TAKE YOUR MARKS!

Lessons from Tennis

2012-01-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

I've recently become a huge follower of Vern Gambetta's blog. This happened after a friend lent me a copy of his book "Following the Functional Path." I highly recommend anyone involved with sports (especially coaches) to get a copy of the book and read his blog quite often. They are both full of ideas that will make you question the way you do things. Basically, great food for thought. Ultimately, you will either decide changes are needed or feel even stronger about the way you structure and do things. Either way, you win.

Vern's book and blog are not, however, the subject of this post. In one of the articles from the book (titled 'The System', on page 129) he refers to an article from Play Magazine (NY Times' sports magazine). The article, by Daniel Coyle (author of the best seller "The Talent Code"), is titled "How To Grow a Super-Athlete". Curious, I searched the web after it. The article deals with possible reasons to explain why certain places or clubs seem to produce a high quantity of elite level athletes. Its centerpiece is Spartak Tennis Club, in Moscow, a small tennis club with remarkable success. How remarkable? To quote Coyle's article:

"...this club, which has one indoor court, has achieved eight year-end top-20 women's rankings over the last three years. During that same period, the entire United States has achieved seven."

One thing that stood out to me was the fact that Spartak's 'athletes' are not allowed to compete during their first three years of training! The rationale seems to be that they want to first focus on technique, and don't want early competitive success to get in the way of developing a solid technical foundation. I must be honest: I'd like to be able to pull the ultimate experience, and structure a swim team very much like Spartak structure's. However, I'm aware that would certainly be fated to failure. Generally speaking, copying programs and implementing them somewhere with a completely different culture will never work. The culture of the area where the program was first implemented is one of the things that make it successful there.

So, what lessons can we still take from Spartak and apply to swimming? In one of my previous posts I wrote about how important I believe technique to be in swimming. Reading about Spartak made me feel even stronger about it. While I can't keep young swimmers from diving into swim meets and trying to cut time or win (Oh, the glory of being an 8-yr-old champion!), I can continue to educate parents and swimmers on how technique is a much more important benchmark at certain stages of development. If they understand it and make the commitment to improve it, regardless if it makes them faster or slower today, then they are much more likely to be successful in the long run!

Great Article from SwimmingWorldMagazine.com!

2011-11-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

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!

Is average good enough for you?

2011-10-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

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!

Technique comes first!

2011-10-11T09:47:00.001-07:00

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!

Body position on Butterfly

2011-09-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

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.

How a champion faces practice

2011-09-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

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.

The Importance of Mental Toughness

2011-09-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

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?

State of the Sport Address

2011-09-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

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)"

Back into Training Dryland

2011-09-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

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!

Problem-Solving Swimming (from GoSwim!)

2011-09-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

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!

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

2011-09-13T20:06:00.001-07:00

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.

What do I do with my hands while swimming?

ASCA World Clinic

2011-09-11T19:52:00.001-07:00

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!

Good UW videos of side kicking

2011-09-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

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!

GoSwim Heavy-Hand Side Kick

Paul Yetter has a blog...

2011-08-27T12:02:00.001-07:00

... 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

14&U Central Zones Champs Highlights

2011-08-09T23:20:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

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 5^th 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!

2011 ISI Summer Regionals Meet Highlights

2011-07-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

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!!!

DMSF Birdland Invite - Highlights

2011-07-20T18:25:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

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!

ACAC Rock the Blocks - Highlights

2011-07-02T22:48:00.000-07:00

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!

Meet Highlights - IFLY David Armbruster Open

2011-06-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

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!!!

CRAA Spring Pentathlon Meet Highlights

2011-05-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

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!

Preparation for Life!

2011-03-21T21:18:00.001-07:00

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!

Speedo Sectionals Highlights

2011-03-17T19:42:00.000-07:00

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.

2011 ISI Short Course Championships - Meet Highlights

2011-03-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

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!

2011 ISI 12&U SCY Champs Highlights

2011-03-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

To say ACAC did great at the 12&U Champs wouldn’t do justice to our athletes’ performances! We had a stunning 73% of best times, set 4 ACAC Relay Records and 15 ACAC Individual Records on the road to claiming 5^th place overall. Considering the sizes of the teams, our swimmers performed even better, since when dividing the total points by the number of entries, ACAC had the best average, scoring 10.4 points per entry (the only team to average over 10pts/entry)!!! Here are the individual highlights:

Girls 11-12 Relays:

All four ACAC Records for 11-12 Girls relays fell during the meet: The team of Morgan Rosser, Hannah Dietrich, Jazlyn Horras and Gracie Snyder broke both the 200 Freestyle Relay: 1.51.12; the same team also took down the 400 Freestyle Relay: 4:05.41. Jazlyn Horras (Bk), Gracie Snyder (Br), Anna Napolitano (Fl) and Morgan Rosser (Fr) broke the 200 Medley Relay: 2:05.10; for the 400 Medley Relay, Anna and Gracie switched strokes, and another ACAC Record fell: 4:43.57.

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got 9 best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Boys 9-10, 500 Free: 6:16.75), which is also a new AA time, in addition to 1 AAA time (50 breast) and 4 more new AA times (50 and 200 free, 100 breast, and 200 IM);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 2 new AA times (1000 free and 50 back) and 1 new A time (200 IM);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): got three best times;

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): got 1 best time;

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): went 9 for 9 in best times, including 1 new AAA time (50 back), 1 new AA time (100 back) and 6 new A times (500 free, 200 back, 50 and 100 breast, 100 and 200 IM);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got five best times, including 1 new BB time (50 back);

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got one best time, which is also a new A time (50 breast);

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): got four best times;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got three best times;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 3 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 500 Free: 5:41.33; 1000 Free: 11:37.94; 200 Fly: 2:36.14), which included 1 new AAA time (1000 Free) and 1 new A time (200 Fly), in addition to 3 other new AA times (200 back, 200 and 400 IM);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including no less than 6 ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 200 Free: 2:06.19; 50 Back: 30.14; 50 Fly: 27.61; 100 Fly: 1:06.20; 200 IM: 2:18.80; 400 IM: 5:10.92)!!! Of those, 1 was a new AAAA time (50 fly) and 4 were new AAA times (200 free, 50 back, 100 fly and 200 IM), in addition to 1 more AAA time (100 free);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): en route to winning High Point honors, went 10 for 10 in best times, including a relay lead-off. Of those, in addition to 1 new AAA time (500 free), 6 were new ACAC Records (Girls 9-10, 50 Free: 29.17; 100 Free: 1:03.79; 50 Fly: 31.36; 100 Fly: 1:11.87; 100 IM: 1:11.99; 200 IM: 2:31.95), which included 2 new AAAA times (50 fly and 200 IM)!!!!

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

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 3 new A times (100 free, 100 IM and 200 IM);

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

Congrats, ACAC!

Responding To A Mistake

2011-03-03T10:22:00.001-08:00

Sports are a great foundation for life, and such a great metaphor as well. Let’s look at a mistake in sports. Athletes, like most people, tend to react in two basic ways after a mistake: They emote or they think. When people emote (with anger or frustration), they tend to go into a mode of temporary insanity and the mind stops operating as it should. This negates the possibility of working right away on a correction for the next shot or the next play.

If, on the other hand, people learn to be their own coaches and look at mistakes as opportunities to figure out how to improve, then progress can take place. Coaches and leaders have an important, but delicate, role to play. So many these days make student or employee dependent on them. Instead, we should allow people to work problems out on their own.

We do not do enough in training to have people analyze their mistakes and discuss what they would do to change things. It’s essential that leaders solicit input regularly as to why things went wrong and what the new plan of action will be, whether it is the next shot, the next game or the next business proposal.

Regionals Highlights

2011-02-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

ACAC Swimmers attending Regionals had a great time while swimming at our home pool, and meanwhile kept getting best times and adding events to their list at both 12&U and Senior State! Here are the highlights:

Lauren Banwart (Senior) got two best times, including 1 new A time (100 free) and 1 new BB time (500 free);

Matt Burke (Senior): went three for three in best times, including 1 new BB time (100 back);

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

Tia Cavender (Senior): went five for five in best times, and dove in for two new events, totaling 1 new BB time (50 free) and 3 new B times (100 and 200 back, and 200 IM);

Michael Chang (Age Group 2): got three best times and dove in for one new event, for a total of 1 new BB time (50 free) and 3 new B times (100 free, 50 and 100 fly);

Blaire Collet (Novice): got two best times;

Emily Collet (Novice): got two best times;

Meghan Collet (Age Group 1): got four best times;

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): went 8 for 8 in best times, including her first, second… and fifth Q times! Also got 2 A times (50 and 200 free) and 3 new BB times (200 back, 100 fly, and 100 IM);

Irfan Dotani (Age Group 1): got five best times;

Ishaq Dotani (Senior): got four best times, including 1 new B time (50 free), and dove in for one new event;

Matthew Farrell (Age Group 2): got 6 best times, including his first Q/BB time (100 free) and 2 new B times (50 free and 100 breast);

Meredith Farrell (Senior): got one best time;

Jess Gaumer (Age Group 2): got three best times, including 1 new B time (50 free);

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

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

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): got three best times and dove in for one new event, for a total of 1 new A/Q time (50 back) and 3 new B times (25 free, 25 fly, and 50 fly);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got three best times, including 1 new BB time (100 back);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): got four best times, including 3 new B times (50 and 100 free, and 500 free), and dove in for one new event;

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got five best times, including 1 new B time (25 fly);

Wendy Jiang (Age Group 1): got five best times;

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

Jaci Johnson (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Josh Lee (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new A time (200 free) and 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): got six best times, including 1 new B time (50 free);

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

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got four best times, including 1 new BB/Q time (100 back) and 1 new Q time (100 fly);

Ezra Manus (Age Group 1): got three best times;

Nathan Matthews (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (50 free) and 1 new B time (100 free);

Josh McCunn (Novice): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Carl Meese (Senior): got one best time, which is a new B time (100 breast);

Bailey Moulden (Senior): got two best times;

Mia Moulden (Novice): got four best times, including 1 new B time (50 free);

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got four best times, including 1 new B time (50 free) and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (200 back);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got five best times, including two new Q times (100 and 400 IM) and 1 new BB time (50 breast);

Lindy Peterson (Senior): got three best times, and dove in for three new events, including 1 new B time (100 free);

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got two best times, including 1 new B time (50 fly);

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new Q time (1000 free), 1 new BB time (50 free) and 1 new B time (100 fly);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new A time (50 free);

Tony Rosser (Senior): got two best times;

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got five best times, including her first A/Q time (50 back) and 2 new B times (50 free and 50 breast);

Bella Saad (Age Group 1): got three best times;

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): went three for three in best times, including 2 new BB times (500 free and 100 fly);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Sarah Song (Novice): got one best time and dove in for four new events;

Hattie Stenberg (Age Group 2): got seven best times;

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

Takeshi Suzuki (Age Group 1): dove in for two new events;

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

Erin Wolter (Age Group 2): got three best times;

Franklin Zhu (Age Group 1): got two best times.

Congrats, ACAC!

