Mitch Taylor's Report on the NM SCY Championships

My name is Mitch Taylor and I just finished competing in my first swim meet, the New Mexico Masters State Meet.  Since this was my first meet, outside of a few people I know from swim practice with the Lobo Masters; I knew no one.  When I introduced myself to Philipp Djang I guess my enthusiasm was evident because he asked me to write a short segment on my first meet for the web page.  Initially, I turned him down, like swimming in meets; I have no experience writing articles.     Later in the session, Phillip asked me again. I could not refuse, knowing all the time he volunteers for the association.

Saturday I competed in only one event, which was the 100 butterfly. All the doubts I had of competing evaporated after the event and I could not imagine why I was so apprehensive.  The only thing that went right in this event was that I didn’t loose my goggles or get disqualified.  Everything else stunk.  I have had no experience in controlling adrenaline on the start and my form and resulting time showed it.   When I got out of the pool; however; people made me feel like I had really accomplished something and the support was great.  Equally satisfying were the tips I got that simply are not available in practice.   

Sunday I competed in the 200 free and 1000 free.  I used the pointers from Saturday and tried to control my pace.  This time I lost my goggles in the 200 and filled them on the 1000.  This cost me a few seconds but my pace and form seemed better and so were the results.   

If I hadn’t competed, the short term goals set at practice would probably have gotten old.  Now I have personal times on which to improve thus giving me more incentive at practice.  I can not thank Hank, April and Bill enough for hosting the meet, which allowed for this opportunity and I’m already looking forward to another meet.