Friday, November 4, 2011

Great Article from SwimmingWorldMagazine.com!

I've again been struggling to find both time and inspiration to write on the blog. I'm actually brainstorming around a topic, so I'll get to it soon. Meanwhile, I just read this article out of Swimming World Magazine's website, and it certainly deserves to be shared! It is amazing how much everyone involved benefit when coaches from different team can sit down and work together to move swimming forward in the whole area.

The article cites a number of situations in which some of the best coaches in the US left their egos at the door, and simply worked together, challenged each other, and made all swimmers and clubs involved better! I also feel the need to remind people of something the article does not talk about: you need get involved at the LSC level! If your LSC gets better, you, your club and your swimmers will have to get better too! Last, but certainly not least, I want to emphasize the portion of the article that reminds how important it is for coaches to have an uncompromising philosophy towards doing what needs to be done!!! There will be times when you will have to go against the will of the parents, swimmers, and board of directors in your team, but you must remember you won't be doing anybody a favor if you choose to compromise.

Now, do yourself a favor and read the article!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Is average good enough for you?

This post has been in my head since getting my GoSwim weekly e-mail update earlier in the week. I had been trying to find inspiration to write something, but struggling to find something that really hit home, until reading Glen's article on Steve Jobs' and Al Weatherhead's life examples and how they can also apply to swimming. He does a great job on showing how these two can inspire coaches and athletes to overcome mediocrity. First of all, read his article! Here's my personal take on it:

In my experience as a swim coach, I have never had an athlete sit down with me to discuss goals and say "I just want to be average". However, I've seen too many athletes paving the path to mediocrity daily during practices. In my last stint of goal meetings, I've asked athletes to think beyond their goals, but to also define, and write down, what they are actually willing to do to achieve them. I've called it an exercise of honesty with themselves.

When people marvel at accomplishments, the path it took to get there is too often overlooked. After Beijing, what made me admire Phelps' accomplishments was not so much the 8 golds, but fact that, according to all accounts, he had practiced all 1,461 days in the 4 years leading to it! The background stories on projects Steve Jobs headed show the same type of intense, relentless dedication to minute details. Basically, there are no great accomplishments without a background of true dedication toward a goal.

Back to swimming, if your answer to this post's title is no, then you need break from the pack, and practice daily according to what you want to achieve. If being mediocre is not your goal (and again, I never heard anyone with that goal), then you need put in quality work that matches your goals! While there are no guarantees to fast swimming and achieving goals, there are ways to increase the likelihood of those happening. This includes quality, focused drills, attention to details (turns, breakouts, etc), embracing and looking forward to pain during hard sets and dryland, and a positive attitude about doing it all again the next day!

How many are willing to practice daily according to the standards they set to themselves? I hope you are one of them!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Technique comes first!

So, first of all, it seems like the swim season is starting to pick up. I say this not because we already had our first meet, but because my last post here was nearly 2 weeks ago! Keeping up with all the coaching duties has been steering me away from being writing. But, finally, here I am!

Our first meet went great. The kids I'm working with were significantly faster than last year at this point of the season, which shows we are set to swim much faster when the season-ending meets approach! We also had about 50% of lifetime bests, which for a season-opener Intrasquad meet is quite impressive! Looking at the bigger picture of the club, the Senior swimmers were also much faster than last year, and the younger age groupers got a higher percentage of lifetime bests, which shows the whole club is improving. Now, that's a good place to be!

Back to the title of this post. Last night, I had to throw away my original plans for practice, and spend a large portion of it revising drills. The original plan was to spend just about 20-30 minutes of practice with stroke drills, and then hit a challenging set. However, it seemed like the swimmers were thinking about racing and swimming fast from the begining of practice, and were just going through the motions during the drill set. While the racing mentality is important, I felt like making sure we understood the drills and stroke mechanics, especially for developmental swimmers, should stay at the top of the totem pole.

Simply put, I had to remind them that swimming is a technical sport. When you are not being efficient, putting more effort against the water will just get you tired and slow you down. Learning propper mechanics just cannot be emphasized enough. Then, this morning I received my weekly GoSwim! updates, and amongst those was a link to an old article Glenn wrote, which deals with the importance of mastering technique first! While the article addresses more directly the importance of having swimmers aged 8 and below to focus solely on technique, I believe it can also help understand why developmental swimmers - and swimmers that haven't even reached HS yet ARE developmental swimmers - should still focus a large ammount of their work on technique. My way of thinking of it is: Technique comes First! It needs to be mastered before any real 'training' can occur.

So, we'll keep dedicating a good ammount of our practices toward drill and stroke work, and I'll keep that challenging set in my pocket. The swimmers can be sure it will hit them at some point, when they are technically ready for it!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Body position on Butterfly

This video from Go Swim! compiles a lot of short snipets at great swimmers performing the fly, during the hand entry phase. They reffer to it as keeping the hands soft at entry, wich is one way to look at it. I especially like the video because it gives great shots at the body position during this phase. Many swimmers tend to enter the water with a 'dive', which drives their hands down and never allows them to get the stretch of the lats, prior to the pull. On the video, you can see how all the swimmers shown press their chest and head into the water, while keeping their hands high in the water, which causes the arms, and especially the lats muscles, to stretch prior to the pull, generating a much more power full pull, due to the use of elastic energy, or the strech-shortening-cycle.


Friday, September 23, 2011

How a champion faces practice

Nick Brunelli's blog is filled with articles that show the kind attitude towards practice someone who aspires to be great (not only in swimming, but in any sport) needs to have. In his last post, "Filling the 'Bank'", he once again shows the mentality it takes even for a Word Champion and former American Record Holder to stay in his game.

Nick is still a full time swimmer, and is currently training towards his goal of making the 2012 Olympic Team. Even though he has already been at the top, many of his posts are great reminders of how much sacrifice and dedication it takes to stay (or get back) there.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Importance of Mental Toughness

Swimming World News has a great article written by Chelsea Howard, who currently swims for Penn State. The article is yet another good one written on the important role the mind plays in swimming. As I mentioned in an article below, we often forget that the mind controls the body, not the other way around. Recognizing that, and spending time understanding how the mind works and how to make it work to a swimmer's advantage seems to be highly overlooked.

In the article, Chelsea provides good advice on how to use the power of your mind to your favor. If you are already putting in time training your body, I highly suggest you spend the next 3-5 minutes reading the article, and then put those suggestions in practice! As it is pointed out, the difference between a good and a great swimmer is usually not on training hours, ability, or other physical factors, but in how both athletes utilize their minds.

So, do you want to be good or great?

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

State of the Sport Address

The transcript below is from the State of the Sport Address, given by USA Swimming CEO, Chuck Wielgus, during the USA Aquatic Sports Convention last week, in Jacksonville, FL.

