A big congratulations goes out to former GCIT Team member Bill Cregar. At the Southeastern Conference Championships this past weekend Bill clocked a 3:47 in the 400 IM. This time gives him a provisional bid to the Men's NCAA Championship Meet in Federal Way, Washington next month. Bill will find out the week of March 10th if he gets invited to the meet. Regardless, this is a great accomplishment for anyone, let alone a freshman. WAY TO GO BILL!!!
Also congratulations to Kacey McCaffrey. Kacey, representing NYU at the UAA Conference Championships, achieved NCAA Division III provisional cut times in the 500 free, 1000 free, and 1650 free. WAY TO GO KACEY!!! A special note on Kacey's swims: she spent three weeks away from training this winter to work with Habitat for Humanities in Peru. Great people who swim well, that's what its all about!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Big Weekend Ahead
We've got a big weekend on tap. The New Jersey State High School Meet of Champions will be held at GCIT this weekend. The preliminaries are Saturday and the Finals are Sunday. Many GCIT Swimmers will be in action representing their high schools. Last year GCIT Swimmers walked away with six individual state titles along with the South Jersey Female (Joanna Thomas) and Male Swimmer (Bill Cregar) of the year awards. Bill was also named the Male Swimmer of the Year for the entire state of New Jersey.
This year we have a number of swimmers who made the qualifying times for the meet, a great accomplishment in its own. A big "Good Luck" goes out to everyone competing in the meet this weekend. If you are interested, psych sheets for the meet can be found here. Note, some of the entry times are very, very wrong. If you say to yourself "Wow, some National Records are going down this weekend!" rest assured that those times are incorrect.
Not to be outdone, our team has a big meet this weekend: the Double Last Chance Meet hosted by DST. This is an interesting concept as the "Double Last Chance" comes from the fact that the meet has a preliminary and finals session. For most of the swimmers attending it will be their first chance to swim Trials and Finals at a USS Meet. The coaches are all excited about the meet because they feel a number of swimmers are ready to pop off some nice swims and time drops. Good luck to everyone competing in the Last Chance Meet this weekend.
Me...I'll be in Michigan this weekend as for the third year I will be attending the Men's Big Ten Championship. Last year was exciting as Minnesota edged out Michigan on the last relay of the meet to take the title by 5 points. But I have it on good authority that the Wolverines are poised to take the title this year. It was at this meet last year that I witnessed probably the most amazing swim I have ever seen in person (and I have seen a number of world records fall in person) when Matt Greevers of Northwestern clocked a 1:39 in the 200 backstroke. A 1:39 200 freestyle would have made most 800 Free Relay teams but to see someone do it in backstroke was just amazing. I haven't fully decided on it but I may do some live blogging from the meet.
Friday, February 22, 2008
NO PRACTICE
Practice has been canceled for this evening due to the weather. There will be practice tomorrow for Gold, Senior 1, Senior 2, and National. Practice will be from 5:15 am to 7:15 am.
Snow!
Tjitske has a huge project due on Tuesday, her last major hurdle before receiving her doctorate. She also has an internship this year at a school in Morrisville, PA but really needed some more time to finish this project. She got her wish today thanks to, as she says, "Father Winter". I told her this is probably the last time she will ever welcome snow during the week. Its amazing how quickly your mood about snow changes when you move from the world of being a full-time student to the world of working full-time. Those of us in the latter group pretty much fall into two categories: the group that has to trudge to work in these conditions and the group that really needs to get work done but can't get to the office today. Neither group is very fun to be in on a day like today!
GCIT is closed today. I along with the three swimmers who showed up for morning practice didn't find this out until we arrived at the school at 5 am. Kind of unlucky for us that the snow only started to get bad by that point. A decision has not been made on practices for afternoon. You can expect a decision on that by 2:30 pm.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Regaining Our Home
Today at practice I realized something very important: we were the only ones there! It is really tough working and training there between November 15th and the middle of February with the number of high school swimming and diving teams there every day. But from the middle of February through next November 15th the high school teams are not there and there is more space (and less noise) for us to deal with.
