This years Arizona's team was prepared and unified as a team and our performance showed it. We really had a great swim meet (we actually had quite a few sick swimmers who were giving it their all, and even a few of them swam great). Laura Slater had the best swim meet of her career, doing all best times, making every final, all in Far Western qualifying times.In her 50 free she made the 13-14 FW time standard as a 12 year old!! Ste Christofferson continues her march toward national competition, just missing her Junior National time standard by .15 in the 200 breast. Overall our team had 52 FW level swims at the meet including 13 brand new ones (Nolan Mattox, Rod Hess, Kate Bettinger, and Dillo Moscone all had swims that nearly added to that total...let's get them at San Ramon!!)

The 13 new FW swims were

• Laura Slater 50 back ( 31.1), 100 back ( 1:07.7), 200 free (2:06.0), 500 free (5:42.5)
  
• Peter Landefeld 50 fly (29.5)
  
• Devon DeMont 100 free (58.6)
  
• Raquel Newman 200 breast (2:46.8)
  
• Mattie Winkler 200 breast (2;44.0)
  
• Alexandra Masterson 50 breast (35.8)( first FW time ever)
  
• Deborah Roth 50 free, (26.7), 50 breast (35.3)
  
• Kate Bettinger 50 free ( first time under 30....29.97!!)
  
• Chris Packer 50 free (24.3)( first FW time ever)
  

New Board Times

• Dillon Moscone 200 back ( 2:19.0) new team record
  
• Nolan Mattox 100 fly (1:01.2), 200 fly ( 2:24.00)
  
• Brad Cline 50 back (33.3), 50 free (28.3), 200 IM (2:38.4)
  
• Ste Christofferson 100 breast (1:07.5) new team record, 200 breast (2:24.4) new team record
  

Other highlights
--really really fun relays...mass chaos and energy behind the blocks...those Arizona team really know how to whoop it up
--Jo Jo Winkler virtually running to the pool to make it to her finals event. Still did really well. Signs of a future triathlete folowing in her Mom's footsteps
--Ahhh the rain of Arizona...we were so worried about getting sunburned and were luckily spared by the weather gods.
--Dillon acting as a 10 year old ( you had to be there)
-- even while being really busy, many of our swimmers showing there academic side by going to the library to study a bit in between sessions. No wonder we are such a smart well rounded team!!

Finally a big thank you to our attending parents who helped make this meet happen. By handling the extra curriculars of a travel meet (arranging food, transportation,shelter, tutorials,sharing child watching responsibilities), you allowed Mike and myself to keep our focus on coaching the swimmers.. Your efforts help unify our team and are indispensible to our program...thank you thank you!!

Calling all Tuna who qualify for this meet...travel meets are a big part of the whole experience. See you there next year!!