Gator News Archive - 2012

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AD CAMPAIGN

We are in the midst of our 2012 Ad Campaign. All ads are due April 6, 2012. Each year-round family has the responsibility to sell $75 worth of ads (see the parent handbook for more details). Ad campaign documents have been sent to all families via GatorNews earlier this month and printed copies were placed on each family's folder at the Gator box that stays on the pool deck. If you have not already done so, please check your folders for your ad materials or request them as PDF by sending an email to info@gatorswimteam.org.

ONLINE SIGNUPS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE LOUISVILLE SEAHAWK INVITATIONAL SWIM MEET

The online sign-up form for the 34th Annual Seahawk Invitational swim meet (July 5-7) is now online. This is one of the most fun meets many Gators remember attending, and it is great for swimmers (and parents) of all ages. The meet is held at the Lakeside Swim Club in Louisville, a former rock quarry turned into a 3.2 million gallon swimming area with a flat concrete bottom and an olympic-sized pool on the corner. Kids love this place, and you can bring your floats to watch the races and cheer the swimmers from the water! Click here to Sign up online (the deadline is Friday, March 30).

REMINDERS

Some important notes for all Gator families: (in no particular order)

  • Ad Campaign: We are in the midst of our 2012 Ad Campaign. All ads are due April 6, 2012. Each year-round family has the responsibility to sell $75 worth of ads (see the parent handbook for more details). Ad campaign documents have been sent to all families via GatorNews earlier this month and printed copies were placed on each family's folder at the Gator box that stays on the pool deck. If you have not already done so, please check your folders for your ad materials or request them as PDF by sending an email to info@gatorswimteam.org.
  • Summer League Signups: Registration for summer league is now open. Parents and swimmers, invite your families and friends to be part of our team this summer. Daily practices start on May 21st. Information and registration forms are available online.
  • Spring Awards Banquet and Parent Meeting: Our banquet will be April 22nd, 4-6pm. Local TBA. All year-round swimmers and their families are expected to participate to make the event a success. The coaching staff will present awards for the most valuable, most improved and most dedicated swimmer in each age group, and everyone will get a certificate for the completion of another successful season. At the end of the awards ceremony, parents will have a short meeting to discuss team matters and also to vote in new board members. This is a very important event for the team, so please plan to attend!
  • GatorNews: If you haven't already done so, make sure you sign up to receive GatorNews updates via email and/or text messages. GatorNews is for team members only (year-round and summer league swimmers, parents and coaches) and we are increasingly using this list to communicate with parents. We promise we'll never share your email and phone information and we always try to keep the number of messages sent to a minimum.
  • Like Us on Facebook: Please visit (and like) the Gator Facebook page for photos, meet updates and more. Feel free to add pictures of our kids during swim meets too.
  • Spring Break: There will be no practice from March 17th through March 25th. Practice resumes normally on March 26th.
  • Senior Practice Update: There will be NO morning practices for the senior swimmers until after the break (March 27th).
  • Caps: The deadline to order caps customized with your swimmer's name is Thursday, March 15th. See note above.

HEAT 8 & UNDER CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HEAT LIGHTNING RESULTS

Another exceptional weekend for the Gators: with 2,214 points, the team finished 3rd overall among the 14 teams competing at the HEAT meet. Once again, our athletes had the highest average number of points-per-swimmer in the meet (76.344), a tangible result of their physical and mental preparation, dedication to the sport, and a testament to the quality of our coaching staff. And they accomplished it all with big smiles on their faces! (At the end of the meet, an official stopped to tell us that the Gators are the "most polite and cordial kids" he's seen in meets.) Well done, kids, in and out of the pool!!!

