Western Zone Age Groups

This was a fun meet because it was 4 days long, you got to stay in a hotel room with your teammates, and there are no parents with you. We flew out at the Okland Airport. Our head coach was named Tony. On the plane, I sat next to Diva and Sage. When we got to Boise, we first went to the hotel to drop our bags off. After, we went to the pool to warm up. We waited about a hour to warm up. When we did warm up, we did dives, sprints, relay starts, flip turns, and finishes. All the girls on 10 and under team were Sage, Diva, Catherine, Savy, Emalia, Sarah, Hellen, and Vic. When we were done with warm ups, we had lunch. We were at the pool for like 3 hours before we went back to the hotel. My roommates were Catherine ad Vic. We had three hours before we headed down for dinner. While we waited, we played Uno. A little while later, some other girl came over. When it was dinner time, we ate Olive Garden. It was amazing. After that we went back to our rooms and went to bed.

Day one

The next day we had to wake up at 6 to get packed up and get down to breakfast. Today I was going to swim the 2 free and 1 back ( Which means 200 free and 100 back). For breakfast, I had waffles and eggs. We had to make two trips to the pool because we only had one school bus to take us everywhere. Luckily, the 10 and under girls were on the first bus. We headed there and when we got there, we warmed up. I did some back and some free. After that I did some dives. I did about 5 dives and 5 starts for for backstroke. When the meet started, I had about an hour before I swam my 2 free. So I cheered on my teammates and hung out with the other girls. I was event 9 so when it was event 7, I went to go warm up with the other girls who were also swimming the 200. I was heat 1, lane 6. When I go, I shoot off the block. I'm going as fast as I can. Well, not as fast as I can but pretty fast. When I finished, I had added 6 seconds. I was not happy. I started to cry but my coach told me it's ok. She told me I was first alternate for finals. My next event was 15. While I waited, I sat down and took a tiny Power Nap. When the other girls who were doing the 100 came over they woke me up and headed over. I did some kicking and some backstroke swim. I was heat 3, lane 7. When I was up I was excited because it's one of my favorite events. They had these fancy backstroke start wedge. It was so nice to use it. When I started, I shot off the wedge. When I was done I had found out I was first alternate again. So my coach told me I had to be ready to swim. After prelims, we went to the hotel. I watched movies during the 3 hour break with my teammates. After that, we went back to the pool for finals. I cheered on my teammates when I was there. Let me just tell you this, I didn't swim again.

Day 2

Today I was going to swim the 100 free and the 50 fly. We had to wake up at 5:15 A.M to get ready because we had the early warm up. So, after we packed, we went down to breakfast where I had waffles, cereal, and eggs. The 100 free was the very first event that day so, we had to be on the first bus. When we got to the pool, the water was cold. For warm up, all I did was do butterfly and freestyle. Then I did some dives. After I was done warming up, I went back to the tent. I was heat 3, lane 1. After everybody who was on Pacific Swimming was done warming up, I went back to warm up along with the other girls who were doing the 100, too. When they started heat 2, I went to go stand behind my block. They called out heat 3 as I stepped onto the block. "Take your marks," they say. Beep! I shoot off the block. When I do my underwater, I feel really good. When I finish, I see I have added 2 seconds. I don't get upset because all this meet I've only added time. But, the meet had just began so, it could change. My next event was the 50 fly. I was heat 1, lane 1. When I went to warm up, I did one-armed fly, dolphin kicks, and some butterfly swimming. I head over to the blocks. When it's my turn, I step on the block. When I hear the beep, I shoot off the block. Fly is my least favorite stroke so, I do a underwater as long as possible so I have to do less butterfly swimming. When I do come up, I do really good butterfly. At the very end, I see that I've cut 3 seconds! I was so happy. Even though I made finals for nothing, I think I did pretty well that day.

