Matagorda Mudskippers Swim/Dive

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Quote of the Week

If you're so afraid of failure, you will never

succeed. You have to take chances.

Mario Gabriele Andretti

Coaches/athletes are handling the joint workout and time trials Thursday, so do not worry about that at all! It will be an opportunity for our high school and junior high kids to get some times in any events they'd like to swim.

It'll be similar to a football or basketball scrimmage - we'll keep it pretty informal. The coaches will do the officiating and the kids will help out with the timing. Our less experienced kids can choose to swim some shorter races if they'd like and our more experienced athletes might want to try something they've not done for a while.

Where we really need your help is with the Friday and Saturday events.

Friday we need to work the visitor concession stand at the football game.

Saturday six teams are coming to town for our relay meet.

As the week goes along, Lisa Moya, Kim Sliva, and I are going to be asking you to commit to helping us staff both the Friday and Saturday concession stands and help us time at the Saturday relay meet.

If we can set up a schedule for Friday's game, that will keep anyone from doing a "marathon" inside that concession stand!

The same goes for Saturday's meet. Our meets generally last around two hours, so setting up a rotation for our timers and concession stand workers allows everyone a chance to "do their duty" and still enjoy watching and cheering for all our kiddos.

Thanks in advance for helping us out!

Swimcerely,

Button

Monday

HS - 8th & after school until 5:00 (dry-land and swim/dive)

JH - after school until 5:00 (swim/dive)

Tuesday

HS - 8th & after school until 5:00 (swim/dive)

Wednesday

HS - 8th & after school until 5:00 (dry-land and swim/dive)

JH - after school until 5:00 (swim/dive)

Thursday

HS - 8th (set up for joint practice/time trial)

JH/HS - after school until 5:00

Joint Practice/Time Trials w/Palacios & Van Vleck

Friday

No Practice (1/2 day of school)

HS Diving at Victoria for VISD Invite

JH/HS Swim Team Fundraiser - We are working the Visitor Concession Stand at Memorial Stadium. The Blackcats are hosting Stafford. We need plenty of helpers!

Saturday

Bay City Relay Invite (9:00 warm-up, 10:00 start)

Friday, October 29, 2021

Friday & Saturday Info

Friday

HS - 8th will meet in B228. Please bring binders! We'll have a Pursley Pep Talk & go over the LCISD Invite psych sheet. After school swim until 5:00.

Diving at Rosenberg for LCISD 5A & Under Invite

JH - After school swim until 5:00. HS swimmer(s) will walk you over.

Saturday

Swimming at Rosenberg for LCISD 5A & Under Invite

We'll be sharing a spot with Columbia and Randle in "1" on this Team Seating Map, and will be in Lane 7 for the second warm-up session.

Our hosts have asked us to share the following:

_{Personal chairs are only allowed outside the facility and in
the courtyard area (not in the stands or on deck-coaches are the only exception)}

_{No food, gum, or candy allowed on deck or in the locker room areas}
_{No strollers allowed in the facility}
_{No electronic/phone usage in the locker room/restroom areas}
_{Please ask spectators not to stand near or on the glass railing (they may not block the walkway)}
Tickets may be purchased online through gofan on our website-a separate email will be sent with the timer sign-up link and ticket link. No cash will be accepted.

Below are the links for spectator tickets for the LCISD 5A invite and timing sign-ups. If timing spot are not filled Friday, we will begin assigning teams to lanes to assist with timing. Timers listed on sign-up genius will not have to pay the entrance fee.

Link to spectator tickets:

https://gofan.co/app/events/427217?schoolId=TX13113

Timing sign-ups:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b48a4af29a1f94-fosterridgepoint

What to bring: Backpack, warm-ups, two (2) towels, goggles, competition suit & cap, drag suit, snack and/or money for concession stand, signed paperwork if returning to BC with parent/guardian - you are encouraged to ride home with your TEAM

What to leave home: Valuables

Notes:

1. Pack Friday night!

2. Arrive early for your events – do not miss an event!

3. Plan to get in as a TEAM during break (after 50 free).

4. See coach before & after races.

Schedule:

7:00 Open gate

7:30 Bus departs pool

8:40 Arrive Lamar CISD Natatorium

9:00 Warm-up

10:00 Meet starts

2:00* Meet ends

2:15* Bus departs LCISD Natatorium

2:30* Late lunch on return trip

4:15* Arrive BC pool

*Estimates!!!