It is important to remember that the GCIT Aquatics Center is was built so the area high school teams would have a place to train. Without them and their needs we wouldn't have this great facility. Yeah, it gets loud and crowded and we have to have practices canceled or really tough times (see you at 5:15 Saturday morning) because of swim meets. Yet it is completely worth it for the lane space we have outside of these times.
So take the time enjoy the space, the lower noise levels, the longer daylight hours (10 hours and 59 minutes of sunlight tomorrow, increasing by two and a half minutes each day)...I believe we have earned it.
It is important to remember that the GCIT Aquatics Center is was built so the area high school teams would have a place to train. Without them and their needs we wouldn't have this great facility. Yeah, it gets loud and crowded and we have to have practices canceled or really tough times (see you at 5:15 Saturday morning) because of swim meets. Yet it is completely worth it for the lane space we have outside of these times.
So take the time enjoy the space, the lower noise levels, the longer daylight hours (10 hours and 59 minutes of sunlight tomorrow, increasing by two and a half minutes each day)...I believe we have earned it.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
1 + 1 = 2
Above is one of the most basic addition problem there is. This is something that is taught to us at an early age and is the basis of most of our knowledge of arithmetic. As we progress we move on to subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, algebra, trigonometry, calculus...and on and on (well, at least for some). All of this learning started with 1+1=2 and developed into (again, for some) a complex form of mathematics. For all of us, 1+1=2 became a known entity, something that is consistent and something we do not have to be reminded of at the beginning of every math class throughout our schooling.
One of the first things a beginning swimmer will learn is streamlining (like a kayak, not a canoe...right Bronze?). A good streamline is essential to maintaining speed off of the start and turns and leads to great body position during that lap (and great form in all four strokes). Just like the math problem 1+1=2 coaches should not have to tell the swimmers to streamline off of the walls at the beginning of every practice (or every set or every repeat of a set). If progress is to be made a swimmer needs to be consistent in their learning as well as their swimming during practice. Some of the people you see at the top of the results event after event and meet after meet are not the most talented swimmers around, but they are certainly the most consistent and persistent swimmers around. Talent will only take you so far, but you have to do the rest through excellent practice attendance, consistent learning and hard work during practice and a willingness to improve yourself on a daily basis.
One of the first things a beginning swimmer will learn is streamlining (like a kayak, not a canoe...right Bronze?). A good streamline is essential to maintaining speed off of the start and turns and leads to great body position during that lap (and great form in all four strokes). Just like the math problem 1+1=2 coaches should not have to tell the swimmers to streamline off of the walls at the beginning of every practice (or every set or every repeat of a set). If progress is to be made a swimmer needs to be consistent in their learning as well as their swimming during practice. Some of the people you see at the top of the results event after event and meet after meet are not the most talented swimmers around, but they are certainly the most consistent and persistent swimmers around. Talent will only take you so far, but you have to do the rest through excellent practice attendance, consistent learning and hard work during practice and a willingness to improve yourself on a daily basis.
Forget About the Groundhog
Some people look forward to February 2nd when groundhogs around the country (like Punxsutawney Phil) are pulled from a hole at sunrise to determine the proximity of springtime. Me, I prefer to look further ahead about two weeks when teams begin to gather in Florida and Arizona for baseball's Spring Training. That, my friends, is the truest indication that spring (and summer, for that matter) is right around the corner.
The approaching spring also means the coming of another championship season. Five months into the season with just over a month to go a swimmer can do more to harm their preparation for the championship meets then to help it at this point. Practice attendance is vital right now but that alone will not get you to your goals. You have to be doing everything in and out of the pool to prepare yourself for March. Now is a perfect time to assess your eating and sleeping habits and make necessary adjustments so that you are ready for peak performance in March.
