Swim Team

I was thrilled when I found out that Tessa was old enough for swim team this year.  They have a division called Guppies where the little ones can compete on their own level.  They focus on learning to swim and having fun.  The meets have events like noodle relays and kick board races as well as freestyle and backstroke.  It is fantastic!  At practice there are several coaches in the water which takes me back to my own coaching days.  Then, at the meets, the coaches help them swim the long 25 meters as much as is needed.  I am proud to say that, by the last meet, my baby swam freestyle the whole way all by herself.

We had a total of three meets and they had practice every morning in June.  We didn't make all the practices but we made all the meets.  Here is my swimmer lined up for her very first race. 

Swimmer take your mark - isn't that just too cute?!

This is a group shot from the first meet.  Tessa is totally in love with Marshall the cute coach on the back row.  She would usually position herself in his lane at practice so he would help her.  The child knows how to swim but, when he's around, she bats her eyes and acts helpless.  I swear I don't teach her these things!

Since I have already posted a version of freestyle I thought I would post a video of Tessa doing backstroke.  This was at a home meet and Gampa came to watch.  Tessa would swim and then look around for applause and then swim some more.  That's Emily Blake, the head coach, in the water with Tessa.  EB did a fantastic job with all the swimmers, I hope she is back next year.      

Tah-Dah!!!  Part of the fun of Guppies is that they get all kinds of silly rewards like leis, water guns, flip flops etc.  It was a great season and we look forward to our future swim team days.