When I'm with you

Chapter 12

A month had passed since we had started training again, and it was finally time to show the fruits of our labour. We went early to the location of the event, as usual. This time it was held at the Siena Sports Complex. It was three times larger than the Acqua Complex, since all kind of sports competitions were held here.

We entered the waiting area where all the participants were gathered. We placed our things on the side where a cardboard saying "Edison Highschool Swim Team" was placed. I could feel the heaviness in the air. Everyone looked nervous, worried and anxious. I looked around to see all the participants: some were starting to warm-up, doing some stretching; others  were seriously listening to their coach's advice. Then I spotted the St. Mary's swim team by the corner of the left side of the room.

St. Mary Academy was an all girls school and its swim team had won Fresno's Highschool Swimming Competition for three consecutive years. They were most definitely the biggest threat. I heard that their ace was back, Silena Humpries, after being severely injured last year. Like me, she'd be participating in the 200m freestyle. Oh, and she had placed first for three years in a row until last year. Well that made me even more nervous.

After I scanned the room, our team had also started warming up. Mrs. Brown, our coach, had eyes full of expectation. She always looked like that on competitions. After a while, the announcer called the participants for the 100m butterfly. Like any normal swimming competition, the event started with the butterfly, then backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle and relay.

Sophie made her way to the pool. She didn't get the first place last time and she had promised to herself that she'd do her best this time.

The huge screen in the middle of the room showed us what was happening in the stadium. The camera panned on the participants making their way to their respective places. Sophie was assigned to the 3rd platform. All of the participants,including Sophie, were stretching before getting into the pool. Then they started lining up to the platforms and prepared in their dive-off position.

Then BANG!

The competitors dived into the pool and started swimming. Their arms moved at a perfect rhythm, making them looked like they were flying just like butterflies. Sophie was leading while St. Mary's representative was trying to overtake.

Then the bell rang, signalling that the race had ended. Swimmers were gasping for air as they got out of the pool. Everyone was waiting for the results to appear on the screen. Then finally, the Edison Highschool swim team's screams rang through the whole waiting room. SOPHIE GOT THE FIRST PLACE!! We could also hear the screams from outside. I knew they were our schoolmates who came here to cheer for us. Sophie gave us hope. It didn't matter that we were competing against Fresno's best swimmers: St. Mary's swim team, who got the second place. She proved to everyone that if we worked hard we could get through anything and win.

The competition continued. We were dominating the competition. My teammates gave it their all and we had 5 wins: Sophie got the first place in 100m buttetfly, Carol in 200m backstroke, and Katy in 100m freestyle; Bernadette got the second place in 100m breaststroke and Stacey in 200m breastroke.

It was finally my turn. My whole body was trembling. I felt like I would collapse at any moment, but fortunately it didn't happen. The fact that I'd be up against Silena Humpries made me feel so pressured and nervous. I wasn't expecting to win but at the very least I still was hoping.

When the announcer called for participants of the 200m freestyle, we all made our way to the pool. I gazed at the huge crowd in amazement the moment we got out. Siena Sport Complex was three times larger than the Acqua Complex, therefore there were also thrice as many people as last time. Banners were raised everytime, supporters were making noise by hitting the metal railings with empty plastic bottle, screaming and shouting. There were also some cheerleaders who came to support their respective schools, which reminded me about our school cheerleading squad. Damn that Cindy!