Schroeder A+ Meet Highlights

2011-02-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

A small group of our swimmers traveled to Wisconsin for the highly competitive Schroeder A+ meet. On top of watching featured athlete Josh Schneider (NCAA Champion on the 50 Free), our swimmers had a great time, by swimming fast! A total of 6 new ACAC Records were set! Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 2 new AA times (100 free and 50 breast);

Sara Bentley (National): got seven best times, all new AAA times (50, 100 and 200 free, 200 back, 100 and 200 breast, and 200 IM)!!! To top it of, 4 of those were new Sectionals cuts (200 back, 100 and 200 breast, 200 IM);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got one best time;

Chloe Kuehner (National): got one best time, which is a new A time (100 free);

Hannah Newell (National): got one best time;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 500 free: 5:44.34);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got 5 best times, including 4 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 50 free: 25.98; 100 fly: 1:06.43; 100 IM: 1:06.41; 200 IM: 2:25.31)!!! On top of that, one of those was a new AAAA time (50 free);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Girls 9-10, 100 IM: 1:12.25) and 2 new AAA times (200 free and 50 back).

Congrats, ACAC!!!

Meet Highlights - BLAST Winter Invite

2011-01-31T11:49:00.001-08:00

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

2011-01-24T20:51:00.001-08:00

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

2011-01-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-10T14:19:00.000-08:00

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!

The Key to Empowerment

2010-12-26T06:46:00.000-08:00

Many of today’s leaders, companies and organizations believe that they are empowering their employees and colleagues to make decisions on their own. Yet when a wrong decision is made, the employee gets yelled at or is reprimanded. The outcome is that empowerment dies at that moment.

The key to making empowerment successful is to allow the person to make the mistake and in a calm, helpful manner teach them or train them on the better way to accomplish the task. Mistakes are the building blocks of growth.

It is very easy to spot an enterprise that empowers people. A classic example is when you check out of a hotel and there issomething appearing on your bill that you did not pay for or order. The front desk person has two options. They take it offyour bill right away or they say, “let me check with my manager.” When a person has to check with their superior and cannot make the decision on their own, you know that empowerment is lacking.

In the end, the key to successfully empowering employees comes down to two things: great training and the confidence ofthe leader.

Meet Highlights - CSC Jim Devine Memorial

2010-11-28T14:54:00.001-08:00

As usual, ACAC swimmers were fast at the Mizzou pool! We had a great percentage of best times, and several of those were BIG time drops! Here are the individual highlights:

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

Sara Bentley (Senior): got give best times, including 1 new AAA time (100 back), 3 new AA times (200 free, 200 back, and 400 IM) and 1 new BB time (200 fly);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new A time (100 free);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): got one best time, which is also a new B time (200 free);

Jess Gaumer (Age Group 2): in her first meet with ACAC, dove in for five events, including 2 B times (50 and 100 breast);

Peyton Gaumer (Senior): went 7 for 7 in best times, including 5 new A times (100 and 200 free, 100 and 200 breast, and 400 IM);

Ryan Gaumer (Age Group 3): got one best time and dove in for three new events, totaling 3 new BB times (50 and 100 back, 100 IM) and 1 new B time (100 breast);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got 7 best times, including 4 new ACAC Records! (Girls 9-10, 100 Free: 1:04.70; 50 Back: 31.79; 100 Back: 1:10.87; 50 Breast: 38.71), 1 of which is a new AAA time (100 free), and 2 additional new AAA times (100 and 200 IM);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): got six best times, including one new BB time (100 IM);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): got six best times, including one new B time (100 IM);

Nick Lin (Age Group 2): got three best times, including one new A time (25 back);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got five best times, including two new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 100 Breast: 1:15.51; 200 Breast: 2:44.23) and 1 new AAA time (50 breast);

Isabel McLeod (Senior): got four best times;

Lucas McLeod (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (50 back);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got four best times;

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got three best times and dove in for one new event, including two new B times (25 free and 25 back);

Cameron Rasmussen (Senior): got two best times, including one new A time (100 breast);

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got nine best times, including one new AA time (500 free) and two new A times (100 free and 100 IM);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): went 6 for 6 in best times, including 3 new A times (50 and 100 free, 100 back) and 1 new BB time (200 free);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 2 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 100 Fly: 1:08.50; 200 IM: 2:27.39), one of which is a new AA time (200 IM), and one additional new AA time (50 back);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): went five for five in best times, including 1 new AA time (50 free), one new A time (100 free) and two new BB times (200 free and 100 back);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got eight best times, including 5 ACAC Records! (Girls 9-10, 100 Breast: 1:23.99; 50 Fly: 32.48; 100 Fly: 1:12.37; 100 IM: 1:13.18; 200 IM: 2:34.51), 3 of which are new AAA times (100 breast, 100 fly and 200 IM), and one additional AAA time (50 free);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior): got three best times, including one new ACAC Record (Girls 13-14, 200 Breast: 2:29.42) and one new AAA time (200 free);

Molly Winer (Age Group 3): got four best times.

Congrats, ACAC!!!

Meet Highlights - DMSF Invitational

2010-11-26T09:35:00.000-08:00

ACAC Swimmers showed up and swum fast again at the DMSF Invitational! Here are the individual highlights:

Girls 11-12, 200 Fr Relay: the team composed of Morgan Rosser, Isabel McLeod, Rachel Manderscheid and Gracie Snyder established a new ACAC Record at 1:53.85;

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got 6 best times, including two new A times (50 and 100 breast) and 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Grace Carleton (Senior): got one best time;

Blaire Collet (Novice): got four best times;

Emily Collet (Novice): got one best time;

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

Chandler Cox (Senior): got three best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 1 new A time (500 free), one new BB time (50 free), and one new B time (100 fly);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): got five best times, including one new B time (100 back);

Leah Dietrich (Novice): got one best time;

Maddie Fowler (Senior): got four best times, including 3 new B times (100 and 200 free, and 100 back);

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

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

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): got two best times and dove in for six new events, including 4 new B times (50 free, 50 back, 50 fly and 100 IM);

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event;

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): dove in for one new event and got six best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Girls 9-10, 50 Breast: 39.37), 2 new AA times (50 free and 200 IM) and 1 new A time (100 fly);

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

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): got six best times and dove in for one new event;

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got four best times and dove in for two new events;

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

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for two new events, for a total of 3 new B times (500 free, 200 back, and 200 IM);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): got five best times, including two new B times (50 free and 50 breast);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): dove in for one new event, which is a new BB time (500 free), and got six best times, including 1 new A time (200 IM) and 1 new AA time / ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 200 Breast: 2:46.78);

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

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

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

Jolyn McCalley (Age Group 1): dove in for two new events;

Joshua McCunn (Novice): dove in for one new event;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): went 4 for 4 in best times, and dove in for one new event;

Isabel McLeod (Senior): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 1 new B time (50 breast);

Lucas McLeod (Age Group 1): got one best time;

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

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got one best time;

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

Alli Rogers (Age Group 1): dove in for two new events;

Tony Rosser (Novice): got two best times;

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

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got two 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 five best times, including 2 new B times (100 fly and 200 IM);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 3 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 50 Fly: 28.52; 100 IM: 1:07.50; 400 IM: 5:23.52), one of which is a new AAA time (100 IM), and one is a new A time (400 IM), in addition to two more new A times (500 free and 100 back);

Olivia Snyder (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new B time (200 breast);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got three best times, including one new AAA time / ACAC Record (Girls 9-10, 50 Fly: 33.11);

Hatie Stenberg (Age Group 2): got four best times, including 2 new B times (50 and 100 back);

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new BB time (100 breast);

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Franklin Zhu (Age Group 1): got seven best times.

Congrats, ACAC!

2010-11-17T14:19:00.001-08:00

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you won't;
If you like to win, but don't think you can,
It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost;
For out in the world you'll find
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in a state of mind.

For many a game is lost
Before even a play is run,
And many a coward fails
Before even his work is begun.

Think big and your deeds will grow,
Think small and you'll fall behind;
Think that you can and you will;
It's all in a state of mind.

If you think you are out classed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise;
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the fellow who thinks he can.

-- Annonymous

BLAST IMX Challenge - Meet Highlights

2010-11-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

At a meet where swimmers compete in 5 events in a short period of time, including some events considered ‘tough’, our swimmers showed the mental strength and physical fitness needed to succeed! Here are the highlights:

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (Girls 9-10, 50 Breast: 40.13);

Josh Lee (Senior): got one best time and dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (500 free);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): dove in for one new event;

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): went 3 for 3 in best times and dove in for two new events;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): dove in for one new event;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Alex Pyle (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new A time (200 fly) and 1 new BB time (200 breast);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new AA time (200 free) and 1 new A time (100 breast);

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

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

Hattie Stenberg (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got three best times and matched another one;

Caleb Utesch (Senior): got one best time, which is a new B time (200 breast);

Congrats, ACAC!

Meet Highlights - ACAC Autumn Opener

2010-11-07T20:04:00.000-08:00

At our home pool, ACAC swimmers did a great job on ‘defending our ground’! Many new best times achieved, including some new ACAC Records! Here are the highlights:

The Relay team of Isabel McLeod, Rachel Manderscheid, Gracie Snyder, and Morgan Rosser set a new ACAC Record for the 11-12 Girls 200 Medley Relay: 2:07.50

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

Bryan Bjorklund (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new A time (50 free) and 1 new B time (200 IM);

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

Matt Burke (Senior): got 4 best times, including 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Grace Carleton (Senior): got one best time;

Michael Chang (Age Group 2): got two best times and dove in for two new events;

Blaire Collet (Novice): got three best times and dove in for one new event;

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

Meghan Collet (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event;

Chandler Cox (Senior): got one best time and dove in for three new events, all of which are new BB times (200 free, 100 back, and 400 IM);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): got one best time, which is a new B time (100 free) and dove in for two new events;

Leah Dietrich (Novice): dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (50 back);

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

Ishaq Dotani (Senior): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Matthew Farrell (Age Group 2): got three best times;

Peyton Gaumer (Senior): dove in for two new events, both of which are new B times (1650 free and 200 back);

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): got one best time and dove in for three new events;

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

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): dove in for three new events, including 1 new BB time (50 breast);

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

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 2 new AA times (200 and 500 free) and 1 new A time (200 IM);

David Jiang (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event and got 4 best times, including 1 new B time (25 free);

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

Atticus Jurgensen (Age Group 1): in his first swim meet, dove in for one event;

Josh Lee (Senior): got three best times, including one new BB time (200 breast);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): got two best times, both new B times (200 free and 100 breast);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): went 4 for 4 in best times, and dove in for 3 new events;

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): got two best times, including 1 new A time (50 breast);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got three best times, including 1 new AA time (100 breast), 1 new BB time (100 IM), and 1 new B time (200 free);

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

Josie Manzer (Age Group 2): got 6 best times and dove in for one new event;

Jeffrey Marsh (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Terianne Marsh (Age Group 2): got 4 best times;

Nathan Matthews (Age Group 3): got 5 best times, including 1 new B time (50 free) and dove in for one new event;

Jolyn McCalley (Age Group 1): in her first swim meet, dove in for one event;

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

Isabel McLeod (Senior): got four best times;

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

Syney Meier (Age Group 2): dove in for two new events;

Chris Merchant (Senior): got one best time;

Katelyn Moore (Age Group 2): dove in for one new event;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got seven best times and dove in for one new event;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got six best times and dove in for one new event, for a total of 3 new BB times (1000 free, 100 IM, and 200 IM) and 1 new B time (50 breast);

Meredith Napolitano (Novice): in her first swim meet, dove in for one new event;

Emily Narigon (Age Group 1): in her first swim meet, dove in for 3 events;

Alex Pyle (Senior): got one best time, which is a new AA time (100 fly);

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

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got one best time;

Alli Rogers (Age Group 1): got two best times, both new A times (25 and 50 breast) and dove in for 1 new event, which is also a new B time (100 free);

Tony Rosser (Novice): got two best times;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new BB time (50 breast) and new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 1000 Free: 12:08.27);

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for six new events;

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

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new BB time (200 back) and 1 new B time (500 free);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got 7 best times, including 1 new AA time (100 free), 2 new A times (200 free and 50 breast) and 1 new AAA time / ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 50 Fly: 29.65

Olivia Snyder (Senior): got two best times, including 1 new B time (200 IM);

Sarah Song (Novice): in her first swim meet, dove in for three events;

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new AAA time / ACAC Record (Girls 9-10, 100 IM: 1:14.98), and 1 new AA time (100 breast);

Durga Sritharan (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event;

Krishan Sritharan (Novice): in his first swim meet, dove in for one new event;

Hatie Stenberg (Age Group 2): got four best times, including 1 new BB time (100 breast) and 2 new B times (200 free and 100 IM);

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

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

Takeshi Suzuki (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event and got two best times, including 1 new BB time (50 free);

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

Marios Tringides (Senior): dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (400 IM);

Sam Wiedemeier (Senior): got one best time, which is also a new B time (200 IM);

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got four best times and dove in for one new event, for a total of 3 new BB times (50 breast, 50 fly, and 200 IM);

Erin Wolter (Age Group 2): dove in for two new events;

Franklin Zhu (Age Group 1): got four best times and dove in for two new events, including 1 new B time (100 breast).

