Swim Meet

On Saturday Mr. TOF and I saw The Banana swim for the last time in a high school meet in our city (that we will be able to attend). It is hard to believe that! It’s also crazy to think that when The Banana started on the high school swim team, my meet-watching buddy was only ten years old! He hasn’t missed a meet that was possible for him to be at since then. He’s one of her biggest supporters, filming her races on a device of one sort or another, writing down her splits in the 500, and keeping track of her PRs along with her friends’ PRs. He even goes to swim meets that I can’t get to.

A few nights before Saturday’s meet was Senior Night, and although I didn’t get to stay for the whole meet because I had a rehearsal, I was at part of it and we escorted our favorite Banana during the time when seniors were honored. Right after that The Banana got a season best time in her 500, and went under a time that she was waiting for a long time to crush. It was very exciting to watch! Although she had one faster race than that last season, it was at sectionals and after her taper, so to get that time at this point in the season was terrific. It was also the fastest I had ever seen her swim a 500. I was standing next to Mr. TOF in the balcony, and he was calculating the whole race. At one point he looked at me with excited eyes and said, “She’s going under!” I wasn’t so sure, but it happened!

The Banana swam the 500 almost as fast on Saturday, and then we got to watch her swim two relays. We happened to be sitting in a really good place to capture some images. They are such different experiences, that long and graceful 500 that stretches on for so very long, and then relays that are a frenzy of activity and excitement.