"Thank you all for being here this morning. I hope you have found your time so far at this year’s U.S. Aquatics Sports Convention productive and enjoyable. Each year on this occasion it is my responsibility, and my privilege, to provide you with a general overview of the state of affairs within USA Swimming; and with this I also think it important to offer some perspective that connects the work of our organization to the larger world of youth and Olympic sports.

Over the past year, USA Swimming has continued to grow, to improve and to become better prepared for the future. In fact, USA Swimming has been on a steady upward climb since first being formed in 1978; from being a committee of the old Amateur Athletic Union into what many consider to be among the finest youth and Olympic sports organizations not only in the United States, but in the world.

The programs, services and infrastructure that have been established during USA Swimming’s first 30 years of existence are a tribute to the leadership and dedicated efforts of countless volunteers, staff and partners. Some of these same early visionaries remain active in USA Swimming today and their experience, history and wisdom are constant touchstones for us.

Back in the late 1990’s, USA Swimming adopted a business plan constructed around three primary objectives: build the base; promote the sport; and achieve international competitive success. By remaining true to these evergreen goals, and consistently aligning resources and measuring progress against these aspirations, USA Swimming has been able to build an incredible resume of: predictable membership growth; quality membership programs and services; targeted programs and support for athletes, coaches and clubs; broad and effective social media platforms; corporate engagement and sponsorship; television coverage that has become the envy of the U.S. Olympic NGB Family; and support for our National Team athletes that is acknowledged by the USOC and other NGBs as a model for the future.

I’d like to comment on some of our newer and emerging initiatives.

America’s Swim Team: This national branding campaign was launched in 2010 and will be a cornerstone for our promotional efforts in 2012. Ryan Lochte continues to be the face of the campaign and he has been an awesome partner and participant. Among the new aspects of the program that will be rolled out in the coming year will be providing member clubs with the opportunity to create customized marketing materials and merchandise, with club logos co-opted with USA Swimming and America’s Swim Team marks. We have continued to receive wonderful feedback about the online new member welcome message that is linked to the America’s Swim Team campaign, and for those of you who may have yet to look at this link; I’d like to share it with you now. Each message is customized, so in this example I have inserted the name of our President, Bruce Stratton.

(SHOW VIDEO #1 – New member Welcome)

Athlete Partnership: This year, together with the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Swimming launched a new Athlete Partnership Program that was made available to all National Team athletes. The program provides $3,000/month in direct funding support to athletes who qualify and opt-in to the program. The concept is to provide elite-level athletes with a baseline of funding support that will allow them to really concentrate on their training for international competition. Of the 38 athletes who qualified and signed the partnership agreement, 25 won medals at an international competition this summer. Participating athletes are required to make appearances that help to promote either USA Swimming or the athlete’s own charitable cause; and so far more than 70 appearances have been made by our athletes at events all across the country. This is not only good for enhancing the image and reach of our sport, but it is also providing opportunities for our National Team athletes to be seen as caring and positive members of society. It’s a program of which we should all be very proud.

Athlete Protection: During the past year-and-a-half, USA Swimming has also sought to address some serious challenges related to athlete protection and providing safe training environments. Specifically, we have done the following:

• Revised our Code of Conduct and made the process for filing complaints more personal and user-friendly;
• Developed enhanced requirements for background checks and initiated a pre-employment screening program for clubs;
• Published a list of individuals who are suspended for life from holding USA Swimming membership;
• Hired a full-time Athlete Protection Officer;
• Established a volunteer Athlete Protection Committee to continually monitor our efforts and recommend improvements;

As important as each of these things are, we have come to believe that our greatest long-term impact on this important subject will come as a result of efforts to provide a strong ongoing educational program. We have spent much of this past year developing this educational program in partnership with Praesideium and other industry experts on abuse prevention in youth organizations. We are excited to have kicked-off our education this week with the release of an online course available free to all coaches, officials, volunteers, athletes and their parents We will continue to focus on identifying opportunities to promote awareness and prevention around safe sport and athlete protection.

Digital Splash: We launched a digital version of Splash Magazine this year. We plan to continue publishing the printed version, but in the future we will give people the opportunity to opt-out of receiving the printed version and over time this may help us realize savings with our printing and postage expenses. In 2012, we also plan to introduce an iPad version of Splash Magazine. If you haven’t taken the opportunity yet to surf through the digital version of Splash Magazine, I encourage you to try it.

Deck Pass: If you watched any of the television coverage of the ConocoPhillips National Championships on NBC last month, you may have noticed several commercials we ran promoting pre-registration for a new program called “Deck Pass.” This program was conceived by a number of our younger staff members last spring, and after presenting their concept to the senior staff, we gave them the green light to go-ahead and build out a full proposal. They did so, and this proposal was then presented to the Board of Directors last May, where it received approval. The program, which is currently being rolled out to the membership, is a cutting edge social networking activity in which athletes can earn patches for a wide range of accomplishments. Some of you may remember the old days, when young swimmers wore jackets on which they displayed various patches that they acquired or won. Deck Pass is built off this concept, and we have created literally hundreds of different opportunities for athletes to be awarded patches. The program also has a component that ought to be extremely exciting for coaches, who will be able to create and award their own patches to the athletes with whom they work. We see Deck Pass as an incredibly innovative and exciting way to further engage young athletes, and we also believe there is a strong motivational component as young athletes will seek to set higher goals and improve times in an effort to be rewarded with new patches. Here is a short 30-second commercial that we’ll be using to help promote Deck Pass on our NBC broadcasts.

(SHOW VIDEO #2 – Deck Pass)

iHigh.com: Another exciting new online program that we will be offering to clubs in the coming year is a partnership with iHigh.com. Through this partnership, every Zone, LSC and member club will have the unique opportunity to webcast their own events. It’ll be as simple as having a parent with a video camera filming the meet and then uploading the video to the site, where it can be accessed by families, friends and fans. LSC’s and clubs will also be able to sell their own advertising on their customized site and retain 100% of these revenues. This is really an incredibly exciting opportunity for LSC’s and clubs to have a new way to promote their own activities, webcast their regional and local events, and generate new revenue. Following is a short video that shows how the iHigh.com program will work for USA Swimming member clubs.

(SHOW VIDEO #3 – iHigh.com)

Club Support: We are continually searching for ways to help our member clubs. This year we have conducted 49 Club Leadership Schools that involved 383 member clubs, a single year record. 266 clubs applied for this year’s Club Excellence Program and we awarded a total of $330,000 in grants to Gold, Silver and Bronze teams. And our field services staff has been on-site with more than 420 member clubs throughout the year. It has also been inspiring to see so many of our clubs and LSCs participating in the Fitness Challenge program on which USA Swimming and the U.S. Navy SEALS have partnered.