Congrats, ACAC!

Meet Highlights - CIA Fall Mixer

2010-11-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

ACAC Swimmers showed in great strength for the first meet of the season. Despite the short time back in the water, many were able to improve on their best times, showing they are ready for a great season!

James Bentley (Age Group 3): dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (100 Fly);

Bryan Bjorklund (Senior): got one best time;

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got one best time, which is also a new A time (200 back);

Matt Burke (Senior): got two best times;

Grace Carleton (Senior): went 4 out of 4 in best times;

Michael Chang (Age Group 2): in his first swim meet, dove in for one event;

Blaire Collet (Novice): got one best time and dove in for two new events;

Meghan Collet (Age Group 1): went 3 for 3 in best times;

Chandler Cox (Senior): in his first meet with ACAC, dove in for two new BB times (500 free and 200 back);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2.5): got 7 best times, including 1 new B time (200 free);

Leah Dietrich (Novice): in her first swim meet, dove in for two events;

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

Peyton Gaumer (Senior): dove in for three events, including 2 new BB times (200 breast and 400 IM);

Amanda Harter (Age Group 2): in her first swim meet ever, dove in for 6 events;

Meredith Harter (Age Group 1): also in her first meet ever, completed 3 new events;

Eli Heginger (Age Group 1): another first-timer, completed 5 new events;

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): went 8 for 8 in best times, including 1 new AAAA time / ACAC Record (Girls 9-10, 50 back: 32.25), 1 new AAA time / ACAC Record (Girls 9-10, 100 back: 1:11.68), 4 new AA times (100 free, 100 breast, 50 fly and 100 IM), and 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got two best times, including 1 new BB time (50 Free);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): got one best time;

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got five best times, including 1 new BB time (100 Free) and 1 new B time (25 Breast), and also dove in for two new events;

Wendy Jiang (Age Group 1): dove in for three new events;

Josh Lee (Senior): got 6 best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 2 new A times (50 and 100 Free), 1 new BB time (200 IM), and 2 new B times (200 back and 400 IM);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (100 back);

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): went 6 for 6 in best times and dove in for 2 new events, for a total of 8 new A times (25, 50 and 100 Free, 50 back, 25 breast, 25 and 50 fly, and 100 IM);

Rachel Manderscheid (Senior): got two best times and dove in for 2 new events, totaling 1 new A time (200 breast) and 2 new BB times (100 Free and 200 IM);

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

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

Joshua McCunn (Novice): dove in for one new event;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): got one best time and dove in for one new event;

Isabel McLeod (Senior): got 5 best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 2 new A times (50 free and 100 back) and 4 new BB times (100, 200, and 500 free, and 100 fly);

Lucas McLeod (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for two new events, including 1 new B time (100 fly);

Katelyn Moore (Age Group 2): in her first swim meet ever, dove in for one event;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 1 new B time (100 back);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): went 8 for 8 in best times, including 2 new BB times (50 and 100 fly) and two new B times (50 and 100 back);

Alex Pyle (Senior): got one best time;

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

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior): got two best times;

Alli Rogers (Age Group 1): got three best times and dove in for one new event, all of those new A times (25 Free, 25 and 50 Back, and 25 Fly);

Tony Rosser (Novice): got two best times;

Myah Rozinek (Age Group 1): on her first swim meet, dove in for one event;

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): went three for three in best times, including 1 new AAA time (50 Free) and 2 new AA times (100 Fly and 100 IM), 1 of which is a new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 100 Fly: 1:08.85), and also dove in for one new event, which is a new BB time (1000 Free);

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

Hattie Stenberg (Age Group 2): got three best times, including 2 new B times (50 and 100 Free) and dove in for two new events;

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got 2 best times;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 1 new BB time (50 breast);

Takeshi Suzuki (Age Group 1): got two best times;

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

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got six best times and dove in for two new events, for a total of 4 new BB times (50, 200, and 500 free, and 100 back) and 1 new B time (100 fly);

Erin Wolter (Age Group 2): got two best times, including one new B time (50 free).

Great job, ACAC!

Highlights from Zones

2010-08-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

ACAC swimmers who represented Team Iowa at the 14&U Central Zone Championships did a great job! The LSC team finished in 4^th place overall, in a clear improvement from previous years. Our swimmers had a great influence in that improvement, participating in many relays and scoring individual points as well! In the process, many new best times and 8 club records were set! Here are the individual highlights:

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (10&U Girls, 50 Back: 36.04);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): went 2 for 2 in best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (10&U Girls, 100 Fly: 1:22.34);

Hannah Newell (Senior 2): got 2 best times;

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): got four best times, including 2 new ACAC Records (13-14 Boys, 50 Free: 26.77, and 200 Free: 2:07.49);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got four best times, 3 of which are new ACAC Records (10&U Girls, 100 Free: 1:13.14, 50 Fly: 36.72, and 200 IM: 2:57.25);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): got three best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (13-14 Girls, 200 Breast: 2:52.68).

ISI Long Course Champs Highlights

2010-08-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

ACAC swimmers had a great ISI Long Course Champs. Amongst many personal best times, our swimmers walked away with three individual titles, one relay title, and several runner-up and podium finishes. To top that off, no less than 6 relay ACAC records, and 14 individual ones! Here are the relay and individual highlights:

10&U Girls: the relay team composed by Jazlyn Horras, Eva Scheibe, Anna Napolitano, and Sophie Sorenson broke both the 200 Free (2:24.46) and the 200 Medley (2:32.17) ACAC Records;

11-12 Girls: the relay team composed by Morgan Rosser, Rachel Manderscheid, Isabel McLeod, and Gracie Snyder broke the 200 Free (2.10:47), the 200 Medley (2:24.84), the 400 Free (4.57:82) and the 400 Medley (5:27.71) ACAC Records;

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got six best times, three of which are new A times (200 and 400 free, and 100 back);

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): got six best times, including one new ACAC Record (Girls 13-14, 400 IM: 5:47.52);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got 5 best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 3 new AA times (800 and 1500 free, and 200 back);

Peyton Gaumer (Senior 1): got two best times, including one new A time;

Ryan Gaumer (Age Group 2): got three best times, including one new A time (50 free) and one new B time (100 free);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): went 9 for 9 in best times, including 2 new AAAA times, both of which are new ACAC Records (Girls 10&U, 50 back: 36.98, and 100 back: 1:19.74), one additional ACAC Record (50 breast: 44.49), one new AAA / Zones Cut (200 IM), and 4 new AA times (50, 100, and 200 free, and 100 breast);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): got one best time;

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Josh Lee (Senior 1): got two best times;

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): got three best times;

Rachel Manderscheid (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 2 ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 100 breast: 1:27.30, and 200 breast: 3:08.72), 2 new AA times (50 and 200 breast), and 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Ian Mart (Senior 1): got one best time;

Isabel McLeod (Age Group 3): got one best time and dove in or three new events, including 2 new BB times (100 and 200 back), and 1 new B time (50 fly);

Chris Merchant (Senior 2): dove in for one new event;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 2 new AA times (100 and 200 free);

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): got three best times;

Alli Rogers (Age Group 1): got two best times, including 1 new A time (100 free), and dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (50 breast);

Lauren Rosser (Senior 2): got three best times, including one new BB time (100 back);

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got five best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 2 new ACAC Records (Girls 11-12, 800 free: 10:37.39, and 1500 free: 20:55.40), 1 new AAA time (800 free), 2 new AA times (400 free and 400 IM), and 2 new A times (100 and 200 back);

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 2 new AAA times / Zones Cuts (100 free and 50 fly), one of which is a new ACAC Record (Girls 11-12, 50 fly: 32.99), 1 new AA time (200 free), 1 new A time (100 breast), and dove in for one new event, which is a new BB time (200 back);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 5 new ACAC Records (Girls 10&U, 100 free: 1:14.27, 200 free: 2:39.49, 400 free: 5:34.24, 100 fly: 1:22.62, and 200 IM: 2:57.83), three of which were new AAA times / Zones cuts (100, 200, and 400 free);

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

Marios Tringides (Senior 2): went three for three in best times, including 2 new A times (50 and 100 free);

Sam Wiedemeier (Senior 2): got four best times, including 1 new A time (200 free);

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got three best times, including 1 new BB time (100 free);

Regionals meet Highlights

2010-08-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

ACAC Swimmers who attended Regionals did a great job, getting over 81% of best times, and adding several events to their list of Q times. Here are the individual highlights:

Hannah Bonestroo (Senior 1): went 6 for 6 in best times, including new A time (200 free) and new BB time (500 free);

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

Meghan Collet (Novice): got one best time and dove in for three new events;

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): got three best times, including one new B time (50 free), and dove in for three new events;

Madie Fowler (Age Group 3): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 2 new B times (100 free and 100 back), and dove in for one new event;

Peyton Gaumer (Senior 1): in his first SCY meet with ACAC, dove in for 8 events, including 7 new BB times (50, 100, 200, 500 & 1000 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 200 IM);

Ryan Gaumer (Age Group 2): also in his first SCY meet with ACAC , dove in for 6 events, including 2 new BB times (100 free and 50 breast), and three new B times (200 free, 200 breast, and 100 IM);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 2): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 1 new BB time (100 free) and 2 new B times (500 free, 200 IM);

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

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got three best times and dove in for three events, for a total of 4 new B times (25 free, 25 back, 25 and 50 breast);

Josh Lee (Senior 1): in his first SCY meet with ACAC, dove in for 7 events, including 4 new BB times (200 free, 100 back, 100 breast and 200 IM) and two new B times (200 breast and 100 fly);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): also in her first SCY meet with ACAC, dove in for 8 events, including 2 new BB times (50 free and 50 back) and 3 new B times (100 free, 50 breast, and 100 IM);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): dove in for 4 new events;

Rachel Manderscheid (Age Group 3): in her ACAC SCY debut, dove in for 5 events, coming out with 4 new BB/Q times (50 and 100 back, 50 and 100 fly) and 1 new B time (100 free);

Ezra Manus (Novice): dove in for 3 new events, including 2 new B times (25 & 50 free);

Ian Mart (Senior 1): in his ACAC SCY debut, dove in for 4 events, including new A time (50 free), 1 new BB time (100 free), and 2 new B times (200 free and 100 fly);

