Wow! What a close meet. We finished ONE POINT behind Hollymead - 548 to 549! Think of this - out of almost 1100 points, the scores differed by one point. Amazing swimming by both teams. Thanks to Andrea and the coaches, the swimmers, and all the hard work of the parent volunteers. Meet result (PDF) and all JSL results.
A few notes: We've had some issues with the timing. We know it's hard -- the events move fast, it can be hard to hear, and there is often a fair amount of chaos around the timers. We ask for our last meet of the year that parents and swimmers be aware of how they may be crowding the workers and that those doing the timing do their best to ignore distractions. (That includes our own kids and spouses trying to talk to us while we're timing.) It's important to keep your eye on the strobe light (faster than the horn) for the start of the race, and watch the swimmer's hand (not body) as they touch the wall at the finish. Finally, and we know it's TOUGH with everything else, make your best efforts to write clear, legible numbers on the cards. We know we ask a lot of our volunteers, but in close meets, handwriting (is that a 6 or 0? 7 or 1?) and careless timing can literally change the outcome of the meet.
Also, please tell your swimmers NOT to be in the clerk area when they are not getting ready to swim! Our poor clerks are working hard, and extra kids make the job a lot more stressful.
CHAMPS is coming! We've proven that we are competitive in Divison II but we will be dropped back to Division III if we can't hold on to our place in the Champs meet. Seriously - it's not how we finish during the season, but how we place at Champs that determines our division rank. We need all our swimmers to be there! The schedule is as follows:
Friday MORNING 7/27 : All 9 – 10s (8a.m. - 1p.m.)
Friday AFTERNOON 7/27: All 6 – 8 year olds (1 - 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday MORNING 7/28: All 11 – 12 year olds (8 a.m. - 12:30p.m. )
Saturday AFTERNOON 7/28: All 13 & Ups (12:30 - 6:30p.m.)
We need you to please confirm that your swimmer will be at Champs. Please use this link: WE ARE GOING TO CHAMPS Anyone not confirmed will NOT be entered into the meet. Lots more information will be coming about Champs so you know exactly what to expect.
Also, the parents committee is considering renting a school bus for one or both days to provide transportation. Any child 12 or younger would need to be with an adult. Older kids will not have supervision. In order for us to gauge interest, please use this link. We want to ride the bus! We'll decide whether or not to move forward with the bus based on your responses.
Please take time to look at the information about volunteering at the Champs meet on July 27th and 28th at Fork Union Military Acadamy. We need all positions filled by next week to give the names to the JSL. More information can be found at the jsl.org website. Thanks to those who have already offered to volunteer (you will see you are already signed up on the form). This is a new venue this year, but as in past years, only those volunteering with name badges will be allowed on the pool deck. What an incentive to volunteer!
Thanks everyone! GO SWORDFISH!!
