This last weekend I flew to Wyoming to watch my brother and his swim team take on the 3A state championships.
They were carrying a legacy on their shoulders.
The Lander Tiger men’s team has not lost a state championship in 14 (now 15) years.
They came to the pool determined and ready.
And the fight was on.
I post these photos in the spirit of team, brilliant grit, hard work, and respect. I think a lot of these guys don’t get the kind of respect or showcasing that they should. They are not just your average teenage boy. Yes, they have times of being teenage boys…BUT they also carry the weight of success on their minds, souls and spirits. I think some times they are over looked….they are just good at what they do, they are nice, high achievers, jocks….they don’t have time for problems….and so they are not asked. They are taken at face value…and that is a big loss for the people who just think they are boys. The overlookers have missed out on the souls of guys who are not fighting for themselves….they are fighting for the guys on their team, for the coaches, for their school, for their home town,
It’s about so much more.
So, if you have over looked these boys….here is a chance to see their faces and their achievements in the moment….
To the guys in green….BRAVO!! To every person who has ever dared to battle in the scary face of success and failure….BRAVO!!
Here is part one of this battle through my lens.
First photo of the battle.
This is Nick Robinson – Double state champ, Anchor of a gold medal relay, senior, Gaga fan (which makes me love him even more), a piece of the world who doesn’t get the recondition he deserves…(so today…he is my front page man!).
Sunshine line
Kent Scarince: A guy of silent action. A senior. A member of the 400 A freestyle relay (He swam gallantly!). A world traveler.
This what we brought for the battle…what did you bring?
Nick Robinson and Willy Ratz waiting for their turn on the blocks for warm up. Could be a very nervous time but they were calm as ever. Those are the kind of seniors everyone wants to lead them on!
Smile if you know 14 years of reasons to carry on
Ross Cook: Senior, Backstoke wonder, spent a good amount of the season trying to heal and then jumped into the pool to give it one more go before “there was no tomorrow” and swam a lifetime best. Yeeehaww!
Criss cross apple sauce
I have stood on these tiles before, in big moments in my own life, but this time it was one of the biggest.
Eternity eyes
Glen McCully: Senior, distance man, told me “I can’t believe this is the last year, It feels like yesterday when I was a freshman, this is my last chance, So I’m going to give it everything I have today.”
Bravo!
The thoughts between
Jeremiah Teeples and Chad Mason tell each other about their worries without saying a word.
The face
Matt Robinson sits facing the pool, thinking about the two days ahead of him….swims, questions, wonderments, wins or losses, points and times….
23.7
Bobby Cecrle told me while I took this photo that he was planning on swimming his 50 free in a 23.7. He just started swimming this year. Some people just feel it….Bobby is one of those people.
Take a peek around
This is Preston. He isn’t that huge of a fan of getting his photo taken. Which is why this photo is so perfect. Vision in action.
The engines of the green machine
There to support growth and to help pursue greatness. These are 3 of the 4 coaches who have driven the green machine!
*They don’t even win “coach of the year” or “asst coach of the year” anymore because they don’t have enough wall space*
Feel a rumblin’ in your bones.
When all your can feel is this moment, this goal, this time.
That’s when your fingers tingle, your heart quickens, your legs jump, and your mind is in the present.
Round about
Don’t-cha just love those round shaved heads?!
Anything can happen
Round the circles of wisdom go.
He grew up being coached by her, and now they coach together.
That is how champion secrets are held.
Delight!
They have been pestered by this sister photog for long enough this season that whenever the camera gets pulled out, they all group together.
Training…it comes in all forms.
Crystal eyes
Strategy = Fast
This is Zach Tilton…he went in to this meet with the intention of moving up and swimming fast….both of those goals were left in the dust by the end of the meet.
Snap Shot
Pearly whites
Alan Mandel: Junior. Defending state champ of diving. Master of psych up dancing.
V for Valiant
Waiting quietly for his round of diving…
What is on that life soundtrack?
Genetics
Sweet brother of mine.
I have never been so proud of a person.
“My little brother is twice my age”
He and I have traveled to the edges of black holes, played pretend, flew around the world, been to the top of mountains, and stood strong in the face of life winds.
and here we are together.