2013-2016 Television: Over the past three Olympic quads, USA Swimming has built a wonderful partnership with NBC. Our sport has received more television coverage in this quad than at any other period in history. This coverage has included the World Championships, ConocoPhillips National Championships, AT&T Winter Nationals, Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Additionally, via Universal Sports we have been able to provide broadcast coverage for 4 of the 7 Grand Prix events, as well as Prelims coverage of major events. With NBC/Comcast recently securing the U.S. broadcast rights for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, we fully anticipate that we will be able to continue to build upon the foundation and the relationships that we have worked so hard to establish over the past decade, and this will result in the continued expansion of our television reach.

Financial Position: While organizations, businesses and governments have struggled mightily in these turbulent economic times, USA Swimming has been able to navigate the challenges, and our financial position has continued to remain strong. Our quad budget has grown from less than $45M in the four-year period leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games to our operating budget of more than $109M for this quad. The reasons for this are easy to identify: membership has continued to grow at a steady and predictable pace; corporate sponsorship has been extraordinary; and the U.S. Olympic Committee has continued to be a great partner for our National Team program. Additionally, I think we can point to excellent quad business planning, stable management, and responsible board oversight; all of which allows us to build and improve from one year to the next and maintain a steady course.

Sponsorship: USA Swimming has more corporate partners and greater engagement from these partners than at any time in our history, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. This involvement is a clear indication of our sport’s continually growing stature in the youth and mass market sports marketplace. Though I have no new sponsorship announcement to make at this precise time, I can tell you that we are engaged in some very serious negotiations with several new prospective partners and we hope to be making some exciting announcements sometime in the coming months.

In addition to these specific activities, there are other efforts to which USA Swimming remains fully committed, the impact and results of which will be generational.

Diversity and Inclusion: Several years ago, USA Swimming initiated a determined effort to reach out and find ways to engage under-represented segments of our population in our sport. This has been both a challenging and rewarding undertaking, and it will certainly continue to be both in the future. What is extremely important for us to understand is that this commitment must be perpetual and in time I believe we will truly see USA Swimming become more representative and in-line with the changing demographics of our country. In fact, we now have statistical data indicating that over the past five years USA Swimming’s Asian membership has increased by 54%; our Black and African American membership has increased by 34%; and our Latino membership has increased by 24%. We still have a long way to go, but these increases are significant and important indicators that our efforts are making a difference and reflect the sustained efforts of many people at the national, LSC and club levels. We are making diversity and inclusion training a regular part of our staff development and educational efforts. USA Swimming’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is also being recognized by many other organizations; and most recently we have been highly engaged in a leadership role to help the U.S. Olympic Committee develop a strategic plan for increasing diversity and inclusion efforts for the USOC and within its entire NGB family.

USA Swimming Foundation: Our Foundation is now being led by a new team of leaders at both the governing and staff levels. President Stratton appointed a team of USA Swimming past-presidents and athlete representation to serve on the Foundation board. Bill Maxson, who you heard from earlier this morning, serves as the Foundation’s president and he is doing an extraordinary job of helping to better focus the Foundation’s mission and direct its resources. Likewise, Foundation Executive Director, Debbie Hesse is bringing much needed enthusiasm and experienced professional staff leadership to the effort. The Foundation’s mission of “Saving Lives and Building Champions” is wonderfully simple and appropriate, and just as we are working to integrate greater diversity and inclusion into our culture, so too are we through the USA Swimming Foundation, evolving our commitment to philanthropy and helping others. I urge each of you to consider including the USA Swimming Foundation when you consider contributing to organizations and causes that are making a difference in the lives of others.

Before closing, I want to point out that we have now begun the official countdown to the 2012 London Olympic Games, and I’d like to share some information about how USA Swimming is positioned for the Olympic year.

For starters, our National Team turned in an outstanding performance at the recent FINA World Championships in Shanghai. The team won a total of 25 medals in Olympic events and the balance between the men’s and women’s teams gives us much to be excited about. Our men won 14 medals, 8 of which were gold; and our women won 11 medals, 7 of which were gold.

The mix between experienced veterans and the emergence of exciting younger athletes should give us all reason for great excitement and enthusiasm for the coming year. I think it is safe to say that we are also going to see athletes who represented the U.S. at the recent World University Games in China, and others who will represent Team USA at the Pan American Games in Mexico next month challenging for spots on the 2012 Olympic Team. And who knows who else might emerge from the junior ranks or a past Olympian Champion making a comeback. To date 1,500 athletes have qualified to participate in next summer’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha and the excitement and the media story lines are simply going to be spectacular.

Our Head Olympic Coaches are the continuation of a long line of exemplary leaders. Our point person will be National Team Director, Frank Busch, assisted by Lindsay Mintenko. The Head Men’s Coach will be Gregg Troy; the Head Women’s Coach, Teri McKeever; and the Head Open Water Coach, Tim Murphy. What an in incredible Hall of Fame line-up.

Our planning for the Olympic Team Trials has been underway for several years now and we can promise you that as great an event as the Trials were in 2008, it will be an even better event next summer. Ticket sales and hotel bookings have already exceeded our expectations. We are also working with our broadcast partner NBC Universal and anticipate that all eight nights of Finals will be broadcast live. I encourage each of you to find a way to be in Omaha next summer to attend a sports event that for eight days will captivate our nation.

Another important part of our Olympic year programming will be providing a national recruiting initiative, designed to help clubs attract new members. You are familiar with our Splash Bash program, which is reaching more than 500 clubs per year and more than 1,000 clubs in Olympic years. We will be adding to that, including a Google search campaign, promotions on Facebook and a PR campaign using Olympic legends to talk about how to get involved in swimming. All promotions will lead to our club finder at usaswimming.org, where we will track exactly how many people search for clubs and the actions they take. An education program for all LSCs and clubs will soon be made available in how you can participate and be ready.

This past year has indeed been another year of learning and progress for USA Swimming. We have continued to grow, to promote, and to achieve international success. We have also instituted enhanced and important efforts to provide better training environments for young athletes. None of this would be possible without a strong and engaged membership comprised of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, organizational and corporate partners and a dedicated staff.

In closing, I’ll leave you with a short video highlight from Team USA’s performance this past July at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai.

Thank you very much for your time … and Go USA!

(SHOW VIDEO #4 – World Championship Highlights)
"

Monday, September 19, 2011

Back into Training Dryland

Strength and Conditioning Specialist Mike Mejia has a good list of dryland exercises which work on CORE, Mobility and Flexibility, ideal for anyone getting back into training. Check out the link and use those exercises to gradually build your strenght while correcting possible imbalances from previous training!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Problem-Solving Swimming (from GoSwim!)

I will never refrain, from 'stealing' great content from other sites and posting it here! Always giving the credit to whoever comes up with it, though (which makes citing, not stealing). This time, Glenn Mills, from GoSwim! posted a great, thoughtful article on how swimmers should try to approach a new season (and everyone thereafter).

I've been a fan of all Glenn's articles for a while now, since he always manages to bring in relevant points, and come up with solutions and suggestion in a very clear and concise manner. In this specific case, I've had many swimmers in the past that could benefit from backing off from 'hard work' a little, and putting in more 'smart work'.

