hello from the swamp!

Hello Gators!

I accidentally posted an entry earlier this evening to this blog instead of my new one, and as I went into a frenzy trying to delete it, I realized I could still totally control this blog and wanted to use that power to say hello!

I've been keeping up with Coach Rich and occasionally jeering Coach Jelby (albiet, via text message only) and spent some time reading through your Ken Caryl results...very impressive!

If you have a free moment, you can check out the article that the local paper, The Times-Picayune wrote about my team: http://www.nola.com/picayunes/t-p/stbernardpicayune/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1277357760284040.xml&coll=1. You can also follow me and my team at bvbarracudas.blogspot.com. While you're there, you can take a moment to notice that I was too lazy to think of an original blog format, although I did change the colors...and also that I don't post often because I am busy doing the jobs of Richard, Sandy, Dave Carol and Jelby (that last one was a joke...we all know she doesn't do anything.)

Shoot me an e-mail at lukemorin@gmail.com and let me know how you're doing! I'd love to hear from you!

ex-Coach Luke

Say Jellby

I hope you all enjoyed your day out of the pool. Although I know a few of you went to the pool today any ways. I first want to congratulate everyone who swam this weekend at any of the meets. I know you all swam a lot and were tired but you still put together great races. If you see Dylan or Ben make sure to congratulate them on their wins at Ken-Caryl. Ben won both the 25 fly and the 100 IM, Dylan won all three of his events the 50 Free, 200 Free and 100 IM he also won high point for his age group.

Compared to last week this week will be low key. That said there are a few things I need to up date you on. We will be having practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday as usual. Thursday we will not have practice instead we will be having a team picture at 8am with individual pictures at 7:30. Because the 4th is coming up this weekend there is no meet scheduled and we will NOT be having practice on Monday the 5th. Below is a posted schedule for Thursday’s team picture.

Thursday July 1st
Individual Pictures start at 7:30am
Team Picture 8:00am Sharp (Do not forget to wear your team suit if you have one)
Order Envelopes will be handed out during practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Coach Rich

We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do

First of all great job last night, you all swam really well. I was pleased to see that everyone was not only swimming well but you were all cheering for each other as well. We are all going to need that kind of support if we are going to make it though this weekend.

For all of you who are going to Ken-Caryl this weekend please check the updated schedule to the right of this post. Note that upper division swims tomorrow (Friday), 9-10 boys and 11-12 boys and girls swim Saturday morning, and 9-10 girls and 8 and under boys and girls swim Saturday afternoon. Please check what time your swimmers warm-up is and do your best to make it. Us coaches really stress out if we are missing our fourth really swimmer 5 minutes before the meet starts. One more note involving Ken-Caryl the meet is in a slightly different order of events and has different event numbers so make sure you make it to your race.

Upper division swimmers who are attending Ken-Caryl optional practice tomorrow at 7:00am for starts and turns. Everyone else's practices is as usual.

I know you are all really excited to see your times from last nights intra-squad I will get those posted later today, but first I have to go and swim. Coach Shelby started talking smack about the coach’s relay and how much the coaches were going to win by to all the swimmers today. And knowing how fast all you gators are I figured I better start hitting the pool or at least the hot tub at 24 hour fitness.

See you all soon

Coach Rich

P.S. No practice on Monday. Get some rest.

One Stroke at a Time

I am sticking with the daily posts for this week because I know there is a lot of info for everyone to take in. I have updated the start times and warm-up times for both the pentathlon and the C/D meet under the next meet tab just to the right of this post. Please keep in mind that the pentathlon is at Applewood Athletic Club while the C/D meet is at Applewood Knolls.

The sign ups for the intra-squad meet is now over. If you did not get signed up have no fear you will still be able to attend the meet, swimmers will just have to fill out cards at the meet.

I have not yet received our warm up times from Ken-Caryl yet check back soon for that info.

Ok that’s all for now. Strap you self in this weeks about to get bumpy.

Coach Rich

The Little Things

Hello,

I just have a few little things for all you Gator followers. Peggy sent me a few photos that she had taken at the first few meets this year. I was able to put them on the blog as a slide show. You are also able to click on them and view them in a larger scale at your own pace. If you have any photos you would like to share email them to me and I will get them up.

Upper division there will be no polo this week. I have a conflict on Thursday and this week is just to busy and you all need your rest. Sorry we will pick it up next week.

We started sign up for intra-squad and C/D meet today. If you don’t sign up for the intra-squad by tomorrow you will have to fill out cards at the meet.

I think that is all for now.

Coach Rich

Bite Sized Week...For a Gator!!!

Hi all,

I wanted to touch basses with all of you before the week starts. I would really like to congratulate the team the great job at the meet yesterday. Not only did the swimmers swim very well and we were close to beating 5 Parks but all of the parents did a great job running the meet. I could not believe how fast we were out of there and how smooth the meet ran.

