The Stratford Knolls Sharks typically finish last in the league at the championship invitationals meet (and have all of the years we've been on the team) --- but not this year! This summer the Sharks had a winning season (4 wins, 3 losses at dual meets). And they finished 3rd place in the league at invitationals!
Here is a photo of the kids' trophies, AJ and Anna's MVP medals (awarded to one boy and one girl in each age group with the highest total points for the season), and a special league record breaker trophy the team made for AJ.
Below are a few race videos from the invitational meet. We also included the announcer videos from events in which AJ held league records. At this end of season meet, the announcer reads the current league record holder's name and time before the start of each event.
AJ 50 Breast Record Announcement
AJ 50 Breast - gets 1st
AJ 50 Fly Record Announcement
AJ 50 Fly - gets 1st!
Anna 25 Back - gets 1st!
Anna 25 Fly - gets 1st!
Lia 25 Free - she qualified into the fastest heat (of 4 heats) and has a great swim in the closest lane to the camera
AJ IM 100 Record Announcement
Swimming Invitationals
Anna in Play at Blackrock
Anna participated in a two-week musical theater camp. She loved it! Each of 4 groups of kids in the camp learned one dance, one song, and participated in opening and closing numbers of a full-length play with an original script written by staff and songs from Broadway shows. Each kid also was given a speaking part with a few lines.
Anna is Florian the Librarian, and the play is called The Library is Alive. Her group's musical numbers are from "Seussical": "Oh, The Thinks You Can Think," "Alone In The Universe," and "It's Possible"
AJ Long Course Championship Meet Day 3 - Finals
On Day Three of Long Course Age Groups Champs, AJ swam in two team relays and competed in preliminary heats for two individual events. He made it to finals heats for both individual events. He finished 15th overall in 200M Breaststroke and 11th overall and got a AAA time in the 50M Free.
The scoreboard and announcement of the swimmers in the 50 Free final didn't include his name because he was subbed in last minute (the official results published showed his name, but it wasn't changed in the computer soon enough to show on the board during the race). He was first alternate for making the top 16 cut for finals of the 50 Free. One of the swimmers scratched, so he got to swim - and turned in the 11th fastest time in the finals.
Sharks vs. Arora Hills (in rain)
It was an unseasonably cold and rainy day! Here are a few highlights from the meet:
AJ 25 Fly
AJ 50 Breast
Anna 25 Breast
Anna 25 Fly
Lia 25 fly
Lia 25 Free
AJ Long Course Championship Meet Day 2 - Prelims
On Day Two, AJ competed in 2 individual events. He made finals, and got a Zone qualifying time for the 100M Breaststroke event, but we scratched his spot in the finals in order to rest for a summer swim meet the next morning.
100 Breast
AJ Long Course Championship Meet Day 1 - Finals
On Day One, AJ competed in preliminary heats for 2 individual events, and also swam on two relays. In both individual events, he qualified for finals, got AAA and Zone qualifying times.
In prelims, he finished 12th in 50M Breaststroke, and 12th in 50M Fly. In finals, he finished 16th in 50M Breaststroke and 11th in 50M Fly.
50 Breast
50 Fly
Sharks vs. Hadley Farms
A few highlights from the meet:
AJ 50 Back
AJ 50 Breast
Anna 25 Breast
Anna 100 IM (She is swimming up in 11-12 yr olds. She is considered 8 and under for swimming)
Lia 25 Fly
Lia 25 Free
Sharks vs. WSAP
A few highlights from the meet:
AJ 25 Fly
AJ 50 Free
Anna 25 Back
Anna 25 Free
Lia 25 Fly
Lia 25 Free
Sharks vs. CVS
Lia 25 Back
Lia 25 Free
Anna 25 Breast
Anna 25 Fly
AJ 50 Free
AJ 100 IM (Breaks Another Record!)
https://www.ggsl.net/league-information/league-records
Annapolis Trip
This was a family weekend getaway in Annapolis. We visited the Naval Academy, went on a boat ride, saw Incredibles 2 in the movie theater, and spent time at a small beach. (FYI the small dog in our family photo on the boat ride is not ours. It is a very calm and friendly dog that was travelling with a family we sat next to on the boat.)
Starting to backfill videos when AJ was baby
FYI: We noticed some of the older videos from when AJ was a baby weren't playing anymore. So we re-uploaded some of those videos. We also added some new ones in 2005.
