Thursday, June 22, 2023
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Summer Update
Work Day
Special thanks to Megan, Victoria, Jomar, and Mrs. Button for a great work day last week. They did an outstanding job of straightening up the place and storing our "stuff" for the summer.
Optional HS Training Group
This will be captain-driven, so follow their lead. I'll send them workout suggestions and they can share those w/y'all. This is a captain-led optional group. For safety, I will open up if they want to host an early group. If they want to swim when I'm unable to be there, an Aquacat practice time with a lifeguard on duty is your alternative. If they're not available to lead a group, everything that follows this paragraph is null and void!
When I'm able to open early, we'll splash at 7:00 a.m. That means athletes arrive by 6:45 a.m., ya dig?
When I'm unavailable, Aquacats start at 8:30 a.m. That means athletes arrive by 8:15 a.m., understood?
If captains are running workouts this week they'll have as many as four (4) options. I can open on Tuesday and Wednesday and y'all can grab a lane or two from the Aquacats on Thursday and Friday.
For the week of June 12, all four (4) options would have to be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday with Aquacats.
Let's see how the next two (2) weeks go before we plan too far ahead.
Sunday, May 28, 2023
News
Morning Swims
This week I plan to open for optional early morning swims (Tuesday through Friday) for any high school swimmers who want to get a head start on their summer workouts. Plan to splash at 7 - which means arrive by 6:45 - to get in an hour and a half before the Aquacats start their practice.
Captains will have some workouts for the high school group starting the week of June 5.
Work Days
We'd like to finish rinsing, drying, storing tarps this week. Other jobs include consolidating/storing dry-land equipment, fixing drag suits, cleaning snorkels, and straightening up the equipment room & closets. Target days are Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday. Captains can decide on times. Aquacats are hosting a meet June 3rd, so let's work together to have our jobs wrapped up by then.
Summer Training
Whether you're able to swim regularly or not this summer, you MUST remain ACTIVE!
Do NOT site around the house eating bon bons - take advantage of opportunities to get in the pool, gym, weight room, etc.
Academic All-State
The TISCA Academic All-State certificates did not arrive before the end of school. I'll get those to you when I get them. Sorry!
Sunday, May 7, 2023
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Notes, Reminders, & Updates
Former Blackcat standouts Blake Holden (1995) and Keith Hill (1992) are still making waves.
After leaving us, each went on to stellar NCAA D-I careers: Holden at Stanford and Hill at Northeast Louisiana.
These days, they team up with two-time Olympian Dave Wharton and swim for the New Albany, Ohio masters program.
Their results at week's USMS National Championships in the 44-49 age group:
Holden
100 breast - 1st - :57.43
200 breast - 1st - 2:06.99
200 individual medley - 1st - 1:59.17
50 breast - 2nd - :27.03
100 fly - 2nd - :53.60
Hill
400 individual medley - 4th - 4:32.00
200 breast - 5th - 2:14.72
50 breast - 7th - :28.87
100 breast - 7th - 1:01.97
200 individual medley - 7th - 2:06.03
Both of these "youngsters" would have been in the championship finals at this year's UIL 4A State Championships with those times.
Holden's 100 breast time would have won that event.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Junior high record board updates were picked up Friday. We hope to have those up sometime this week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The BCHS Varsity All-Sports Party will be Monday, May 17. Each team's award winners will be recognized, so please plan to attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another Celebration of Excellence will be hosted by the BCISD Trustees on Tuesday, May 16. Our juniors and seniors who have been named to the Academic All-State and Academic All-America teams will be recognized.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our regular schedule for optional off-season practices in May will change now and then (see above). We'll usually swim from 5:00 to 6:15 on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bay City Aquacats kick off their summer practice schedule tomorrow. Visit their Facebook Page for more info.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking for options to buy suits, caps, googles, etc.?
Susan & Terry Matherne have a place on Selkirk Island and own Texas Swim Shop in Houston. They take very good care of us. Call them at 713-723-0910, visit their site here, or send them an email
SwimOutlet is another excellent vendor for us. Link to their home page is here
Need a drag suit for practices that's practically indestructible? Visit the Agon site here
Episode XXXVI
Time for another episode of SwimTalk A2B. Another former swimmer of ours, Andy Korda, chatted it up with us.
Andy wasn't like most swimmers...those who wonder: "What's wrong with those guys? Who would ever want to be a swim coach?"
Quote of the Week
The Wild still lingered in him and
the wolf in him merely slept.
John Griffith "Jack" London
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Episode XXXV
In the latest episode of SwimTalk A2B, we reconnected with a former Katy age-group swimmer of ours, Lawrence "LD" Romine.
Lawrence dropped out of our sport at a young age, but is now showing off his swimming skills on the triathlon circuit.
This Week
Optional evening workout group begins this week. Details:
- Must be "green" in RankOne,
- Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday (any/all),
- 5:00-6:15 p.m., &
- currently in grades 8-11.
Quote of the Week
When a subject becomes totally obsolete,
we make it a required course.
Peter Ferdinand Drucker
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Matt Schneider (1960-2023)
Sad news to report. Last month, former TISCA President Matt Schneider passed away. Read his obit here.
In the late 1990's, Matt worked closely with UIL personnel with a goal of creating the original 4A/5A divisions for Texas high school swimming & diving. Once a viable solution to the numerous hurdles were worked out, he led a handful of influential coaches who presented their proposal to the Legislative Council.
After one failed attempt - and a year of "back to the drawing board" work, Matt took his TISCA coaches back to Austin. The effort he spearheaded was successful and our state meet doubled in size almost overnight.
Since then, our sport has benefitted from outstanding cooperation between TISCA and the UIL. Matt showed them that we're a pro-athlete organization with no hidden agenda. When we're lobbying for rule/policy changes, it's for our kids' benefit.
Without Schneider's work twenty-five years ago, do you think our athletes would have opportunities like twenty-four qualifiers for the 5A & 6A state championships? Consolation finals in all region meets? A newly created third division for swimming & diving?
I learned a great deal from Matt. He was a great friend, an outstanding coach, and a fine educator.
Quote of the Week
It's so simple to be wise. Just think of some-
thing stupid to say and say the opposite.
Samuel "Sam" Levenson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)