the power of a teamOK this swim team thing is just so much more than we expected. We want our kids to grow up being apart of teams to learn to respect and follow a coach and to understand supporting and working as a team. Our swim team totally provides that. There are 4 of the cutest assistant coaches who are teenagers. (two of them go to our church which is great because we knew them)
They are like youth camp counselors who are just constantly patting them on the back and supporting them. The have the most awesome chants and cheers. Every week they have a theme for the meet. Today was Mission Impossible. So when our team came out they were in all black with the theme playing and they came out of no where scaling the walls. Last week was Rocky. It really builds team spirit and gets the kids excited. 
The Swim coach is like something out of a Disney movie. He is cute, wears his Boston visor backwards, energetic, runs along side the pool during every meet, jumps in the pool during practice to give high fives when they do something great, is just a total motivator, teaches the kids the importance of being on time, demands respect and deserves every bit of it.so, this is what we were hoping for by having her join the team, but the fact she could swim and do well, this is just a bonus and total shock!
She got to swim again in the Saturday meet and swim three events. Freestyle, Breast stroke & back stroke. She placed in each one and won the breast stroke. She was part of a three man sweep for back stroke which does not happen very often so that was so great!
I can't believe I got a shot of the reach
When she swam the breast stoke it was down the wire and she was even behind, but at the very end she reached as far as she could and touched the end of the pool a tenth of a second before the girl who got second.I can't believe I got a shot of the reach
this was her looking up at the timer to see her time ( I don't know why but the coach always says "get your time!" when they are done. She has no idea what is a good time but always looks up to find out.What is so fun about this whole thing is that she doesn't even really care about winning and is almost surprised every time she gets out of the pool.
Jeff, who I often say does not show his emotions, surprised even me and was all emotion. He was like a cricket jumping all around the edge of the pool and smiling from ear to ear! Sporting events is his arena and cheering for his kids comes so natural to him. This is his dream to cheer for his kids and watch them compete. Today really almost seemed too good to be true!
26 comments:
love it!! the photo-journalism with this story just gives me chills!
What a great opportunity to experience teamwork. I still can't believe she's doing so well and is actually winning events, but that's just awesome. You live in an enchanted place.
Way to go Annie Kate!!! We are so proud of you and would love to be able to see one of your meets. It is nice to have such family support, and I know JC is one proud dad!!! As is the mom behind the camera. So great----
She is doing awesome, I love her checking her time. Even when she doesn't know what a good time is. That's the perfect time of youth.
Love the photo with Jeff. I can't wait to cheer my kids on in events like this.
I love the picture of her looking for her time. She looks so grown-up. Does it seem strange that she's doing all this and being so professional about it? She must still seem like your little baby at the same time. I'd be in floods of tears to see my babies achieving things like this. Well done, AK.
Does this merit her a celebration dinner or smthg??
I forgot to say "great job" on the pictures. They look amazing. That first one looks like you must have been lying down on the ground to be at her level, very cool!
Horay Annie Kate! Sounds like this is a great experience for the whole family. That is awesome.
That sounds like such a fun day. Darling pictures and WAY TO GO Annie Kate!
Yes, perfect pictures. Way to go Annie Kate! What a great place you have found out there in DC, I can't imagine you ever leaving...I feel like if I were in your shoes I wouldn't be able to tear myself away.
I love Ak freakles in the last pic! So darling. I love swim team too. Here in AZ the town has a sign-up and anyone can join (as long as there are spots). It's so good for the kids. It gives them something to do everyday, it helps them meet new friends, it teaches them a sport (even if they aren't very good at swimming, they are good at the end of the season!) A lot of kids who are into soccer join swim team because it makes them VERY good at soccer! I'm so happy for you and Annie Kate. This will be a great summer!
I wish that we could be there to watch her swim. I love swim meets. They are so exciting. My swim coach was a lot like that one you described. It made swimming so much fun. I hope she loves it and sticks with it. It sounds like she does really well and could really excel in that sport when she is older. I'm so proud of you Annie Kate!!!!
She seems to be enjoying it so much. The swim team was my most positive team experience growing up. L will be starting on one soon here.
Way to go Annie Kate! I come from a family of swimmers. My brother swam for BYU. My favorite to watch is butterfly--WOW!
Congratulations Annie Kate! You are one talented swimmer! I wish we could be there for everyone of your meets, however we enjoy the great reports and pictures your Mom posts for us to see. I know your Dad is very proud of you no matter whether you win or lose, as are we. You set a good example for your little sisters as one who can learn teamwork.
Swimming is an interesting team sport, because it would be so easy for a swimmer to just look at their own individual acheivements. It sounds like your coaches are so great to do things like themes to keep the swimmers thinking and interacting as a team. I loved your description of the coach as someone out of a Disney movie - as soon as you described the backwards visor I felt like I got what you were saying.
Those are some amazing photos! What kind of camera and/or lens do you use???
chole elizabeth, i use a nikon d 80, it does all the work for me. i have no idea really what i am doing. when she swims i just put it on sports mode and it does all the work.
Love that you guys have a great coach! I'm so glad you are enjoying the swim team!!! brings back lots of memories.
great post! isn't teamwork amazing?
i have a post i am working on about cassie's softball. it is amazing to me to see the growth with this team sport vs her other individual sports of ice skating and gymnastics in the past.
interesting...
lovely pics, too!
I'm back! I'm excited you liked my post and that you ran 8 miles! But I'm really back because I read your post (last time, I just looked at the pics) and it reminded me of my 9 years on a swim team. Such a great experience for kids in so many ways!
I always love your swimming pictures. Annie Kate always looks so happy! I'm glad it's just been such a wonderful experience for her (and you!). I agree with Jordan, it would be hard to tear yourself away from such an amazing community that you've found.
So remember when you said that you did not get a good shot? Bull honky! At least you are critical of your own work. That is good. These are amazing shots and I am amazed at how well they look.
Congratulations Annie Kate!
I loved swimming and wish my girls would do swim team. I love your photos, her cute freckles the best!
That is really great. You were probably going to tell me this last night but hey, I read about it so it is all good. NWA did a good job hooking me up.
Go AK! I swam the 100 Free and Back in high school and felt like a superstart when my dad cheered for me. I adore team sports and love ones that have an individual angle too. Just so you know-a weekly rinse with ketchup does wonders for chlorine-hair!
This is all just so cute! I love that she was willing to join the team and that you discovered she is a great swimmer! I thought that breast stroke was one of the ones she didn't know how to do... You got some wonderful shots of her big day!
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