Don't get me wrong, every coach likes working with swimmers who are willing put their heart into a set, and ultimately a swimmer needs to put in a lot of hard work in order to achieve personal success. However, many times swimmers (and other athletes) forget that the mind controls the body, not the other way around! Thinking about your swimming, analyzing your own strengths and weaknesses, and coming up with solutions and ideas to improve is just as important as pushing through that third quarter of the set (and race)!

Check out the link for more on how to do this!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Have you ever paid attention to your hands during your swimming?

Here's a link to a great article regarding how your hands should be during the pull portion of each stroke, under water. Gary Hall Sr., of The Race Club, explains it better than I could, so just follow the link below.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

ASCA World Clinic

I just returned from the ASCA World Clinic in San Diego, CA, and I'm getting ready to start a new season, with a new club. This was my second year attending the clinic, and I really want to make it a priority to attend it every year, as long as I continue to coach. The clinic is a great way not only to get ideas from some of the best swimming coaches in the US, but also to get motivated for the upcoming season. Just like last year, it has helped getting me really excited about swimming again!

One part of the clinic that a lot of coaches choose to forfeit, and I think that's a mistake, is the ASCA Awards Banquet. The reason I think attending the banquet is worth it is because some of the acceptance speeches are very inspiring, and this year's was no difference. The take home message from those speeches, in all cases, seemed to be that for every coach that was inducted to the ASCA Hall of Fame, while the criteria for the selection involves high level accomplishments, helping young people to grow was far more satisfying than medals and awards.

The sport of swimming is fantastic. It is one of very few sports that offer participation for people of all ages, really. As soon as a kid can get across the pool, he/she would be cheered on in any meet. And participation continues all through life, with Masters records being set for older and older age groups. But in the end, swimming is just swimming. What really makes it so valuable are the lessons that can be learned through the sport. The patience needed to improve a stroke, the hard work, commitment, focus and dedication, all needed to achieve success.

I started swimming competitively at a very late age, and certainly didn't have the physical attributes that would help me making it big in the sport. And yet, it has changed my life. It thought me to set goals and work towards them, all while enjoying the process. It has put me in touch with great people, and ultimately gave me a career for which I have a passion I would not find in other areas. All I can hope to do as a coach is to help swimming touching and changing lives of others, as it did mine. Sure, I still want to see fast swimming as much as I did before, but if I'm lucky enough to one day accept any kind of honor as a coach, I hope to be able to talk about how I helped boys and girls grow as people more than as athletes.

I'm looking forward for a great season!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Good UW videos of side kicking

During my 2010-2011 SCY season with ACAC-IA, side kicking became one of my favorite drills. The more we used side kicking and other drills that would basically be progressions of it, the better distance per stroke (DPS) our swimmers would get, without slowing down. In most cases, they would be significantly faster if we followed a side kick set with some Freestyle swim.

The link below has some great underwater (UW) shots of side kicking. Although I would tipically tell my swimmers to have their fingertips pointing down, in a position with shoulders above elbow above wrist (which I think helps them being ready for the catch phase quicker), you can see how much this swimmer 'grows' on his side so that he gets a better DPS. In addition, I really like the comment on how you should allow the weight to build on your lead hand, and if you do it correctly it should feel like you snap from one side of your body to the other. Check it out!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Paul Yetter has a blog...

... and it is awesome!!!

As this blog moves away from being oriented towards the goals and achievements of one team, I think linking to this specific article is a great first post! I'll be sure to keep linking articles and other swimming info here, with the hopes of helping kids to continue striving and working towards greater goals. Be sure to check back!

Lucas

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

14&U Central Zones Champs Highlights

ACAC had 6 swimmers attending the Central Zones Champs for Team Iowa. All ACAC swimmers made important contribution on the relays, helping the team to score important points! This was the most swimmers ACAC has ever put on Zones Relays!!! On top of that, competing against some of the best 14&U in the Central Zone, many of the swimmers attending also scored individual points! Here are the individual hilights:

Sara Bentley (National): swam in 3 scoring relays, and got 4 best times, one of which put her into a scoring heat at night (100 back)!

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): swam in 2 scoring relays, and got one best time;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): swam in 4 scoring relays, and got 2 best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 400 free: 4:57.18), on top of scoring points in the 200 fly!

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): swam in 4 scoring relays, and got 1 best time;

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): stepped up for all 4 ‘A’ Team Iowa 11-12 Girls Relays, made it into the A final of the 50 fly, and got one best time, which is also a new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 100 fly: 1:12.41);

Molly Winer (Age Group 3): swam in both 10&U Girls ‘A’ Relays!

Congrats, ACAC!

2011 ISI LC Champs - Meet Highlights

ACAC finished the season with a GREAT showing at the 2011 ISI LC Champs!!! Besides the 9 individual ACAC Records, and 10 Relay ACAC Records, we had our highest Combined finish ever during the Summer, scoring enough points to place 5th in the State!!! Special congrats must go to our 13-14 Girls for winning the 200 and 400 Medley relays, and to our 8&U Boys, who won both the medley and freestyle relays and also their division!!!! Here are the highlights:

11-12 Girls, 200 Freestyle Relay: Morgan Rosser, Hannah Dietrich, Sophie Sorenson and Gracie Snyder set the new ACAC record at 2:02.58

11-12 Girls, 400 Freestyle Relay: Morgan Rosser, Hannah Dietrich, Jazlyn Horras and Gracie Snyder smashed the previous ACAC record, setting the new at 4:33.88

11-12 Girls, 200 Medley Relay: Jazlyn Horras, Sabrinna Hegelheimer, Gracie Snyder and Morgan Rosser established a new ACAC record: 2:17.13

11-12 Girls, 400 Medley Relay: Jazlyn Horras, Sophie Sorenson, Gracie Snyder, and Morgan Rosser combined for a new ACAC Record: 5:14.22

13-14 Girls, 200 Free Relay: Olivia Snyder, Rachel Manderscheid, Katie Sailer and Sara Bentley set the new ACAC record at 1:59.25

13-14 Girls, 200 Medley Relay: Katie Sailer, Rachel Manderscheid, Sara Bentley and Olivia Snyder, en route to winning the event, set a new ACAC mark: 2:13.36

13-14 Girls, 400 Medley Relay: Katie Sailer, Rachel Manderscheid, Sara Bentley and Olivia Snyder again combined to win the event and set a new ACAC record: 4:52.14

8&U Boys, 200 Free Relay: Eli Heginger, Quentin Strohm, Davind Jiang and Sean Burns won the event and set a new ACAC Record: 3:08.07

8&U Boys, 200 Medley Relay: Sean Burns, David Jiang, Eli Heginger and Quentin Strohm switched their order, but once again took home the W and set a new ACAC record: 3:45.53

Sara Bentley (National): went 4 for 4 in best times, one of them being a new AA time (200 free);

Sean Burns (Novice): got one best time, which is also a new A time (50 back);