Here are the highlights of the meet:

  • New Team and LSC Records:
    • Jacob Bening lowered his own team record in the Boys 9-10 200-yard backstroke, touching the wall in 2:27.98.
    • Tysen Miller broke the 200 breaststroke team record in the Boys 9-10 age group with a new time of 2:59.35.
    • Brogan Davis set two new Gator records in the Boys 11-12 age division, swimming the 200 backstroke in 2:13.69 and the 200 breaststroke in 2:42.16.
    • Phoebe Law broke two team records in the Girls 9-10 age group: the 200 backstroke with a new time of 2:28.75, and the 200 breaststroke in 3:02.33.
    • Gabriela Vieira lowered her own team and Ozark record in the Girls 13-14 100-yard backstroke with a new time of 55.78. Gabby also set two new team records in the Open age division: 50 free (24.45) and 200 back (2:01.41).
    • Team Records (SCY)
    • Ozark Records
  • New Time Standard Achievements:
    • Jericha Carter (14) achieved her first B time in the Girls 13-14 age group with a time of 33.18 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle.
    • Zoe Johnson (6) got her first B time in the Girls 10 & Under age group, swimming the 50 back in 48.37 seconds.
    • Jack Maxton (8) achieved his first B time in the Boys 10 & Under age group with a time of 47.87 in the 50 backstroke.
    • Avery Runge (10) got her first B time in the Girls 10 & Under age division with a time of 1:25.84 in the 100 freestyle.
    • Gator Achievements Page
  • High Point Winners (Top 8):
    • Jacob Bening: High Point trophy winner in the 9-10 Boys age group (152 points).
    • Brogan Davis: High Point trophy winner in the 11-12 Boys age group (157 points).
    • Phoebe Law: High Point trophy winner in the 9-10 Girls age group with 157 points.
    • Gabby Vieira: High Point trophy winner in the 13-14 Girls age group (160 points).
    • Maddie Siefert: 2nd place in the 15 & Over Girls age group (135 points).
    • Helen Wojdylo: 2nd place in the 13-14 Girls age group (147 points).
    • Morgan Maguire: 3rd place in the 15 & Over Girls age group (126 points).
    • Sam Hahs: 4th place in the 11-12 Boys age group (128 points).
    • Joey Janisse: 4th place in the 15 & Over Boys age group (126 points).
    • Ty Miller: 4th place in the 9-10 Girls age group (135 points).
    • Jack Maxton: 6th place in the 8 & Under Boys age group (102 points).
    • Amanda Mabry: 7th place in the 11-12 Girls age group (105 points).
    • Cameron Mejean: 7th place in the 8 & Under Boys age group (97 points).
    • Noah Mejean: 8th place in the 11-12 Boys age group (110 points).
    • Individual Scores
  • Best Individual Event Finishes:
    • 1st Places: Jacob Bening (100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM, 500 Free, 50 Back, 50 Free); Brogan Davis (100 Back, 100 Free, 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 50 Breast, 50 Fly); Samuel Hahs (100 IM); Phoebe Law (100 Back, 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 IM, 500 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Free); Morgan Maguire (100 Fly, 200 Fly, 500 Free); Tysen Miller (200 Breast, 200 Fly); Madeline Siefert (100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM); Gabby Vieira (100 Back, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Back, 200 Fly, 400 IM, 500 Free, 50 Free); Helen Wojdylo (100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 Free, 200 IM);
    • 2nd Places: Joseph Janisse (200 Breast, 400 IM); Amanda Mabry (500 Free);
    • 3rd Places: Cameron Mejean (25 Breast); Noah Mejean (100 Breast); Avery Runge (200 Breast);
    • 4th through 8th Places: Zoe Johnson (50 Fly); Jack Maxton (50 Free); Katelyn Miller (200 Breast); Anne Montgomery (200 Breast); Kari Pepple (200 Fly); Audrey Snodgrass (500 Free); Emma Summers (50 Fly);
    • 9th through 16th Places: Cami Brazel (100 Free, 200 IM, 50 Breast); Jasmine Brown (100 Back); Jericha Carter (200 Breast); William Dodson (50 Fly); Ryleigh Mejean (100 Free, 50 Breast); Cody Pepple (200 Back);
  • Meet Results and Reports:

SPEEDO CHAMPIONS SERIES - CENTRAL SECTION REGION VIII

Speedo Champions SeriesCongratulations to the swimmers who represented the Gators at the Spring Sectionals meet in Oklahoma this past weekend: Morgan Maguire, Morgan Morris, Gabby Vieira and Helen Wojdylo.