COUNTDOWN
NJ High School State Meet of Champions and DST Last Chance Meet: 14 Days
Eastern Zone Sectional Championships: 25 Days
MA Junior Olympics: 26 Days
MA Senior Champs: 32 Days
MA Mini Champs: 42 Days
Eastern Zone All-Star Meet: 46 Days
MA Regional Champs: 48 Days
These are the meets the coaches have been planning for since August. These are the meets the team has been working toward since the first day of practice. They all seemed very far away when the preparation began but they now appear on the horizon.
(Oh...95-67 and repeat as NL East Champions with a trip to the NLCS in October.)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
College Conference Championships
Its hard to believe but the College Conference Championship season has arrived. Many GCIT Swimming Alumni will be in action over the course of the next few weeks representing their schools against the other teams in their respective college conferences. Collegeswimming.com does a great job organizing results from these meets here: http://www.collegeswimming.com
Here are the former GCIT Swimming team members that will be in action during the months of February and March:
This Weekend (Feb 14-17)
Lauren Stull, Mike Tubb, and Brian Brady (Rider/MAAC)
Matt Fralinger (Loyola/MAAC)
Weekend of Feb 20-24
Kacey McCaffrey (NYU/UAA)
Kerry Choplin (Kutztown/PSAC)
Michelle Wesh (Bloomsburg/PSAC)
Jamie Marks (Arkansas/SEC)
Mandee Cregar (South Carolina/SEC)
Bill Cregar (Georgia/SEC)
Sammi Edwards (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Meghan McCourt (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Stephanie McAllister (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Ryan Gorsky (Montclair State/Metropolitan)
Cassie Tubb (College of Charleston/CCSA)
Kellene McCall and Owen Black (LaSalle/Atlantic Ten)
Kelly O'Hara (Pittsburgh/Big East)
Greg McFadden (Bentley/New England DII-DII Champs)
Weekend of Feb 27 - March 1
Sabrina Warren and Ryan Majek (Towson/CAA)
Christian Sprang (Michigan/Big Ten)
Megan Carlin (Penn/Ivy League)
ECAC Championships for various teams and swimmers
Weekend of March 6-9
Evan Schindewolf (Harvard/EISL)
The results of the various conference championship meets are a great way to see what conferences and teams would be a good fit for you. Take the time to look at the results from as many meets as possible and compare those times to the times you are doing now. You will be able to see how you would fit in right now as well as how much faster you would have to get to swim at different schools. Just keep in mind that the times for each conference will get faster every year.
Here are the former GCIT Swimming team members that will be in action during the months of February and March:
This Weekend (Feb 14-17)
Lauren Stull, Mike Tubb, and Brian Brady (Rider/MAAC)
Matt Fralinger (Loyola/MAAC)
Weekend of Feb 20-24
Kacey McCaffrey (NYU/UAA)
Kerry Choplin (Kutztown/PSAC)
Michelle Wesh (Bloomsburg/PSAC)
Jamie Marks (Arkansas/SEC)
Mandee Cregar (South Carolina/SEC)
Bill Cregar (Georgia/SEC)
Sammi Edwards (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Meghan McCourt (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Stephanie McAllister (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Ryan Gorsky (Montclair State/Metropolitan)
Cassie Tubb (College of Charleston/CCSA)
Kellene McCall and Owen Black (LaSalle/Atlantic Ten)
Kelly O'Hara (Pittsburgh/Big East)
Greg McFadden (Bentley/New England DII-DII Champs)
Weekend of Feb 27 - March 1
Sabrina Warren and Ryan Majek (Towson/CAA)
Christian Sprang (Michigan/Big Ten)
Megan Carlin (Penn/Ivy League)
ECAC Championships for various teams and swimmers
Weekend of March 6-9
Evan Schindewolf (Harvard/EISL)
The results of the various conference championship meets are a great way to see what conferences and teams would be a good fit for you. Take the time to look at the results from as many meets as possible and compare those times to the times you are doing now. You will be able to see how you would fit in right now as well as how much faster you would have to get to swim at different schools. Just keep in mind that the times for each conference will get faster every year.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Its Not About the Suit
OK...look past the fact that I haven't posted anything since September. I'll spare you the "sorry I've neglected the blog" stuff. It is nice to see the number of people that keep checking back. I'll try to post more as we move forward.
