Show-Me State Games

The 26th annual Show-Me State Games started off this weekend with a splash. Youth In Action volunteered at the swimming events held at Hickman High School, and boy did we get wet! We learned the official way to keep score. Two people stand at the end of each lane: one holds a stopwatch and a back-up buzzer while the other holds a stopwatch and a clip board. As the athlete swims their last 25 meters, the timers look over the edge of the pool to see the second they hit the wall. One the wall is also a electronic pad to time their finish (we are the keeping the hard copy back-up).

The best Show-Me moment came at the end of the day. We were sitting on the benches, waiting for the next 500 freestyle to start. A man checked into the lane next to us who said next week he was going to be 80 years old. He too was swimming the 500 free style. In the Hickman high school pool that means down and back 20 times. I hope that I can be that healthy and motivated when I’m 80 years old.

It was wonderful to be part of the Largest state games in the nation (according to the Show-Me State Games website https://www.smsg.org/index.php )
Without volunteers, the State Games could not happen. What is so wonderful about these games, is the range of skill level. We witnessed middle school students, moms with cheering sections and grandfathers show off their strokes. Just by giving a few hours of our time, we helped make the goals of the young and young at heart happen.

Event hours: 17.5 Total Hours: 26.5


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