.

      And, of course, the Lovely Reyn was around to help celebrate...Matt sporting his new Valentine's Day gift shoes from her, very wild and fun Nike customs which he is thrilled with, and because girlfriends are just so thoughtful and sweet, a package with balloons and inspirational messages to be opened one a day for this week leading to state (accompanied by candy kisses)...and Coach Chris, if you are reading this, Matt is saving all that candy for AFTER state...this week it's nutrition at its finest only this week, no candy for the candy-loving kid.  And, thanks for all you have done to get the boys this far...Go Greyhounds, or as my Louisiana friend Margaret says it, "Geaux Greyhounds!"

Girls Report First with their First at State - Silver Anniversary - 25 Consecutive Years!

Congratulations CHS Girls Swim Team!  The final leap into the pool to celebrate the victory...senior girls and head coach in last.

Taken from Maggie's CSC Newsletter Report:

February 11-13^th marked three hallmark days for the ladies of Carmel Swim Club as they swam to great successes both at the IHSAA State Championships and the CSC Time Trial. 

Carmel Swim Club was a dominating force at the Natatorium both in and out of the pool on Friday and Saturday.  The support from CSC families in the stands at the meet was absolutely amazing.  Seventeen CSC girls competed for Carmel High School on our way to winning a national record 25^th consecutive state championship; eight additional CSC swimmers competed at the meet from four neighboring high schools.  We hope all of our swimmers in the stands enjoyed the celebration of all the hard work these young ladies put in to their swimming day in and day out, and are looking forward to their own upcoming championship seasons.

From the outset of the meet, there was no doubt that it would be a great day for Carmel.  The CHS girls started out the meet by setting a new National Public High School Record in the 200 Medley Relay, and senior Rhiannon Sheets broke Olympian Lindsay Benko’s 200 Free State Record.  The Greyhounds continued their excellent run, winning the first four events of the meet and achieving 23 lifetime best times out of 25 swims.  By the conclusion of the meet on Saturday, Carmel Swim Club athletes won nine out of 11 possible state championships and five new school and club records were set:

• 200 Medley Relay – Carmel (Lacey Locke 10, Samantha Shaheen 12, Ariana Bullard 10, Carly Marshall 12), 1:41.42.  CHS/CSC Record, State Meet Record, National Public HS Record
• 200 Freestyle – Rhiannon Sheets, 12, Carmel, 1:47.09.  CHS/CSC Record, State Meet Record
• 200 Individual Medley – Lacey Locke, 10, Carmel, 2:00.71.
•  50 Freestyle – Carly Marshall, 12, Carmel, 23.35.
• 100 Freestyle – Zoe Mattingly, 11, Zionsville, 50.58.
• 500 Freestyle – Lauren Jordan, 12, Carmel, 4:47.69.  CHS/CSC Record
• 200 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Carly Marshall 12, Lucy Kramer 11, Rhiannon Sheets 12, Lacey Locke 10), 1:34.14.
• 100 Backstroke – Lacey Locke, 10, Carmel, 54.26.  CHS/CSC Record
•  400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Rhiannon Sheets 12 – 50.22 lead-off – CSC Record, Lauren Jordan 12, Alexis Bullard 11, Margaret Ramsey 11) 3:25.00.

In addition to our event champions, the following swimmers placed in the top 16 at Saturday’s finals: Summer Brown (200 FR -13^th, 500 FR -13^th); Alexis Bullard (100 FR – 3^rd, 100 BK – 2^nd); Ariana Bullard (50 FR – 7^th); Elizabeth Flaherty (500 FR – 15^th); Lauren Jordan (200 FR – 2^nd); Lucy Kramer (200 IM – 8^th, 100 BR 10^th); Carly Marshall (100 FR – 4^th); Zoe Mattingly (200 FR – 3^rd); Margaret Ramsey (200 FR – 4^th, 500 FR – 5^th); Sam Shaheen (100 BR – 4^th); Keely Simonson (100 BR – 12^th); and Grace VanAllen (200 FR – 10^th).

 Two CSC swimmers achieved their first ever Junior National cuts on Friday evening: Sophomore Ariana Bullard and Senior Carly Marshall.  Carly was also honored with the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award.  We are so proud of her accomplishments both in and out of the pool. 

 As a testament to the dedication and drive these girls all share, they returned to the Carmel Aquatics Center on Sunday afternoon for a time trial.   The girls swam their hearts out once more, and Sunday was a fantastic finish to a great weekend.  The swimmers who competed earned a combined 29 lifetime best times.  Lacey Locke set a new CSC Record in the 200 Backstroke (1:57.64); Caroline Inman achieved her first ever individual Senior State cut in the 100 Backstroke; Carolyn Belford achieved her first individual Senior State cuts in the 400 IM and 200 Breaststroke; and Kayla Fearrin earned a new Senior State cut in the 200 Breaststroke.

 We hope you can all come together to support our CSC boys as they begin their high school championship season at Carmel High School this weekend for Sectionals.  Preliminaries will take place on Thursday at 5:30 PM and finals will start at 1 PM on Saturday. 

Four for Four

Photo:  Matt after the 200 Freestyle win, Gus to his right, Kiernan to his left.  

      It was a high school swim meet day, but with a little extra fun as it was the first time I had gotten to see Reyn (Matt's girlfriend) swim as her school was one of the teams swimming against Matt's school.  She swam the 500 Freestyle and the 100 Breaststroke and did very nicely. 

      Matt won his two individual events (100 Freestyle and 200 Freestyle) and his two relays also won, so he had a great day at the pool. 

      As I was watching all the CHS swimmers I was thinking that this is the last high school season Matt will ever have, next year it will be on to college swimming.  Shock waves still tear through me when I think of it all.  I was watching the other swimmers, some of whom we have been swimming with for 12 years now, and thinking how we have seen them all grow up over the years day by day, because swimming is pretty much a daily thing.  Lots of memories through the years.

