Quote of the Week

 

I know that other people set goals for me and

have expectations, but if I stay focused on my

goals, I know that's when I'm most successful.

 

  Kathleen Genevieve "Katie" Ledecky

 

 

Another Core Exercise: Turkish Get-Up

 

Should be learned w/o weight and done w/precision.

 

Very good overall body weight exercise, especially for core work.

 

Excellent strength training add-on for breaststrokers.

2021 Varsity Cup Swimmers of the Year

Thanks again to the Victoria Advocate.  They do a great job of covering our Blackcat athletes.

Due to the pandemic, the 3rd Annual Varsity Cup was a virtual event:

Thanks to American Shield Roofing and Construction for sponsoring the event!

Of the six (6) athletes named Swimmer of the Year, half of them have come from our program:

Hannah Sliva (2019)

Glory Vargas (2021)

Jordan Wright (2021)

CSCAA Executive Director Greg Earhart

Encore!

(also available at Anchor)

A guest from 2020 joined us for an encore last weekend.

 

Listen as Sam Kendricks fills us in on

• Women's D-I NCAA's
• Men's D-I NCAA's
• the Retirement that shook the Swimming World, and
• the wonderful world of swim meet announcing:

 

 

 

 

 

Job Opportunity

 

 

Jacket Patches

 

 

Here are links for ordering jacket patches if you were All-District or All-Region (info on the pages):

 

Mail-in Forms (Paper)

Online Form

Spring Cleaning

 

Look who started their spring break by getting the pool ready for our ShAC and Aquacat summer training groups.

When friends and family ask me "Why?"...THIS  is why...

Nort Thornton & Jon Urbanchek

Hall of Fame coach Nort Thornton is hospitalized with a heart issue.  Thornton coached the powerhouse California Golden Bears and numerous Olympic medalists came through his club and college programs in 70's, 80's, 90's, & 00's.

When we do a head-up, high-tempo breaststroke set, it likely had its origins out west in Coach Thornton's program!

Retired Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek - another Hall of Famer with a similar resume - tweeted out his support:

Nort!
We are PULLING for you!
8 x 50 :45 breast  fins &pads chin up. Move it ! Jon

Much of the heart rate work done in our program - and around the world - is based on Coach Urbanchek's "color charts" that simplify things for us less gifted coaches...

Denny Pursley

We got called for a false start on the Denny Pursley Podcast Episode.  Since we're old-school guys, we went with the old rule book and got back up on the blocks for another shot at this.  If you prefer platforms other than YouTube, visit us at Anchor.

 

We got to talk to one of our sport's all-time great coaches, Dennis Pursley!

Check out his Career at a Glance. from the 2018 'Bama Swimming Media Guide:

Pretty danged impressive, right?!?!

Pay close attention starting around 24:30, as I'd been sharing how proud I was of our 2021 group with Denny, and the way we came through this season of uncertainty and ups & downs.

Survey Results

1. One (1) dry-land exercise you would like to see added to next year's program & why it is important.

Bench Press, Burpees, Med Ball Sit-Ups, Running, Russian Twists, Stretching, Weighted Dips

2. One (1) swimming drill you would like to see added to next year's program and why it is important.

Breeja Larson Drill, hand/Arm Placement Drills, L-B-R-B Fly, Pull Drills, Push-off Drills, Tow-ball Sprints, Texas Tumblers, Underwaters, Zipper Drill

3. One (1) mind training exercise you would like to see added to next year's program & why it is important.

Breath Hold, Break Down Strokes/Movements, Count Reps, Deep Breathing/Calming/Thinking, Easy Day, Memorizing Skills, Quotes, Specific Breathing, Veteran-coached Practices, Visualize Sets, Yoga

4. One specific coaching skill You would like to see me improve on for next year and why it is important.

Be More Specific & Individual, Chill, Demonstrations, Empathy for Better Working Relationship, No High Volume, Positive Reinforcement & Encouragement, Spend More Time Explaining Sets, Stay Calm Under Pressure, Tell Us Our Strengths & What We're Doing Right

5. Name the current non-student/athlete you are bringing into next year's program who will stick with us.

Megan M, Suhana K, Ethan Y, Matthew B, Daniel D, & Felix R each gave the name of someone they're working to bring on board for next year.  Keep working with them!  Get them to the pool this spring/summer.  Coach 'em up!  The rest of you need to find someone who you can count on to show up.  That's the main thing.  You can handle the rest, right?

