Well, this will be the first --- and last --- time I will write about our annual Varsity Banquet. These banquets are always fun, but this one was bittersweet as it was the last of my high school swimming career. It is always a special treat to get together with my teammates at these events. Usually, our time together is in the pool and it rarely occurs that all of us can mix and mingle on a purely social basis. At these banquets, our coach, Sandra, always gives a very flattering speech about each of us --- even if we messed up a few times. She’s good at this inspirational stuff and we all appreciate it. Coach also told us that, of all the teams in our school, the Girls Swim Team has the best academic record this year. A bunch of us got little "scholar-athlete" pins for this. These banquets are also the time when a few swimming awards are given out. I was very flattered this year when a teammate and I were given “Most Valuable Swimmer” trophies. That made me feel really good. My teammates and I that broke the school record for the 200 medley relay also received trophies. Finally, because of my performance at the annual Sectionals meet, I received medals for how well I did in the 100 fly and 200 free. So, it was a great banquet --- socially as well as from the point of view of making me feel like I may have gotten a little bit faster in the past year or so. It’s too bad it will be the last one. But life goes on. New adventures lie ahead…