      Mark was timing in one of the lanes that Reyn was swimming in so it was fun to see the chatting going on between the two while Reyn waited for her lane to clear for her swim.

      CHS won the meet, the swimmers retired to O'Neil's house for a victory celebration, and everyone is looking forward to swimming a USA meet next weekend because you can't have enough swimming going on...ever. 

CSC Short Course Nationals Men's Relay Team

Matt, John, Coach Chris (and fellow relay swimmer), and Harrison at Short Course USA National Swimming in Ohio at OSU this past weekend.

      Since I wasn't able to be at Nationals, I didn't get my usual round of photos.  Harrison's mother send me a few, so thanks to Crystal, here is a great photo of the CSC boys' relay team at Nationals. 

      This is not just your normal every common day boys' relay team as you might have noticed.  The boys only had three qualify for Nationals with the appropriate time cuts needed, and since a relay needs four men, there was going to be no relay team for the CSC boys National team.  "Was" being the operative word. 

      In USA swimming, as long as you are registered with USA swimming, in good standing, and have the appropriate time cuts, you can swim in USA swim meets.  So, Coach Chris rose to the occasion.  (He's 35, incidentally, and I am allowed to say his age as it is on all the psych sheets from the meet, etc. where they list the swimmers and their ages...public knowledge.)  

      Chris trained, and trained, and trained some more, so that he could qualify to be the fourth man on the relay team.  The guys were loving it. 

      Chris qualified and they had their National relay team!  How wonderful is that?  Pretty wonderful.  The guys were so happy that they were going to get to swim relays because Chris made it possible for them to do so. 

      They did great...their times were really good for where they are all at and each one of them contributed in major ways to the whole team.  I think the three boys spent a good deal of time with their mouths open and their jaws dropping at how well Chris did and what a great swimmer he is...a whole new and deeper respect for hard work and dedication was born. 

      One very fun aspect of this particular relay team is that all the other relay teams were composed of four men, each specializing in their particular swims, all of them sprinters as relay teams are usually made up of guys who can sprint fast to the finish.  In the Freestyle Relays, you will have four really fast freestylers.  In the Medley Relays, you have four really fast sprinters in their swims, i.e. backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle because each leg of the Medley Relay is composed of a different stroke.  

      Because we did not have the appropriate qualifiers for Nationals to make up the relay team, we were operating with three freestyler sprinters (Chris, Harrison, Matt) and one distance (non-sprinter) breaststroker (John).  Try to make that work!!  For the Medley Matt swam backstroke, John his breaststroke, Harrison swam the butterfly, and Coach Chris swam the freestyle. 

      They did good...they didn't finish last and they had a great time...who knew?  It's a well-coached team that can even dream of putting that together.

      Congratulations to a great showing at Nationals, guys!  We are all so proud of you and all your talent and hard work.  And, Chris, Thank You for making it all possible.

Breakfast of Champions

      Each Sunday morning, after the CBS Sunday Morning news show, I make the guys something we call The Big Sunday Breakfast. 

      TBSB consists of things they do not have time to sit and eat of a week day when breakfast is usually portable food in hand as they head out the door so that they can sleep until the last possible moment before rising, dressing, and hitting the road for work, school, swim practice, etc.  Things like pancakes or waffles or scrambled eggs, with an accompanying side of bacon or sausage, and a variety of juice offerings. 

      Harrison's mother took the above photo this morning at the USA Swimming venue at OSU where the boys were having a bite to eat and waiting for their turn to swim time trials.  Matt (left) and Harrison (right) with their buddies in the box (far left). 

      Breakfast of Champions, or at least a bite to tide them over until more appropriate offerings can be scored...and if Mary is reading this, please note that John is not anywhere near that box and is probably off scoring yogurt and fruit and a bit of granola because he is definitely more trustworthy in the realm of scoring non-junk food than are these two! 

Friday's Favorites Fare

READING:  Got a whole load of new things from the library...reading bits and pieces trying to decide where to start.   

LISTENING TO:  Christmas Music
SWIMMING NEWS:  Matt is at USA Swimming Nationals (no, I am not there as I've had the flu since Monday).  They left on Wednesday after school and they return Sunday afternoon.  This is a big deal.  A very big deal for a high school boy.  He could hardly stand it knowing that he was actually going and would be swimming in the same meet, in the same pool, at the same time, as the big names in swimming.  The best swimmers our nation has to offer.  College guys.  Olympians.  Matt Gerth.  Pretty amazing stuff.  He didn't care that he was going to be one of the youngest, and one of the last time-wise, etc., he was just so excited to go and BE THERE and have earned the right to be there with a National time cut.  He's done well.  Gets to bring home a new best time for the 50 Freestyle and swam a 100 Freestyle faster than he swam it at state last year, just a hair over his best time for that swim.  He also had three relays and is having a really great time just being there and running into the friends, fellow swimmers, coaches, etc. he has come to know through the years.  He gets to see his future teammates and coaches (Indiana University) compete and compete alongside them for the first time (although not as part of the team yet, still very fun to be at the same meet), and he gets to see Ryan Lochte in his green shoes up close and personal.  What's not to love about all of that?  We are somewhat proud of him...can you tell?  Good.

COOKING BYTES:  Snowy days like this are perfect for baking and watching the snow falling outside my kitchen window (photo above is just such a view)...no swimming down in that pool anytime soon.  Twitterbakes Saturday and Sunday.