Now lets get down to serious business this week is going to be very busy with lots of info flying around so please do you best to stay on top of everything. Yes upper division this includes you too. On Wednesday we will be having our second intra-squad meet of the year. We will start warm up at 5:30pm and the meet will start at 6:00pm. We will be signing up swimmers for this meet at the pool on Monday and Tuesday.

Then on Friday the upper division swimmers that have qualified for Ken-Caryl Invite will be swimming at Ken-Caryl. The 400 will start in the afternoon and the rest of the meet will start in the early evening and run till late. Keep in mind last year we didn’t leave till 11:00pm. The following Morning the lower division swimmers who qualified for Ken-Caryl will be swimming. There are two different sessions on Saturday I am not sure which session different age groups are going to yet but I will let you know ASSAP. If you are not sure if or what you will be swimming at Ken-Caryl there is a link under Important Links tab that has all of our entries.

The following day (Sunday June 27th, for those of you who are fully confused by now) will be the brunt of the storm. There will be two different meets at the same time of course you can only do one. The Pentathlon will be at Applewood Athletic Cub once again you have to qualify for this meet by having a B time or better in 4 of the 5 following events Free, Fly, Back, Breast, and IM by the end of the meet Wednesday. If you do qualify for the Pentathlon I strongly suggest you do it, it is a lot of fun.

Finally the last event of the week will be the C/D meet hosted by Applewood Knolls. At this meet swimmers are aloud to swim in any events that they DO NOT have a B or faster time in. We will be sighing up for this meet during practices this week.

Ok I think that is it for now thanks for sticking it out I know it was long. This post was almost certainly longer than any history paper Coach Shelby has had to write. This is going to be long week so get some rest today.

P.S. Practice will be canceled next Monday the 28th so that all of us Gators will be able to get some much needed rest.

Coach Rich

Weekend Update

Hi,

I just have a few things for you. First of all we are hosting 5 Parks tomorrow and it should be a fun meet but, we need your help. I was looking at the volunteer book today and we still had a lot of empty spaces that need to be filled in. If you have not signed up to help yet please ask one of the board members tomorrow at the meet how you could help.

Also tomorrow after the meet the coaches will be doing Ken-Caryl entries. I will have a sign up with us at the meet tomorrow to make sure you get in the event you want for that meet. If you will be unable to attend the Ken-Caryl Invitational please let us know by tomorrow. Keep in mind the team does pay per-entry so if you don’t show we spend money for nothing. If you are not going to the meet tomorrow or you forget to see me please call me or send me an email with what you want to swim or if you can’t attend. Remember Ken-Caryl Invitational does have qualification times that our close to our league B times.

Oh also retainers were found at the pool after upper division practice a few days ago. I have them so see me if you lost any. I will be asking for a description to make sure they are yours.

See you bright and early

Coach Rich

Important Updates

So as you can tell from the title of this post I have some important information for all of you. The schedule in both the gator guide and on the blog was missing a few meets. Please note these two changes.

Intra-squad Meet next Wednesday at 5:30pm.

C/D Meet on June 27th at Applewood Knolls

If you have any questions about these meets just ask.

Also I have heard 5 Parks is bringing 120 swimmers so please be prepared for a long meet, bring lots of food and water.

See you soon

Coach Rich

The Gators Ice The Sharks

Happy Monday,

First of all I would like to congratulate all of you for not only swimming well and beating Lakewood but also for toughing out the elements. While us coaches were sitting inside in our warm and cozy chairs you all had to sit outside in the freezing rain and then jump in to a pool and try and swim fast. So thank you to all of you who stuck it out we wouldn’t have been able to win without you. If you are interested in your times I have posted the meet results on the blog. I am still working on getting best times on the blog check back soon.

If you plan on swimming this weekend please come to practices and sign up for the meet by Wednesday. I am pleased to say that the pool seems to be back to normal. So no excuses now I want to see you at practice as much as possible.

A note to upper division swimmers water polo will be on Tuesday at 8:00pm from now on because the guards have weekly meetings on Wednesdays.

See you in the pool
Rich

Hello Gators

I am happy to report the gators were able to return to swimming in the swamp today. I was informed by some of the older gators that although the water is still a little swampy they were able to see both the walls and the bottom of the pool. I have been told that the water should continue to improve for the next few days.