Michael Chang (Age Group 2): got four best times, including his first A time (50 free);

Chandler Cox (Senior): went 6 for 6 in best times, including 2 new AA times (400 and 800 free);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 3): went 9 for 9 in best times, including 1 new A time (50 free) and 4 new A times (400 and 800 free, 50 back, and 200 IM);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got two best times, including 1 new AAAA time (50 free);

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): went 6 for 6 in best times, including 2 new A times (50 free and 50 back) and 1 new BB time (50 breast);

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): in route to winning High Point honors, went 4 for 4 in best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (8&U Boys, 100 free: 1:33.78);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): went 10 for 10 in best times, including 2 new AA times (200 back and 200 IM), 1 new A time (50 fly), and 1 new BB time (200 breast);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): went 8 for 8 in best times, and dove in for one new event, totaling her first 2 AA times (50 and 200 free), and 3 new A times (100 and 400 free, and 100 back);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 2): got 2 best times out of 2 swims;

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Chloe Kuehner (National): got five best times, including 3 new AA times (50 and 100 free, and 200 breast) and 1 new A time (400 IM);

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): got three best times, including 2 new ACAC Records (8&U Girls, 50 back: 44.81; 50 Breast: 52.58);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got five best times, including 1 new AAA time (100 breast), 2 new A times (100 fly and 400 IM), and 1 new BB time (200 fly);

Isabel McLeod (Senior): got three best times, including 2 new A times (50 free and 200 back);

Chris Merchant (Senior): got two best times;

Bailey Moulden (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new A time (200 back);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 3 new A times (200 breast, 50 fly and 400 IM) and 1 new BB time (200 fly);

Alex Pyle (National): went 7 for 7 in best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Boys 15&O, 200 back: 2:23.00), 1 new AAA time (50 free), and 1 new AA time (400 free);

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): got one best time;

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got two best times, being one of the them a new A time (50 free), and the other a new BB time (200 breast);

Lauren Rosser (Senior): got three best times and dove in for one new event, which is a new A time (100 breast);

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): went 10 for 10 in best times, including 2 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 800 free: 10:12.32; 200 fly: 2:51.67), 3 new AAA times (200 and 400 free, 200 back), and 3 new AA times (50 and 100 back, and 200 fly);

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): went 4 for 4 in best times;

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new AAA time (50 free) and 2 new AA times (100 and 200 back);

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): went 3 for 3 in best times;

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got 8 best times, including 3 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 50 free: 28.92; 50 fly: 30.33; 200IM: 2:43.76), 3 new AAA times (50 back and 200 IM), and 1 new AA time (200 back);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): went 6 for 6 in best times, including 2 new A times (100 breast and 200 IM);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 2 new AA times (200 back and 400 IM);

Sydney Sorenson (National): got four best times, including 2 new AAA times (50 and 100 free) and 1 new AA time (200 free);

Marios Tringides (Senior): got one best time;

Ben Utesch (National): got three best times, including 2 new AAA times (50 and 400 free);

Caleb Utesch (National): got one best time, which is also a new A time (100 back);

Molly Winer (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new AA time (100 breast) and 3 new A times (50 and 400 free, and 50 breast).

Congrats, ACAC!

Monday, July 25, 2011

2011 ISI Summer Regionals Meet Highlights


ACAC Swimmers kicked off the Championship season to a great start at the 2011 ISI Summer Regionals! Amongst the 69% of best times, plenty of swimmers adding new Q times to their list, and some getting their first ticket to the LC Champs! Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got one best time and dove in for two new events, both new B times (1650 free and 200 breast);

Matt Burke (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new BB time (100 breast), and dove in for one new event;

Michael Burke (Age Group 2): got four best times;

Sean Burns (Novice): got one best time and dove in for two new evens, totaling 2 new A times (25 and 50 back) and 1 new B time (50 breast);

Tia Cavender (Senior): got five best times;

Michael Chang (Age Group 2): got one best time and dove in for three new events, all of those new BB times (100 free, 50 and 100 breast, and 50 back), and two of which new Q times (both breaststrokes);

Irfan Dotani (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Alyssa Eckerman (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for three new events;

Daria Garcia (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Erin Gilligan (Senior): got four best times, including two new BB times (50 and 100 free), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (100 fly);

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): went 6 for 6 in best times, and dove in for one new event;

Meredith Harter (Age Group 1): got six best times, including her first BB (50 free) and 3 new B times (100 and 200 free, and 50 fly), and dove in for one new event;

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): went 5 for 5 in best times, including 3 new BB times (50 and 100 free, and 100 IM), and 3 new Q times (50s free and breast, and 100 IM);

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): got two best times, including 1 new A time (50 fly), and dove in for one new event;

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got her only missing Q time for her age group in the only event she swam (500 free);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 2): got six best times, including 3 new B times (50 and 100 breast, and 200 IM);

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): got two best times and dove in for one new event;

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new BB/Q time (200 fly);

Ezra Manus (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event;

Nathan Matthews (Age Group 3): got four best times;

Isabel McLeod (Senior): went 4 for 4 in best times, including two new A times (50 and 100 free);

Lucas McLeod (Age Group 2): got four best times and dove in for one new event;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got six best times, all of which are new BB times (50, 100 and 200 free, 50 and 100 back, and 200 fly), and 3 of which being new Q times (200s free and fly, and 100 back);

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got two best times and dove in for one new event;

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got three best times, including 1 new A time (50 free) and 2 new B times (50 fly and 100 IM);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): in her only event at the meet, dropped enough for a new A time (200 free);

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 2 new BB/Q times (50 and 100 breast) and 4 new B times (50, 100 and 200 free, 100 back);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): got one best time, which is also a new A time (200 IM);

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for one new event;

Erin Wolter (Age Group 2): got three best times, including 1 new B time (100 free), and dove in for 2 new events;

Leah Wolter (Age Group 1): dove in for her first SCY event.

Congrats, ACAC!!!