FAV NEW FIND:  Several of my TWD baking pals had the opportunity to go to a book signing in Connecticut and meet Dorie Greenspan in person, have her sign their copies of her new book, Around My French Table, and have a great time wining and dining together.  It happened the same week that all the college swimming signing hoopla was happening around here, so I did not get to join in all the fun out there.  Since I missed all the fun, Nancy found a way to have the fun come to me...she sent me a signed copy with a personal note in it from Dorie for me, and crazy silly that she is, she photo-shopped me into the photo of all of them with Dorie at the signing.  How much fun is all of that???  Almost as much as being there...not quite, but very special nonetheless.  Thanks, Nancy!

FAV THING THIS WEEK:  Well, I know what my not-so-favorite thing was this week:  I had the flu for five days.  I didn't think it was ever going to leave, so I have to say my favorite thing this week is that it has finally left and I am feeling well again.  I recommend you take a pass if it shows up at your place.  My favorite thing this week, is obviously, Matt swimming at USA Nationals for the first time.

GOING TO:  The guys are going to shovel snow and watch sports on tv, I plan to bake/cook, stay inside with a nice warm and cozy fire, watch Big Ten Basketball, watch Livestream of Matt at the USA Swimming Nationals, and do a few things around here that didn't get done when the flu was visiting and overstaying its welcome.

PRAYING FOR:  Two GCHS students battling cancer, Luke and Stuart...please join me.

Friday's Favorites Fare: Signed, Sealed, To Be Delivered Next August

READING:  Various pieces on armistice for WWI...it seemed fitting for the week with Veteran's Day and all.

LISTENING TO:  Soundtrack from The Big Chill    

COOKING BYTES:  Getting caught up on various blog-alongs and guys are enjoying the food from it all.  It's my plan that when Matt goes off to college he wants to return home regularly for home cooking.

FAV NEW FIND:  Seven of the senior swimmers have committed to colleges for swimming and signed their letters of intent this week.  In photo at top:  Sam going to University of Kentucky; Lauren and Matt are going to Indiana University; Mike is headed to Iowa; Kiernan is going to swim at Xavier; leaving Rhiannon and Carly to apply their considerable swimming efforts up at Purdue.  I would say The Big Ten is being represented fairly well by this year's class of seniors with 5 of the 7 going to Big Ten schools.  Harrison committed to Princeton, and he is not pictured here as he goes to Brebeuf High School so his official signing was over there this week.  

FAV THING THIS WEEK:  Watching Matt sign his letter of intent committing to Indiana University for college.  The "real" signing took place in our dining room at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the first day of signing...once signed, it was faxed to the IU athletic department, and the original copy was sent to them by US Mail. 

      Then today, Friday, the high school had a "fake" official signing ceremony where the athletes all "signed" a blank piece of paper and have their photos taken as if they were actually signing, etc.  It was fun...the swimmers really enjoyed it.  Now it all seems real.  (Photos below:  The Three Boys: Kiernan, Matt, and Mike at the signing; Matt and Lauren both going to IU.)

GOING TO:  Watch the opening game tonight for IU Basketball season, so we are more than eager to have that getting underway, another game on Sunday, with the IU football game sandwiched between on Saturday at noon.  This time of year when there is both Big Ten Football and Big Ten Basketball going on, we tend to watch a lot of ballgames...no complaints here. 

PRAYING FOR:  Please join me in praying for cancer patients going through chemo and radiation...that all that pain and suffering brings favorable results.

Friday's Favorites Fare (on Saturday)

Matt and fellow CSC swimmer, Lauren J, during half-time at IU Homecoming football game today.  No, not a date, just good friends, Matt was at game, Lauren was down at IU on swim recruit visit, and the two had a great time at the game with others. 

READING:  The Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather (Quebec 1697-1698) and One of Ours by Willa Cather (WWI 1914-1920).  These are the last two novels of Cathers that our library didn't have available before when I was reading the rest.  I'd read them both in high school, so it was good to revisit them as an adult. 

LISTENING TO:  ...and watching the IU/Arkansas State football game on television, getting ready to watch the Iowa Hawk/Michigan game next.   

COOKING BYTES:  The season is changing...welcoming soup week straight ahead.  I love soup, could exist on that and salad and never be bored.  It's a simple thing, I am a simple person at heart.

FAV NEW FIND:  The changing leaves, the cooler weather, the return of Orion in the night's sky.   

FAV THING THIS WEEK:  We have had a wonderful week enjoying Matt's decision to commit to Indiana University for college swimming.  We tried very carefully not to express our preferences so that it was his decision and not ours.  That was incredibly hard as we are such IU fans.  You would have been proud, and astonished at our ability to display impartiality.  He flew all over the country for recruiting trips, looking at this college and that, getting offers from here and there, but in the end, it was IU who had his heart.  He got off the plane one Sunday and said, "I'm done with recruiting trips, etc. I just want to go to IU and swim there."  Absolutely music to our ears!  He will be going to college 90 minutes away from here and swimming where we can go and watch the meets.  Don't think we aren't excited.  IU's business school is ranked 10th in the nation, he loves the campus, the coaching staff (one of the coaches was coaching at CSC when Matt was 10-11), the team, and the city of Bloomington.  So excited!!!  You will all appreciate this.  We said, "Are you sure?  We want this to be your decision and not ours."  He responded with, "Yes, I'm sure...I tried to have it NOT be IU, I tried to NOT want to go in-state, I tried to have it be somewhere else, but it didn't work, I just love IU and want to go there."  This is the swimmer who won state last year with a swim he didn't want to swim and was determined to go to college out of state like most of his best friends, but in the end, home is where the heart is in this case, and about that swim, coaches can see further down the line than swimmers...we do what we need to do!  He has been just delighted since the decision and we are all looking forward to him being a Hoo down in Hooville.

