June 25, 2009

Swimmers Take Your Mark

Caleb’s first swim team experience just ended after two months of swimming five days a week. Where we live swim team is like a cult. Every neighborhood has a pool, and almost every neighborhood has a swim team. Our neighborhood team is the Dolphins, and they have been undefeated for the last three years.

It was an amazing program, and much better than any swim lessons we have done. The coaches all swim for their high school or college, and most of them were former Dolphins themselves.

Day one was cold and scary. I watched Caleb stand in position on the other end of the pool from me after nine months of being out of the pool. He was suppose to jump in and swim the length of the pool. I felt a sense of panic and it was like watching him in slow motion. I didn’t take a breath until he was safely on the other side of the pool. It was the first time that Andy or I had not been in the water with him. It felt like a total loss of control for me.

Each day got easier with less and less grabbing onto the coach or the lane divider. It eventually warmed up, although Caleb never once complained about the cold water. He learned how to dive and swim freestyle and backstroke. He started not being able to swim the length of the pool without holding on, and now he can swim back and forth 6 or 7 times without thinking anything of it.

Since we opted for the developmental team this year Caleb did not have to swim meets against the other neighborhoods. He had his first and only meet the other day. He swam three heats. He totally had the concept of taking off as soon as he heard the buzzer, and he was the first one off of the blocks in all three races. Halfway through the first race I started crying. He was swimming like his little life depended on it.

He ended up winning second place in freestyle, and he took two first place ribbons in backstroke and freestyle relay. We were so proud not because he won but they had all improved so much. It really was amazing to watch. He is already talking about moving up to the “real” team next year. Hopefully Caleb can help the Dolphins stay undefeated again next year!