Bubbles here and bubbles there. In rivers, lakes, and oceans fish swim in schools but to some schools of fish, the schools don’t offer the activity they love best, swimming.  Here at Cannon Falls schools we do not offer swimming as a high school sport; however some fish manage to look around and find opportunities to follow their passion.

The fish described here are actually Lindy Edstrom, Emma Conway, Katie Allen, and Olivia Anderson from Cannon Falls Middle School. The girls participate in U.S.A. swimming, a competitive racing sport. It is quite unique that girls who have to go to another school to participate in something we don’t offer still want to pursue a sport they love.

Emma Conway, a 7th grader, has been doing swimming for 3 years at the Northfield pool with another young lady, team member ,and competitor, Lindy Edstrom, who is an 8th grader and has been doing swimming since she was 8! Both girls go to Northfield middle school for practice and home meets.They practice  about three times a week.

As for Katie Allen and Olivia Anderson, they prefer Red Wing swim club at Twin Bluff Middle School in Red Wing. Olivia Anderson an 8th grader, along with her classmate Katie Allen have been doing swimming for a shorter period of time but both say they love it. Olivia has been in U.S.A. swimming for 2 years now and has taken the summer season off. As for Katie she has started this fall season.

There are four strokes: freestyle,breaststroke,butterfly and backstroke.  Butterfly, which is Lindy’s favorite, is when the feet are kept together and kick at the same time, and shoulders are being rolled forward. Freestyle is an up and down motion with the legs and the arms, one shoulder should be rolled at a time. Lindy has a time of 26.37  seconds  which makes her qualified for State along with Olivia who has a 30.54. Olivia Anderson’s favorite stroke is Breaststroke.

Breaststroke is a horizontal kick and the swimmer’s arms make a clapping motion near the middle of the chest . Breathing every stroke is necessary and the  stomach should be facing the bottom of the pool.Backstroke is Emma’s favored stroke. Backstroke is the freestyle but upside-down. All the girls say that they do swimming not only because it’s fun but because they get great exercise and get to meet new people. Some places the girls may go for meets are Hudson, River falls, Northfield, Red wing, Apple Valley, Rochester, and Hastings.

We are looking for new members joining from Cannon Falls.” Emma and Olivia said.

The girls have had a great season so far and are looking forward to many more successful meets. As Dory from Finding Nemo would say, “Just keep swimming.”