GOING TO:  October 15th marks the day that NCAA college basketball teams can commence formal practice so Matt and Mark went down to Bloomington for the opening tip of practice, etc. (along with over 13,000 other people who attended) on Friday night, they stayed over for the homecoming game and festivities today, also taking in a swim meet at the IU pool, Matt hanging out with the swimmers and enjoying some friends who are down there this weekend on swimming recruit visits of their own. Besides that, there is choir rehearsal, etc. for Matt and some time for catching up around here with things that need to be done and enjoyed during fall. 

PRAYING FOR:  Please join me in praying for Bill, Margaret's husband, newly diagnosed with cancer who is undergoing all sorts of procedures and treatments now.

A Week in Irvine - Junior National Swimming

They are back from Junior Nationals out in Irvine, California, some new best times, some records, and some disappointments, about par for any meet we have ever entered.  Matt's 100 Freestyle netted him a new best time, a new CSC club record, and a 19th place nationally.  Not bad considering he was seeded 58th out of 146 swimmers going in.  His 50 Freestyle netted a new best time and a 31st place finish. He went in seeded 63rd out of 118 swimmers.  There are no slow swimmers at this meet, every single swimmer is a champion somewhere, you don't get to this meet without being a champion, fast times! 

Let's see now, the 200 Freestyle I am not allowed to discuss, and the 100 Backstroke was a bit of a bust as he got the big DQ for being completely submerged at the finish...something about the sun and the breeze flipping the flags so he couldn't really see them going in and misjudged the number of strokes to the finish...probably best to forget about that swim as well. 

He did well in the relays and the club did great on the whole.  If not exactly what they all hoped, the best that could be had with illnesses and whatnot.  The important part was that they had a great time and they acted like a unified team.  We are all so proud of each and every one of the 16 swimmers from our club who got the chance to swim at Junior Nationals by qualifying by their stellar swimming skills.  It was on web live stream so we could watch it all, so much fun! 

Of course, it wasn't ALL about the swimming...well, actually it was, but there were some side trips in between the sessions.

San Juan Capistrano (above)...and some swimmers (below).
And the real swimmers, some at breakfast:  Lucy, Kiernan, Matt, and Alexis.

Swimmers packed and ready for the day: Colleen, Margaret, Lacey, and Lauren S. 

And, below, when the swimmers don't have an event, it is a great time to put on some real swim suits and get a tan while cheering on your teammates:  In front: Sam; Middle Row: Lauren S., Matt, Kiernan, Alexis; Back Row:  Rhiannon, Lacey, Lucy, Trish, and Margaret.

Of course, any city with a major baseball team is fair game for a side trip there...Go Angels, they won this night.  

The pool was fantastic, both for swimming and for watching!  What an opportunity for our swimmers to compete here.


Lane 4...Matt almost set and ready to swim.  The pressure was on!
Lunch by the ocean...you can't do this in Indiana!!
Beach bums...at every available opportunity Mark and Matt headed for the beach and walked for miles, because, after all, we don't have this kind of opportunity near enough.  

And, to all the swimmers who did not get a photo on here, you need to remember to tell Mr. Gerth to take photos as he was distracted by historical sites, beaches, ballgames, restaurants, and sometimes by the swimming...he'll do better next time!

Airport Photos Before Junior Nationals

Usually we get a group photo but Saturday morning swimmers were arriving at various times, checking in at various times, and going through security in stages, so this was all I got in the wee hours, i.e. 5:30 a.m.  Left to right:  Colleen, Rhiannon, Trish, Lauren, Mike, John, and Sam...all looking surprisingly wide awake as it is, after all, their usual swim time for morning practices through much of the year.  

Lacey and Margaret ready to roll, and Matt looking tired and eager to get going.  Good luck, Swimmers!  We are so proud of all of you.

Junior National Send-Off Dinner

It's almost here:  time for the 16 CSC swimmers qualified for Junior Nationals to board the plane and head off to California on Saturday for a week of competition and fun.  Before they go, however, Daniel's family hosted a send-off barbecue at their home this evening where the swimmers, their parents, and the coaches had a chance to eat and chat and the swimmers got gifted all sorts of goodies. 

All the time and work they have put into swimming to enable them to compete at a national level...we are so proud of them all!  Best Wishes, Safe Travel, and Fast Times to:  (front table beginning on left) Lucy, Lauren J, Trish, Margaret, Sam, Rhiannon, Lacy, and Lauren S.  (back table beginning on left) Harrison (green shirt), Kiernan, Daniel, John, Colleen, Matt, and Mike. (Alexis wasn't able to stay for the dinner.)

CSC Spring Fling

Our swim club's annual Spring Fling swim meet was this weekend, Friday through Sunday.  I think they call it a fling because it is our first meet of the Long Course season (April through July) and the coaches use this meet as an opportunity to place the swimmers in swims they don't normally swim, i.e. swims that are not their specialties.  For instance Matt swam the breaststroke...I remember a time in his younger years when it was clear early on that Matt's stroke was not going to be the breaststroke,  Kirsten, his coach at the time, looked at me and said, "You know, I think there are times out there that he is not actually moving forward at all, just sort of treading water with the breaststroke."  Well, times have improved since then and he swims it in the IM, but it still is not anywhere near something he would say that he excels at with any regularity.  The meet saw some new best times, some pretty much even times, and a couple of real stinkers, which is about the way this meet usually goes at the beginning of the season.  The swimmers all fared about the same and all seemed to be having a good time.  The photo at the top is Coach Chris reeling them all in for some instruction and direction during warm-ups.  The photo below is a photo op when they spotted me in the stands with the camera.  The next two below that, more of the same, the kids and coach a blur as they were jumping and carrying on, no way to get a good still of that shot with my camera as it is.

Nik leading the cheers, Matt and Harrison the two tallest boys in the center without caps.  Lots of fun to make a lot of noise for your team!

Mike, Daniel, Matt, and Nik having a good time before their swims.

