My Feet Make It In Print

A few weekends ago, I took part in a high school invitational meet (a meet where the varsity-level swimmers from many different schools compete all together) called The Speedo Classic. It took place at the U of A. Several of my close friends got to go and they all swam well despite the "rain out" that occurred later in the day. I only swam one event, the 500 free (20 laps), and my friend, Nick, counted for me. Counting is where you have a teammate stand at the end of your lane and help you keep track of how many laps you've done by using a board that they stick in the water when you do your turns. Although it was not my best race ever, a picture of Nick (and my feet) ended up the Arizona Daily Star. Now, before anyone asks, Nick IS the guy with the black hair in the speedo, lying on his side. I asked him what that was about, and it turns out that he likes to lie on his side while counting. Probably more comfortable than kneeling on the hard surface of the pool deck.

Schools In- But Not Forever

I started school this week, which was a LOT of fun. It's strange being a junior, an upper-class man, though. I'm still not used to saying I'm in 11th grade. However, I have great teachers this year. I'm the Assistant for my Spanish I teacher from last year, Senora Everist, and I'm going to design a class website for her. My AP (Advanced Placement) English teacher, Mr. Sudak, is funny and entertaining, as is my AP European History teacher, Mr. Lambert. I also have Spanish II, Algebra II (which involved getting a $79 graphing calculator), a semester of Ceramics, a semester of Weight Lifting, Graphic Arts II, and Marine Science. The funny thing with my Marine Science teacher, Ms. Kiki, is that she got her Bachelors Degree at UW-Madison, so she's a HUGE Packer and Badgers fan. She also is the teacher for the Science Olympiad team, coach for JV and Varsity soccer, and plays ice hockey and soccer in her free time. Also, she reminds me of Mags, my Latin teacher from West, and my friend Shoshana, combined.

With school, swim team has also started again. Most of my friends from last year are on the team, including Ryan and Nick, the music geeks, David, our resident movie-director-in-the-making, Sunny, the girly-girl of us all, Kat, my fellow classmate from history last year, and Ellie, the Sonoran Desert Museum junior docent and girl scout (who just returned from a six-month sabbatical in Japan). I'm still the shortest on the team by a good inch, but it gives my friends and coach, RJ, a good thing to tease me about. GO CFHS FALCONS, SWIMMING STATE CHAMPS FOR TEN YEARS RUNNING!