When Kyler first started swim team at the beginning of the Summer, he knew all his strokes, was what I would call a "swimmer" but was definitely still a beginner. The first couple of weeks of swim team practice, he definitely improved but was only racing his teammates from Ventana Ranch and was holding his own. His first meet against other kids in the city was a real eye opener for him. For one, it was a brand new experience actually doing a meet and racing in all the different events. He ended up coming in 5th, 6th and 7th in all his events and left feeling pretty discouraged in himself. We told him that this was all brand new and now he knew more of what to expect and what to work towards.
Work he did! He worked his tail end off this Summer. He jogged with me almost every morning 2 1/5 miles, swam in jeans and a shirt at practices, did everything his coaches asked him to and didn't miss one practice or meet....and he didn't complain once. Well, not about anything that had to do with swimming anyway. ;) It was so cool to watch him improve every week at meets and go from 5th, 6th and 7th place, to 3rd and 4th to 2nd to 1st place in his events. BUT, my very favorite thing was the fact that he was excited about his ribbons, but he was way more interested and focused on his TIMES and beating HIMSELF every week. THAT is probably what impressed me the most about our little man.
We went to District yesterday to try to qualify for the City meet and again, it was a whole new experience with official times, places and rules. If everything isn't done correctly, you get disqualified. Kyler's first and favorite event was the IM and he got disqualified because they thought his kick in his breast stroke looked like a dolphin kick. He wasn't doing a dolphin kick but it resembles one when you're looking from across the pool. He came in 2nd and would have made city in that event but got scratched. He was very upset and was fighting tears out of disappointment and frustration but within a few minutes was over it and focused on his next event which was another favorite of his, the backstroke. He won 1st but got disqualified AGAIN for touching the wall on his side, instead of his back. His coaches didn't even know it was an illegal touch. They disputed the call because it's legal in high school but the call still held and he was scratched again. I have to say, he has the BEST team and coaches in the world because when he got disqualified AGAIN after coming in FIRST his team surrounded him and I think were more upset about it than he was and he was pretty upset. But again, within a few minutes he was okay and focusing on his next event, the butterfly. He came in 3rd in his heat and 4th overall and qualified for city. His next event was the freestyle and he came in 1st in his heat and 4th overall and qualified in that one too. His last event was the breaststroke and we were worried because that's what he got disqualified from in the IM. He was 1st in his heat and the judge came and talked to him after he swam and we thought he got disqualified again but the judge just told him to kick his legs out more so it doesn't LOOK like a dolphin kick...so he didn't get scratched and qualified for city in that event as well. Whew! So, he'll be doing 2 relays and 3 personal events next week at city.
I'm just so proud of his hard work and how he handled being disqualified. Sometimes I think it's easier to not have made it than to know you made it and not be able to compete. But life throws things like that at you all the time and it's nice to know he was disappointed but didn't fall apart or hold onto it so it ruined the rest of his day and events. Sometimes as parents, we get so discouraged and worried if we're giving them all the life skills they'll need to go out in the world and to not only live up to all their potential but hopefully make their own mark on the world. So moments like this make my heart smile to see that he's already gaining some of those skills that we're working so hard to instill in him....and see that he IS listening to us, at least some of the time. ;)
Okay...all finished....thanks for letting me toot Kyler's horn a little bit. Getting to share these fun little highlights in our lives really does make them all the more special! Thanks guys! :)
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