Charles, Michael (back from college for the summer, Matt, Kiernan, and Harrison, surrounding Charles' mom as she searches through the heat sheets for swims, orders, lanes, etc.  Let the season begin!

CSC Spring Awards Banquet

 
Photo:  From the left:  Daniel, Matt, John, Matt F., Kiernan, Jonathan, Nik, and Mike.  

 

The CSC Spring Awards Banquet was this past Sunday.  It's always a big deal.  The swimmers look forward to it, the coaches get a chance to see and be seen in something other than pool togs, and we parents get a chance to see all the swimmers in one place at one time...dry and wearing actual clothes...400 swimmers strong this year. 

 

We had a lot to celebrate...lots of firsts and new best times...lots of fun times and best of all, this year, for the very first time, Carmel Swim Club was named a USA Gold Medal Club, ranked 11th in the nation.  Not bad, especially for a smaller community.  We gladly forfeited our Silver ranking and got a brand new banner for the pool proclaiming the latest feat, the only Gold Medal Swim Club in the state of Indiana.  The swimmers were thrilled with the news. 

 

Matt recieved Most Improved Swimmer Award for his group, much deserved as Matt had a banner year himself, the best year he's ever had with swimming so far. 

 

Through all the celebrating and joyful news bits, there is always, the sad bits...the saying goodbye to the seniors who will be heading off to college in the fall, and to those parents who will no longer be hangin' at the pool because their last swimmer is heading off to college.  Nik and Daniel gave moving and inspiring speeches, so I didn't manage to be dry-eyed through the entire time...I caved when the little memories the two boys were sharing brought it all home that they are now almost grown...and almost gone...and that all these years of sharing so many times with them are almost gone as well.  Yikes.  How is a girl supposed to keep her hanky dry through all of that???

 

Matt also had a choir performance Sunday afternoon and had to skip out a little early...I kept saying, "Are you sure you have enough time to get both of these in today with the travel time and everything?"  He kept assuring me he did.  During the banquet, he realized for the first time that the venue for the choir performance was on the total opposite side of Indianapolis.  He thought 89xx was by St. Luke's on the north side (near where we live), and then realized it was 89xx SOUTH, and had to do some quick calculations about the length of time that was going to take to get clear to the south side of Indy.  He managed to arrive on time, barely.  Ali had skipped the banquet thinking she didn't have time to do both, so she was worried when he didn't show up until the last minute.  My hair is turning more gray by the day. 

 

I only have a few shots from the banquet this year as the swimmers were spread all over the place and it took a bit just to get these guys all sitting in one place at one time.  The girls were everywhere all at once...trying to nail Jello to the wall trying to get decent photos of them, but here's a cute one of Colleen and the guys.  (Mike, Daniel, Matt, Matt F., John, and Colleen.)

USA Swim Sectionals - March 25-28, 2010

We are now on a break.  For the next 11 days, there is no swim practice.  No swim meets, no swimming at all.  Short course has ended, long course begins on April 10th.  What will we do with our time?  Well, after all the busy times of Holy Week and Easter, there will be college visits over spring break...to check out, what else, college swim programs. 

 

Sectionals came and went.  The Nat in Indianapolis was host this year, which made it nice and convenient for us:  13 miles travel and no overnights! 

 

Sectionals were long course, so Matt was not trained in long course after swimming all these months of short course, and the good thing from the weekend, is that he did not lose as much momentum as he usually does switching between the two.  He pretty much went in and came out really well.  Even swimming against a bunch of college kids. 

 

He swam 4 swims and 3 relays.  Went in seeded 6th of 77 in the 50 Free, and finished 6th.  Went in seeded 16th of 90 in the 200 Free, and finished 10th (but 8th in time).  Went in seeded 10th of 71 in the 100 Back, and finished 12th (but 11th in time).  Went in seeded 13th of 100 in the 100 Free, and finished 9th (but 6th in time).  One cannot jump between brackets during finals, so that is why his time was better in three of the swims than his actual placings, you get to keep your time, so that's what is most important.  

 

All his relays finished second, which was not bad considering Daniel and Harrison were on spring break at their schools and were cruising literally with their families instead of swimming at the meet. The last relay of the meet was the 400 Medley:  Nik at backstroke, John at breaststroke, Mike at butterfly, and Matt at freestyle.  In the relays, they only swim the fastest in the finals session, so in the relays, a team could finish faster in the morning and keep their time, so that in the evening finals, if that team had a better time, they could place in the top 8.  And so it happened. The amusing part was that the guys didn't know that when they were swimming, they thought they were swimming against the fastest teams, so as you can see from the photos, Matt is anchoring and way ahead of anyone else coming into the finish (meaning there was not the usual pressure of bringing it home), so when he touched in, they thought they had gotten first, but a team from the morning session had a faster time, so Matt's team ended up second. 
Although they were disappointed, it did bring home the fact that just because you think you have it all in the bag, you shouldn't ever let up. 

 

That said, it was a wonderful season full of lots of firsts and new accomplishments.  Time to retire the yards and swim in meters.  Time to work on long course times.  But first, starting Friday, it's time for spring break!

USA State Swim Meet - March 12-14, 2010

After high school swimming ends, USA swimming still has a month to go with state and then sectionals for the swimmers who have the times to qualify for those meets before it switches over to long course training for the summer.  State is a little easier to qualify for than sectionals as the sectionals lead to junior nationals, hopefully, for the swimmers who can advance with their times.  Matt already has junior national times in the 100 and 200 Freestyle and the 100 Backstroke, so he is swimming with the hopes of getting a junior national cut time in the 50 Freestyle also.  We shall see. 