Sunday, October 17, 2021

This Week

Try to take care of tutorials before school. Since we will not practice after school this Wednesday, that will be a great day to attend any tutorial(s) not offered in the morning.

The Blue/Gold/Alumni meet is senior-led, so Matthew B, Daniel D, and Chris P will be helping out this week with practices, organizing meet helpers, selecting order of events, choosing teams, etc.

Thanks in advance for working with them during practices this week and during the meet!

Monday

HS: Pool - 8th & After school until 5:00 (Dry-land & Swim/Dive)

JH: Pool - After school until 5:00 (Swim/Dive)*

Tuesday

HS: Pool - After school until 5:00 (Swim & Dive)

LCISD 5A & Under HS Invite entries

Wednesday

HS: Gym - 8th (Dry-land), No after school practice, Attend Tutorials!

JH: No after school practice, Attend Tutorials!

Thursday

HS: Gym - 8th (Dry-land), Pool - After school until 5:00 (Swim/Dive)

JH: Pool - After school until 5:00 (Swim/Dive)*

Friday

HS: B228 - 8th (Pursley), Gym - Pep Rally, Pool - After school until 5:00 (Swim/Dive)

JH: Pool - After school until 5:00 (Swim/Dive)*

Saturday

Blue/Gold/Alumni Meet (8:00 Set-up, 9:00 Warm-up, 10:00 Start)

*Meet Mrs. Button at New Gym to walk over to pool

Quote of the Week

There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.

Roger Thomas Staubach

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Various Cares

Teammate Care

Be a great teammate: A true team player not only has a back-up plan for himself/herself, but also a back-up plan to help out a teammate in need.*

It sure is nice to have that extra pen/pencil when you, or a friend, need one. The same thing goes for a pair of goggles.

Thanks, Brooklyn!

Suit Care

Do: Rinse w/fresh water, gently wring out, either hang to air dry or lay out on towel to dry

Don't: Put in washing machine and/or dryer, leave bunched up in bottom of locker/backpack

Cap Care

Do: Rinse w/fresh water, use towel to dry (inside & outside), sprinkle w/a little baby powder to keep surfaces from sticking together

Don't: Leave cap where it will be exposed to excessive heat

Goggle Care

Do: Rinse w/fresh water, store away from heavy/sharp items

Don't: Leave goggles where they will be exposed to excessive heat

Hair Care

What would I know about that?

Our older guys and gals can share tips, but if you want to read up, here are a few links:

Swim Outlet

Black Kids Swim

Swimming World

Bonus

Stumbled on this while looking for a Simone/Katy video.

Featuring Simone Manuel & Katy Ledecky, plus a family that gifted Stanford quite a facility:

*From Swimming/Diving: #TBW...you'll get your copy soon!

Sunday, October 10, 2021

News & This Week's Schedule

2019 Blue/Gold Alumni (l to r): Bobby Button, Keith Hill, Neal Holden, Kory Ashcraft, Blake Holden, Andrew Medina

Alumni News

Blackcat Hall of Famer Keith Hill ('92) is the 2021 United States Masters Swimming 45-49 200 meter Butterfly National Champion! Hill held off the top seed to win the title yesterday by just .27!

Going into today's final session, Keith has earned medals each time he's hit the water. He and his teammates from New Albany, Ohio won the 200 medley relay and are in 4th place in team standings.

We're hoping Keith and many of our alumni can join us for this year's Blue/Gold/Alumni meet on Saturday, October 23rd (9:00 warm-up, 10:00 start) as we kick off the 2021-22 season.

Links

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook (unofficial)

Junior High

We had a short athlete/parent meeting last week for our junior high program. Full practices officially begin on Monday, October 18th. We'll run some shorter practices this week, so pay close attention to the schedule below! Also, make sure athletes are "green" in RankOne, meaning all paperwork (physical, medical history, etc.) is up to date!

Note: Junior high athletes who are in a sport - remember that you are committed to that sport! Keep going to your practices and giving all you've got to your coaches and teammates! Swimming will be here after football, volleyball, cross country, etc. Take care of business and finish what you started!

If you know 7th & 8th graders who would like to swim/dive for the Panthers this year, but missed out on the meeting, please share our sportsYou code (below) with them so they'll be able to get in touch with us ASAP:

3HJZ-USQS

Grades

I'll be getting together with any athlete who didn't pass all classes in the first six week grading period.

