Parents, 

As I look back at last week, I want to say thank you. I was very impressed that the rain did not slow us down on Thursday. Thank you to the volunteers, many doing jobs they have never done before. We have another home meet on Thursday, please make sure to sign up your child and to volunteer (actually, please sign up for all meets today if you can). If you had a lighter job last week, please consider volunteering again. We also are going to add a position to help us who have little kids while we are volunteering (sorta like a team mom). More on that later in the week. 

I also want to say how happy and excited I was to hear our kids cheering so loudly for our team. Building a team culture that allows and encourages the kids to find joy and happiness in supporting each other is one the most exciting things about coaching. Our Swimmers of the Week are born from this idea. The coaches identified these swimmers as being supportive and selfless for the team. 

Congratulations Jude Culbertson! Jude (6) continues to improve in the water, but he courageously stepped up to swim the backstroke leg of 7-8 Medley relay. His swim was a last second substitution, but it allowed our relay to compete -- and they won the relay! He placed himself into a growth position which can be very scary.

Congratulations Kiley Manning, Kinlee Carey, and Lilah Clabaugh! These girls exhibited overwhelming enthusiasm and support for their teammates. They led the chants for their teammates and were some of the loudest and most vocal of our team. Additionally, at the end of the meet, we needed another substitution for a relay and Kiley and Kinlee both wanted to swim (which would have been back-back relays). They ended up having to do Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine the swimmer. 

There were many other exciting moments during the meet and some wonderful swims. Between Elsa Breithaupt swimming without stopping, Aria Joffe making the whole length, the Tullio girls swimming in their first meet and excelling, to our older kids that weren't feeling great to stayed in to help the team. I was so excited and proud to see everyone swim. 

Lastly, We have had FULL evening practices during the week. If you can make the morning practices, please get your child there. We have more space and time so the teaching can be better. We would prefer those evening practices be a last resort. Thanks. 

Also, if you want additional coaching, please talk to our assistant coaches about lessons or sign up for their clinic program. 

I have had a blast working with the kids and I hope you see that I am in my happy place when I am coaching kids on the pool deck. Thank you for being a part of our team, and thank you for helping make our team stronger. 

Sincerely, 

Mark