Hi State Champions!

Well it took me about 24 hours but I am already wanting to be back at the pool with you all. It is so hard saying goodbye to another great season. It seems to go by faster and faster every year, maybe that is my age or because we have so much fun as a group!

Believe it or not I am finding it hard to say a few words that encapsulates the experience at States this year. We had so many phenomenal swims. Many members of our team can say they are State Record Holders. 6 year old Kai Bujold (25 free and 25 back) joins Simon Russell (50 fly and 100 fly) and Aiden Boyle (50 fly, 100 free, 200 free, and 500 free) on the Vermont State Record Board! Our 15-18 Boys 200 Medley of Beckham Palmer, Simon Russell, James Duprey, and Aiden Boyle claimed the record from a former BTC team, way to keep the BTC name on the board boys!

I am so proud of all of our swimmers who competed this weekend. In our team of 116 swimmers we had many who it was their first state meet experience. I watched so many come from behind victories that took guts and perseverance. I watched grace from our swimmers when they discovered they were touched out. Although I am sure they were disappointed, they still reached out their hand to congratulate the person that beat them to the wall. It is moments like that, that really show a person’s character and toughness. I am so proud when I see moments like that. 

Another particularly heartwarming moment I witnessed was our 8&Under Girls 100 Freestyle Relay, we had 5 year old Zara as a last minute sub. She swam so fast, I think she maybe breathed once or twice the whole 25. I have never seen those 4 girls swim so fast. When they got out and talked to me they were so happy with their 3rd place finish and they said we got a medal for Zara! All those girls, they were in it for each other, they were supporting each other, and together they got more out of themselves than all of us would have thought possible, phenomenal! They all have the heart of a champion! So many memories are formed at these meets, and so many experiences good and bad bring us all together. They challenge us and help shape us as people. I think so much of who we are and who we become is realized through challenge and opportunity. We try to provide both here at summer swimming and maybe along the way we become better teammates and better swimmers.

All right everyone, that is the end of my meet recap, I am getting too philosophical it is time for me to stop. I have included results and a list of the state records attached to this email. I will set all your swimmers’ medals out in the main room at the club for you to pick up in the next week or so. I have them all sorted in baggies by family name. So come and get them!

If you are looking for more swim opportunities this fall and winter there are programs (St. Albans, the Y, the Edge, Middlebury, Addison Otters, etc) in the area with registration open or opening. My team is the CVSA Sturgeons and we start our fall session the day after Labor Day, training at St. Michael’s College. I will be opening registration for that shortly, hopefully by the end of this week. Let me know if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them! Please keep up the swimming, being in the water is just so good for the soul, or at least I think it is.

Oh one more thing, if you want copies of any of the photos that have been posted on our team’s instagram please reach out to Coach Kate at: 518-593-7651. Thanks Kate!

That is all for now, hopefully see you at the pool soon!

Coach Hilary