Chris Merchant (Senior 2): went 8 for 8 in best times, including 1 new A time (200 IM), 5 new BB times (100 & 200 back, 100 breast, 100 fly, and 400 IM) and 1 new B time (200 fly);

Taylor Messingham (Senior 1): got 1 best time and dove in for 1 new event;

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got four best times and dove in for 4 new events;

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event;

Cameron Rasmussen (Age Group 3): got two best times and dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (200 back);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): went 8 for 8 in best times, including 1 new Q time (1650 free) and 2 new BB times (200 back and 200 breast);

Alli Rogers (Age Group 1): got one best time, which is a new A time (50 free), and dove in for four new events, all of them which are new B times (25 free, 25 back, 25 and 50 breast);

Tony Rosser (Novice): dove in for one new event;

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got two best times;

Marios Tringides (Senior 2): went 6 for 6 in best times, including 1 new A time (200 free) and 2 new BB times (500 free and 200 breast);

Molly Winer (Age Group 3): went 2 for 2 in best times, both of which being new BB times (100 free and 50 back);

Highlights from WGLO and Summer Sizzler

2010-07-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

During the 2^nd weekend in July, ACAC swimmers split into two groups and showcased our strength in and out of the state! Both groups did a great job, with best times, getting final swims, and a total of 10 new ACAC records! Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): went 6 for 6 in best times, including 4 new A times (50 back, 50 and 100 breast, and 200 IM) and 1 new BB time (50 fly);

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): got three best times, including one new AA time (200 breast);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 2 new BB times (50 and 100 fly) and dove in for one new event, which is also a new A time (400 IM);

Tia Cavender (Age Group 2): got one best time;

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

Taylor Flummerfelt (Senior 2): got one best time, which is also a new A time (400 IM);

Madie Fowler (Age Group 3): got one best time and dove in for five new events;

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): got two best times and dove in for five new events, totaling 4 new B times (50 free, 50 back, 100 and 200 breast);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 1 new AAA time / Zones cut / ACAC Record (100 back: 1:25.36) and two new AA times (400 free and 50 breast);

David Jiang (Age Group 1): got two best times and dove in for three new events, totaling 2 new B times (100 free and 50 breast);

Wendy Jiang (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for four new events;

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): dove in for three new events;

Jaci Johnson (Age Group 3): got four best times and competed in one new event;

Stephanie Koch (National): got one best time, which is also a new ACAC Record (50 free: 26.91)

Josh Lee (Senior 1): got five best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 2 new BB times (200 free and 200 IM) and 2 new B times (100 back and 100 fly);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): got three best times and competed in three new events, for a total of 2 new B times (50 and 200 breast);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): dove in for three new events;

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): got three best times and competed in two new events, both of which are new A times (50 breast and 50 fly);

Rachel Manderscheid (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for two new events, for a total of 1 new A time / ACAC Record (200 breast: 3:16.05), 2 new BB times (50 back and 50 fly) and 1 new Q time (200 IM);

Joshua McCunn (Novice): competed in his first LCM meet, completing three events;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): also competed in her first LCM meet, completing six events, including 1 B time (50 fly);

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): dove in for two new events;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (100 fly: 1:23.95), 2 new AAA / Zones Cuts (50 and 100 fly), 1 new AA time (200 IM), and 1 new A time (100 back);

Hanna Newell (Senior 2): got one best time, which is also a new AAA time / Zone Cut (100 free);

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): got two best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (100 back: 1:07.38);

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

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): got five best times, including 1 new Q time (400 IM);

Abby Rewoldt (Senior 1): got one best time, which is also a new A time (200 breast);

Dustin Rhoads (National): got five best times, including 1 new AAAA / ACAC Record (100 back: 59.42);

Lauren Rosser (Senior 2): went 5 for 5 in best times, including 1 new ACAC Record (200 fly: 2:39.77), 1 new AA time (100 fly), 2 new A times (100 free and 200 fly), and competed in one new event for a new BB time (1500 free);

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got four best times, including 1 new AA time (100 free), 1 new A time (50 fly) and 1 new BB time (50 breast);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): dove in for one new event;

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new AA time (50 breast), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new B time (50 fly);

Grace Scheibe (Senior 1): completed five new events, including 3 new B times (100 free, 200 breast, and 200 IM);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): went 7 for 7 in best times, including 2 new ACAC Records (50 fly: 36.88, and 200 IM: 2:59.72), 3 new AAA / Zones Cuts (50 and 100 fly, and 200 IM), and 1 new AA time (50 breast);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): got one best time, which is also a new ACAC Record (200 breast: 2:53.93);

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

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

Marios Tringides (Senior 2): got one best time;

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): got one best time;

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

Congrats, ACAC!

CSC Summer Invitational 2010 Highlights

2010-07-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

ACAC certainly had a GREAT meet in Columbia, MO. As a team, we claimed the 3^rd place overall, which is quite an achievement considering the level of competition and the fact that we outscored very strong teams which had more athletes than us at the meet. We were outnumbered, but our swimmers made up for that with quality!

Individually, our swimmers broke 14 club records, and had over 68% of best times (an awesome percentage for any meet, much more a mid-season one!). Here are the individual highlights:

James Bentley (Age Group 3): six best times, 4 of which are new BB times (100 and 200 free, 100 back, and 50 breast) and 1 of which is a new B time (50 fly);

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): got four best times, including 1 new AA time (200 IM) and 1 new A time (100 back);

Bryan Bjorklund (Senior 1): went 5 for 5 in best times, including 1 new A time (50 free) and 2 new BB times (200 breast and 200 IM);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got six best times (and matched another to the hundredth of a second!), including 1 new AA time (50 back) and 4 new A times (100, 200, and 400 free, and 200 IM);

Taylor Flummerfelt (Senior 1): got two best times;

Peyton Gaumer (Senior 1): got one best time;

Ryan Gaumer (Age Group 2): got one best time and dove in for two new events, all 3 being new BB times;

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got six best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 1 new AA time (50 back) and 3 new A times (200 free, 100 back, and 50 breast);

Stephanie Koch (National): got two best times, both of which are new ACAC Records (50 free: 27.06; and 100 back: 1:06.91)

Rachel Manderscheid (Age Group 3): got three best times and dove in for one new event, totaling 1 new A time (50 breast) and 1 new B time (200 free);

Christopher Merchant (Senior 2): went six for six in best times, including 2 new AA times (100 and 400 free), 1 new A time (200 free) and 1 new BB time (100 back);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): eight for eight in best times, including 2 new AA times (50 and 100 fly), 3 new A times (50 and 200 free, and 100 breast), and 1 new BB time (50 breast);

Hannah Newell (Senior 2): got one best time;

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): got six best times, including 4 new AAA times (100 and 200 free, 100 and 200 back), 2 of which are new ACAC Records (100 back: 1:07.96; 200 back: 2:23.31)

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

Cameron Rasmussen (Age Group 3): got five best times, including two new AAAA times (50 and 100 breast) and two new ACAC records (100 breast: 36.69; 200 breast: 2:57.01);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): four best times, including 2 new BB times (200 free and 200 back) and one new B time (100 breast);

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

Tony Rosser (Novice): got one best time;

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

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 1 new A time (50 breast), and dove in for three new events, all of which are new BB times (200 free, 50 back, 100 back);

Grace Scheibe (Senior 1): did her first 5 LCM events, and got two new BB times (50 back and 50 fly) and 3 new B times (100 back, 50 and 100 breast);

Rachel Shriver (Senior 1): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 2 new AA times (50 and 100 free) and 1 new BB time (100 back);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 2 new ACAC Records (50 fly: 33.79; 100 fly: 1:19.08), e new AA times (100 free and 50 fly) and 2 new A times (200 free and 100 fly);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): six best times, including 3 new ACAC Records (100 back: 1:26.09; 50 fly: 37.89; 100 fly: 1:26.81), 1 new AAA/Zone Cut (100 back), and 2 new AA times (50 back and 50 fly);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): went 7 for 7 on best times, including 3 new AAA times (50 free, 100 and 200 breast), 2 new ACAC Records (200 breast: 2:54.23; 200 IM: 2:38.35), and 3 new AA times (100 and 200 free, and 200 IM), and also dove in for 1 new event, which is also a new BB time (100 back);

Quentin Strohm (Age Group 1): got three best times;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): got three best times, including 2 new BB times (200 free and 50 fly);

Ben Utesch (National): got two best times, including 2 new AA times (200 back and 400 IM), 1 of which is a new ACAC Record (200 back: 2:24.35)

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): went 7 for 7 in best times, including 5 new AA times (100 and 200 free, 200 back, 100 and 200 fly);

Sam Wiedemeier (Senior 1): got three best times, including 2 new AA times (100 free and 100 back) and 1 new A time (200 back), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new BB time (200 free);

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got three best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 2 new BB times (200 free and 50 breast) and 1 new B time (100 back).

Ames’ Rock the Blocks meet Highlights.

2010-06-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

The first meet held at the Furman Aquatic Center was filled with pretty fast times, and ACAC swimmers were a big part of that! Here are the individual highlights:

Lauren Banwart (Senior 1): got four best times and dove in for four new events, achieving 1 new A time (50 free), 1 new BB time (100 free) and 4 new B times (200, 400, and 800 free, and 200 IM);

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got four best times and dove in for two new events, coming out with 4 new BB times (400 free, 50 back, 100 fly, and 200 IM);

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): got seven best times and got in for one new event, for 1 new AA time (100 breast), 3 new A time (200 back, 200 breast, and 400 IM), and 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Bryan Bjorklund (Senior 1): got one best time and dove in for 6 new events, including a new B time (200 breast);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got six best times and did one new event, for 1 new AA time (100 back), two new A times (50 and 1500 free), and one hew B time (100 fly);

Michael Burke (Age Group 2): got one best time for a new BB time (50 free), and swam one new event;

Grace Carleton (Senior 1): got two best times and dove in for 5 new events, including a new BB time (50 free) and 2 new B times (100 and 400 free);

Wes Carleton (Age Group 3): swam his first 4 events in LCM;

Tia Cavender (Age Group 2): dove in for 3 events in her first LCM meet;

Blaire Collet (Novice): got three new events in the bag debuting in LCM;

Meghan Collet (Novice): in her first LCM meet, dove in for 4 evnets;

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): dove in for 6 events in her LCM debut;

Irfan Dotani (Age Group 1): did his first 4 events in LCM;

Matthew Farrel (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Meredith Farrel (Senior 1): got three best times and did two new events, for a new BB time (50 free) and a new B time (200 back);

Taylor Flummerfelt (Senior 1): dove in for three new events, including two new BB times (400 free and 400 IM) and one new B time (200 fly);

Madie Fowler (Age Group 3): in her first LCM meet, dove in for 5 events;

Peyton Gaumer (Senior 1): got in for 6 events in his LCM debut, including two BB times (100 and 200 breast) and four B times (100 and 400 free, 100 back, and 200 IM);

Ryan Gaumer (Age Group 2): completed six events in his first LCM meet, including two BB times (50 back and 50 breast);

Jon Hagen (Senior 1): dove in for one new event, which is a new B time (200 breast);

Sabrinna Hegelheimer (Age Group 2): did her first 3 events at LCM, including one B time (50 breast);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 3): got 4 best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 5 new A times (50, 100, and 400 free, 100 breast, and 200 IM) and 1 new BB time (100 fly);

Olvia Jenks (Age Group 2): dove in for 6 new events, 5 of which are new B times (50 free and 100 free, 100 breast, 100 fly, and 200 IM);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): completed two new events;