So what is the reason for this post, the first in almost five months? Well, as the championship meets approach the various swim apparel companies send out their championship suit catalogs. If you tuned in to the Today Show this morning you would have seen the official release of the new Speedo LZR Racer which will be available this summer. Technical words that are not readily thrown around the pool deck (like "compression" and "repellency") are used to describe these suits which, seemingly, are there to take you to the next level. Unfortunately some see these catalogs or see (insert USA Swimming National Team Member's name here) swim fast wearing a certain suit and think "That's what I need to swim fast." However, in the end, its not about the suit. Its about the person that is wearing the suit.
We do have to talk about the fact that these suits are very expensive. Yet most of them are not meant to be worn constantly and really only last for a couple of meets. This is the compression factor working against you : every time you put that suit on it stretches out a little bit. The more you wear it the more it stretches out. Once the compression aspect of the suit has been compromised the suit has no "added edge" in a race. It is about assessing the value of the suit and using it at the right times. Since the suit is only meant to be used, at most, six times you have to save it for the six most important meets in the future.
Do you attend every dryland session offered? When you are at practice, are you working hard when you are asked to work hard and focusing on technique when told to do so? What is your practice attendance percentage? 70%? 80%? 90%? We have said before that the percentage of practices you attend is akin to the level your body will be able to perform at a meet. If you attend 85% percent of the workouts, you can expect to be at 85% of your best at the meet. There is absolutely no LEGAL substitute for these factors.
This sport, perhaps more than any other, is driven by science and technology. This is a great thing as it is the perfect combination of physical and mental abilities. There has been an amazing impact on this sport through the evolution and technology behind the swimsuit, especially since the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. But a swimsuit on its own can not move anywhere; there has to be a body in that suit to make it go...not the other way around.
So what is the reason for this post, the first in almost five months? Well, as the championship meets approach the various swim apparel companies send out their championship suit catalogs. If you tuned in to the Today Show this morning you would have seen the official release of the new Speedo LZR Racer which will be available this summer. Technical words that are not readily thrown around the pool deck (like "compression" and "repellency") are used to describe these suits which, seemingly, are there to take you to the next level. Unfortunately some see these catalogs or see (insert USA Swimming National Team Member's name here) swim fast wearing a certain suit and think "That's what I need to swim fast." However, in the end, its not about the suit. Its about the person that is wearing the suit.
We do have to talk about the fact that these suits are very expensive. Yet most of them are not meant to be worn constantly and really only last for a couple of meets. This is the compression factor working against you : every time you put that suit on it stretches out a little bit. The more you wear it the more it stretches out. Once the compression aspect of the suit has been compromised the suit has no "added edge" in a race. It is about assessing the value of the suit and using it at the right times. Since the suit is only meant to be used, at most, six times you have to save it for the six most important meets in the future.
Do you attend every dryland session offered? When you are at practice, are you working hard when you are asked to work hard and focusing on technique when told to do so? What is your practice attendance percentage? 70%? 80%? 90%? We have said before that the percentage of practices you attend is akin to the level your body will be able to perform at a meet. If you attend 85% percent of the workouts, you can expect to be at 85% of your best at the meet. There is absolutely no LEGAL substitute for these factors.
This sport, perhaps more than any other, is driven by science and technology. This is a great thing as it is the perfect combination of physical and mental abilities. There has been an amazing impact on this sport through the evolution and technology behind the swimsuit, especially since the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. But a swimsuit on its own can not move anywhere; there has to be a body in that suit to make it go...not the other way around.
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