Conference Week: The Final Meet for Wheeling - Week 25

This week has been a blast. It all started with a normal Monday—nothing special, just nerves slowly creeping in as the big competition approached. Then came Tuesday, and it was go time. I had my bags packed, went to morning practice, and loaded everything into the van before heading out for the drive to Canton, Ohio. This was it—my last competition representing Wheeling University.

Once we arrived, I got a quick swim in to loosen up before the first day of racing. With some time to spare, I made a quick stop at Target, had dinner, and, of course, took care of one of the most important pre-race rituals—shaving. As a swimmer, every inch of the body is shaved before big competitions to reduce drag in the water. I also had my Swedish power snacks that my family had sent me, making sure I was fueled and ready. I had done everything I could to prepare—now, it was time to race.

Day 1: The 50 Yard Freestyle

The first day started with the 50-yard freestyle, one of my main events. In prelims, I placed higher than expected—third overall—which was a huge achievement, though I had hoped for a faster time. The nerves were unlike anything I had ever felt before. Going into the final, I was the only swimmer from the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in the A-final, competing against seven Findlay swimmers. It wasn’t just about me or my team anymore—I was now racing for the entire conference.

I made sure to rest, eat, hydrate, and warm up properly before finals. When the time came, I managed to drop time again—a major accomplishment. Unfortunately, the other swimmers also improved, and I finished sixth overall. Despite that, I won my first ALL-MEC conference title and was the fastest freshman in the event. Maybe next time, I can climb even higher.

I had another shot at dropping time in the 50 freestyle when I led off a relay. I matched my finals time exactly, down to the hundredth of a second. While I was hoping to go even faster, it was still a solid effort.

Day 2: The 100 Yard Butterfly

The second day was all about the 100-yard butterfly. Once again, I managed to drop time in both prelims and finals, winning the B-final with a new personal best. However, I narrowly missed another MEC title, placing fourth in the conference and ninth overall. A good swim, but nothing too special.

Later that evening, I swam the 100 freestyle as part of a relay. This was a major highlight—I clocked a 46.5-second split, by far the fastest I’ve ever swum in a yard pool. That set high expectations for my individual 100 freestyle later in the meet.

Day 3: The 100 Yard Breaststroke

The third day brought another big moment—the 100-yard breaststroke. I once again won the B-final, finishing third in the conference and securing my second individual MEC title. The most exciting part? Breaking one minute for the first time individually. That swim also qualified me for Swedish Nationals this summer, which is a huge milestone. There’s still a lot more to give in this event, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Day 4: The 100 Yard Freestyle

By the final day, exhaustion had fully set in. My body felt drained, and I was running on fumes. The last event was the 100-yard freestyle, and my goal was to beat my relay time from earlier in the week. I gave it everything I had, but I couldn’t quite reach it, finishing just above 47 seconds. That placed me in the B-final, where I finished third, just missing another MEC title with a fourth-place conference finish.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, it was an exciting week, but I can’t say I’m completely satisfied. The 100-yard breaststroke was a highlight, as was earning my first ALL-MEC title in the 50 freestyle. But overall, this isn’t where I want to be. There’s work to be done. With Swedish Nationals coming up, I need to lock in, train harder, and be ready to perform at my best. This conference was a step forward, but the real challenge is still ahead.