Otter Newsletter for Week of January 3, 2010
Thanks to all those swimmers and parents who represented the Otter Team in meets this past weekend. Despite some great swims, we lost to a very strong Hershey team by a score of 652-470. Results are available on the Otter website, www.swimotters.org. As always, our parents’ organization is second to none when it comes to volunteerism. It is a pleasure to work along side of you all!
Congratulations also to all of our little Otters who competed in the Frosty Frolic on Sunday. You are the future of our team, and you represented us very well. We’re proud of you! Results are available on the league website, www.swimcpal.org.
This Saturday, we travel to Northern High School to compete against the West Shore Y. Last year, this meet was extremely close, and we won because of a spirited, full team effort. We’re hoping for the same effort this year.
--Swimmers, if your intentions to participate or not participate in this meet have changed, please let Jim know IMMEDIATELY by emailing him at jgardner@acschools.org. Also, please check to make sure your intentions are accurately represented on the meet line up, which Jim hopes to post by Wednesday or Thursday evening at the latest. For meet day emergencies that create a change in plans, call Jim at 270-7012 or David at 644-1220.
--Parents, we need timers, officials, and line up ladies to fill our volunteer slots at the meet.
1) To officiate or finish judge, email Kathy Wingert at dkwingert@comcast.net. (Volunteers thus far are Gil Weik, Paul Marakowski, Lisa Gehenio, and Sandy Neidlinger. We are still looking for two finish judges.)
2) To time, email Kris Fox at kfox@lebanon.k12.pa.us.
--Everyone, this is an afternoon meet. You should plan to arrive no later than 12:15 for warm ups. The address of the Northern High School pool for Mapquest and GPS purposes is: 653 S. Baltimore St. Dillsburg, Pa. 17019. Our host says: “There is plenty of on-deck seating for spectators (about 15 feet from the pool edge). Swimmers will be on the pool deck. Northern High school is a 6 lane pool with fully automatic timing system. PLEASE NOTE: We do NOT run a concession stand at Northern High School. We will have bottled water on the deck for athletes and volunteers.” So parents, pack snacks from home for your swimmers and plan on saving money that day!
Dryland Training Update: Our dryland program was originally implemented to assist our high school and rising high school age swimmers in meeting the challenges required of older swimmers. We have experimented during the first part of this season with allowing younger swimmers to participate on a trial basis. Unfortunately, the short attention spans of these younger swimmers have become a distraction for our trainer and the older kids for whom the program is targeted. Therefore, as of Tuesday, January 5, we are asking that only those swimmers who are 13 and older attend dryland training. Our coaches love all of your kids and hate to say “no,” so please do not put them in an awkward situation by asking for an exception to this policy.
Parents of High School Seniors: It’s time to gather information for our senior recognition festivities at our final home meet. If you are the parent of a senior, please send Kathy Wingert, dkwingert@comcast.net, the following information by Friday, January 15: Name of swimmer, name of parents, high school, number of years as an Otter, other activities besides swimming, future plans, and funniest or best swimming memory. We are also contemplating a picture display board at the meet. To make this display happen, we need pictures from you! Place pictures of your swimmer (which will be copied and returned unharmed) in the Wingert folder by Friday, January 15. We are looking for both current and OLD pictures of your Otter to personalize the display.