The Zone

The Eastern Zone Long Course Championship

Penn State University

State College, Pennsylvania

August 12-15, 2009

11 teams competed:

they represented 12 states along the eastern seaboard

Virginia, Maryland, Delaware,

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut,

Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts,

Vermont, New Hampshire, & Maine

And Virginia Swimming-- Bub's team-- won!

A nail biter to the bitter end.

Amazing. Exhausting. Exhilarating. Awesome.

And Bub was a part of it all.

Over the course of four days, he

: raced in 6 individual events (the maximum allowed) and participated in 3 team relays (which placed 5th, 7th, and 9th in the Zone)

: broke his own personal record in the 100m butterfly-- a goal he's been struggling to reach all summer long

: made wonderful new friends, both young and old, and learned the value of a kind word spoken

: learned a ton-- both in and out of the water-- and made memories that will last a lifetime

My big, big Bub competed with the best of the very best...

and he walked away a champion.

Just one more totally proud moment for this mama.

**********

As for now... it's onward and upward.

The start of a new swim season starts tomorrow

(though I think we'll let Bub take a little break... if he wants to :)

... with new goals in mind and new milestones to reach.

As for our friends & family who have helped us and prayed for us along the way

(and most especially for our Bub), thank you.

You have blessed us tremendously, and for that we are ever grateful~

p.s. Mom and dad-- this past swim season has been one. wild. ride.

Thank you for your constant devotion and encouragement.

p.p.s. And to Gramoggie... your willingness to drive halfway across the country

to support your grandson means more than I can say-- thank you.