2011 BLAST The Scheels Summer Sizzler - Highlights


ACAC Swimmers put up a great performance at the largest outdoor meet in Iowa. Amongst 3.5 days of fun, a lot of fast swims! Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for two new events, one being a new BB time (200 back) and the other a new B time (400 IM);

Sara Bentley (National): got two best times;

Sean Burns (Novice): got two best times, including his ticket to LC Champs with his first A time (50 free);

Tia Cavender (Senior): got two best times and dove in for two new events;

Chandler Cox (Senior): go one best time and dove in for one new event, which is a new A time (1500 free);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 1 new AA time (50 free) and 1 new A time (50 fly), and dove in for one new event, which is a new BB time (200 back);

Alyssa Eckerman (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for two new events;

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got two best times, including 1 new AA time (400 free);

Daria Garcia (Age Group 1): got two best times and dove in for one new event;

Julia Greenlee (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): got seven best times, including her first B time (50 free);

Meredith Harter (Age Group 1): got six best times, including 3 new B times (50 and 200 free, and 100 fly), and dove in for one new event;

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): got three best times;

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got one best time, which is a new AA time (100 back), and dove for one new event, which is a new A time (200 back);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got four best times, including her first A time (200 free) and 3 new BB times (50 and 100 breast, and 100 fly);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 2): got two best times and dove in for one new event, all new B times (50 free, 50 and 100 breast);

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): got four best times;

Josh Lee (Senior): got one best time, which is a new B time (400 IM), and dove in for two new events;

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for one new event;

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): went 5 for 5 in best times, and dove in for one new event;

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): got two best times, both new ACAC Records (Girls 8&U, 50 Free: 37.34; 50 Breast: 53.78);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got three best times;

Nathan Matthews (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for two new events;

Joshua McCunn (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): got four best times;

Isabel McLeod (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new BB time (200 IM) and 1 new B time (100 Fly), and dove in for one new event;

Bailey Moulden (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new B time (100 fly);

Molly Muench (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new B time (50 free), and dove in for one new event;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 3 new BB times (50 and 100 back, and 400 IM);

Alex Pyle (National): got three best times, including 1 new A time (200 IM);

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got one best time, which is also a new BB time (100 breast);

Tony Rosser (Novice): got one best time;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new A time (200 breast);

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Katie Sailer (Senior): dove in for one new event;

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 1 new A time (200 breast) and 1 new BB time (200 fly);

Sydney Sorenson (National): got one best time and dove in for three new events, including 1 new BB time (1500 free);

Hattie Stenberg (Age Group 2): got three best times and dove in for one new event;

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): dove in for one new event;

Marios Tringides (Senior): matched one best time to .00!

Caleb Utesch (National): got two best times;

Molly Winer (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new A time (100 free).

Congrats, ACAC!!!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

DMSF Birdland Invite - Highlights


ACAC Swimmers who attended the DMSF Birdland Invite also represented the club very well! Here are the individual highlights:

Blaire Collet (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Emily Collet (Novice): dove in for two new events;

Meghan Collet (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Leah Dietrich (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Maddie Fowler (Senior): got one best time;

Erin Gilligan (Senior): dove in for one best time;

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): got two best times and dove in for one new event;

Meredith Harter (Age Group 1): got four best times, including her first B time (100 free), and dove in for one new event;

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): got four best times, including 2 new A times (100 free and 50 fly);

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got two best times, including 1 new A time (100 free);

Ezra Manus (Age Group 1): got three best times and dove in for two new events;

Nathan Matthews (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new B time (100 free), and dove in for one new event;

Joshua McCunn (Age Group 1): dove in for two new events;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for three new events, including 1 new BB time (50 free);

Lucas McLeod (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for two new events;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got two best times, including 1 new B time;

Eric Pahl (Senior): got one best time, which is a new AA time (50 free), and dove in for one new event;

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got two best times and dove in for one new event;

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got two best times, including 1 new A time (100 free);

Bella Saad (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Hattie Stemberg (Age Group 2): got one best time, matched another, and dove in for one new event.

Congrats, ACAC!

CSC Summer Invitational Highlights

ACAC Swimmers who attended the CSC Summer Invitational, as usual, put together a strong performance! Amongst 61% of best times at a mid-season meet, 5 new ACAC records were established! Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 5 new BB times (50 and 200 free, 100 back, 50 breast, and 200 IM);

Sara Bentley (National): got six best times, including two new ACAC Records (Girls 13-14, 200 IM: 2:35.78; and 400 IM: 5:36.36), one of which is a new AAA time (200 IM), in addition to another new AAA time (100 back) and one new AA time (100 free);

Michael Chang (Age Group 2): went 4 out of 4 in best times, and dove in for one new events, totaling 3 new BB times (50 and 100 free, and 50 fly);

Chandler Cox (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new AA time (100 free) and 1 new A time (100 back);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 1 new BB time (50 back) and 1 new B time (50 breast);

Meredith Farrell (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new BB time (200 back);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got five best times, including 1 new A time (100 breast);

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (50 free) and 1 new B time (50 fly);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 3 new A times (50, 100, and 200 free);

Stephanie Koch (National): got one best time;

Chloe Kuehner (National): got five best times, including 1 new AA time (100 breast) and 1 new A time (200 IM), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (200 fly);

Josh Lee (Senior): got five best times, including 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new B time (200 free);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got five best times, including 1 new AA time (200 breast), one new A time (50 free), and two new BB times (100s free and back);

Isabel McLeod (Senior): got five best times;

Chris Merchant (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new A time (200 IM), and dove in for a new event, which is also a new BB time (100 breast);

Bailey Moulden (Senior): got five best times, including three new A times (50 and 100 free, and 100 back);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 1 new BB time (100 free);

Hannah Newell (National): got four best times, including 1 new AA time (200 free) and two new A times (100 back and 200 IM);

Alex Pyle (National): got three best times;

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): got two best times;

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got four best times, including 1 new A time (200 IM);

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 2 new AA times (200 free and 200 IM);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 2 new A times (100 and 200 back);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): went 8 for 8 in best times, including 3 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 50 Fly: 31.04; 100 Fly: 1:14.03; 200 IM: 2:44.84), 1 new AAAA time (50 free), 1 new AAA time (100 fly) and 1 new AA time (100 back);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): went 7 for 7 in best times, including 1 new AA time (50 free) and 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got two best times;

Sydney Sorenson (National): got three best times;

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got three best times, including 2 new A times (50s back and breast), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (200 IM);

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 2 new B times (100 free and 50 breast);

Molly Winner (Age Group 3): got five best times.

Congrats, ACAC!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

ACAC Rock the Blocks - Highlights

ACAC put together another great meet, and despite the cold weather, our swimmers were still able to put in a number of great swims. Here are the individual highlights:

Madeline Becker (Novice): dove in for her first event at a swim meet;

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for 3 new events, for a total of 3 new BB times (800 and 1500 free, 100 breast) and 1 new B time (200 breast);

Sara Bentley (National): got three best times, including 1 new AAA time (50 free);

Matt Burke (Senior): got one best time, which is a new BB time (50 free);

Michael Burke (Age Group 2): got three best times, including 1 new BB time (50 free), and dove in for one new event;

Sean Burns (Novice): in his first LCM meet, dove in for three events, including 2 new B times (50 free and 50 back);

Jon Cackler (Senior): dove in for one new event;

Tia Cavender (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new B time (200 free), and dove in for one new event;

Michael Chang (Age Group 2): in his first LCM meet, dove in for seven events, and came out with 3 new BB times (50 and 100 breast, 100 fly) and 4 new B times (100 and 200 free, 50 back, and 50 fly);

Blaire Collet (Age Group 1): got two best times and dove in for two new events;

Emily Collet (Novice): dove in for two new events;

Meghan Collet (Age Group 1): got three best times and dove in for two new events;