Now down to the important business, Saturday we will be swimming against the dreaded Lakewood Sharks. While Lakewood might have the advantage of having the Foot Hills Swimming Association founder Betty as there head coach, the gators have something that no amount of experience can make up for. The Gators have Coach Josh. All though Coach Josh hasn’t been coaching since the start of FSA he is wise beyond his years. If you don’t believe me just observe him on Saturday. Watch for is electrifying pre-meet cheer. Listen for his deafening two handed whistle which some coaches spend a life time trying to master. And laugh along at his hilarious impressions of Coach Shelby. In order to fully appreciate all that Coach Josh does please show up to warm up on time ready to swim. Swimmers 12 and under will start warm up at 6:30-6:45 and swimmers 13 and up will be from 6:45-7:00. We will have a can’t miss team meeting at our tent at 7:00 sharp be there on time to help the team cheer.

Just a reminder the meet is at Green Mountain Rec-Center. It is an indoor pool so please come to the meet even if the weather is bad. But do bring warm clothes and blankest, the swim tent will be outside.

Coach Rich

Return of the Swamp Thing

Lately I have gotten the feeling that most of you have felt something missing from our team. I have spent the past few days thinking of what it could be. Could it be jelly all over Coach Shelby’s white polo? Or maybe a 6 foot 6 back stroker who runs into the wall while flip turning? Then it hit me, everyone is missing our old friend Coach Luke. Have no fear I have devised a plan to ensure his return home to our little green mountain. Because Coach Luke left us for gator filled swamps of New Orleans I have decided to turn GMSC into our own swamp in attempts to bring him home. All we need to do now is fill it with little gators. So please continue to come to practices and maybe just maybe the wise one will return along with a fan boat.

Just kidding around as many of you have noticed the pool is a bit murky right now. Don’t worry the GMSC staff is doing all they can to fix the problem. The good news is that the pool is safe to swim in it just makes swimming a bit more difficult. The pool should be back to normal soon so please bear with us.

On another note I will be trying to post best times and meet results on the blog so please check back for those soon.

Also upper division will be having polo tonight so if you are 13 or older feel free to swing by and play at 8:00pm. Look forward to seeing all you gators soon.

Coach Rich

Great Start

Gators,

As you all know last Saturday we had our first meet at the swamp this summer. I was amazed at how well all of you gators swam with only a week of practice. I hope all of you were as excited about the meet as I was. I know Coach Shelby was, she was so excited she spent the night at the pool just to be sure she wouldn’t miss warm-up. Most of you followed her example and were ready to get in at the start of warm-up but if you were a bit late, lets try extra hard to get to the Lakewood meet on time this Saturday.

I saw some really fast swims which got me excited for the rest of the summer. But in order for all of you to continue to improve and to reach your goals you need practice. I saw a lot of small mistakes like flip turns on back to breast turns in the IM, bad or no flip turns, false starts… The only way to improve and limit these mistakes is by spending your mornings with your three favorite coaches.

Lastly I know things seemed a bit crazy on Saturday, all of us were a bit out of sink. Things should start to settle down a bit now that we have more time to sign up for meets and we are getting to know all of you better. Sign up will begin Tuesday for the meet this Saturday against Lakewood at Green Mountain Rec. Center and will end Thursday. If you plan to enter the meet please sign up at practice no later than Thursday.

Later Gators

Coach Rich

First Meet

WOW! What a start!

I just got home from our first intra-squad meet and I can’t believe how fast all of the gators swam. I don’t recall ever seeing so many state/league qualification times in the very first meet. I don’t have any official times yet but it looks like Ben Hofstra broke a 12 year old team record in the 8 and under 25 fly. So if you see him tell him congrats. Remember warm-up is at 6:00 am on Saturday where we can show off in front of AKST.

Coach Rich

First Day

Congrats to everyone on a successful first morning practice. I was really impressed with the attendance early this morning although I noticed a few faces were missing. I won’t call out names till next week.

If you came today you should have signed up for today’s intra-squad and Saturday’s meet. If you missed today don’t worry. You can show up to either meet and deck enter. All you need to do is show up to the meet and talk to a coach. (Please try and show up early. That way we can take care of you before warm up.)

I look forward to seeing all of you tonight. Please try and get there by 5:20 warm up starts at 5:30 and we will be having an important parent meeting at 6:00 so please be there.

Coach Rich

Rise and Shine

Hello Gators,

So we are a week into the season and things are starting to get moving. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will not be able to have afternoon practice because the club will be opening for open swim at 1:00. So today was our last after school practice on Thursday we will begin morning practices. I know most of you can’t wait to spend all or those beautiful sunrises in the water. Below is a list of practice times starting Thursday.

6:30-8:00am 13 year olds and up
8:00-9:00am 9-12 year olds
9:00-9:45am 8 and under


Also on Thursday we will be holding our first intra-squad meet. Swimmers can swim up to three events and can either pick up cards at practice on Thursday or before the intra-squad meet. There will also be a parent meeting before the meet starts so please try and be they by 6:00pm.

We will be sighing up swimmers for Saturdays meet at practice on Thursday and Friday.

Enjoy sleeping in while you can.

Coach Rich