 

The USA state meet was one of just getting back in the water to competitively swim some of the swims that went by the wayside during the high school season, i.e. in high school one just gets to swim 2 events, so Matt's concentration was on the 100 Freestyle (he placed third in that in high school state) and the 200 Freestyle (he placed first in that).  He also swims the backstroke, so he was entered in that and the 50 Free, the 200 IM, and the 100 Butterfly (which he and his coach agreed was not a stellar performance so although he made finals for that, he decided to scratch).   

 

The Wall at meets is always a gathering place for the swimmers, checking their times, their placings, their competition, etc.  It also includes the various time standards for the high powered meets, so the guys are always checking those times against their own times to see what they qualify for...I can tell by the way Matt is pointing in this photo that he is checking out the National times at the very top.  The dream.   

 

Harrison has always been slightly smaller and slightly less in stature than Matt, but this year the growth spurt has evened them out!  We've known Harrison since the first grade, so as I look at them standing together, my heart sort of seizes up remembering all the years between then and now and knowing that sooner than I can imagine, they will head off to different colleges, swim for different teams, etc.  Like Scarlet, "I'll think about that tomorrow."   

 

Some kicking back time up in the stands having a drink and checking out the psych sheets...you can tell this is a more relaxed meet as the boys are kicking back in the stands and not down on deck focusing and gearing up for serious swims.  They have their junior national cuts, so now they can relax a bit more.

 

Matt, Harrison, Jack, and Charles down on deck posing for a shot for the blog...the swimmers like to see themselves here on the blog, so I try to get shots that are usable, i.e. wearing the longer swim trunks and not the tiny little Speedos. 

 

With the re-entry into USA swimming, comes re-entry into swimming with the college kids, etc.  High school swimming is just that, high school aged swimmers.  USA is different in that once you hit age 15, you swim with all the swimmers over the age of 15, meaning a lot of college kids.  Even then, Matt pretty much holds his own, so after four months of not swimming the 100 backstroke much, he still placed 5th and Harrison still placed 8th.    

1st and 2nd places went to Purdue college kids, 3rd and 4th went to the same old contenders that Matt has faced in that swim since early on ever since he has been swimming USA since he was seven years old, so no real surprises there.

 

The swimmers have all known each other for all these years, so it is fun for them to get to state and compete with each other each year.

 

 
When it comes to relay swimming, it is difficult to beat a CSC relay team. 
CSC had two relay teams, placing 1st (Nick, Daniel, Jonathan, and Matt) and 3rd (Mike, Kiernan, Harrison, and Charles).  The winning team supplies the person handing out the awards, so for our team, it was Roch for this race, always nice to have Roch around.

 

Matt tied for 7th in the 50 Free, and for the life of me, I cannot remember how he placed in the 200 IM, not one of his usual swims.  It was good to be back as a USA team with Daniel and Harrison being able to swim on the team again now that the high school season has ended. 

Why I Have No Fingernails Left at the End of State aka Just How Close It Was

With all the excitement of the Olympics now a thing of the past, here's our own version of sports excitement from the swimming pool at the High School State Swim Meet.  Matt is in Lane 4 (center lane) in a gray cap with a blue greyhound, Ethan is in a red cap in Lane 5 (to Matt's left) and Daniel, one of Matt's good friends that swims in CSC with him but for Park Tudor during the high school season, is in Lane 3 (to Matt's right).  If you watch after the race, the ribbons are awarded on the podium, and then there is a short interview with Matt by a reporter.  Okay, maybe not quite as exciting as the Olympics to you, but it definitely was to us!  Click here.

They Celebrated

State swimming wrap-up.  At State, after each of the swims there is a little break where the swimmers in that heat get to swim a victory lap before they assemble everyone on the podium for awards, medals, and photos.  (Photo is Matt's victory lap after his 200 Freestyle, that smile says it all!) 
I know that I have talked about this before, but the friendships made through swimming are a wonderful thing.  The swimmers who swim on Matt's USA team are the elite swimmers on the high school team as that is just the way it goes, a good swimmer who does not swim USA club cannot possibly hold his own in the high school realm against those who all swim high school and USA club...that year 'round training makes the swimmers ready to compete at the highest levels.  Most of the CSC USA club swimmers go to Carmel High School, but there are a few who attend private schools, like Matt did with Guerin the previous two years, and Daniel does with Park Tudor, Harrison and Ali at Brebeuf, etc. 

 

This year Daniel was the only swimmer from his high school team to qualify for state, so the CHS swimmers just sort of incorporated Daniel into their space, warming up in the pool, etc., as after all, Daniel was "one of them" no matter what high school he went to, just like they did for Matt when he was at Guerin.  When it came time at the end for the celebratory podium jump into the water for a victory swim, the CHS swimmers all urged Daniel to get up on the podium with them and swim as well.  Daniel had second and third place finishes in his swims (no relay swims as he was the only qualifier from his team), which was fantastic and the boys wanted him to jump with them in celebration.  Daniel, bless his heart, stood on the podium at the very end, shown in the photo above, (the podium shows seniors at the top, followed by juniors, etc. down to the end), but the swimmers all encouraged Daniel to get up to the top with the rest of the seniors and the photo shows Matt motioning and urging Daniel to come up higher to be with the seniors, the same seniors Daniel swims with in the CSC USA team. 
It was heartwarming and special that in all the chaos of the win, others were not forgotten.  Daniel moved up, took his place with the seniors and jumped with glee.  It was one of those moments that made the day that much more special.
(Photo:  The Jump into the diving well at the pool...freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors, coaches...in that order...everyone in!)

  

Afterward there was a party to celebrate with lots of pasta and a cake or two.  

 

The guys were all in great spirits, the coached talked about the day, the year, the swimmers, and the future. 

 

The seniors talked and then the juniors spoke of the commitment to bring home another trophy next year.
(Photo:  The Juniors now in charge:  Mike, John, Sean, Fillipo, Kiernan, Cameron, Matt, and Tyler.) 

