Midwest Regionals 2018

Ben's final swim meet of the year was Midwest Regionals, which involves over 70 teams from 12 states. In order to participate, you have to have a qualifying time which is not easy to achieve. Ben first participated in the meet last year. This year he qualified in three events: 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 50 freestyle. The regionals team practices for another month and a half after the boys season ends, and the meet is an intense 2 day event.

Ben drove us from Rapids to Aitkin, to get some supervised driving hours the Friday before the meet. We stopped in Aitkin for dinner, and as we were finishing up Kyle asked me "So, we have tickets for this thing right?" At which point I said "Oh, Shit". We very briefly thought about driving back to get them, but that would add another 2+ hours to the trip. So, we decided the time savings was more valuable than having to buy 3 mote tickets and continued on our way to the Shakopee Vannestes.

Saturday morning we woke to news that a stomach bug had also arrived at the Shakopee Vannestes. We went on our way for the day to the U of MN. Ben had 2 events on Saturday. He swam his 200 freestyle finishing in 15th place, and his 50 freestyle finishing in 14th place. He was somewhat disappointed in his time in the 200 freestyle, but admittedly was out of shape as he had often chosen pep band over regionals practices. Still pretty impressive to finish in the top 20, out of all those teams!

Ben's teammates warming him up.

In the American Flag swim cap
before his 200 free.

 Although the plan had been to watch the UMD Bulldogs win their way to another National Championship Title at the Vanneste House, we were all a little afraid of the stomach bug. So, we wondered around the Mall of America until bedtime and spent as little time there as possible. Sunday morning we got up and headed to an Original Pancake House in Eden Praire (we had discovered their amazing pancakes before the state swim meet at the Roseville location), before heading back to the U of MN.

On Sunday Ben swam his 100 freestyle and the 200 freestyle relay. Their relay team placed 12th, and Ben placed 8th (!!) in his 100 freestyle.

Before his 100 freestyle.

It was a busy weekend, but we still made it home in time to pick up the dog from the kennel in time to not have to pay for another night. Thanks to the time spent at the Mall of America and Sara's insistence that the kids stay out of the basement to ensure it was germ free, only one of us got the stomach flu.