Bragging rights

Ok, so I don't like to brag about myself. But I feel I can brag about my kids anytime, right?

DS had the 12 & under short course state championship swim meet last weekend. He didn't make any individual state times, but was fast enough to swim on 3 of 4 relays that were available. His best friend beat him in the 50 yard backstroke to take a spot on the 4th relay, which of course we were very supportive of. (Plus that way we only had to go to 3 sessions, as there is only 1 relay per age group per session, and as it was we were there Friday evening, Sat morning and Sun afternoon!)

So the first relay he swam really well! He was the backstroke leg of a 400 yard medly relay. They were the B relay team, and ended up in 14th place out of 18 teams. Not bad.

Day 2 was the highlight of his swimming career! It was the 200 freestyle relay, where all 4 boys swim a 50 yard freestyle, one at a time, just like a relay you would see at track & field. DS was the slowest seeded swimmer, and his coach put him in 4th out of 4 boys. The other 3 boys on his team are all in a more advanced group, and all had state cut times in the 50 freestyle. Well, after the race was over, our boys came in 11th! Awesome! But more awesome for us was when I saw DS's split time on his portion of the race. Not only did he BEAT the times of the other 3 boys on his team (which doesn't matter, just a personal thing), but his time would have been a state cut time, if it had counted! In relays, only the first leg counts as an individual time. But most importantly, now DS knows he can swim that fast!

I was so proud of my boy! Of course, DH was too! After the race was over I was ecstatic, and was accepting congratulations from all the parents around me. (as if I had swam the race, hee hee) We were all wondering where DS pulled such an incredible time from! He beat his previous personal best by nearly 2.5 seconds! So I was sitting there glowing, and DS came walking over, with the biggest grin I have ever seen on his face! He came running up to me and gave me a huge hug, which he doesn't do much anymore in public, being the "mature 12 year old". He was all teary eyed, and my tears were just flowing as well. I heard one of the other parents say "Seeing expressions like DS's make all of the driving so worth it!" That totally made it worth sitting at the hot pool for hours and hours!

Sunday he also posted a personal best time, and also beat the other 3 swimmers on his relay team. I just knew he was still flying on the high from Saturday!

Now he is already talking about swimming all 5 sessions at the Long course state championships in July! And getting some individual times as well.

We have a month off now, and start the next season at the end of March. DS can't wait! Neither can I.