David Jiang (Age Group 1): dove in for his first 3 events in LCM, 2 of which are B times (50 free and 50 back);

Wendy Jiang (Age Group 1): completed her first 4 events in LCM;

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): got in for 4 new events;

Jaci Johnson (Age Group 3): dove in for 9 new events, three of which are new B times (50, 100, and 400 free);

Rucha Kelkar (Age Group 1): in her first meet, completed one event;

Alec Knight (Senior 1): completed 6 new events, including 1 new BB time (50 free) and 3 new B times (100 and 400 free, and 100 breast);

Stephanie Koch (National): got one best times, which is also a new ACAC Record (200 back: 2:33.13);

Chloe Kuehner (Senior 2): in her first LCM meet, got in for 9 events, including 3 A times (50 free, 100 and 200 breast) and 5 BB times (100 and 400 free, 200 back, 200 and 400 IM);

Josh Lee (Senior 1): completed 8 events in his LCM debut, including one AA time (50 free), one A time (100 free), and 5 B times (200 free, 100 and 200 breast, 200 and 400 IM);

Myca Lee (Age Group 3): in her first LCM meet, completed seven events, including 1 BB time (50 free) and 2 B times (100 free and 100 breast);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): dove in for 5 events in her first LCM meet;

Nicky Lin (Age Group 2): completed 4 events in her LCM debut, including three A times (50 and 100 free, and 50 back);

Rachel Manderscheid (Age Group 3): dove in for her first 9 LCM events, including 1 AA time (100 breast), 3 BB times (50 and 100 free, and 200 IM), and 3 B times (400 free, 100 back, and 50 fly);

Ezra Manus (Novice): competed in his first meet, diving in for two events;

Josie Manzer (Age Group 2): completed three LCM events, all of which are B times (50 and 100 free, and 50 back);

Ian Mart (Senior 1): dove in for his first 5 LCM events, including 2 BB times (50 and 100 free);

Isabel McLeod (Age Group 3): competed in her first 6 LCM events, and got out with 1 A time (50 free), 2 BB times (100 free and 50 back), and 3 B times (400 free, 100 breast, and 100 fly);

Sydney Meier (Age Group 2): competed in her first meet;

Christopher Merchant (Senior 2): got five best times and completed two new events, totaling 1 new AA time (50 free), 1 new A time (400 free), and 2 new B times (100 and 200 back);

Taylor Messingham (Senior 1): got four best times and dove in for 5 new events, one of which is a new BB time (50 free) and 3 are new B times (100 and 400 free, and 400 IM);

Molly Muench (Age Group 2): got five best times and did three new events;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got three best times and got in for three new events, for a total of 3 new A times (400 free, 100 fly and 200 IM) and 2 new BB times (50 back and 100 breast);

Hannah Newell (Senior 2): dove in for three new events, 2 of which are new BB times (400 and 800 free);

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): got three best times and competed in three new events, totaling 1 new AAA time (50 free), 2 new BB times (1500 free and 400 IM), and 1 new B time (200 breast);

Charlotte Quant (Senior 1): got five best times and dove in for four new events, totaling 1 new A time (50 free), 4 new BB times (200 and 400 free, 200 back, and 400 IM), and 2 new B times (200 breast and 200 fly);

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): got two best times and completed one new event, for 1 new A time (50 back) and 2 new B times (50 and 100 free);

Cameron Rasmussen (Age Group 3): got six best times and competed in two new events, for 1 new AA / ACAC Record (400 IM: 5:58.00), 2 more AA times (50 free and 200 IM), 2 new A times (1500 free and 100 fly), and 2 new BB times (100 back and 50 fly);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): got seven best times and dove in for three new events, totaling 3 new BB times (50 free, 200 and 400 IM) and 2 new B times (100 back and 200 breast);

Dustin Rhoads (National): competed in two new events, for 1 new A time (200 IM) and 1 new B time (200 fly);

Alli Rogers (Age Group 1): dove in for her first 3 LCM events, including 1 new A time (50 back) and 2 new B times (50 and 100 free);

Lauren Rosser (Senior 2): got three best times, including 1 new A time (400 IM), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new BB time (800 free);

Tony Rosser (Novice): got one best time and completed one new event;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): got one best time and competed in one new event, which is a new A time (800 free);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got three best times and dove in for five new events, totaling 1 new BB time (50 free) and 3 new B times (100 free, 100 back, and 200 back);

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): got one best time and competed in five new events, for 1 new AA time (100 breast), 4 new BB times (50, 100, and 400 free, and 200 IM), and 1 new B time (100 fly);

Rachel Shriver (Senior 1): got three best times and dove in for four new events, 2 of which are new BB times (400 free and 200 back), and 1 is a new B time (200 breast);

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got six best times and competed in two new events, totaling 1 new AAA time (50 free), 3 new A times (100 free, 50 fly, 200 IM), and 1 new BB time (400 free);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got six best time, all of them new AA times (50 and 100 free, 100 breast, 100 fly and 200 IM) and two of which are new ACAC Records (100 fly: 1:27.99; 200 IM: 3:02.87), and dove in for one new event, which is also a new A time (400 free);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): got six best times and dove in for two new events, totaling 3 new AA times (50 free, 100 and 200 breast) and 3 new BB times (400 free, 100 fly, and 400 IM);

Quentin Strohm (Novice): competed in 3 new LCM events, and got his first B time (50 back);

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): went 6 for 6 in best times, including 3 new BB times (100 and 400 free, and 100 breast);

Ben Utesch (National): got three best times, 1 of which is a new ACAC Record (200 back: 2:27.86), and 1 which is a new BB time (200 breast);

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): got four best times, 1 of which is a new A time (50 free), and dove in for two new events, including a new BB time (400 IM);

Sam Wiedemeier (Senior 1): got one best time and dove in for five new LCM events, including 1 new BB time (200 back) and 3 new B times (400 free, 100 fly, and 400 IM);

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got two best times and dove in for four new events, totaling 4 new BB times (50 and 400 free, 100 breast, and 200 IM) and 2 new B times (50 back and 100 fly);

Erin Wolter (Age Group 2): competed in her first 3 LCM events, and got 1 new B time (50 free).

Congrats, ACAC!

Two videos for you today

2010-05-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Both the videos below come from SwimmingWorld.TV

Some of our athletes don't like the idea of swimming "back-to-back" events, even though that usually means an interval of at least 20-30 min between swims. Here's Ryan Lochte after doing the 100 free only 12min after the 200 back! Any idea why he's so good?

Matt Grevers as always is material for a good interview. Here's his own take at how to better his performances:

2010-05-19T19:10:00.000-07:00

Great video with Matt Grevers giving us a tour around the swimmers hospitality area in the Charlote Ultraswim this past weekend. I guess that makes it much more attractive to be a top notch swimmers, doesn't it?

2010-05-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

Meet Recap

ICE Meltdown

May 1-2, 2010

Goals

1. Familiarize swimmers to long course swimming.

We performed some sets during warm-ups for extra practice.

Plus, swimmers swam a full slate of events allowing them to gain more experience in long course racing.

2. Learn Race strategies.

The swimmers took time to plan out race strategies. We still had a few swimmers that were unprepared for a few races. I believe we will get better throughout the course of the season.

3. Understanding swimming fast versus getting best times.

We did a great job of this. Swimmers got up and performed well. They did swim fast for themselves and against competition. Swimmers were generally not focused on beating the time in the heat sheet. This allowed swimmers to focus more on how to swim the race.

4. Learn Swim Meet procedures.

Swimmers were mostly on task. There were a few instances where swimmers needed to be reminded that they needed to cool down. There were also a few instances where swimmers were not completely warmed-up for the races. Swimmers did an excellent job making sure they were behind the blocks at an appropriate time; not too early, not too late.

5. Understanding how to eat properly during the course of competition.

Swimmers did a good job of bringing their own food to eat during the course of competition. I did not see a lot parent interaction, meaning they had worked out plans before the meet started and that swimmers were taking ownership of their swim meet diet plans.

Areas for Improvement:

Transitions: Swimmers were able to perform long underwater dolphin kickouts, however, we did not breakout with any competitive advantage. This was due to the fact that swimmers lost speed between the dolphin kicks and the breakouts. Swimmers need to learn more about the transitions between underwater swimming and surface swimming.

Turns and Finishes: Swimmers were gliding into walls on both the turns and finishes. This resulted in a few disqualifications for backstroke turns and some slow finishes in freestyle events.

Mental Preparations: Swimmers did a great job with swim meet procedures. I do think we could have done a little more to get “fired-up” for some races. Some swimmers still did not know which events were on which days. This means that swimmers were not mentally prepared before the meet. If swimmers take the time to rehearse strategies and plans before the meet, they will also likely go through mental “pump-up” procedures as well. This will lead too more focused swimming at the meet with reduced effort to get oneself “pumped-up”.

General Comments

I noticed some of the faster swimmers from other teams were really snapping kicks, or really snapping their hips in a freestyle rotation. Swimmers should always practice to be powerful. Notice how your own body reacts to the water and whether or not you are “snapping” your own movements.

Meet Highlights from 2010 ICE Spring Meltdown.

2010-05-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

We had a small group of swimmers attending the ICE Spring Meltdown meet this past weekend. Since this is the first LCM meet of the season, we encourage kids to attend just so that they get to experience LCM racing before the meet season picks up in June. While at it, some swimmers also performed pretty well. Here are the Highlights:

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): four best times, including a new A time (200 IM), and one new event for a new B time (200 Fly);

Christopher Merchant (Senior 2): three best times, including 2 new A times (50 and 100 Free), and two new events, including 1 new B time (200 Breast);

Taylor Messingham (Senior 2): after a long retreat from LCM racing, swam seven events for 6 new B times (200 Free, 100 and 200 Back, 100 and 200 Breast, 100 Fly, and 200 IM);

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): one best time for a new a time (200 IM), and one new event for a new B time (200 Fly);

Lauren Rosser (Senior 1): dove in for two new events and 2 new BB times (400 Free and 200 Breast);

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): swam two new events, for a new BB (200 Breast) and a new AA and ACAC 11-12 Record (1500 Free: 20:55.71)

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got two best times, including 1 new AA time (50 Free);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): one best time for a new A time (200 IM), and dove in for one new event a new B time (200 Fly);

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): one best time;

Chrisann Zuerner (National): one best time for a new B time (100 Back).

Highlights from Sectionals!

2010-03-25T12:23:00.001-07:00

Swimmers attending the 2010 Spring Speedo Sectionals did a great job representing ACAC. Here are the Highlights!

Taylor Flummerfelt: got two best times, including a new AAAA time (50 Free);

Jon Hagen: got three best times;

Taylor Kutchen: got one best time, which is also a new AAA time and new ACAC Record (200 breast: 2:12.89);

Dustin Rhoads: got three best times, including 1 new AAA time (100 free), and 1 new Senior Summer Nationals Cut! and new ACAC Record (100 back: 49.25);

Lauren Rosser: got one best time, which is also a new AA time and new ACAC Record (200 Fly: 2:15.54);

Sydney Sorenson: got one best time;

Chrisann Zuerner: got two best times.