  • New Records:
    • Gabriela Vieira lowered her own Ozark record in the Girls 13-14 100-meter butterfly with a new time of 1:02.89, a Summer Junior Nationals qualifying time. Gabby also lowered two team records: 200 freestyle (2:06.98) and 200 backstroke (2:21.86).
    • Team Records (LCM)
    • Ozark Records
  • Best Individual Event Finishes:
    • Morgan Maguire: 36th place in the 1500 freestyle (19:12.25).
    • Morgan Morris: 26th place in the 1500 freestyle (18:41.24).
    • Gabby Vieira: 2nd places in the 100 butterfly (1:02.89) and 200 backstroke (2:21.86).
    • Helen Wojdylo: 27th place in the 200 breastroke (2:54.04).
  • Meet Results and Reports:

OZARK DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP

Eight Gator swimmers made a huge splash this past weekend in Saint Louis, showing their best form at the Ozark Division I Championship. With 78% Improvement over their seed times, the highest among all teams, and the remarkably high average of 66.062 points per swimmer (almost double the number of the second highest ranked team), our athletes amassed over 500 points to finish 6th place overall among the 19 teams competing at the event. Needless to say, everyone is very proud of these high-achieving athletes. Congratulations, Gator swimmers! And congratulations to all parents and to our world-class coaches too!

Here are the highlights of the meet:

  • New Team Records:
    • Brogan Davis lowered two of his own team record times in the Boys 11-12 age division, swimming the 50-yard backstroke in 28.09 seconds and the 100 back in 1:00.84.
    • Team Records (SCY)
  • New Time Standard Achievements:
    • Jacob Bening (10) achieved his first Quad-A times in the Boys 10 & Under age group with a time of 32.47 seconds in the 50-yard backstroke and 1:10.05 in the 100 backstroke.
    • Tysen Miller (10) got his first Triple-A time in the Boys 10 & Under age group, swimming the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.81.
    • Gator Achievements Page
  • Top-8 Individual High Point Winners:
    • 10 & Under Girls: Phoebe Law 2nd place overall with 125 points.
    • 10 & Under Boys: Jacob Bening 4th place (110 points).
    • 11-12 Boys: Brogan Davis 2nd place (122 points).
    • Individual Scores
  • Best Individual Event Finishes:
    • 1st Places: Brogan Davis (100 Back, 50 Back, 50 Fly); Phoebe Law (50 Back, 50 Free); Tysen Miller (100 Breast);
    • 2nd Places: Jacob Bening (100 Back, 200 Free, 50 Back);
    • 4th through 8th Places: Samuel Hahs (50 Breast); Stephen Sugarbaker (1000 Free);
    • 9th through 18th Places: Amanda Mabry (500 Free); Daniel Seabaugh (100 Breast)
  • Meet Results and Reports:

HEAT LIGHTENING AND 8 & UNDER CHAMPIONSHIP

Sign-ups are now open for the HEAT Lightning and 8 & Under Championship meet March 17-18, 2012

Message from Coach Steve: This is a team meet, and I would like everyone to make a concerted effort to attend. This is a championship for 8 & Unders, as well as our best chance for the older swimmers to achieve best yard times.

Click here to sign up by Tuesday, February 28.

MSHSAA GIRLS SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Maddie Siefert and Morgan Morris will be swimming at the 2012 MSHAA state championship

Good luck to Gator swimmers Maddie Siefert and Morgan Morris at the High School Champs this weekend!

Information about the meet can be found on the MSHAA website.

