Home Again!

[LisaKinVA]

Our tour of part of the Netherlands and a large part of Belgian countryside is now complete.  Unfortunately, the only windmills we spotted were the typical, modern, wind-farm ones. :p   It's too early for tulips, but the canals, architecture and people, still make it one of our favorite spots to visit.  On our way back to the airport, we went through Waterloo and visited the Butte de Lion (Mound of the Lion, which overlooks all of the battlefield).  We ate at a Chinese Buffett (hole in the wall).  It wasn't the best Chinese food, but it was much better than we have here.  AND, it was fast.  Thankfully, we had an uneventful airport arrival, flight and drive.  Whew!

 

Swim-meet-wise, it was the best meet of the season for my oldest two.  They have been working incredibly hard this year, but have been sick most of December, January and through the Divisionals meet in early February.  Their performances were too good to chalk up to a suit (especially since others were wearing suits...and my kids were not only dropping time, but dropping so much time that they were beating people they NEVER beat).

 

PonyGirl took home the following:

 

100 Fly -- Seeded 13th, dropped about 5 seconds, finished 6th

100 Free -- Seeded 14th, finishing 4th by dropping 4 1/2 seconds.

400 Free -- Seeded 8th, dropped 9 seconds and finished 6th.

 

200IM -- Seeded 16th -- finished 12th, dropping over 5 seconds.

50 Free -- Seeded 25th -- She dropped just over 2 seconds and finished 4th -- missing her AAA time, and the team record by .3 seconds.

100 Back -- Seeded 18th, finished 12th, dropping a smidge.

200 Free -- Seeded 14th, finished 5th, dropping 6 seconds.

 

After being convinced she couldn't ever really be a sprinter because she's so short (5'1" and change), she now knows it's achievable.  She's excited to begin training for next season.  She also finally believes that her top competition in the league isn't "too fast" for her to catch.  She wore the A3 Performance Tech suit, and while I know it contributed a lot, having her healthy most likely contributed more.  She beat people she has never beaten, but was working harder this winter than ever, pulling doubles (aka twice-a-days on her own), working on sports nutrition with me (even though it was really hard for her at the beginning to eat more), focusing on getting to bed and regular wake-up routines.  

 

LEGOManiac took home the following:

100 Fly -- Seeded 8th -- Finished 3rd, dropping nearly 3 seconds

100 Free -- Seeded 10th -- Finished 6th, dropping nearly 5 seconds

400 Free -- Seeded 25th -- Finished 6th, dropping over 30 seconds

200IM -- Seeded 26th -- Finished 12th, dropping 10 seconds

50 Free -- Seeded 7th, finished 6th, dropping 1 second, and just missing his AAA time by .08

200 Free -- Seeded 26th -- Finished 6th, dropping 18 seconds.

 

He really, really wanted to get that AAA time in the Free, but he did so incredibly well overall he was beaming.  I think he'll be smiling for a week.  He beat his best friend on the team in the 100 Fly -- something he's been trying to do all season.  He's now our fastest male swimmer in nearly every event (except back and breast), and in every age group (including 17-19).  He ages up again in the fall.  He'll be running track this spring, but swimming in the mornings.  He'll go back to full-time swim training in June.  

 

They both made some incredible races to watch.  Even more fun was when LEGOManiac completed his Fly-to-Back (edited) Flip turn.  It became the talk of the meet.  He's been working on it for nearly a year.  This is the second time he's competed with it.  It even came up at the official's meeting in the morning (someone wanted to know if it was legal, which we had discussed a LOT before.  The head official simply said, "A flip turn in Fly? I'd love to see THAT."  I said, "well, watch my kid in the 200IM!)  It is completely legal.  It's just highly technical (kind of like the Back-to-Breast flip turn).  It takes perfect timing, an excellent tuck, excellent breath control and lung capacity...and a LOT of practice).  It is breathtaking to watch, and helped him pass half his heat at the turn.  Talk is, more people are going to be trying to learn how to do it...haha!

 

In the same vein, PonyGirl's Freestyle events were the talk of the team.  We have a very strong 13-14 girls group on our team this year.  My daughter was sure she could never beat our top 13-14yo (who stands at 5'10 vs. dd 5'1"), she beat one of our 13-14 yo girls regularly, another two 13-14yo girls in about half of the events, and then we got a new swimmer in January who she also thought she'd never beat...she was just too fast.  DD beat every one of those girls in the 50,100, 200 and 400 Free events, by solid-to-wide margins,  She beat our top 13-14 girl in all but one event. She was in a bit of shock.

 

I'm also proud of our team.  They are such a great group of kids, who really push and encourage one another.  They celebrate each other's victories -- and with only few exceptions -- are good sports when the dark horse comes out on top.

 

As for me, I am off the board next year, not in charge of fundraising, and will probably be working more with the coaching staff.  I've licked my wounds,shaken the dust off my feet, and am ready for a bit of a break before we start back to family spring training after our April break.  We'll only be swimming 2-3 times a week until April, at which time we'll be back to 5-6 practices for the younger kids and 8-9 practices for the big kids.  I've got to come  up with some work-outs, focusing on key areas to help each child improve.  This also means me taking on a bit more training (both from a coaching capacity, and a personal work-out level).  Our team doesn't officially begin practice again until 8/15 and our season doesn't begin until September.  

 

 

Edited March 1, 2016 by LisaK in VA is in IT

Even more fun was when LEGOManiac completed his Fly-to-Breast Flip turn.  It became the talk of the meet.

 

Fly to Breast?  What event is this?  And, congratulations to all.

Edited March 1, 2016 by GGardner

[LisaKinVA]

Fly to Breast?  What event is this?  And, congratulations to all.

Oops, Fly to Back :D

 

200 IM

[Happy]

I hope you had some wonderful waffles and chocolate and later a cone of fresh frites while in Belgium. :driving:

 

The Lion mount is a cool--fun to see the land hasn't changed much since that battle.

 

Well done to you and your kiddoes-congrats for not being on the board next year. :hurray:

[PinkTulip]

Congratulations to your kiddos - those are some really serious time drops - 2 seconds in a 50 is huge! It must have been such a fun meet to see all of their hard work pay off.

[UCF612]

So amazing! Great job to all your swimmers!

 

I hope my swimmer son gets more competitive in the future. He's got a natural talent but lacks my competitive drive so far (though I suspect that'll change in the next few years). He has to take winter off of swimming though because his asthma gets so bad. We're all chomping at the bit to start back, probaby in April.

[Lilaclady]

Congratulations. That is awesome

[gaillardia]

These are future Olympians, right? RIGHT?

:thumbup:  :thumbup1:

 

[Twigs]

:hurray:  :hurray:  :hurray:

[FaithManor]

I don't know. I thought "fly to breast" sounded like an interesting new event which if added to the summer olympic schedule would increase viewership!  :D  :D  :D

[LisaKinVA]

These are future Olympians, right? RIGHT?

:thumbup: :thumbup1:

Jury is still out on that, but oldest's times will probably be in line with what is necessary for college swimming, and definitely there for waterpolo. Unfortunately, his major isn't a good fit for competitive college swimming/waterpolo, except for schools like USNA.

 

DD...time will tell, but her huge improvement, and her increases self confidence will probably mean great things for her next year as well. Her college goals could also be an issue.

 

But who knows? 2020 could be their year! I definitely think they are competing against a few who could be!

[LisaKinVA]

I don't know. I thought "fly to breast" sounded like an interesting new event which if added to the summer olympic schedule would increase viewership! :D :D :D

😂