Chandler Cox (Senior): dove in for three new events, including 2 new A times (100 and 800 free) and 1 new BB time (100 back);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 3): got five best times and dove in for three new events, for a total of 3 new A times (50, 100 and 200 free), 4 new BB times (400 and 800 free, 100 fly and 400 IM), and 1 new B time (200 breast);

Leah Dietrich (Age Group 1): dove in for three new events;

Alyssa Eckerman (Age Group 1): dove in for three new events;

Meredith Farrell (Senior): got eight best times, including 3 new BB times (50, 100 and 200 free) and 1 new B time (200 fly), and dove in for one new event;

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got one best time;

Maddie Fowler (Senior): got one best time, which is a new B time (100 back);

Liz Funk (Senior): dove in for four new events, including 1 new B time (50 free);

Erin Gilligan (Senior): dove in for two new events;

Julia Greenlee (Age Group 1): in her first meet, dove in for two events;

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): got five best times and dove in for one new event;

Meredith Harter (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): got four best times, including 2 new BB times (100 back and 200 breast), and dove in for two new events, including 1 new B time (200 IM);

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for five new events, including 2 new B times (100 free and 200 IM);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got one best time and dove in for four new events, totaling 4 new BB times (800 and 1500 free, 50 fly and 400 IM) and 1 new B time (200 breast);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got four best times, including 2 new BB times (100 free and 200 IM) and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (50 breast);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 2): dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (100 back);

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): got two best times and dove in for one new event;

Holly Johnson (Senior): dove in for four new events, including 1 new BB time (50 free) and 1 new B time (200 free);

Chloe Kuehner (National): got eight best times and dove in for one new event, for a total of 1 new A time (100 free), 3 new BB times (400 and 800 free, and 200 back) and 1 new B time (100 fly);

Josh Lee (Senior): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (100 breast) and dove in for three new events, including 2 new B times (400 free and 200 back);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): dove in for three new events;

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): got one best time, which is also a new ACAC Record (Girls 8&U, 100 Fly: 1:43.78), and dove in for two new events, including 1 new A time (100 free);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (200 free), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (200 back);

Ezra Manus (Age Group 1): dove in for two new events;

Nathan Mathews (Age Group 3): in his first LCM, dove in for six events, including 1 new BB time (50 free) and 1 new B time (200 free);

Joshua McCunn (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for two new events;

Isabel McLeod (Senior): got four best times and dove in for three new events, totaling 3 new BB times (200 free, 100 and 200 back) and 2 new B times (200 and 400 IM);

Lucas McLeod (Age Group 1): in his first LCM meet, dove in for five events;

Chris Merchant (Senior): got one best time and dove in for one new event, both new BB times (1500 free and 400 IM);

Bailey Moulden (Senior): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (200 free), and dove in for five new events, including 3 new B times (400 free, 200 and 400 IM);

Mia Moulden (Novice): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got five best times and dove in for three new events, totaling 3 new B times (400 free, 100 back, 400 IM);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for two new evens, totaling 3 new BB times (50, 100 and 200 breast) and 1 new B time (200 fly);

Hannah Newell (National): got one best time and dove in for one new event, which is a new BB time (1500 free);

Eric Pahl (Senior): got two best times, and dove in for three new events, including two new B times (100 free and 200 breast);

Alex Pyle (National): got two best times;

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): matched a best time and dove in for three new events, including 1 new B time (100 back);

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): dove in for three new events, including 1 new B time (800 free);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got four best times;

Tony Rosser (Novice): got three best times;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 200 Fly: 3:04.38) and 1 new AA time (50 free);

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): in her first LCM meet, dove in for 6 events, and came out with four A new times (50s free, back, and breast) and 1 new B time (50 fly);

Bella Saad (Age Group 1): dove in for two events, including 1 new B time (50 back);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got one best time and dove in for two new events, both new B times (1500 free and 400 IM);

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): dove in for a new event, which is also a new BB time (200 breast);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 100 Fly: 1:15.78);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): got two best times and dove in for four best times, including 1 new B time (400 IM);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): dove in for four new events, including 2 new A times (200 back and 400 IM), 1 new BB time (200 breast), and 1 new B time (200 fly);

Sydney Sorenson (National): got two best times and dove in for one new event, which is a new BB time (800 free);

Hattie Stemberg (Age Group 2): matched four best times to the hundred of a second (!!!), and dove in for five new events;

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got three best times, including 1 new A time (50 free) and 1 new B time (100 free), and dove in for one new event;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 2 new B times (50 and 200 back);

Priyanka Tomar (Age Group 1): dove in for four new events;

Marios Tringides (Senior): got one best time, which is also a new B time (400 free);

Molly Winer (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 2 new A times (100 breast and 200 IM);

Erin Wolter (Age Group 2): got two best times, including 1 new B time (50 free), and dove in for three new events;

Leah Wolter (Age Group 1): in her first meet, dove in for one event;

Franklin Zhy (Age Group 2): in his first LCM meet, dove in for seven events, including three new B times (50 and 100 breast, and 100 fly).


Congrats, ACAC!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Meet Highlights - IFLY David Armbruster Open

During our first team meet for the LCM season, our swimmers showed they ready for a season full of FAST swimming! On top of plenty of new swims, our swimmers had 75% of best times, 10 Individual Club Records and 2 Relay Club Records, this was a great start for the season! We’re sure we’ll be able to keep that momentum going!!!

Girls 11-12 200 Free Relay: the team of Morgan Rosser, Hannah Dietrich, Jazlyn Horras and Gracie Snyder set a new ACAC mark at 2:10.01

Girls Open 200 Medley Relay: the team of Sara Bentley, Chloe Kuehner, Stephanie Koch and Katie Sailer set a new ACAC record at 2:10.05

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got two best times;

Sara Bentley (National): got three best times, including two new AA times (200 back and 400 IM), one of which is a new ACAC Record (Girls 13-14, 400IM: 5:44.02);

Jon Cackler (Senior): in his first meet for ACAC, dove in for three events;

Tia Cavender (Senior): got three best times, including two new B times (50 and 100 free), and dove in for three new events;

Chandler Cox (Senior): in his first LCM meet ever, dove in for six events, including 1 new AAA time (200 free), 4 new AA times (50 and 400 free, 200 back and 200IM), and 1 new BB time (100 breast);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 3): went 5 for 5 in best times, and dove in for three new events, totaling 5 new BB times (100, 200 and 800 free, 50 fly and 200 IM) and 2 new B times (100 back and 100 breast);

Leah Dietrich (Age Group 1): dove in for her first two LCM events;

Alyssa Eckerman (Age Group 1): also dove in for her first two LCM events;

Daria Garcia (Age Group 1): in her first LCM meet, dove in for three events;

Erin Gilligan (Senior): in her first LCM meet, dove in for six events, including four new B times (50, 100, 200, and 400 free);

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): in her first LCM meet, dove in for eight events;

Meredith Harter (Age Group 1): dove in for seven events in her first LCM meet;

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): got three best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 2 new BB times (50 back and 100 breast) and two new B times (100 and 200 free), including her first Q time (100 breast)!