6. List three (3) SMART* goals for your 2021-22 high school swim/dive season.

Everyone listed attainable individual goals for the 2021-22 season.  If we all work together on #'s 1-5 above, I feel we'll not only exceed your expectations here, but I believe we'll realize some TEAM goals that would not otherwise be possible.

Let's think BIG!!

*Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-based

JH/HS Update

Christmas 2004

Incoming Freshmen orientation originally scheduled for the 20th was postponed.  Once that's been rescheduled, I'll let you know so we can make a push for new swimmers/divers.

Juniors & Seniors who qualify for TISCA Academic All-State should get this done ASAP!  Once you've completed the form, please let me know so we can include you on our "brag" list that's about to come out!  The link is here

Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors who qualified for a letter jacket this year need to remind me ASAP, so I can put you on the list!  I believe the deadline is March 2nd.

7th & 8th Graders have a meet in Tomball on Saturday, March 27th.  We will have a few practices between now and then, but will work around your spring sport practices/competitions.  Watch sportsYou for those dates/times.  If you have friends in athletics with some swimming experience, bring them along to practice so we can put together relays!

Survey Results are nearly ready.  We're waiting on two (2) athletes (who didn't get their copies) to email their answers.  I've tallied everything we've gotten so far and the info will help us improve our program.  I'll share once it's ready.  Thanks for your input!

Region Shirt Money is due.  I've got to wrap up that deposit ASAP, so please help me out if your folks still owe for those!

Spring Sports are in full swing for both HS & JH.  Thank you for representing your schools.  You are ATHLETES who are COACHABLE, so get out there and SHOW YOUR STUFF!

Work Day?  Did y'all volunteer for a pool WORK DAY?  Yes?  Thank you!!  We sure could use help with:  straightening up the Aquacat store room, storing our weights & t's, moving the bleachers, storing the Vertimax & Vasa Trainer, & emptying the gear bags!  As with the orientation, I'll let you know when we have a date for this.

Banquet?  Would y'all be interested in having a little swim/dive-only banquet this spring?  It might be nice to get together with our high school and junior high group for dinner sometime, right?

Last 15m

 

Take a look at the last 30 yards - especially the last 15m - of Kristina Schneider's anchor leg (:48.74) of UNLV's 400 free relay at last night's Mountain West Conference meet:

.@UNLV_Swim_Dive wins the 400 freestyle relay by a tenth of a second!#MWSD | #BEaREBEL pic.twitter.com/PYMSVTYNMl

— Mountain West (@MW_OlySports) February 21, 2021

That's how we finish a freestyle race!

Bored?

 

No, I mean REALLY bored?

 

This episode is guest-less and covers:

• NISCA (high school coaches' organization) virtual meeting
• ASCA (all coaches' organization) virtual clinics
• NFHS (high school sports' governing body) rules changes
• NCAA swimming program cuts (poly-ticks & money)

 

Still interested?

 

Find it at Anchor (Episode XXI) or listen via YouTube below:

 

This Week

 

Monday

 

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

 

Tuesday

 

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

 

Wednesday

 

Optional girls' luggage drop-off at pool (6:30-7:30 a.m.)

Girls swim 4th before region travel

Boys 8th period study hall in B228

Boys swim/dive after school until 4:45 (ride after school shuttle)

 

Thursday

 

Girls region prelim/final

Boys 8th period study hall in B228

Boys swim/dive after school until 4:45 (ride after school shuttle)

 

Friday

 

Optional boys' luggage drop-off at pool (6:30-7:30 a.m.)

Boys swim 4th before region travel

Girls 8th period study hall in B228

 

Saturday

 

Boys region prelim/final