Meet Highlights - BLAST Winter Invite

We had many swimmers attending the BLAST Winter Invite. With that, we had plenty of best times, a couple new ACAC Records, and most importantly, a great time together! Here are the individual highlights:

Lauren Banwart (Senior): got one best time, which is also a new B time (500 free);

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 1 new A time (100 IM);

Sara Bentley (Senior): got four best times, including one new ACAC Record (Girls 13-14, 100 Fly: 1:02.50);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new AA time (100 back), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (200 fly);

Michael Burke (Age Group 2): got 5 best times, including 3 new B times (200 free, 200 breast, and 200 IM);

Tia Cavender (Senior): got 4 best times, including two new B times (100 and 200 free), and dove in for one new event;

Blaire Collett (Novice): got three best times;

Emily Collett (Novice): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Meghan Collett (Age Group 1): got three best times and dove in for one new event;

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): went 5 for 5 in best times, including 2 new BB times (100 free and 200 IM) and 2 new B times (100 and 200 fly), and dove in for one new eventl

Leah Dietrich (Novice): dove in for one new event;

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got two best times;

Jess Gaumer (Age Group 2): got five best times, including 1 new B time (100 IM), and also dove in for two new events;

Ryan Gaumer (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for one new event, for a total of 1 new A time (50 back) and 2 new BB times (200 free and 200 IM);

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): went 8 for 8 in best times!

Meredith Harter (Age Group 1): got 3 best times, and dove in for one new event;

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): got three best times, including 1 new A time (50 free) and two new B times (100 free and 50 back);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got one best time, and dove in for two new events, both of which are new BB times (200 breast and 400 IM);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got 6 best times, including 3 new BB times (200 free, 100 breast, and 100 IM), and 1 new B time (50 back);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (100 back) and 1 new B time (200 free);

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got four best times, including 1 new B time (50 fly);

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): got two best times, and dove in for two new events, including 1 new B time (100 back);

Jaci Johnson (Age Group 2): got four best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 1 new BB time (100 IM) and two new B times (500 free and 50 fly);

Chloe Kuehner (National): got two best times and dove in for two new events, including 1 new BB time (1650 free);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): got one best time, which is also a new B time (50 back);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got three best times and dove in for two new events, for a total of 3 new BB times (50 free, 100 fly, and 400 IM);

Nathan Matthews (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 1 new B time (200 free), and dove in for one new event;

Josh McCunn (Novice): got one best time;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): dove in for one new event;

Bailey Moulden (Senior): got two best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 2 new BB times (100 free and 200 back) and 1 new B time (200 IM);

Mia Moulden (Novice): in her first swim meet, dove in for four events, including 1 new B time (25 free);

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got three best times;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 2 new BB times (100 breast and 400 IM) and 1 new B time (200 IM);

Lindy Peterson (Senior): got one best time;

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got three best times, including 1 new A time (100 free);

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): got two best times;

Tony Rosser (Novice): got four best times and dove in for one new events;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got one best time, which is a new BB time / ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 200 Fly: 2:41.24);

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got five best times, including 1 new B time (50 back) and dove in for one new event;

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

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for one new event, for 1 new BB time (200 IM) and 1 new B time (400 IM);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got one best time, which is a new AA time / ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 400 IM: 5:19.71), and dove in for two new events, both new BB times (1650 free and 200 fly);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): dove in for two new events and got three best times, including 2 new BB times (200 breast and 200 IM) and 1 new B time (500 free);

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

Sydney Sorenson (National): dove in for one new event, which is a new AA time (1650 free), and got one best time, which is a new B time (200 fly);

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got three best times, including 1 new B time (50 back);

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Priyanka Tomar (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got five best times, including 1 new A time (500 free).

Congrats, ACAC!