ISI Senior Champs Highlights

2010-03-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

On top of claiming 4th place overal and the Team Spirit Award, ACAC swimmers also had plenty of individual highlights during the ISI Senior Champs. Here they are:

Lauren Banwart (Senior 2): got two best times, including 1 new AA time (50 free);

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): including a relay leadoff went seven for seven in best times, including 2 new AA times (100 back and 100 breast);

Luuk Dekkers (National): three best times, including 1 new AA time (100 fly) and 2 new A times (100 back and 100 breast);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): four best times, including 1 new AAAA time (100 free);

Jon Hagen (National): one best time, which is also a new Sectionals Cut (100 back);

Taylor Kutchen (National): one best time, which is also a new AA time (50 free);

Christopher Merchant (Senior 2): three best times, including 2 new AA times (100 free and 200 free) and 1 new A time (50 free);

Taylor Messingham (Senior 2): four best times, including 1 new A time (200 IM);

Hannah Newell (Senior 2): five out of five in best times including 2 Sectionals Cuts (50 and 100 free), one of which is a new AAAA time (50 free), 1 new AAA time (200 free), and 1 new AA time (100 fly);

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): four best times, including 1 new AAA time (50 free);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): one best time;

Abby Rewoldt (Senior 2): three best times;

Dustin Rhoads (National): four best times, including 2 new Sectionals Cuts (200 free and 100 breast), 2 new AAA times (200 free and 200 IM), and 1 new AA time (100 breast);

Lauren Rosser (National): six best times, including 1 new Sectionals Cut (200 IM), 3 new AA times (100 free, 100 fly, and 200 IM), and 1 new A time (200 fly);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): including a relay leadoff, when 7 for 7 in best times, including 1 new Sectionals Cut (100 breast), 3 new AAA times (50 free, 100 free and 200 IM), 1 new AA time (200 free) and 1 new A time (100 fly), and 1 new ACAC Record (200 Breast: 2:30.59);

Michael Stark (Senior 2): got 4 best times, including 1 new AAA time (100 free) and 2 new AA times (50 free and 200 free);

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): two best times, including 1 new AA time (1650 free), which is also a new ACAC Record (18:20.42);

Sam Wiedemeier (Senior 2): three best times, including 1 new Sectionals Cut (100 back), 1 new AA time (100 free) and 1 A time (200 free);

Tim Wiedemeier (Senior 2): three best times;

Seth Wills (Senior 2): got 1 best time;

Chrisann Zuerner (National): went 4 for 4 in best times, including 1 new Sectionals Cut / AAA time (100 free).

12 & Under State Highlights

2010-03-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

In a weekend were our swimmers broke a total of 9 ACAC Records (4 relay and 5 individual ones), we have a lot to celebrate!!! Here are the highlights:

10 & Under Girls: the relay team of Sophie Sorenson, Eva Scheibe, Anna Napolitano, and Jazlyn Horras established new ACAC Records on the 200 Medley Relay (2:23.70) and on the 200 Free Relay (2:10.07);

11-12 Girls: the relay team of Morgan Rosser, Katie Sailer, Isabel McLeod, and Gracie Snyder established new ACAC Records on the 200 Free Relay (1:56.11) and on the 400 Free Relay (4:21.73);

James Bentley (Age Group 3): counting the relay lead-off, 10 for 10 in best times!!! Including two new A times (500 free and 200 IM);

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): 6 best times, including one new AA time (1650 free) and one new A time (1000 free);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 2): 9 out of 9 best times!!! Including six! new A times (50, 100 and 200 free, 50 and 100 back, and 50 breast;

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): one best time;

Nick Lin (Age Group 2): 3 best times, including two new A times (50 free and 50 breast);

Joshua McCunn (Novice): one best time;

Isabel McLeod (Age Group 3): two best times;

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): 7 best times, including one new A time (50 fly);

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): 2 best times;

Cameron Rasmussen (Age Group 3): 3 best times, including one new AA time (1000 free), one new A time (1650 free) and one new ACAC Record (400 IM: 5:22.23)

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): 7 best times, including three new A times (200 Back, 200 IM, and 400 IM), one AA time and ACAC Record (1000 Free: 12:09.47), and one State Title with a new AAA time/Zone Cut/ACAC Record (1650 Free: 19:43.01)

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): 4 best times, including three new A times (50 Free, 50 Back, and 100 Back);

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): 7 best times, including one new AA (100 Breast) and one new A time (50 Breast);

Gracie Snyder: 4 best times;

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): 8 best times, including five! new AA times (200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Fly, 100 and 200 IM), and two new ACAC Records (100 Back: 1:15.62; and 50 Fly: 33.88)

Quentin Strohm (Novice): leading off a Relay, got 1 best time;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 3): 1 best time;

Priyanka Tomar (Novice): 1 best time;

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): 2 best times;

Franklin Zhu (Age Group 1): 1 best time.

West Regionals Highlights

2010-02-24T13:28:00.000-08:00

ACAC swimmers at Regionals totaled not less than 80% of best times, including a bunch of Q-times! Here are the highlights:

Lauren Banwart (Senior 2): four out of four in best times, including 2 new A/Q-times (100 free and 200 free), and 1 new BB time (100 breast);

Matt Burke (Senior 2): two for two in best times, including 1 new A/Q-time (200 back);

Michael Burke (Age Group 3): four out of four in best times, including 3 new BB times (50 back, 50 breast, and 100 breast), 2 of which are Q-times, and 1 new B time (100 free);

Blaire Collet (Novice): dove in for her first race!

Meghan Collet (Novice): like her sister, also got in for her first swim meet!

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): tried one new event, and got six best times, including her first BB/Q-time (50 back), and 3 new B times (50 free, 100 free, 100 back);

Angie Ellendson (Senior 2): got two best times;

Elizabeth Fowler (Novice): in her first swim meet, dove in for two races;

Madie Fowler (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Erin Gilligan (Senior 2): swam two new races for two new B times (500 free and 200 back), and went four out of four best times;

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 1): dove in for two new races, including one new B time (200 IM), and got one best time;

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): swam one new race and got two best times;

Ethan Johnson (Age Group 1): dove in for one new race, and went three for three in best times, all of them being new Q/B times (50 free, 100 free, and 50 back);

Holly Johnson (Senior 2): got one best time;

Jackie Johnson (Age Group 3): got six best times, including two new B times (50 back and 50 breast);

Alyssa Lehman (Age Group 2): in her first meet, dove in for two races;

Joshua McCunn (Novice): dove in for one new race, and got three best times, including two B times (25 and 50 free), one of which is also his first Q time (50 free);

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): got six best times, including two new B times (50 and 100 breast);

Isabel McLeod (Age Group 3): went eight for eight in best times, including her first two Q-times (50 free and 100 IM) and another 4 BB/Q-times! (50 back, 100 back, 200 back, and 50 fly);

Taylor Messingham (National): four out of four in best times, including 1 new A time (100 free) and one new Q-time (100 back);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): got six best times, including 2 new BB times (200 and 400 IM);

Abby Rewoldt (Senior 2): five for five in best times, including 1 new BB time (200 free) and 1 new B time (100 fly);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got four best times, including two Q-times (100 free and 100 IM) and two BB/Q-times (100 back and 200 back);

Matt Shuka (Age Group 3): went three for three in best times;

Stephan Shuka (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Oliva Snyder (Senior 1): dove in for one new event, and got her first A/Q-time (50 free), two new BB times (100 free and 100 breast), and two new B times (200 free and 100 back);

Quentin Strohm (Novice): went three for three in best times;

Priyanka Tomar (Novice): got three best times, including her first B/Q-time (50 breast);

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got six best times, including 1 new BB/Q-time (100 breast);

Erin Wolter (Age Group 2): dove in for one new event and went two for two in best times;

Franklin Zhu (Age Group 1): got two best times.

Schroeder A+ meet highlights

2010-02-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): got one best time, which is a new AA time (200 breast);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): got one best time;

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): got four best times, including 1 new AAA time (500 free);

Cameron Rasmussen (Age Group 3): got four best times;

Lauren Rosser (National): got one best time;

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

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 2 new AA times (50 free and 50 back);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): got three best times, including 1 new AAA time which is also a new Sectionals cut (200 breast);

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): got three best times, including 1 new AA time (200 fly).

BLAST Winter Invite meet highlights:

2010-02-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

The 10 & Girls Medley Relay of Sophie Sorenson, Eva Scheibe, Anna Napolitano, and Jazlyn Horras lowered their own ACAC record to 2:31.03

Lauren Banwart (Senior 2): got four best times, including a new A time (50 free), and dove in for a new event and new B time (200 breast);

James Bentley (Age Group 3): got 7 best times;

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): got 5 best times;

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got five best times and swam two new events, for 1 new A time (1650 free) and 1 new BB time (200 breast);

Grace Carleton (Senior 1): got two best times and dove in for one new event, getting 2 B times (50 free and 100 breast);

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

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Angie Ellendson (Senior 1): got two best times;

Matthew Farrel (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Meredith Farrel (Senior 2): got two best times;

Jacob Flummerfelt (Novice): dove in for his first swim meet, and got 1 new B time (50 free);

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): swam two new events, and got one best times, totaling 1 new A time (1650 free), 1 new B time (200 fly), and one new Q time (200 back);

Maddie Fowler (Age Group 2): dove in for one new event, and got two best times, including 1 new B time (50 free);

Erin Gilligan (Senior 2): swam one new race, and got five best times, including 4 new B times (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, and 100 back);

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 2): swam one new race and got 9 best times, including 1 new B time (100 fly);

Olivia Jenks (Age Group 1): dove in for one new race and got three best times, including three new B times (50 free, 50 breast, and 100 IM);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): got 4 best times;

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

Holly Johnson (Senior 2): got one best time;

Jackie Johnson (Age Group 3): swam two new events and got four best times, including 1 new B time (100 back);

Nicky Lin (Age Group 1): dove in for two new events and got four best times, including 1 new B time (50 free);

Joshua McCunn (Novice): got three best times;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): tried two new events, and got two best times;

Isabel McLeod (Age Group 3): dove in for one new race, and got five best times, including 1 new BB time (200 IM) and 1 new B time (200 back);

Taylor Messingham (National): got two best times and swam three new events for two new BB times (500 free and 400 IM);

Anna Napolitano (Age Group 3): got five best times, including 1 new A time (100 fly);

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): got two best times, including 1 new AA time (200 IM);

Cael Rasmussen (Age Group 1): completed one new event and got one best time;

Cameron Rasmussen (Age Group 3): swam two new races for 1 new BB time (1650 free) and 1 new B time (200 fly), and got five best times, including 1 new AA time (200 IM) and 1 new AAA and ACAC record (200 breast: 2:36.24);

Wyatt Rasmussen (Senior 2): got three best times, including 1 new BB time (100 free) and 1 new B time (100 breast);

Abby Rewoldt (Senior 2): got three best times;

Tony Rosser (Novice): got two best times;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): swam one new event and got two best times, including 1 new A time (100 back);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): swam one new event and got four best times, for 1 new Q time (50 back), 2 new BB times (50 back and 100 IM), and 1 new B time (200 back);

Eva Scheibe (Age Group 3): got 6 best times;

Grace Scheibe (Senior 1): dove in for two new races and got seven best times, for 2 new Q times (50 breast and 100 IM) and 3 new BB times (200 breast, 50 fly, and 100 IM);

Matt Shuka (Age Group 3): swam one new race and got two best times;

Stephan Shuka (Age Group 1): swam three new events, and got one best time;

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): got six best times, including 2 new A times (100 free and 200 IM), and dove in for one new race and a new BB/Q time (400 IM);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got seven best times, including 1 new AA time (100 free) and 1 new A time (500 free);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): got two best times;

Quentin Strohm (Novice): complete two new events and got four best times;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 2): got three best times, including two new BB times (500 free and 100 IM);

Priyanka Tomar (Novice): dove in for one new event and got one best time;

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): got two best times;

Nina VanDerZanden (Senior 1): swam three new events and got one best time;

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got six best times, including 1 new BB time (100 IM);

Franklin Zhu (Age Group 1): got one best time and dove in for three new events, for 1 new B time (25 back);

New Year’s Eve Challenge Video

2010-02-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

We finally finished editing the videos from our New Year's Eve Challenge. Here it is!