OZARK DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

  • New Time Standard Achievements:
    • Ava Duncan (9) achieved her first B time in the Girls 10 & Under age group with a time of 1:44.27 in the 100 IM.
    • Amanda Mabry (12) achieved her first A time in the Girls 11-12 age group with a time of 2:18.89 in the 200 Free.
    • Noah Mejean (11) achieved his first BB time in the Boys 11-12 age group with a time of 6:22.19 in the 500 Free.
    • Audrey Snodgrass (9) achieved her first BB time in the Girls 10 & Under age group with a time of 43.31 in the 50 Back.
    • Gator Achievements Page
  • Best Individual Event Finishes:
    • 1st Places: Tysen Miller (100 IM);
    • 2nd Places: Amanda Mabry (500 Free);
    • 4th through 8th Places: Samuel Hahs (100 Breast, 50 Fly); Noah Mejean (500 Free); Daniel Seabaugh (200 IM);
  • Meet Results and Reports:

MISSOURI GRAND PRIX RESULTS

  • New Team Records:
    • Gabriela Vieira lowered 5 of her own Gator records in the Girls 13-14 age group: 100-meter freestyle (59.15), 200 freestyle (2:07.16), 200 fly (2:21.15), 100 back (1:06.48) and 200 back (2:22.09). The last two are also "Open" records.
    • Team Records (LCM)
  • Best Individual Event Finishes:
    • Gabby made "C" finals on Saturday in the 200-meter butterfly, finishing the event in 21st place.
  • Meet Results and Reports:

PADUCAH VALENTINE INVITATIONAL RESULTS

  • New Team Records:
  • New Time Standard Achievements:
    • Paige Beussink (8) achieved her first B time in the Girls 10 & Under age group with a time of 39.53 in the 50-yard freestyle.
    • Cameron Mejean (8) achieved his first B time in the Boys 10 & Under age division, swimming the 50 breaststroke in 49.82 seconds.
    • Tysen Miller (10) got his first AA time in the Boys 10 & Under age group with a time of 40.23 in the 50 breaststroke.
    • Hannah Summers (12) achieved her first B time in the Girls 11-12 age group with a time of 1:33.72 in the 100 breaststroke.
    • Gator Achievements Page
  • High Point Winners:
    • Zoe Johnson (6 & Under Girls)
    • Paige Beussink (7-8 Girls)
    • Phoebe Law (9-10 Girls)
    • Jacob Bening (9-10 Boys)
    • Brogan Davis (11-12 Boys)
    • Helen Wojdylo (13-14 Girls)
    • Individual Scores
  • Other Top Scorers:
    • 6 & Under Boys: Zach Brazel (3rd Place)
    • 7-8 Boys: Cameron Mejean (3rd), William Dodson (6th)
    • 9-10 Girls: Bailey Beussink (6th)
    • 9-10 Boys: Tysen Miller (3rd)
    • 11-12 Boys: Samuel Hahs (3rd)
    • 13-14 Boys: Stephen Sugarbaker (2nd)
    • 15 & Over Girls: Morgan Morris (2nd), Morgan Maguire (6th)
    • 15 & Over Boys: Joseph Janisse (4th)
    • Individual Scores
  • Best Individual Event Finishes:
    • 1st Places: Jacob Bening (100 Back, 200 Free, 200 IM, 50 Back); Paige Beussink (100 Free, 25 Breast, 25 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Free); Brogan Davis (100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 IM, 50 Back, 50 Fly, 50 Free); Samuel Hahs (50 Breast); Zoe Johnson (100 Free, 100 IM, 25 Back, 25 Fly, 25 Free, 50 Back, 50 Free); Phoebe Law (100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 IM, 50 Back, 50 Free); Cameron Mejean (25 Breast, 50 Breast); Tysen Miller (100 Breast, 50 Breast); Morgan Morris (100 Fly, 1650 Free); Stephen Sugarbaker (100 Breast, 200 Fly); Helen Wojdylo (100 Breast, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Free, 400 IM, 500 Free, 50 Free);
    • 2nd Places: Cami Brazel (100 Breast); Zach Brazel (25 Free); William Dodson (100 IM); Joseph Janisse (100 Breast); Madeline Siefert (100 Breast);
    • 3rd Places: Morgan Maguire (200 Fly, 500 Free); Emma Summers (50 Back);
    • 4th through 8th Places: Camryn Alsdorf (50 Back); Drew Beussink (50 Breast, 50 Free); Bailey Beussink (200 Free); Hannah Dodson (100 Breast, 200 Free); Katelyn Miller (200 Free); Cody Pepple (100 Fly); Daniel Seabaugh (100 Fly); Sydney Seabaugh (50 Free); Ben Sugarbaker (100 Free); Hannah Summers (100 Breast);
    • 9th through 16th Places: Kailey Bell (100 Back, 200 Free, 50 Breast); Jasmine Brown (100 Breast); Paige Elder (50 Breast); Sophia McCadams (50 Breast); Kari Pepple (50 Fly); Maddie Scott (100 Breast);
  • Meet Results and Reports:

