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!

Quote of the Week

 

There is no influence like the influence of habit.

Gilbert Parker

Quote of the Week

 

Fear urged him to go back,

but growth drove him on.

John Griffith "Jack" London

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.

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Junior high record board updates were picked up Friday.  We hope to have those up sometime this week.

 

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The BCHS Varsity All-Sports Party will be Monday, May 17.  Each team's award winners will be recognized, so please plan to attend. 

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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.

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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.

 

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The Bay City Aquacats kick off their summer practice schedule tomorrow.  Visit their Facebook Page for more info.

 

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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?"

Episode XXXVI:  Andy Korda

 

 

Quote of the Week

 

The Wild still lingered in him and

the wolf in him merely slept.

John Griffith "Jack" London

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.

Episode XXXV:  Lawrence Romine

 

 

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

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.

Bonnie Adams, Round II

 

Newest episode went up yesterday:

Swim Talk A2B XXXIV - Bonnie Adams

Midmar Mile Official Site

OZ Mile Swim Official Site

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

 

This Week

 

Tuesday

 

No Practice

Wednesday

 

JH Swim/Dive 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Corpus Christi Meet Travel Info Handout

 

Thursday

 

No Practice

Friday

 

Varsity Cup Nomination Deadline

JH Swim/Dive 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Issue Backpacks & Warm-ups

 

Saturday

 

Corpus Christi ISD Middle School Invite

Quote of the Week

 

When you remove layers, simplicity and speed happen.

Ginni Rometty

JH/HS Updates, Angleton Meet Week, & A2B

 

 

JH Updates

 

Our boys fell just short Saturday vs. BCAT, 37-35.  BCAT's only gal was at 6th grader swimming exhibition, so we came out on top there, 18-0 - meaning we also won the combined scoring 53-37.

3 new BCJH Panther School Records were set Saturday.  Valentina Vazquez Lopez posted a score of 132.10 in girls' 1m diving (6).  Sam Cano set a new record in the same event on the boys' side with a score of 125.20.  Genaro Flores lopped nearly seventeen seconds off the boys' 200 freestyle record with a swim of 2:38.37!

 

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HS Updates

Please return backpacks, parkas, warm-ups, etc. & clean out lockers!!

 

Recap of our 2023 BCHS Swim/Dive Awards:

Volunteer of the Year:  Rob Vargas

We have great parent support!  So much goes on behind the scenes to support out kids and parents make it all happen for us - from running home meets to helping us out on away trips.

 

When we needed help tightening up starting blocks, mounting dry-erase boards, and putting up a new record board - Rob didn't mind the summer heat one bit!

 

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."  (Henry J. Kaiser)

 

Outstanding Diver:  Ian Ramos

 

Ian learned eleven dives in the dead of winter.  District champ, region runner-up, and 8th place at the state meet!

 

Outstanding Girl Swimmer:  Lucie Frick

 

Lucie was our top finisher at the state meet - swimming in the championship final in the 100 freestyle.  She anchored our relays, including our district champion 400 freestyle relay.

Outstanding Boy Swimmer:  Michael Vargas

 

Senior Michael captained our squad and was our top scorer in the region meet, taking home bronze medals in both the 50 and 100 freestyles.

 

Laurie Bell Fighting Heart:  Megan Moya

We have several outstanding candidates for this award and I know the Bell Family is proud of our kids.

 

Megan has provided leadership & guided our girls' squad well this year.  She's been outstanding academically and continues to pay it forward by helping out our younger high school and junior high athletes.  She even helped us re-string lane ropes.  No more searching for hooks!

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This Week

 

Monday

 

JH Swim/Dive 3:30-4:30 p.m.

 

Wednesday

 

JH Swim/Dive 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Angleton Meet Travel Info Handout

 

Thursday

 

Angleton Quad Meet

 

Leave:  3:45 p.m.

Warm-up:  4:30 p.m.

Start:  5:30 p.m.
 

Friday

 

No Practice

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Podcast

 

In case you're interested, Coach Abbott & I are firing up the podcast again.  You can catch our most recent episode at the link below.  We visited with Andrews HS Head Coach Mike Waldmann.

 

Swim Talk A2B - XXXIII - Mike Waldmann

 

You can hear past episodes there as well.  Upcoming shows will feature a follow-up visit with an open water director and a talk with one of our former age group swimmers from the 80's - who is now a very successful triathlete.