Updates & This Week's Plan

 

 

Positive news on our travel meet.  Recall that both the Tex Robertson Invite and the Coastal Bend TISCA Invite are scheduled just a few days before our district meet, so each is a "no go" for us.

 

We've been invited to a January 6 invite in Lufkin that will include several East Texas schools from our 4A Region III.

 

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If athletes are "Green" in RankOne, they may train with us this week:

Monday

Morning Swim:  6:00 - 7:30 a.m.

Evening Swim:  5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday

Morning Swim:  6:00 - 7:30 a.m.

Evening Swim:  5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Morning Swim:  6:00 - 7:30 a.m.

Thursday

No Swim (1st Period in B228)

Friday

No Swim (1st Period in B228)

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Note:  There's no substitute for two-a-days!  Try to get as many in as the rules allow!!

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Check out Google Classroom for an updated meet schedule and the September practice schedule.  Notice that we'll be gradually ramping up our training throughout the month.  Eat right and get to bed early!

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ONE MORE TIME!!!

Click on this link for plenty of nutrition info:  Nutrition Re-Post

Quote of the Week

We must dare to be great;  and we must

realize that greatness is the fruit of toil

and sacrifice and high courage.

 

Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt Jr.

 

This Week Reminders

 

If you know of anyone who'd like to tryout for this years swim/dive team, please have them meet at the pool at 5:00 p.m. Monday or Tuesday.

I've not yet started using Skylert and am still on sportsYou.  Once we figure out a way to get everyone "in the loop" we'll switch over.

 

Tuesday morning we'll issue suits & gear.  If you're not in 1st period swim and cannot meet at 6:00 a.m., we'll issue your items after the evening meeting.

Tuesday evening we'll have a brief parent & athlete meeting at the pool, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Both the Tex Robertson Invite and Coastal Bend TISCA Invite are scheduled on different weekends than in the past.  I'm still searching for a good prelim/final travel meet.  For now, we'll have to leave that first weekend in January as "Open" on the schedule.

Please take care of paperwork & physicals NOW.  If you're not "Green" in RankOne, we cannot allow you to practice or compete.

 

In addition to the physical and RankOne forms, please make sure you complete & return the following:

• Handbook Signature page,
• Athlete Information form, &
• Parent/Guardian Information form.
  

Quote of the Week

In youth we learn;  in age we understand.

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

Updates

 

Once again, if you've not yet taken care of your online forms, please do so ASAP.  Link to that page is here Also, if you need to update your physical*, that form is here

We're still waiting for info on the new communications app.  We expect to move over to this very soon.  Until then, we'll continue using sportsYou.

Remember, if you're in 1st period swimming athletics, we'll meet in B228 for the first two (2) weeks of school.  We'll be going through rules, safety training, taking care of paperwork, etc.

 

Soon, I'll put out an announcement for swimmers/divers planning to try out for this year's team.  If you know of some quality individuals who are interested, don't have them wait for the announcement.  Instead, have them stop by B228 right away.  Also, if you're not in 1st period swimming athletics, drop by B228 often we can keep you up to speed.

 

All swimmers & divers should join our Google Classroom.  That code is:  wr4qlt3

 

There's a slight change in the workout schedule due to Meet the Teacher Night on the 30th.

 

Our tentative swim practice schedule for the rest of August:

Mon. Aug. 28 (6-7:30 a.m. & 5-6:30 p.m.)

Tue. Aug. 29 (6-7:30 a.m. & 5-6:30 p.m.)

Wed. Aug. 30 (6-7:30 a.m.)

 

Divers will check w/Mrs. Button for their September schedule.

 

Important reminders:

• 1st period athletics swims from 6-7:30 a.m.**,
• others will practice 5-6:30 p.m., &
  
• you may opt to swim both practices (recommended)***

 

Blue/Gold/Alumni Meet is scheduled for Saturday, October 14 at 9:00 a.m.  Please share in case the word didn't get out to our alumni.  Also, have them join their alumni meet Facebook page here 

 

The Advocate gave a couple of our Blackcat Hall of Fame swimmers a nice write-up.****

 

 

*If you're not sure, you probably need to!

**Not in 1st period & have transportation?  Get an hour in from 6-7 a.m.!

***Just stay within the UIL 8-hour rule.

****Could have done w/o the last part of the article...

 

 

Quote of the Week

 

Success usually comes to those who

are too busy to be looking for it.

 

Henry David Thoreau

 

Alumni Update

 

Blake Holden ('95) is the 2023 World Champ in 45-49 200 LCM breaststroke!

He out-touched Romanian Tudor Ignat by just four hundredths of a second.

USA!  USA!  USA!

Keith Hill ('92) won that event at the US Masters National Championships last week.

His time of 2:37.82 would have placed him 5th at the World Champs.

Swim Athletics Google Classroom

 

Student/Athlete code for 2023-24 Swim Athletics Google Classroom:

wr4qlt3

Alumni Still Racing!

 

Blackcat Hall of Famer Keith Hill ('92) struck gold in two events at the 2023 US Masters Long Course National Championship.

Hill - competing in the 45-49 age division - took first in the 200 breaststroke Friday and won again Saturday in the 200 individual medley.

Full meet results are here

Another member of our Hall of Fame, Blake Holden ('95) competes in the Masters World Championships in Kyushu, Japan this week.

Blake races in the 200 breaststroke Thursday and the 50 breaststroke Friday.

Paperwork, Physicals, & Schedule

 

If you've not yet taken care of your online forms, please do so ASAP.  Link to that page is here

 

If you need to update your physical*, that form is here

We're waiting for info on the new communications app.  Until we have that, we'll continue using sportsYou.

If you're in 1st period swimming athletics, plan to meet in B228 for the first two (2) weeks of school.  We'll be going through rules, safety training, taking care of paperwork, etc.

If you're not in 1st period swimming athletics, drop by B228 often we can keep you up to speed.

 

This week's schedule is here

Our tentative practice schedule for the rest of August:

Mon. Aug. 28 (6-7:30 a.m. & 5-6:30 p.m.)

Tue. Aug. 29 (6-7:30 a.m. & 5-6:30 p.m.)

Wed. Aug. 30 (6-7:30 a.m. & 5-6:30 p.m.)

 

Important reminders:

• 1st period athletics swims from 6-7:30 a.m.,
• others will practice 5-6:30 p.m., &
  
• you may opt to swim both practices (recommended)**
  

 

 

*If you're not sure, you probably need to!

**Just stay within the UIL 8-hour rule.

Quote of the Week

 

When you find yourself on the side of the

majority, it's time to pause and reflect.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain

Tentative Schedule

 

We need to schedule around teacher meetings, so we will have an odd practice schedule for the rest of this week (and next week):

 

Wednesday, August 2 - No practice

 

Thursday, August 3 -  5-6:30 p.m.

 

Friday, August 4 - No practice

 

Monday, August 7 - 5-6:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, August 8 - 5-6:30 p.m.

 

Wednesday, August 9 - 5-6:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, August 10 -  7-8:30 a.m.

 

Friday, August 11 - No practice