APPRECIATION

"I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have, than to have things I am unable to appreciate"
- Elbert Hubbard

OZARK DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP

The sign up for the Ozark Division I Championship, February 24-26 is now available. This meet is for all age groups 14 and under. Swimmers must have at least a BB time standard to swim an event.

Click here to sign up for the Ozark Division I Championship. Sign-ups are due by Sunday, February 12.

ARTICLE: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR SWIMMING PARENTS

Reposting this great article with invaluable advice for parents by Rose Snyder, a former director of the US Olympic Committee Coaching Division:

I. Thou shalt not impose ambitions on thy child. Remember that swimming is the child's activity. The child will progress at his own speed. Nothing is worse than a parent forcing a child to do something he does not want to do. This nice thing about swimming is each person can strive to do his or her personal best. It doesn't matter whether they come in first or last, they can all improve themselves.
II. Thou shalt be supportive no matter what. There is only one question to ask the child "Did you have fun"? If meets and practices aren't fun, the child should not be forced to participate.
III. Thou shalt not coach your child. You have taken your child to a professional coach; do not undermine that coach by trying to coach your child on the side. Your job is to support, love and hug your child no matter what. The coach is responsible for the technical part of the job. You should not offer advice on technique or race strategy. That is not your area. This will only serve to confuse your child and prevent that swimmer/coach bond from forming.
( . . . )

Continued... Click here to read the full article.

Find more articles and links on the Gator Practice page.

A REMINDER TO ALL PARENTS

Please do not talk to the coaches on deck during practice. The swimmers need the coaches' full attention. If you need to talk to a coach, please wait until the practice is over or (preferably) contact the coach by phone or email to schedule an appointment.

ALL AGE GROUPS SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN MEETS

All Gator swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend as many meets as possible during the season, so please consider signing up for the upcoming meets. Here are some very important reasons for swimmers to attend meets:

  • NEW SKILLS:Competing in meets gives us a chance to learn things that we can’t really learn in practice. Racing is a skill that must be developed, just as a good butterfly is a skill that needs to be developed. To do this we need to practice and the more meets we compete in the better we get.
  • TEAM SPIRIT:Going to meets as a team encourages us to get to know our teammates better and fosters team spirit. It also allows our younger swimmers a chance to watch, and learn from our older, more experience swimmers.
  • GOALS:Good goal setting takes practice too. By swimming in meets and testing ourselves to the limit, we learn just how far we have come, and what we need to improve on. Remember, we can learn just as much from our failures as we can from our successes.
  • REWARDS:Swimming is a sport that teaches us great life lessons. Particularly, if you want something bad, then you have to work for it. Participation in meets gives us a chance to be rewarded for all our hard work.

