Alexis loves to swim. "It's something I'm really good at!" We love she has found her passion. Swimming has changed our lives in just 9 months! All of the kids have been taking swimming lessons at the Bettendorf YMCA for almost 2 years. Private lessons every Saturday morning, most Saturdays. Its a hassle to get up early the one morning a week when we might sleep in and be lazy for a few hours. On the other hand it gets us up and moving and Mom and Dad get a workout in while the kids have their lessons.
After teaching Alexis, our swim teacher said "Alexis is a natural, you should put her on a swim team!" We let her swim for Walcott Junior High for the first time in Feb/March 2012. Charley swam too. Its a short swim season with just one swim meet for 6th graders. After that she was hooked. We signed her up on Davenport Metro's swim team the following April. She has been swimming ever since. We have been going to swim meets ever since! Life has changed.
After watching her friend and our neighbor, Allison, swim the mile at a swim meet, Alexis set a goal to swim the mile in January 2013 at a long distance swim meet. She did great for her first time. It's very nerve wracking for parents to watch! This is our first athlete. Never as a parent have I felt the JOY and PRIDE for a child(ren) as this sport has brought to our family.
In December Alexis swam a 1000 freestyle in preparation for the mile in 16 minutes. In January Alexis swam the mile for the first time in 27 minutes. 66 laps! She did great!
2/1/2013 Alexis swam the mile again. This time Steve told Alexis "Follow the pace car, Ms. Allison Fellner!" Allison swam in lane 3. Alexis in lane 2. The whole family cheered them both on. Hailey Dreyer counted for Alexis. Peggy Dreyer cheered too.
Maggie Eure and Charley timed the mile swim.
Guess who lost her goggles (about 5 minutes in) and cap (she shook it off after the loss of the goggles) during her 66 laps but kept on swimming. During one flip turn early on, Alexis kicked the wall real hard. It looked painful. She just kept on swimming.
Alexis was so happy when that swim was over even with red eyes! AND she dropped time in her mile swim! 25:52.13 was her official time at the 2013 East Moline Winter Swim Meet. We are soooo proud of our girl!
A celebration was in order...A Brownie Under at Whitey's for a job well done!
Peggy Dreyer claims Alexis is the "Spirit of Metro". On Facebook she wrote: "She was amazing! I love that girl...She is a true example of Metro Spirit with every smile, every bounce in her step, and every word of encouragement out of her mouth! Love, Love, Love!!!!"
Last weekend you qualified for STATE with your 50 freestyle. This weekend, another first for you, 3 relays and a 50 free at state! What an honor.
That's our girl. We love you! You make us very proud!
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