I stood still on the side of the pool while watching him race and felt the tears roll down my cheeks….I used to be proud of my swims, of my life….but nothing makes me prouder than to cheer “THAT’S MY BROTHER!”.
Stadium seating
It’s a hard job being a judge.
Light
But some times giving a 10 should be a no brainer.
Calm in the eye
Reaction
This is my favorite shot of the whole weekend….Hard shots to get because people almost always seem to look right into my camera and then smile…which is great…but it’s not often that people let your catch their raw emotion so closely.
Smooth lines
Drew had a fabulous 500…shocked himself a little? 
Go big green into the deep blue
The wait
“What’s the score?!”
Standing among giants
The last walk
Your turn!
Athlete of the meet
That’s my point
As the music plays
The curtain falls
and 15 is won.
xo
m
Bravo!!!
Wow Mei. These are amazing pictures. Tell the boys congratulations on their 15th Season – its very impressive. And also to the coaches. They do fantastic jobs. Im sure your very proud of Willy – he did fantastic at state! Since when has he been a breaststroker?
Hope your doing well
Michelle
The story (stories) of this team #15, deserve to be told. Mei, looking into the magnificent eyes of these young men as caught through the lens of your eyes, I am struck by how clear their vision was, how steady and resolved they were, and how kind they were to each other, supporting each other through illnesses and injuries. I confess, I worried more for this team than I have for any other of the teams we’ve coached. Buffalo got confident, thinking they had the upset in the bag. We lost to them in Worland, then Gillette, and on paper in the combined conference results. We didn’t know how much of a taper we’d get, there was so much illness. We knew every man, every swim, every point was going to matter. We coaches talked endlessly about how to swim strategically and get the best performance we could get. We worried, but this team never panicked. They just kept preparing, lead by the steady calm of their good seniors. John Kanengieter told them they had ONE CHANCE to be the epic team they wanted to be. They took that chance. They believed. They believed in themselves, each other, their coaches. When we committed to each other to be positive, do our best, keep the vision of success in mind, and not give up… we believed it was going to be worth it in the end. Everyone’s effort was a personal best and the result was oh, so sweet.
A special debt of gratitude goes to Dean Lehmkuhler, Steve Bechtel and John Kanengieter… thank you for helping this team be the best they could be.
Oh, Mei, what a great photo story. I love you,
Aunt Trudi
This is awesome
Brilliant – swimmer/subjects, coaches, sister on the other side of the lens. Your narrative was spot on, Mei! Success comes with diligence, doubt, support, practice and prevailing. LT, your supplement to the narrative is the story of the work. Parent, trainers, teachers, so many people helping to support the team. Wonderful outcome! Rest now.
Mei,
Wow, this pictures are incredible! You have no idea what this means to me, and the team. Thank you so much!
Steven Wilcox
Mei. You are one cool chick. With one cool Mom. I can’t even try to add words to your story. Thanks for sharing.
what a great post, Mei. So glad you could be there to watch your brother on this day!
Compelling story, striking photos! I feel like I was there. Glad you were able to be.
Mei,
I wish I could have been there to watch this meet. Having brothers help get the 15 started with years 5-12 in that 15 win series makes you feel a part of the team still. (It helps having been a part of the girl’s team, even if we never won while I swam for Lander.) I will say that my dad and I watched and counted points from home in Lander over the weekend, sending our thoughs to Gillette the whole time.
Love!!!!
In the ordinary day to day accomplishments of work well done, the extraordinary is nourished. Thanks for capturing the extraordinary Mei. Kudos to this team, and to all who surround them and support them. Bravo!
Leslie
Absolute admiration for the teamwork, the hard work, the coaching, the fortitude, the perceverence, the determination and the awesomely amazing chronicalers who care and share with such meaning and passion.
Hugs:)
Thanks Mei! Beautiful insight and images- thanks for being there and sharing! Jackie
Mei- These photos and your comments are outstanding! Congratulations to ALL of you! I am inspired…. Rachael
Pingback: Courage in Two Parts. (Round 2 of the 15th win) | Eight.30.one Photo