Swim Meet #2

It was a great night for the Cuda's second swim meet.  It was cloudy so the sun stayed hidden which helped it not be as hot as it was earlier in the day.  We had to arrive by 5pm so the Cude Keepers (the volunteers for each age group) could make sure all of the swimmers where there and to mark them (see Meet #1 post).  Collin was assigned to swim in the Mixed Medley (backstroke), Freestyle Medley, Breast Stroke (yeah, I thought that was a misprint but it wasn't) and Backstroke.  As with all Meets, after a warm up, the boys sat in their area playing games until it was time for them to swim in a Heat.

Cuda Keeper, Eric, writing on Collin

Collin loved the way his name was written and the barracuda on his back

The boys playing games while waiting to swim

Nice evening out with the family

The team they were swimming against seemed to be faster than the team earlier this week.  Collin was oblivious to this until he swam in the medleys.  For the first one, they got 6th and then 3rd for the next one.  He did not run over and give me his ribbons and check in as before because he did not know were I was sitting keeping score for the Meet.  I told Dad to let him know where I was when he checked in and brought me a needed drink.

The 3rd place lane judge about to give him a ribbon

We did not tell him that he was swimming breast stroke until it was time for him to line up.  When he found out, he was nervous and said he did not how do do it.  "If I don't do it right, they will disqualify me".  Dad showed him how to kick and Collin practiced a little before it was time for him to line up.  He ended up getting 5th place which was really good.  At least he was not disqualified (DQ) and made it to the end of the pool.  He seemed to be really disappointed when he handed me his ribbon and then headed back to where his age group was.  He was even more disappointed when he got 5th for backstroke which is the one he excels at.  Dad asked him later if he swam his hardest and Collin said he didn't.  "Well, then how can you be disappointed if you did not do your best?"  He was probably tired from a full week of zoo camp and it being 8:45am by the time it was time to swim backstroke.

Starting his backstroke

Ribbons for Meet #2

After Collin swam his last Heat, he sat on my lap to watch me score a few more Heats before he and Dad went home to get to bed after a long day.  I was home an hour later and The Dude was asleep.....and probably dreaming about swimming.....or zoo camp.