There are many more great reasons to swim in meets. The main idea is to realize that meets are a great learning experience. Just as tests that we take in school allow us to both monitor our progress and to learn from our mistakes. Meets are a vital part of any swimmers development and ALL swimmers are encouraged to participate in them, regardless of what practice group you are in.

Original text by Jamie Greenwood. Published with permission from Virginia Association for Competitive Swimming.

NSC CHILL OUT CLASSIC RESULTS

Who says gators only thrive in warm climates? A group of 15 Gator swimmers traveled to the NSC Chill Out Classic, and returned with 8 pool records, 24 meet records, 2 team records, 4 high point winners, and first place in quality team points!

  • New Team Records:
    • Brogan Davis lowered his own team record in the Boys 11-12 age group, swimming the 50-yard backstroke in 28.96 seconds (a quad-A time).
    • Gabriela Vieira lowered her own Gator record in the Girls 13-14 500 freestyle with a new time of 4:57.51.
    • Team Records (SCY)
  • New Pool and Meet records:
    • Gabriela Vieira set pool records in the 400IM , 500 Free , 200IM , 200 Free , 200 Fly , 200 Back , 100 Fly , and 100 Back.
    • Seven Gator swimmers swam 24 meet records: Brogan Davis (4), Phoebe Law (5), Morgan Morris (1), Maddie Siefert (2), Stephen Sugarbaker (1), Gabriela Vieira (6), and Helen Wojdylo (5).
  • New Time Standard Achievements:
    • Samuel Hahs (11) achieved his first A time in the Boys 11-12 age group, swimming the 500-yard freestyle in 6:03.16.
    • Gator Achievements Page
  • High Point Winners:
    • Phoebe Law (9-10 Girls)
    • Sam Hahs (11-12 Boys)
    • Helen Wojdylo (13-14 Girls)
    • Morgan Morris (15 & Over Girls)
    • Individual Scores
  • Other Top Scorers:
    • 8 & Under boys: Cameron Mejean (3rd place)
    • 11-12 Boys: Brogan Davis (4th)
    • 13-14 Girls: Gabby Vieira (4th)
    • 13-14 Boys: Stephen Sugarbaker (2nd)
    • 15 & Over Girls: Morgan Maguire (4th), Madeline Siefert (6th)
    • 15 & Over Boys: Joseph Janisse (7th)
    • Individual Scores
  • Best Individual Event Finishes:
    • 1st Places: Brogan Davis (100 Back, 100 IM, 50 Back, 50 Fly, 50 Free); Phoebe Law (100 Back, 100 Free, 100 IM, 200 Free, 200 IM, 50 Back, 50 Fly, 50 Free); Morgan Morris (200 Free, 500 Free); Madeline Siefert (200 Breast); Stephen Sugarbaker (400 IM, 500 Free); Gabby Vieira (400 IM, 500 Free, 100 Back, 100 Fly, 200 Back, 200 Fly, 200 Free, 200 IM); Helen Wojdylo (100 Breast, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 500 Free, 50 Free);
    • 2nd Places: Samuel Hahs (200 IM, 50 Breast, 50 Fly); Morgan Maguire (500 Free); Cameron Mejean (200 Free, 200 IM, 25 Breast, 50 Fly);
    • 4th through 8th Places: Joseph Janisse (500 Free); Amanda Mabry (100 IM); Noah Mejean (100 IM); Ryleigh Mejean (200 IM); Ben Sugarbaker (100 Free);
  • Meet Results and Reports:

NEW JANUARY MEET

Gator parents and swimmers: we were unable to find a referee for our hosted meet in January and for that reason the Long Course Kick Off meet has been canceled. As a result, we will be attending a different meet that weekend: the Newburgh Sea Creatures Chill Out Classic in Newburgh, IN. The NSC meet is less than 3 hours away and they have a brand new 50m x 25yd pool where the competition will be held. This is a great meet for all age groups, but we have to sign up very quickly because they expect our entries by Friday. The sign up deadline is Thursday @ 7pm.

Click here to sign up

 

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