 

(Photo:  Matt and his head coach for high school as well as his CSC USA team, Chris.  I think Chris still has an inch or so on him, but there will come the day, that Matt will catch up in height.)  

 

 

And did I get a photo of my son with the trophy?  Somehow he and Nik scooted out of there on their way to Stephanie's post-post-state party before I could suggest such a thing, but fortunately, Mike was still available and happy to pose with the trophy he had a big hand in winning for the team. 

 

A final photo of the guys just kicking back and having a good time excited for their high school season to have such a great ending and ready to move on to the nationals with their USA state and sectionals competitions coming up in the next couple of weeks.  And who will their opponents be?  All the same kids they battled at high school state in the finals.  After 11 years of swimming with all these same swimmers in Indiana, it's just as much fun for the parents to go and watch those swimmers and see their accomplishments as it is our own team.  Well, maybe we cheer a little harder for our own team, but it is exciting to see Kyle breaking all the records and whether or not Matt can finally beat Kevin in something...yep, pretty darn exciting all the way around. 

(Photo:  Nik, Jonathan, Matt, Mike, Kiernan)  

They Did It! CHS Boys Swimming and Diving Win State

(Photo:  Trophy Time...Matt is sitting on the podium, fourth from the left in his CHS warm up suit.  Roch is first coach on left with Chris, the head coach, beside him.) 

 

They did it...the CHS boys swimming and diving team won the State Championship on Saturday.  I have the worst pictures imaginable because I was just too excited, nervous, distracted, etc. to take photos...fortunately there were photos from others and the professional ones to mark the occasion.  Here's some of what I have, be kind.
(Photo:  200 Freestyle race, Matt leading with Ethan not far behind and Daniel (Matt's good friend from CSC swimming who swims for Park Tudor) in third.  A very exciting race right down to the touchpad.  Most importantly for Matt, he managed to get in first against very tough competion!)  
 Matt had the allotted four swims, two individual (200 Freestyle and the 100 Freestyle), and two relays (200 Freestyle Relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay).  He placed first in the 200 Freestyle...sorry, no photo of him on the podium, I was absolutely in awe that he won that race and got first, let alone have the presence of mind to get a photo of the occasion.

 

(Photo:  For the finals, the top 8 get an escort to the starting blocks before they swim, Matt is fourth back and Jonathan is in this race as well further back.) 
He placed third in the 100 Freestyle, which is just where he really was this year as he went into the weekend seeded fourth in that event, Harrison's goggle malfunction knocking him out of the first seed, and Nathan and Tyler really have pretty much owned that swim all year, although Matt did beat each of them prior to this, it finished right where it should have so he was happy with his swim.
(Photo:  400 Freestyle Relay, Matt swimming anchor and in to a big finish against the Munster team, a very tight race right to the end, sealing the deal of a CHS victory over Munster for the state title this year.) 
The 200 Freestyle Relay finished second and the 400 Freestyle Relay, the last event of the meet, finished first.  Happy Happy Boy, Happy Happy Team!
(Photo:  It's a celebration...all swimmers and coaches in the pool!)

  

Tradition holds that at the end of the meet, the first place team and their coaches gather on the podium for a final jump into the water in a wave of celebration. 

 

It was quite a weekend.  Matt ended up with 2 firsts, a second, and a third and had scored the most points for his winning team.  Not bad for a junior.  What's next?  State finals for USA in two weeks, followed by Sectionals for USA at the end of the month.  Then I think we have a week off before long course training.  I think.

They Are Off to a Great Start

(Photo:  Matt swimming to the end of the 200 Freestyle and winning that race with a new best time for himself.) 
Preliminaries Friday were a good thing.  Always nervous when he goes in seeded so high that having two good weekends in a row for meets will just not be there, but Friday the times were there.   

 

(Photo: 100 Freestyle was quite the race, he was seeded 4th in that and ended up winning it with a new best time.)

 

 

He got a new best time in both his individual events, the 200 Freestyle and the 100 Freestyle, and now has Junior National Times in both those events. 
Harrison, unfortunately, had a goggle malfunction in the 100 Freestyle that cost him his first place seeding in the 100 Freestyle on Friday, which was really unfortunate. 

 

(Photo:  Matt and Harrison stepping up to the block before the 100 Freestyle, and before the goggle misfunction costing Harrison precious seconds.  Matt always steps up and makes The Sign of the Cross before he swims, just happened to catch him mid action with that in this photo.)   

 

Harrison goes to another high school but has been swimming with Matt in USA swimming for too many years to count, maybe like 10, and is one of Matt's best friends, so while Matt was excited to get the first place seeding for Saturday, he was also disappointed for Harrison because the malfunction slowed Harrison down and cost him a top heat seeding.  Very disappointing for a swimmer of Harrison's caliber.

 

(Photo:  The relay team getting ready to defend their first seeded position, Mike, Nik, Jonathan, and Matt.  The boys are sporting special new state swim caps, gray with a blue greyhound on them, instead of their traditional blue with the large yellow "C" on them.  Quite fancy.)

 

Matt's relays did well, they were both seeded first Friday night but the 200 Freestyle Relay ended up seeded second going into Saturday, Matt swam a 20.9 on his 50 leg, which might have been one of his best in that, so they were hoping to get back into the groove of that one and take first again.  The 400 Freestyle Relay went in seeded first and came out seeded first.   All in all a great day for Matt.  Will it continue?  We shall see. 

They Are Off To State!

Photo:  (Back, left to right)  Matt G, Scott, Cheffy, Mike, Jonathan, Matt F, Johnny, Kiernan, Elliot, Mark; (Front, left to right) Roma, Vic, Michael, Charles, Eric (the diver), Nik, and John.  

