Finals Weekend

Wow! What an exciting weekend!! If you ever explore the links on the right side of my blog, you may have read a little about the ABC finals meet in Winona on Flippin' Sweets. We were there as well and I ditto Angela's excitement and pride for my own two "fish".

Swimmers qualify for this meet when they achieve an A, B, or C time in an event. It is also the last chance to qualify for an individual event for the State Swim Championship Meet this season, which is next weekend in Rochester. So, needless to say - it's a little intense and very exciting to participate. And according to the kids, one other huge perk to this meet is that they got to stay at a hotel for the weekend and run wild with a bunch of their friends.

Some of the excitement for finals comes in the actual preparation for the meet. Swimmers can ditch their regular team suits for special competition suits (aka Fastskins), they take pre-race baths in coach-provided bath crystals called "Ocean Water" while visualizing their races, and they do a shave-down. My kids are all over these little Finals rituals. In fact, Will wanted me to even shave his head prior to leaving for Winona on Friday. I convinced him that a #1 clipper attachment and a swim cap would be just fine.

Will had seven events and Maddie had eight. They both had a really great meet and took a lot of time off several races. In a bit of a heart-breaker race for both, they each took off over 2 seconds in the 50 Freestyle only for Maddie to come up 0.03 seconds, and Will to come up 0.72 seconds short of an "A" time. But they had fantastic swims - and there's always next season...

She kind of looks like she could really kick some butt on this one, doesn't she?


Although this photo looks a bit more serious than fierce, he'll tell you he can kick butt too.

Here is a little pre-meet sibling support.


Maddie's starts have become pretty strong this season. She usually gets a pretty good launch off the blocks.


Will's are looking much better too.

Yeah, I know you can count each of his ribs. Really...he does eat sometimes.


Will and his friends Mike and Henry hanging out at camp.


Here, both Maddie and Clare have the kick-your-butt looks.


Rewards of the weekend...


On one last exciting note, Maddie made the State Swim Team as part of the 200 Free and 200 Medley Relays! She is thrilled (and me too)! So, we'll have one more exciting week consisting of early morning practices with the rest of the State Team, a State carb-loading party (aka spaghetti dinner) tomorrow night, and another weekend in a hotel where she can run wild with a bunch of friends!