5 in a row!

Last night the Weston Red Tide Swimming AND Diving team captured their fifth title in a row in a close victory that came down to the final race the 4x100 free relay.

At the beginning of the season I don't think anyone really thought it was possible.  The boys worked hard all season with the usual ups and downs along the way and came together as a team when it counted.  It was a total team effort showing the strength in the depth of the team the and importance of diving. The Tide wouldn't have won if it wasn't for the three divers! At the beginning of the meet they also won the MIAA Sportsmanship Award. Big night!

It was also a bittersweet night as it was end of the road for our senior diver and reluctant swimmer Sean. He started off his high school career only diving with the added pressure of having an older swimming brother on the team. Year after year his diving got better and better, with the help of slope style skiing on the side.  Eventually, a little secret became public that Sean is also a very fast freestyle sprinter. In fact, in his junior year he was the first person in the teams history to score points in the state meeting in both diving and swimming! Ever the team player the last two years he likely swam more in meets than dove. His training consisted primarily of diving with a handful of 50's at some point during practice. Not necessarily ideal for either sport but he willing did it for the team with his own fun loving style and personality. Three state titles in four years was a heck of a way to capped off his diving and swimming career!

Not sure when or if we will ever see Sean swimming along a black line or twisting and flipping in the air above the pool. What I do know is that we will find Sean on a mountain twisting and flipping in the air above the snow!!! After a long day at Boston University's pool and a night of celebration he left at the crack of dawn this morning for the slopes.

Sean we are all very proud of you and all you accomplished in and out of the pool! Go Buffs!

One more to go with Weston swimming-Go GLOWS*!

*(Glorious Ladies of Weston Swimming)

#74 The Swim & Raquet Center-Florida Living

Typically, a quick business trip from Boston to south Florida in February is a great idea. Not necessarily the case on this trip. 

It was cold. I got off the plane mid afternoon and it was overcast and chilly. Not too bad for somebody from Boston but not what I was expecting. Dining al fresco solo I had to sit under a heat lamp to keep warm. When the alarm went off the next morning at 5:00am it was dark, likely cold and I hit the snooze, and I missed the masters workout. I finally got up at 7:00am and found another pool. The closest pool was the Swim & Raquet Center in Boca Raton. It's a nice eight lane outdoor pool at the local community center. It was so chilly the lifeguards wore stadium coats. I did a very lazy 2,100 yards in honor of Ryan's 21st birthday. I then went to the jacuzzi to warm down for 15 minutes. 

 

From Boca Raton I was off to hip South Beach Miami for an evening reception. There was really no time to check out the beach but that was ok as it was still so chilly they brought out the heat lamps for the pool side reception. Went to bed early so I could go the half block to the beach to watch the sunrise. After few minutes of standing in 50 degree temps in my swimsuit I took the plunge. I didn't swim too far out maybe 15 feet from shore because it was dawn I was in Florida and well...you know what could  be lurking! I only swam about 50 yards . I wish I would have swum more as the water was cool and felt great. Just happy to be in the water and to watch a beautiful sunrise. 

 

While not a typical short winter escape to Florida it was successful; lunch with an old colleague, my first new pool of the year (#74), a beautiful sunrise and staying at the W Hotel in South Beach with trendy art. 

Back to Boston for historic record cold temps between 0-minus10 degrees this weekend--oh well!