Day 3

On day 3, I swam the 50 back. That was all I was swimming. Everybody only got 6 events and this was my 5 event. I ate my usual breakfast and was on the 2nd bus this time. When we get there, all of the 13, 14's have already warmed up. So we put down our stuff and get ready to warm up. I only do backstroke swim and backstroke kick. At finals the other day, I didn't tell you that we had thunder and lightning, so they moved the relays over so that they would be done today. Remember that, ok? So, after warm up, I went to sit down. I took some photos with the other girls, but I also watched "The Princess Switch." The funny thing about it was that, it's the middle of summer and we're watching a Christmas movie. Anyway, when it's time for the other girls to do the 100 breast. So I go over to cheer. When I don't see one of my teammates who's supposed to be swimming not swimming. The rule is here, if you miss prelims, you can't swim the rest of the day. So I started to get nervous because, she can't swim anymore for the rest of the day so, who's going to fill in for her in the relay? When I'm done cheering, I head over to talk to coach. I'm going to warm up for the backstroke. I go over and she tells me what to do but, she also tells me I'm going to be swimming the relay for my teammate. I feel guilty while warming up. But I soon shake it off and start getting in the zone for the 50 back. Backstroke is my favorite stroke for some reason. So I love the backstroke events. I'm heat 2, lane 8. When they start the event before my event, head over to the blocks. I love doing the backstroke starts because of the nice backstroke wedges they have for starts. When I'm in the water and they tell me to take my marks, I get in the zone. Beep! I fly as I blast off my start. I'm gliding through the water like a otter. When I touch the wall, I think I added time. But my dad tells me I cut 0.01. I'm amazed by this. After the boys 13,14's swim there 400 free, they take a 20 minute break and open up the competition pool for relay dives this was a medley relay. I was free. Our team was the Pacific B team. We were also going against the Pacific A team. When it was time, we got ready. We were in the zone. When my teammate touched the wall for fly, I shot off that block and swam as if a Great White Shark was chasing me. When I touched I saw that we had gotten 4th. We had scored 30 points for our team. That was the good thing about it. Day 3 was one of my favorite days because I cut time.

The Last Day

The last day was the best day. We were all gathered up in the meeting room. Back in our hotel rooms was all our packed things. Coach Tony was giving his usual speech about what was going to happen. After finals, we would go to the family fun center. Then, if we won, we would shave our coach's head. We probably were going to because we were in the lead by over 1,000 points. I was swimming the 50 free that day. As we got on to the bus, my stomach started to knot. I was nervous for some reason. When I got in to the pool, it was cold. But, I fought with the cold because our coach told us to control the things we can control but the things we can't control, we just got to go with it. After warm up, all the ten and under girls hung out together. Another thing that was also fun was we got to trade gear. I brought 8 caps to trade. I went with Sarah to trade stuff. When it was time to warm up, I did some freestyle and some freestyle kicking. I was heat 1, lane 1. When it was time to swim, I was excited. This was my last event for the meet. When they announced my event, I was in the zone. When I heard that beep, I went for it. I wanted to go fast. When I was done, I had added time but, I always get 35's so I didn't really care. After prelims, we head back to the hotel. This is the last day to hang out with my teammates before we leave to go home. We play games and laugh and just had a good time. When we left for finals, Sarah and I were ready to trade some more stuff. While everybody else was warming up, Sarah and I played games on my phone. When they played the national anthem, we went over to our cheer area near the scoreboard. After the cheer, we went to go cheer on our teammates. When our teammates swim, we go cheer to make sure everybody knows we are there for our teammates. At the end of the meet, we got 1st place and there were lots of photos. When we were done, we went to the family fun center, there were bumper cars, rides, a jungle gym and so much other stuff. First, we had pizza. We also had unlimited soda. After, Emalia and I buddied up and went to the tornado first. After, we went to the frog leap and bumper cars. Then we went rock climbing. We waited in line for a while but then we got to rock climbing. Then we went back to the hotel. We had more food back there and we shaved our coaches head. Then we had to go back to our rooms. When I got back. It was 1:00 in the morning. We had to get up at 4:30 for our flight so we only had about 4 hours to sleep. As I drifted off to sleep, I was thinking, "This meet was awesome." I hope I do it next year.

As I write this I am recovering from a tonsillectomy which means I will be out of the water for awhile. There will be less meets in the fall as I focus on soccer and cross country. Stay tuned for my next adventures come October!

My dad and I getting ready to meet the gang.

We pose for a picture to capture this moment.

We finally see the pool.

After the meet, we all sign a Pacific poster.

After the meet, we pose for a photo.

1st place trophy!!!!!!

We won by over 2,000 points.

After we win, we push our coaches in the pool.

After the meet, we take a ten and under girls photo with some ten and under boys.

Too many ten and under girl photos.

We are half way through the process of shaving his head.