School Sports ARE GREAT!!

I have discovered that kids who are able to do sports through their school, make things so much easier on their parents!!  Ryan has participated in track and field the last two years since he has been in middle school.  It has been great as the bus gets him TO practice and I just need to get him home.  SO NICE!!  No taking him to practice and sitting there while he practices and then taking him home.  I have been encouraging all three of them to do something within the school whenever they can.

  This year he tried his hand at wrestling.  After he busted his knee Knee Post, he was not able to start when everyone else started.  So his practicing started later and he was not able to participate in matches for a while after the season started.  Therefore, he didn't do as well as he probably could have since he was so far behind everyone else in learning.  He was able to be at the practices even though he couldn't participate, but watching is never as effective as being able to wrestle. 

Ryan's first match.  He is shaking the hand of his opponent's coach.  He didn't win a match this year, but was only able to participate in three of them.  He will get them next year!!

Lydia and Emily participated in Track and Field this year with Ryan!!  All three kids did shot put, but Emily also branched out to do the 100 meter (Ryan has done that in the past) and the long jump (Ryan has done that in the past).  For some reason Ryan didn't want to do more than the shot put this year.  Lydia didn't either, but then regretted not trying the 100 meter herself.  By the time she decided to do it, they had one meet left and the championship.  The last meet was rained out so she was not able to do the 100 meter for the championship. 

Ryan, of course, has participated in East Rock High School Marching Band the past two years.  He will be participating this year as well.  He is going into his Freshman year as a 3rd year band member.  His sisters are debating on joining the color guard at ERHS this year.  The color guard is not a crazy advertised program at ERHS so there are not a lot of members.  They are liking it so far so we shall see how things work out.  This is a picture of one of their "open gym" sessions a few weeks ago.  I think it would be really neat to see all three of them do this together.  Lydia is a little short for the flag.  She has a harder time turning it because it hits the ground so easily.  We will see how it goes.

Sydney is the color guard captain.  She is facing the line of girls.  Emily is the 3rd one back with the mulit-colored work out pants on.  Lydia is the shortest one out there.  She is in the pink shirt with black pants.  The girl in front might be her size too??  She is also a middle school student.  The other girls are high school I believe. 

I missed this one!!! Trackin again!!

Not sure if you remember my post from last year or not.  Ryan participated in his Middle School's track and field team last year.  It was great!!  His events were the 100 meter race and the long jump.  This year he thought about not participating, but as the season got closer, he decided he might give it a try.  However, running was not his thing.  He decided to do shot put.  Being on the short side, he had a disadvantage in how far he could throw it.  He is strong though so he still would still put it pretty far out there.

Track this boy!

In Middle School you are limited in the sports you can participate in until you are in the 8th grade.  As a 6th grader, Ryan was able to participate in wrestling or track.  He decided he did not want to wrestle and really was not really interested in track, but several of his buddies were going to run track.  He realized that while there was A LOT of running involved, there were also other events that he could participate.  The events he chose were the 100 meter and the long jump.  I tried to talk him into the shot put, but again--his buddies were doing the long jump and the 100 meter.

I took lots of pictures during his track meets, but this is my favorite picture.  He said that his coach told him that when he starts to run, he should put his head down.  It took him a while to get that and he would often start with his head up.  This would cost him valuable time.  In this picture, he is the kid with the bright blue shoes on.  The closest to the camera.  As you can see, his head is down.  Love that he got it!  While he did not LOVE running track, he is already talking about doing it next year and has said that he will be attempting the shot put.  With his short, stocky build, I think he will be great!!