Foxjet Winter Classic

2010-01-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

ACAC swimmers who went to Foxjet Winter Classic also swam FAST! Here are their highlights:

Sara Bentley (Senior 2): got four best times;

Taylor Flummerfelt (National): was six for six in best times, including 2 new AAA times (200 free and 100 fly), which are also new Sectionals cuts;

Holly Johnson (Senior 2): got two best times;

Taylor Messingham (National): five best times, including 1 new A time;

Hannah Newell (Senior 1): got two best times, including 1 new A time (200 IM);

Abby Rewoldt (National): five best times, including 1 new AA time (100 breast) and 1 new A time (50 free);

Lauren Rosser (National): two best times, including 1 new AA time (50 free) and 1 new A time (100 breast);

Morgan Rosser (National): two best times;

Caleb Utesch (Senior 2): six for six in best times, including 3 new AA times (200 free, 100 back, and 100 fly);

ACAC Swimmers at All-Stars

2010-01-19T09:16:00.001-08:00

Our swimmers were simply on fire during the All-Stars meet this past weekend in Lawrence, KS. Team Iowa performed really well, and ACAC was not any different. We had six swimmers at the meet, and they got 27 best times out of 29 individual swims! Here are our highlights:

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

Matt Boylan (Age Group 3): got three best times, including a new A time (500 free);

Alex Pyle (Senior 2): got five best times, including 3 new AAA times (100 free, 200 free, and 100 back);

Cameron Rasmussen (Age Group 3): five best times, including 1 new AA time (200 IM) and 2 new AAA and ACAC records (50 breast: 32.98, and 100 breast: 1:12.05);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): five best times, including 1 new AA time (50 fly);

Sydney Sorenson (Senior 2): six for six in best times, including 1 new AAA time (100 breast) and 1 new AA time (200 IM);

DMSF Winter Freeze Highlights

2010-01-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

Lauren Banwart (Senior 2): got one best time, which is also a new B time (100 breast);

Hannah Dietrich (Age Group 1): dove in for two new events, and got 3 best times;

Matthew Farrel (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Maddie Fowler (Age Group 2): swam one new event, and got two best times;

Jazlyn Horras (Age Group 2): got three best times, including two new BB times (100 back and 200 IM);

Timothy Jenks (Age Group 1): got one best time;

Ethan Johnson (Novice): got two best times;

Jackie Johnson (Age Group 3): got three best times, including a new B time (100 IM);

Nicky Lin (Age Group 1): dove in for four new races, and got 4 B times (100 free, 50 back, 50 breast, and 50 fly);

Josie Manzer (Age Group 2): got times for three new events, and got one additional best time;

Joshua McCunn (Novice): dove in for three new events;

Sarah McCunn (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Isabel McLeod (Age Group 3): went 4 for 4 in best times, including two new BB times (100 back and 100 IM) and two new B times (100 free and 50 fly);

Lucas McLeod (Novice): in his first swim meet, dove in for one event;

Josh Moore (Age Group 2): swam one new event, and got one additional best time;

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

Alex Pyle (Senior 1): got two best times;

Tony Rosser (Novice): got two best times;

Morgan Rosser (Age Group 3): dove in for three new events, and got 2 new BB times (200 back and 400 IM) and 1 new A time and new ACAC record (1650 free: 20:58.17);

Katie Sailer (Age Group 3): got two best times, including a new B time (50 breast);

Taylor Sears (Novice): in her first swim meet, dove in for two events;

Matt Shuka (Age Group 3): got two best times;

Stephan Shuka (Age Group 1): dove in for one new event, and got one additional best time;

Gracie Snyder (Age Group 3): swam one new event for a new BB time (200 back), and got one additional best time;

Olivia Snyder (Age Group 3): got three best times, including two new B times (100 free and 100 breast);

Sophie Sorenson (Age Group 3): got one best time;

Jenna Stegman (Novice): in her first swim meet, dove in for two events, and got one B time (25 free);

Quentin Strohm (Novice): got two best times;

Zak Strohm (Age Group 2): got one best time;

Priyanka Tomar (Novice): got two best times;

Caleb Utesch (Senior 1): got two best times;

Molly Winer (Age Group 2): got two best times;

Franklin Zhu (Age Group 1): went 4 for 4 in best times, including a new B time (50 back).

New Year’s Eve Challenge was a HUGE success!!!!

2009-12-31T18:15:00.000-08:00

The turnover was great! We had around 50 (brave) swimmers stepping up to the challenge and swimming more in one session then they’ve ever done before. At the end, almost every body survived!

To be honest, the coaches were saying they were really tired at the end after watching so much swimming too J! But at the end, it was well worth it to go through all that before feasting in the great breakfast prepared by the parents. We had a great selection and quantity of food, and by the end the swimmers could even talk and smile again!

Everybody who dove in for the challenge also received a really nice and exclusive t-shirt, with which they will be able to parade and brag about their accomplishment. We got plenty of video footage and will try to edit it and put it up soon.

To finish this post, we can’t go without thanking the parents for their help with the breakfast, which we must mention again: was just GREAT! To the swimmers, congratulations! From now on, we’re sure any practice will be short, and any set will be easy! You guys did so well that the coaching staff decided to let you rest until next year J!

Another good article

2009-12-28T13:11:00.000-08:00

While we are getting ready for the upcoming week and the New Years Eve challenge, it’s been hard to allocate enough time to tape and edit a show. We’ll do our best to do so before the end of the week, but meanwhile here’s another link to an article we think might be of interest. We hope all swimmers in ACAC read it, and learn which race face they’ll be putting on from now on!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T08:45:00.001-08:00

To all of you that are part of ACAC, we wish you a merry, merry Christmas! Also, we hope you enjoy this one day off and have plenty of energy to hit the pool again tomorrow!!!

The past two weeks, we’ve been busy preparing for the extra practices during these two weeks, including our special practice that will go on next week. Again, we apologize if the blog was kind of left out for a while. In order to give you some content in case you need something to pass your time between our two a day practices, here’s a link to an humorous article about Holiday training! As you’ll see, we’re not really that hardcore about it, yet!

ICE Irving B. Weber Invite Highlights

2009-12-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

James Bentley: got two best times, including a new BB time (500 free)

Sara Bentley: got one new best time;

Matt Boylan: dove in for one new event, and got three new best times, including a BB time (200 back);

Michael Burke: was 8 for 8 in best times, including a new BB time (50 free) and a new B time (100 IM);

Grace Carleton: swam two new events, and got two new best times;

Wesley Carleton: dove in for one new event, and got one best time;

Hannah Dietrich: got two new best times;

Liz Funk: got two best times;

Olivia Jenks: dove in for one new event and got three best times, including two new B times (100 free and 100 breast);

Timothy Jenks: tried one new event, and got one best time;

Josie Manzer: on her first swim meet, dove in for three different events;

Isabel McLeod: dove in for one new event and got three best times, including a new B time (200 IM);

Molly Muench: got one best time;

Anna Napolitano: dove in for one new event and got 6 new best times, including a new BB time (500 free);

Cael Rasmussen: got one best time;

Cameron Rasmussen: got two best times, including a new AA time (100 IM);

Abby Rewoldt: got one best time;

Morgan Rosser: lowered her own ACAC record on the 500 free (6:03.03)

Tony Rosser: got two best times;

Katie Sailer: tried one new event and got 7 best times, including a new BB time (100 free) and two new B times (500 free and 200 IM);

Eva Scheibe: dove in for one new event, and got 6 best times, including a new A time (100 breast) and a new BB time (500 free);

Grace Scheibe: got four new best times, including one new BB time (100 back);

Matt Shuka: swam two new events, and got three best times;

Stephan Shuka: in his first swim meet, dove in for four different events;

Sophie Sorenson: got two best times, including a new A time (100 fly);

Sydney Sorenson: got two best times;

Quentin Strohm: dove in for one new event, and got two best times;

Caleb Utesch: tried three new events and got three best times, including a new BB time (200 IM);

Molly Winer: was 7 for 7 in best times, including four new B times (100 free, 200 free, 100 back, and 50 breast);

Franklin Zhu: got times for three new events

Chrisann Zuerner: got one best time.

Bad weather??? No, it's not that bad... we can still have practice!

2009-12-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

I would like to start this post congratulating all ACAC swimmers that made it to practice last night. Due to the weather, attendance was not expected and we were a little short-staffed. Yet, not less than 28 swimmers made it to practice! Swimmers, be sure to thank your parents for driving you there!

We got some video last night, and I guarantee it will be cool to watch what our swimmers went through in order to make it to practice. However, we weren’t able to edit that yet, so meanwhile I am posting another cool video for you to watch. Here is Dr. John Berardi talking about nutrition again. Enjoy it!

Great weekend practices!!!

2009-12-07T15:17:00.000-08:00

As we got ready for a two day break for evening practices due to HS meets, ACAC had great practices on both Saturday and Sunday!

On Saturday, swimmers from Age Group 3 and above hit the pool for the first dual meet of the winter session. With great attendance from both Team Kanye West and Team Taylor Swift, both teams alternated the lead during the whole meet. Team Kanye West went into the relay trailing by 6 points, and Coach Aron and Coach Lucas agreed that in the unlikely event of a tie, they would dive in for a 150 butterfly to declare the winner. As unlikely as it could be, Team Kanye West pulled a first and third place on the relay, “leaving” the second and fourth places for Team Taylor Swift. Due to time constrains, the coaches couldn’t hit the water on Saturday, but they should come out of retirement (one more time) soon! Most importantly, everybody present had fun and worked hard. We had great races all morning, and those were topped with some incredible splits during the relay (with several kids getting lifetime bests). No matter who the winner is at the end of that 150 fly, both coaches call it a success!!!

On Sunday, Senior level swimmers came in for a pretty hard practice in the morning. During the two main sets, they were challenged to keep paces that would seem really hard for practices. They all showed the mental toughness we’ve been talking about, and the coaches again felt this team is full of swimmers who are simply bound to greatness! During the evening, Age Groups and Novice swimmers had an equally challenging practice, and were equally great! The coaches went home feeling every kid earned this two-day break. We hope you enjoy it, and come back ready for more!

Congrats, ACAC swimmers!

Great commercial!

2009-11-30T13:06:00.000-08:00

We want every child that is part of ACAC to become successful. However, in order to truly succeed, we need to fail, and learn from it. Not sure? Watch this commercial with Michael Jordan, and get his take on it:

Make sure your swimmers watch this as well. This way they will start understanding the importance of racing that 500 free, 200 fly, 400 IM, or the mile, even when they don’t think they are ready!