Fojxet meet highlights

Our swimmers attending the Foxjet meet had a great time and great swims! Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got one best time, which is also a new A time (50 back);

Sara Bentley (National): got six best times;

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got four best times, including one new A time (50 free);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got one best time, which is also a new AA time (500 free);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got two best times, including one new A time (50 free);

Hannah Newell (National): got one best time, which is also a new AA time (500 free);

Lauren Rosser (Senior): got one best time, which is also a new A time (400 IM);

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 1 new A time (50 fly);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got six best times, including two new ACAC Records (Girls 9-10, 50 Fly: 32.02 & 100 Fly: 1:12.31), two new AAA times (100 free and 100 back), and 1 new AA time (500 free);

Sydney Sorenson (National): got four best times, including 1 new AAA time (200 breast);

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

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got six best times, including 1 new A time (200 free).

Congrats, ACAC!

Pike Syndrome

The pike is a fierce carnivorous fish that eats smaller fish. What is the Pike Syndrome all about and what are the implications that we can learn from it? Firstly, lets learn about the Pike Syndrome.

In an interesting experiment, scientists took a pike and placed it into a large tank with many smaller fishes. The pike however, was separated from these smaller preys by a layer of glass, forming a barrier preventing the pike from reaching its prey. The pike continuously smashed itself against the glass barrier while trying to reach its prey, but was unsuccessful in its attempts in penetrating this invisible barrier. Gradually, it became discouraged and discontinued this behavior. The pike eventually sank to the bottom of the tank and just laid there. When the pike finally stopped hitting the glass barrier, the scientists removed the barrier, allowing the pike to feast. To their surprise, the pike continued ignoring the smaller fishes, even when they were swimming right next to the pike. Eventually, the pike starved to death, even when its food was swimming right in front of it. This behavior was eventually known as the “Pike Syndrome”.

So, what are the lessons we can take from this “Pike Syndrome?” Well, the Pike Syndrome tells us that our minds are indeed very much in control of our behavior. In the experiment, when the barrieri s removed, the fish were swimming right in front of the pike, yet the pike still perceive the barrier to be in place and starved to death. The pike still believed that the barrier was there. In real life, people are limited by a whole host of barriers such as age, abilities or even self confidence. It does not matter if the barrier is physically there or not, but if our minds perceive a limitation, then a barrier is very much in place. If you perceive yourself to be inferior for instance, this could eventually become a self fulfilling prophecy. In addition, this experiment tells us that it is often difficult to identify the change, even when the barrier is removed. The pike was unable to change its mindset when the barrier was removed and starved to death.

Similarly, people suffer from the same problem as well. We often assume that the barrier is still in place when in fact, it has already disappeared. So, do try to identify cases of Pike Syndrome in your life and in your swimming! Remove the constraints that limit your life by critically examining the situation and remove any false assumptions that have been previously holding you back. You can change and be a better person!

ICE Irving Weber Invitational - Meet Highlights

A little late by now, but still worth celebrating some of the fine performances we had for the ICE Weber Invite. Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got 5 best times, including 1 new A time (100 free) and 1 new BB time (50 fly);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got six best times;

Michael Burke (Age Group 2): dove in for one new event and got 4 best times, including 1 new BB time (50 free) and 1 new B time (200 free);

Tia Cavender (Senior): dove in for one new event and got 3 best times, including 1 new B time (50 free);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): dove in for one new event and got five best times, for a total of 1 new BB time (200 free) and 4 new B times (500 free, 50 back, 100 and 200 IM);

Jess Gaumer (Age Group 2): dove in for two new events and got 3 best times, including 1 new B time (100 breast);

Ryan Gaumer (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new A time (50 free), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (50 fly);

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): got three best times;

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

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

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got three best times, all of them new Q times (200 and 500 free, and 100 breast);

Oliva Jenks (Age Group 2): went 4 for 4 in best times, including two new BB times (50 breast and 200 IM);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Chloe Kuehner (Senior): got three best times and dove in for one new event, totalling 1 new A time (100 free) and 2 new BB times (200 and 400 IM);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): got two best times;

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): dove in for two new events and got four best times;

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got three best times;

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

Jolyn McCalley (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got three best times;

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event and got four best times, including one new A time (50 free);

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): got three best times;

Alli Rogers (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Tony Rosser (Novice): got two best times;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got three best times;

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got 2 best times and dove in for one new event;

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

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

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got one best time, which is also a new AA time (50 breast);

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

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got two best times;

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got three best times.

Congrats, ACAC!