 

And, as in the past two years, Matt and Roch, off to State together, neither knew it would work out this way, but indeed it has...something of Providence in it all I guess.  Mother Guerin was big on Providence.  

 

It's The Day.  State prelims for boys swimming are today at the Nat in Indianapolis.  Top 16 contenders get to advance to finals tomorrow.

 

Excitement is running high as the CHS boys have a real shot at winning the state title this year.  We are sending 17 boys wearing the blue and gold.  17 very excited young men who have worked long and hard for a chance at the state title.  We shall see, by tomorrow's eve we will know if the dreams have become reality. 

 

The boys were dismissed from school at 11:30 and hopped on two small CHS buses for transport to a special lunch for them, followed by a team meeting at Mike's house, and then transported downtown Indy to the Nat (about 15 miles). 

 

Some of the parents met up at the school to wish them well, exchange school backpacks for swim backpacks, and hold a banner across the drive so that the bus could plow through it, which it did, but apparently banners tend to stick to the bus, and Matt hopped out to gather it up to free the driver's vision, etc.  Off they go...keep the good thoughts going for them.  Go Greyhounds!

Four Firsts For Matt

If you are here for the swimming news, here's a bit of it.  Thursday and Saturday were high school boys' swimming sectionals here in Indiana.  For sectionals you can qualify with appropriate swim times for 2 individual events and 2 relay events maximum.  The events Matt's coach picked for him were the 100 Freestyle and the 200 Freestyle individual events and the 200 Freestyle Relay (lead position) and the 400 Freestyle Relay (anchor position).  Matt placed first in all his events, even got a new best time for the 200 Freestyle, taking off 2 seconds from his old time, qualifying him for Junior Nationals in that swim, and breaking the sectional record.  Whew, what a great swim that was, for sure.  His two relays also broke the sectional record at this meet.(Photo: Matt F, Jonathan, Jesse, Mike, Matt G, Nik, and Charles sporting their sectional locks.)   Before all that, last Sunday, Valentine's Day, the boys all met at Cheffy's house and dyed their hair either blonde or blue (blue and gold being the school colors).  Matt opted for blonde.
(Photo: The Seniors (only 6/7ths of them shown) get to go first through the line, followed by the juniors, etc.)   Wednesdaynight the team had their pre-sectional spaghetti dinner in the basement of the Masonic Lodge (not just any place will agree to let 50 boys come and shave their hair in their facilities dontchaknow).
 (The senior table, left to right:  Nik, Jesse, Charles, Scott, Johnny, Cheffy, Matt F.)
(Photo:  Ali, Matt, Mike.  Because she swims for a different high school during the high school season, but is still part of the guys USA team, Ali dropped by to wish the guys luck.)
(Photo:  CHS girls' swim team shows up for a little Risky Business entertainment.)   Eats, speeches, fun, and most of all, the shaving of the heads of hair.  Well, sort of.  The senior guys get to shave the younger guys in any manner they wish...so you can imagine some of the configurations.  Nik shaved Matt and gave Matt a nice mohawk haircut.
 (Photo:  Scott shearing Jonathan; Nik giving Matt a Mohawk; Matt F giving Jack a cross shield, and Johnny giving John a much shorter version with "I Love Beth" carved into it.)
(Photo:  At Noblesville for Sectionals, warm-up time, Matt in back row with thumbs up salute.)  Thursday night the guys sported the fancy "do"s at preliminaries, but by Friday, the hair was all shaven and by finals on Saturday all the guys were bald and will remain so until after state this week.  A strange little tradition, but the guys all seem to have a lot of fun with it.
(Photo:  200 Freestyle:  Matt, first; Jonathan 2nd; Kiernan 5th.)
(Photo:  100 Freestyle: Coach Plumb reaches down to congratulate Matt, Jonathan, Charles for Placing 1,2,3.)
(Photo:  Never did get a decent shot of the three of them up there, they were so happy to place 1,2,3 in the 100 Freestyle swim, all going to state with their times.)
(Photo:  200 Freestyle Relay first place winners:  Matt and Charles up on the podium with Roma and Jonathan standing in front.)
(Photo:  First place 400 Freestyle Relay:  Matt and Jonathan in back, Nik and Charles in front.)    

(Last Photo:  Matt and Nik holding the CHS Sectional Trophy, both boys managed to get first in every event they swam in sectionals.)

 

Where do we stand going into state?  Matt is seeded first in the 200 Freestyle (but Jonathan and Daniel are right behind him) and fourth in the 100 Freestyle (with Harrison seeded ahead of him).  Both his relays are seeded first for state.  It should be an exciting upcoming weekend.  While all this is well and good, any swimmer can beat any other swimmer on any given day, so one enters optimistically excited, but realistically prepared for just another swim in just another meet where anything can happen.  There is a lot of very fierce competition with a lot of hungry swimmers scheduled to show up at state, all with their A Game.  There are no slow swimmers at state.  We shall see.

Getting Ready for Championship Season

 

      Team Indiana at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado in June.  Matt is the first one on the left side in the fourth row.  You are on your own to figure out everyone else! 

      It's been a bit busy around here and my posting has been somewhat erratic, so am hoping that I can do a little in the way of catching up with that in the next few days and keep more on track. 

      The CSC OTC swimmers had a great time out in Colorado training at the Olympic Training Center.  Josh, Daniel, and Mike at left at the Garden of the Gods. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Matt returned with lots of information and various different methods of various different aspects of his swimming world.  Daniel, Matt, and Harrison above right.  Daily treck to and from the pool from the dorms below left. 

      Matt said he felt strong, deck entered two swims at the Fishers meet the following weekend, and got a new best time in his 50 Freestyle, so he was very happy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nik and Stevie, and some other random photos of the OTC experience...a most wonderful opportunity for any swimmer.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Pool shots and Harrison and Matt, being, well, Harrison and Matt.