Highlights from CSC Fall Invite

2009-11-25T19:38:00.000-08:00

James Bentley: 6 Best Times, and got two new BB times (200 Free, 100 IM);

Sara Bentley: 7 Best Times, including got one AA time (50 Free), 5 new A times (500 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 IM);

Matt Boylan: 9 Best Times, and got two new BB times (50 Fly, 100 IM);

Alex Pyle: 7 Best Times, and got two new AA times (200 Free, 1000 Free);

Cameron Rasmussen: 7 Best Times, and got two new A times (500 Free, 200 IM);

Morgan Rosser: 2 Best Times, including one new AAA time (50 Free), and 10 new ACAC Records (50 Free: 29.43, 100 Free: 1:05.32, 200 Free: 2:15.77, 100 Back: 1:16.64, 100 Breast: 1:26.32, 50 Fly: 34.04, 100 Fly: 1:15.79, 100 IM: 1:15.55, 200 IM: 2:38.53, and 500 Free 6:04.11);

Katherine Sailer: 6 Best Times, and got two new B times (200 Free, 100 Back);

Gracyn Snyder: 8 Best Times, including one new AA time (50 Free), two new A times (50 Fly, 100 IM), and two new BB times (50 Breast, 100 Fly);

Olivia Snyder: 1 Best Time, which was a new BB time (50 Free);

Sophia Sorenson: 7 Best Times and got two new A times (100 Free, 100 Back);

Sydney Sorenson: 8 Best Times, including three new AA times (50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Breast), two new A times (200 Free, 200 IM), and one new BB time (100 Fly);

Caleb Utesch: 5 Best Times, including one new AA time (500 Free) and one new A time (100 Free);

DMSF Fall Invite Highlights

2009-11-25T11:49:00.000-08:00

Better late than never... Well, we had so many swimmers at this meet and so many greeeeeaaaaaaaat swims it gave us a "good problem". We decided to make the highlights a little less specific, so that we can actually get to them! We hope you enjoy reading these as much as we did watching them!

James Bentley: was 9 for 9 on best times, and 4 of those were new BB times (100 free, 50 back, 100 back, and 200 IM);

Sara Bentley: got 6 best times, and 1 of those was a new AA time (100 free), while 3 were new A times (200 free, 200 breast, and 400 IM);

Grace Carleton: dove in for two new events, and got 4 new best times;

Wes Carleton: tried one event for the first time, and got 1 new best time;

Hannah Dietrich: swam one new event, and got 3 best times;

Meredith Farrell: got 2 best times (had to swim the 100 back twice for one of them);

Liz Funk: got 4 best times;

Jazlyn Horras: dove in for one new event, and got 8 new best times;

Olivia Jenks: got times in two new events, and new 4 best times;

Timothy Jenks: swam 2 events for the first time, getting 2 best times;

Ethan Johnson: swam his first meet, getting 2 new best times;

Jackie Johnson: got 4 best times;

Joshua McCunn: tried 2 new events, and got one best time;

Sarah McCunn: dove in for one new event, and got 3 new best times, including a new B time (100 IM);

Isabel McLeod: tried two events for the first time and got seven best times, including one BB time (50 free) and two B times (200 free and 50 back);

Molly Muench: swam one new event, and got 4 best times;

Anna Napolitano: dove in for two new events, and got 8 new best times, including two new BB times (200 free and 100 back);

Alex Pyle: got seven new best times, including three new AA times (50 free, 500 free, and 200 back) and two new BB times (100 breast and 100 fly);

Cael Rasmussen: dove in for one new event, and got 2 best times, including a new B time (100 free);

Cameron Rasmussen: tried one new event and got 8 best times, including two A times (200 free and 400 IM), three BB times (50 back, 100 back, and 100 fly), and one new ACAC record (400 IM: 5:24.93);

Paige Ravenscroft: dove in for two new events and got 5 best times, including three new B times (50 back, 50 breast, and 100 IM);

Alli Rogers: dove in for her first meet in two events, getting two B times (50 free and 50 back);

Morgan Rosser: got 3 best times, including a new AAA time (100 fly) and a new AA time (100 breast);

Lauren Rosser: improved her times on 8 events, including a new A time (500 free);

Tony Rosser: got 2 best times;

Katie Sailer: dove in for one new event and got 5 best times, including two B times (50 fly and 100 IM);

Eva Scheibe: tried 3 new events and got 7 best times, including three new BB times (200 free, 100 back, and 200 IM);

Grace Scheibe: swam 1 new event and got 3 best times, including one new B time (50 back)

Matt Schuka: dove in for 1 new event and got 6 new best times;

Gracie Snyder: was 8 for 8 in best times, including a new A time (50 free) and three new BB times (200 free, 100 back, and 100 breast);

Olivia Snyder: tried 2 new events, and got 7 new best times;

Sophie Sorenson: got 5 best times, including two A times (50 free and 200 IM), one new ACAC Record (200 IM: 2:54.11);

Sydney Sorenson: got 7 best times, including two A times (100 breast and 200 breast) and three BB times (500 free, 100 back, and 200 back);

Hattie Stenberg: dove in for 3 new events, and got 5 best times;

Quentin Strohm: tried 1 new event and got 1 best time;

Zak Strohm: swam 1 new event and got 2 best times, both of them BB times (100 back and 100 fly);

Caleb Utesch: got 4 best times, including one new A time (400 IM);

Molly Winer: dove in for 2 new events and got 6 best times, including two B times (50 free and 100 IM);

Erin Wolter: swam 1 one event and got 2 best times;

Franklin Zhu: dove in for 2 new events and got 1 best time, which is a new A time (50 breast);

10 & Under 200 Medley Relay: the team composed by Jazlyn Horras (Backstroke), Eva Scheibe (Breaststroke), Sophie Sorenson (Butterfly) and Anna Napolitano (Freestyle) set a new ACAC Record with a time of 2:39.11

10 & Under 200 Freestyle Relay: Sophie, Jazlyn, Anna and Eva also set a new ACAC Record with a time of 2:19.95

Final Gran Prix Update

2009-11-17T02:53:00.001-08:00

We had an amazing finish to the weekend. Sunday morning we had Dustin Rhoads 200 back at 1:57.10 and five 100 freestyles, Taylor Kutchen 53.62, Ethan McCallum 52.50, Luuk Dekkers, 50.10, Dustin Rhoads 49.46, and Brian Bacon was 48.22.

The time trial session was fun with Jon Hagen performing a 100 free in 50.38 and Sam Wiedemeier with 56.78 in the 100 back. Both were personal bests.

We had one individual swim on Sunday night with Dustin Rhoads 200 back at 1:56.98. We finished the night with the 400 Free Relay. The "B" Relay was McCallum at 51.99, Wiedemeier at 50.08, Kutchen at 52.40 and Nakama at 51.04. Nakama swam a great race, but remembered how much training is involved with swimming.

The "A" relay swam 3:16.08 and got 9th overall. Brian Bacon was 48.35, Hagen was 50.00, Dekkers was 48.92, and Rhoads was 48.81.

Great job for everyone!

Highlights are comming...

2009-11-16T20:55:00.001-08:00

We had not one, but two great meets this past weekend. Coach Aron was nice enough to bring us video updates from Minneapolis. We're still working on the highlights from the DMSF Fall Invite, but to be honest there were sooooooo many of them it might take us a while.

So, we decided to add a link to this article about goal setting. While you wait for the highlight, this is an excellent read, and we hope you will put some of those strategies in place!

Gran Prix Daily Recap Nov 14th

2009-11-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

Great evening to cap the day! Dustin Rhoads went 50.57 in 100 back to get 10th. However, the relay was the swim of the night. We had a team meeting and here what I told the boys, "...the team is more important than any one individual. We must swim faster on the relays than we do for our individual races. If you want to win meets you have to win relays. Let's hold true to the values we have been working towards for the past nine weeks. Swim this for each other, hold each other accountable, and support each other behind the blocks..."

They took that to heart and swam amazing times, Dustin 51.98, Taylor 1:01.07, Jon 54.06, and Brian 47.24, for 3:34.35. We scored our first ever top 8 at the Gran Prix coming in 6th.

Gran Prix Morning Session Update, Day 2

2009-11-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

Wow!!!!! We had an excellent morning, just watch the video. We have two swims tonight and it should be fun, Dustin Rhoads 100 back, seated 9th at 50.94, and our 400 Medley Relay, seated 16th.

Day 1 Recap

2009-11-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

Before I get into a recap, I forgot to mention Luuk Dekkers 1000 free in the video recap, he went 10:00.53, a lifetime best by 9.5 seconds. Way to go!

We learn from our mistakes. The greatest part about this meet is that we get to make mistakes. Meets throughout the season are learning tools. It is very difficult to know how to react in a stressful situation like racing. The body and the brain perform a little differently under stress. Learning how to cope with that is essential to athletic performance. We had a few minor mishaps today that were amazing learning experiences. We got to tweak some strokes, some turns, and some other details. We had some nerves as well that affected race strategies. This is normal and we had some learning moments so that we can be better for the races tomorrow. I am proud of how our swimmers are handling themselves and how they are willing to learn from everything going on around them.

Here is how our day went:

Gran Prix Update

2009-11-13T05:09:00.001-08:00

I am here at the 2009 Minnesota Gran Prix. I am excited as this meet features a few Olympians and world record holders. Rebecca Soni and Kate Ziegler were in the psych sheet and should be fun to watch. The guys were a little disappointed to find out that Ryan Lochte was not in the psych sheet. He has attended the last two Gran Prixs. Well guess who deck entered the meet last night...Ryan Lochte. So, this should prove to be a fun meet. I will post some updates from our swimmers as the meet progresses.

Read this!

2009-11-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody!!

As we are getting ready for two weekends with swim meets, I found this blog, written by this guy called Garret Webber-Gale (you might remember him from that 400 Free Relay in Beijing). Well, it really addresses how important meets are, and so I think every swimmer on ACAC should ready it!

In addition, be sure to watch this week’s show, already posted on the right!

See you at the pool!!

Last week of the session!

2009-11-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

As all of you know by now, this is the last week of our Fall session. On Monday, our Senior 2 and National groups boys are going to be gone for the HS season, and we’ll be welcoming the HS girls. To the guys, good luck on the HS season; to the girls, it’s good to have you back!

This past Wednesday we also had our 3^rd team meeting. In case you missed, here are the minutes:

- Swimmers were reminded to sign-up and guarantee their spots on ACAC for the next session;

- T-shirts: we are collecting t-shirts order via the main website. To order, click on ‘Team Store’, and then on ‘Logo Gear’. Be sure to order ACAC t-shirts and wear them to the meets!!!

- Practice schedules updated. Just visit the team’s website to check on the workout schedules. For now, it is important to remember that practice is cancelled for all groups except Novice on November 13^th(everybody else is expected to attend the DMSF and Grand Prix meets), and cancelled for Age Group 3 and Seniors on November 20^th (Coach Aron and Coach Lucas will be gone for the CSC meet)

- Keep your focus on the State meet: at this point in the season, when that excitement from the first weeks are gone, and the State meet still seems far away, it is normal that swimmers start loosing their focus. For that reason it is important to keep looking at the individual goals, and thinking about State. Working hard all season long will pay off when that meet comes around!!! Letters of recognition were given to the swimmers that have attended meets so far, and reminded them that the competition for spots on the Relays at State meet is open!

- Time standards: how many people have looked at the time standards sheet except for looking at State Q-times? There are several time standards for each event and age group, and those are national standards. In order to recognize swimmers for achieving those, they received patches according to the standards they currently hold.

Welcome to the ACAC coaches' blog

2009-10-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

If you got one of our tryout flyers this week, be sure to also visit www.swimacac.com. That is the team’s official website, where you can find more information about swim groups, etc. While there, be sure to check the Tryouts tab. Here, you will find some of the information we pass on to our swimmers and parents on a regular basis. Be sure to also check our weekly shows on the right!

We want to welcome you to ACAC and we are looking forward to hosting this tryouts. Please, contact coach Lucas Ferreira (lucasedf@hotmail.com or 901 652-3443) to guarantee your spot on the try-outs or if you need more information.

Thanks,

ACAC Coaching Staff