Spooktacular Swim Invite

I can't believe I have volunteered at my last Spooktacular invite! I have done the hospitality shift four years in a row. I got there right on time this morning at 8:30 AM and they were having a coaches' meeting. Most of the stuff was already set out and I just had to help replenish. I brought all the grapes, and the strawberries were already there from yesterday because Daniel took them with him to practice. They were very grateful that I had prepared the fruit ahead of time. All the events were running right on time. His first event was at 9:51 AM. He did fine in that one. He swam the 500 m freestyle at 11:43 AM. They were running almost to the minute on time. Daniel started off the race in about third place and he pretty quickly pulled into second place. Then we watched in amazement as he overtook everybody and was in first place. And he stayed in first place for the rest of the race! It was amazing! I recorded the whole thing. I was so excited for him that I forgot to count his laps. Michael and I were yelling and cheering him on periodically. He won the heat! I was so proud of him! By the time he finished, he was a full pool length in front of the second-place person so that was amazing. I quickly walked over to where he was. They had it closed off with a string and flags so I waited there for a minute to try and find him. I saw his coach and I raised my hands in the air and jumped up and down and yelled, "Coach!" and cheered. I could tell she was so happy, too. Jared Sullivan walked behind us and said, "You can go if you want to." We saw him walking over so we went under the string of flags and I rushed over to him and hugged him. I was so happy! It was so exciting to see him do so well. Coach Jen was tearing up. She was so happy and proud of him. I said, "You were right, coach!" I chuckled and said we were a little surprised when we found out he was starting in the 500 m as a senior. I said, "You're so smart coach, thank you for challenging him!" She said to him, "It's your event now." She told us she thinks he's the best and he's her favorite. She was getting really choked up. I said, "Oh, that's so nice!" He really is wonderful! He had to run back and get his ticket so that he could get his rubber duckie for winning the heat. If he had been in the third heat, he would've gotten an award but at least he got his little ducky. 

I had taken pictures of him earlier but I had to get a couple more. His friend Mia, who is also a captain, offered to take our picture and I said that would be so nice, thank you! I took a couple of just him and I took a couple of him and Mia together. I was so grateful to be on the hospitality shift again because it was so hot today. It had to have been at least 110°. It said 111° in my car.  

It was nice to have the grapes all prepared because that made it easy to put them in little cups and hand them out to the coaches and the timers. My shift ended at 12:15 PM but I stayed a little longer. I think it was a couple minutes after 1 PM by the time I left. Jen Sullivan was also doing the hospitality and she was staying all day so I didn't want to leave her to do it by herself. We got everything switched over for lunch and set out chips and things. The taco people came. Their tacos are so good! I got a steak and a chicken taco and a churro.

What a fantastic day! So glad I was there to celebrate Daniel's accomplishments!