City Meet 2013

City Meet was so very exciting this Summer and such a huge event for our family that, though it occured before our blog, it was too much of a highlight to not include.  We are very fortunate at Green Valley Park to be on a great team with an even better coach in Scot Budde.
Brooks, you worked so hard this summer.  The way City Meet works is that all swimmers at eligible for Thursday events.  Top 3 swimmers in each event at each club secure at spot at Finals days on Friday and Saturday.  It is possible for a swimmer that does not hold a top 3 seed to swim on Finals days because swimmers can only do 3 individual events and so once the top swimmers make their selections, other swimmers can move up the ranks.  You help a top 3 spot in all five of your individual events the entire season.  We thought through where you were seeded, what you enjoy doing, and other factors to determine what you would swim.
Brooks, you were seeded 3rd in 25 Back.  That really put the idea in your mind that you might actually medal and anything less would have been disappointing to you.  You had worked hard with Coach Scot on an amazing finish.  Well, at your first prelim you finished 3rd by 0.01.  That night, you put it all on the table and won BRONZE at 19.98!  We were all so pumped for you and glad to have that moment to celebrate.  I was glad it was your first race to finish because I was so nervous for you.
50 Free was next.  You had been working on not breathing your first stroke and your flip turn.  You slipped at the start, breathed on your first stroke and had a terrible flip turn but finished 8th at 36.59!!!  You knew all 3 things that had gone wrong as soon as you got out of the pool.  It is great that you are able to kno what you are doing wrong and well.  You were a little disappointed but we were so proud.
You swam Back for the 100 Medley Relay.  You had a great leg and I am not sure what happened on the other times but you guys were expected to finish around 2nd and finished 7th having added over 7 seconds to your overall time.  I think you guys were shocked at first but knew that you had done really well.
25 Free was a wide open shoot out of a sprint and is always exciting.  You did everything that you had worked on and finished 7th at 15.86.
And ultra exciting was the 100 Free Relay.  Coach had you and Jacob going first and second and you guys got us a huge lead.  You guys got SILVER and had a blast on that podium.  Daddy called you and Jacob "Po Boys" the rest of the summer.
It was great having the Huitsings there during City Meet as we cheered you and Jacob on in your events.  Landry loved having Jensen there and it was great for you to have your buddy there with you as well.
You also received MVP for your age group!!!

Landry loved Coach Kathryn Anderson during Swim Team and had a blast at City Meet.  She did really well on Thursday in 25 Free and 25 Back.  Landry took off over 8 seconds in Back and over 48 seconds during the season.  Huge improvement.  Your 100 Free Relay team did so great and you really booked it as anchor leg.  It was great for you to overcome feelings of nervousness and shyness during meets and more independence as well.  You really enjoyed practicing with friends and the social aspects of the team and meets.  You are a perfectionist which makes you very coachable and a hard worker.  You are more concerned with technique than speed and I am proud of you for being self confident.
You had a big time at the parade during City Meet.  We had a Duck Dynasty theme so you got all decked out in camoflage, bandanas and eye black.  Big stuff.