Chapter Nine
SWIMMING FOR THE TEAM
That Saturday was a home meet for the Knights. It was also a tri-meet, meaning three teams were competing, and there were more people than usual. Almost every seat in the stands was full.
As Jenny walked out to join her team by the pool, her eyes drifted up to the crowded stands. But she quickly turned her back and started talking to Larissa about her events, not letting herself get psyched out.
Jenny watched her friends swim the first relay of the meet. She kept all her attention on the girls gliding through the water. They won the first relay by a second and a half. It was a good start.
“Event number two, the 200-yard freestyle,” the announcer called through the speakers. “Swimmers, please come to the starting blocks.”
Jenny took a deep breath. That was her event. She got onto the starting block and pulled her goggles down. She placed her left foot back and her right foot up to the edge of the block. Then she bent her knees and crouched down.
“Take your mark,” the announcer said.
Jenny gripped the block. Her whole body tensed as she waited for the starting buzzer.
BZZZZZ!
Jenny flew into the water. Keeping her body as straight as possible, she glided through the water. She thought about the finish line and her teammates counting on her to swim her fastest. The water rushed by her.
When her hand met the edge of the pool on the final lap, Jenny heard crazy cheering from her team. She looked up and saw that the other swimmers were still several strokes behind. She’d done it!
Jenny pushed herself up out of the pool and gave Maya a wet, happy hug.
“You were on fire!” Maya exclaimed.
Jenny grinned. “We are totally winning this thing!” she said confidently.
* * *
The 200-yard freestyle relay was Jenny’s next event. By the time it was her turn to hit the water, one of the other teams had taken the lead. But she didn’t let that stop her. Jenny jumped in and swam with confidence, finally pulling ahead of the other swimmer on her last lap. It was enough for Anna, who was swimming the final two laps, to keep the lead and win.
The excitement was contagious. Every member of the team was giving it her all and swimming her very best. Everyone was cheering.
Jenny risked a glance up at the crowd and saw her parents grinning proudly. She gave them a little wave and then turned back to her friends. She had one more event, and she needed to stay focused.
* * *
Jenny’s last event of the meet was the 100-yard backstroke. It was another solo race. After her previous two successes, though, Jenny was feeling good. It was easy to keep her thoughts on the water as she climbed onto the block.
The buzzer sounded, and Jenny pushed off the wall. Since she was on her back this time, she could see the crowd out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head slightly so that all she could see were her teammates cheering from the side of the pool.
“Go, Jenny, go!” yelled Larissa.
“You’re doing great!” shouted Maya.
Sarah, Anna, and the rest of the Knights whistled and clapped.
Jenny swam even harder. She was not going to let them down.
Back and forth across the pool she went, thoughts of victory filling her mind. Jenny couldn’t tell where the other swimmers were in the water, so she just focused on swimming with strong, efficient strokes and long kicks.
Before she knew it, she was touching the wall. Jenny flipped off her back and looked for the other swimmers. One girl was still finishing, but the girl in the lane to Jenny’s left was also done and glancing around. It must have been close.
Both girls looked up at the board to watch for their times. Jenny gasped as the times lit up the board — she had won!
Jenny jumped out of the pool and smiled big as her friends rushed over to her. “Go Knights!” she shouted.
Her teammates cheered and crowded around her. “Go Knights!” they shouted.