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): dove in for his first three LCM events, and came out with 2 new A times (50 free and 50 back) and 1 new B time (50 fly);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 1 new AAA time (50 back) and 1 new B time (100 fly);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): dove in for three events, including two new BB times (200 free and 50 back) and 1 new B time (50 fly);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 2): got one best time and dove in for three new events, totaling three new B times (100 and 200 free, and 50 back);

David Jiang (Age Group 1): went for out of four in best times, including 2 new A times (50 free and 50 back) and 1 new B time (50 fly);

Stephanie Koch (National): got one best time;

Chloe Kuehner (National): got three best times, including 1 new A time (200 breast) and 1 new BB time (400 IM), and dove in for two new events, including 1 new B time (200 free);

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): dove in for five events, and set a new ACAC Record on each one of them (Girls 8&U, 50 Free: 38.94; 50 Back: 45.39; 50 Breast: 54.23; 50 Fly: 42.95; 100 Fly: 1:44.27), four of them being new A times (50s free, back, breast and fly);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): went 8 for 8 in best times, and also dove in for two new events, totaling 1 new AA time (100 breast), 1 new A time (200 IM), 3 new BB times (400 free, 100 fly, and 400 IM), and 1 new B time (200 fly);

Chris Merchant (Senior): got one best time, which is a new BB time (200 back), and dove in for one new event;

Bailey Moulden (Senior): in her first LCM meet, dove in for seven events, and come out with 4 new BB times (50 and 100 free, 100 and 200 back) and 1 new B time (200 free);

Mia Moulden (Novice): dove in for her first three LCM events;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 3 new B times (100 and 200 free, 50 back);

Tony Rosser (Novice): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 1 new A time (100 fly) and 1 new BB time (100 breast);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): went 9 for 9 in best times, including 2 new AA times (50 and 100 free) and 5 new BB times (200 and 400 free, 100 and 200 back, and 200 IM), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (100 fly);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 1 new AAAA time / ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 50 fly: 31.53), 2 new AA times (50 back and 200 IM), and 2 new A times (100 back and 50 breast);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): got five best times, including 1 new A time (100 free) and dove in for two new events, both new BB times (200 and 400 free);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got 9 best times, including 3 ACAC Records (Girls 9-10, 100 Back: 1:19.21; 100 Breast: 1:35.14; 50 Fly: 35.03), 3 new AAAA times (50 and 100 back, and 50 fly), and 2 new AAA times (50 free and 100 breast);

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event;

Molly Winer (Age Group 3): went 10 for 10 in best times, including 1 new A time (200 free) and 4 new BB times (50 and 100 back, 50 and 100 fly).

Congrats, ACAC!!!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

CRAA Spring Pentathlon Meet Highlights

The CRAA Pentathlon was a great meet to get some of our swimmers up to speed and racing again! Some of them also took the opportunity to improve on their times. Here are the individual highlights:

Sean Burns (Novice): in his first swim meet, dove in for 5 events, including one B time (25 back);

Alyssa Eckerman (Age Group 1): in her first swim meet, dove in for two events;

Daria Garcia (Age Group 1): also in her first meet, dove in for three events;

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): got three best times;

Lucas McLeod (Age Group 2): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got four best times, including one new B time (50 free);

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got 4 best times, including 1 new A time (25 free) and 3 new B times (25s back, breast, and fly);

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new BB time (50 back);

Priyanka Tomar (Age Group 1): got one best time.

Congrats, ACAC!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Preparation for Life!


This is a great article, scaned from one of the many coaching magazines we get. Click on the Image to make it larger, and even zoom in if you need to. It's a great take on the lessons that can be learned through swimming, all much more important than wining or loosing!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Speedo Sectionals Highlights

Our swimmers attending the 2011 Speedo Sectionals put a high note to end the short course season. Despite the small number of swimmers attending, the swimming was FAAASST! Here are the individual highlights:

Sara Bentley (National): got three best times, including two new ACAC Records (Girls 13-14, 100 Fly: 1:00.62; 400 IM: 4:47.06);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): one best time, which is a new AAAA time (200 free);

Chloe Kuehner (National): one best time;

Hannah Newell (National): two best times;

Sydney Sorenson (National): three best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Senior Girls 200 Breast: 2:25.88) and 1 new AAA time (200 IM);

Caleb Utesch (National): one best time.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

2011 ISI Short Course Championships - Meet Highlights

Our swimmers attending the Senior ISI Short Course Champs also had a great meet! With an average of 67% best times, several sectionals cuts, and some ACAC records to top, our older swimmers also had a great end of season! Here are the individual highlights:

Lauren Banwart (Senior): got one best time;

Sara Bentley (National): got seven best times, including three new ACAC Records (Girls 13-14, 100 Fly: 1:01.58; 200 Fly: 2:16.91; 400 IM: 4:47.12), two of each being new AAA times (100 fly and 400 IM) and one is also a new Sectionals cut (400 IM);

Matt Burke (Senior): got two best times;

Chandler Cox (Senior): got four best times, including 2 new AA times (100 and 500 free) and two new A times (50 free and 200 back);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got three best times, including 1 new AAAA time (200 free) and 2 new AAA/Sectionals cuts (500 free and 200 IM);

Chloe Kuehner (National): got four best times, including 1 new Sectionals cut (200 breast), 1 new AA time (50 free) and 1 new A time (400 IM);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new AA time (200 breast) and 1 new A time (100 fly);

Chris Merchant (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new AAA time (100 free) and 2 new AA times (50 free and 200 IM);

Bailey Moulden (Senior): went 4 for 4 in best times, including two new A times (100 free and 100 back);

Hannah Newell (National): got two best times;

Eric Pahl (Senior): got one best time, which is a new BB time (50 free);

Alex Pyle (Senior): got six best times, including 1 new AAA time (50 free) and 2 new AA times (100 back and 200 IM);

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): got four best times;

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got five best times, including 4 new A times (500 and 1000 free, 200 and 400 IM);

Lauren Rosser (Senior): got two best times, one being a new AAA time (200 IM) and the other a new AA time (200 free);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): went 5 for 5 in best times, including two AAA times (50 and 100 free) and two new AA times (100 and 200 back);

Rachel Shriver (Senior): got one best time, which is a new AAA time (200 free);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 1 new AA time (100 free);

Sydney Sorenson (National): got 4 best times, including two new AAA times (50 and 100 free);

Jakub Stehlik (Senior): in his first ACAC meet, dove in for 5 events, all of them being AAA times (100 and 200 back, 100 and 200 fly, 200 IM);

Marios Tringides (Senior): got two best times, one of which is a new AA time (50 free);

Sam Wiedemeier (Senior): got four best times, including 1 new AAA time (100 free) and 1 new A time (100 fly).

Congrats!