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Dad surprises son at swim meet after deployment

Posted at 7:26 PM, Oct 14, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-14 19:26:29-04

MASON, Ohio -- Jayson Swezey thought his swim meet at the Mason Community Center would be just like any other. The meet was the first of the season for his Mason Manta Rays team.

But the 10-year-old was in for a big surprise: His dad, U.S. Navy Chief Paul Swezey, was home from Afghanistan after a 7-month deployment.

After he finished swimming the 50 butterfly, Jayson saw his dad, who had been standing near the pool in his NWU camouflage.

"I got out of the water and just saw him. I was like, 'wait, what's happening?' And I realized he was standing right there... It's one of the best feelings in the world," Jayson said.

You can watch his reaction in the video below.

 

More than 260 Mason Manta Ray swimmers kicked off the 2015-2016 swimming season with the 13th Annual Manta Rays Intrasquad Swim Meet, but for one particular swimmer, it was much more than the first meet of the year.In front of a packed natatorium at the Mason Community Center, the City of Mason's Manta Rays in Southwest Ohio welcomed home US Navy Chief Paul Swezey! After seven months in Afghanistan, Swezey came home two weeks early to surprise his family, and to be a surprise lane timer for his 10 year-old son Jayson!While Jayson was swimming his 50 butterfly, his Dad walked onto the pool deck in uniform and was standing behind his lane as he finished his race. As soon as he completed the race, he looked up and jumped out of the water to hug his dad. Needless to say there was not a dry eye in the pool.The rest of the meet ran smoothly thanks to great parent volunteers and the swimmers. Overall, the swimmers lit up the water with 747 best times and 19 new meet records!

Posted by City of Mason Recreation on Monday, October 12, 2015

 

Swezey was home two weeks early, according to a Facebook post from the City of Mason.

"Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the pool," the post said.