Since the Blue/Gold/Alumni meet is an exhibition (scrimmage/practice), eligibility is not an issue for that date. However, anyone with a failing grade on their report card will not regain eligibility unless they're passing all classes at the next progress report date.

If we're striving for A's & B's in ALL classes, we should NEVER be worried about JUST passing, should we?

Want to be an Academic All-American someday? Start getting high A's NOW! Seniors can earn Academic A-A honors based on their first seven (7) semesters of high school work, so get busy on your school work so you can earn that special plaque. We've had three (3) in just the last four years!

Pumpkins

Please remember to ask Mrs. Button about the potentially pleasant pumpkin painting project.

This Week

Although students have the day off Monday, many are in town!

Friday, high school athletes agreed on a morning workout that should produce the best practice turnout. If weather puts a damper on that plan, I'll be at the pool in the afternoon with Mrs. Button for diving practice, so that will serve as a make-up for the swim practice if schedules permit.

Junior high athletes should feel free to join us for either time.

Monday

HS Swim: 7-8:30 a.m. (JH option)

HS Dive: 3:30-5 p.m. (HS Swim make-up, JH option)

Tuesday

HS Swim/Dive: 8th & after school until 4:30

Wednesday

HS Swim/Dive: 8th & after school until 4:30

JH Swim/Dive option: after school until 4:30

Thursday

HS: 8th to Gym

HS Swim/Dive option: after school until 4:30

Friday

HS: 8th to B228

HS Swim/Dive option: after school until 4:30

JH Swim/Dive option: after school until 4:30

Believe Me Now?

Great stuff from our buddy Eddie Reese:

Quote of the Week

All the world's a stage and most of

us are desperately unrehearsed.

Sean O'Casey

Sunday, October 3, 2021

This Week

At this point, everyone should:

be "green" in RankOne,
have all training gear,
be ready to ramp up the yardage,
have gotten into a good study/academic routine, and
be looking forward to Rocktober!

Monday

8th & after school until 4:30 - Swim/Dive at Pool

Tuesday

8th - Dry-land at Gym

Wednesday

8th & after school until 4:30 - Swim/Dive at Pool

Thursday

8th - Dry-land at Gym

Friday

8th & after school until 4:30 - Swim/Dive at Pool

Sunday, September 26, 2021

This Week

Paperwork - Athletes have been reminded about turning in important paperwork. They should bring their handbook and disciplinary policy signature pages Monday.

We're in the process of reworking the transportation release form. We'll make sure we run it by our administrators and then have our drivers get it filled out again.

Eyeglasses - Michael V is leading a little public service project for us. He'll be getting the word out and collecting any used eyeglasses any of us have. My new ones came in over the weekend, so I'm ready to donate my old ones.

Team Social - Since there's no game Friday, Lucie F is going to work on organizing a get-together for our team. Share ideas!

This Week

We have a faculty meeting after school Monday, a Parent/Athlete meeting Tuesday, and a half day of school Friday.

This is also the end of the first six week grading period. Please take care of your academics! If you need to attend tutorials, do your best to work around our three (3) afternoon practices by getting to morning tutorial sessions whenever possible.

Here's the tentative plan for the week:

Monday

Handbook & Disciplinary Policy Paperwork Due

8th Period - Gym

Tuesday

8th Period & After School - Pool

Athlete/Parent Meeting - Pool (4:45)

Wednesday

8th Period & After School - Pool

Thursday

8th Period & After School - Pool

Friday

8th Period - B228

Quote of the Week

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who

did nothing because he could do only a little.

Edmund Burke

Monday, September 6, 2021

This Week

Thanks to our table put-together team, Chris C and Lucie F:

Very few have joined the new sportsYou (XMRA-SK4Z). Please do so ASAP!

The pool is currently shut down, but we will still go over a couple of times this week to do some prep/clean-up work in the afternoons.

Several of us are anxious to get in our birthday swims, right? Maybe next week!

Bus riders will be on the ROUTE 10 bus.

Here is our TENTATIVE plan for this week:

Tuesday

8th Period - Gym

After School (until 4:30) - Pool

Wednesday

8th Period - Gym

After School (until 4:30) - Pool

Thursday

8th Period - B228

After School - Canceled

Friday

8th Period - B228

After School - Canceled

Some may recall that last year, we missed some early season practices as well. We'll find some days in the coming weeks where we can fit in an extra workout or two to make up for lost time.