Senior News 9/29
It is great to be underway and back in the pool. Easing back into the routine is something I feel is important in that using three hours of your day is an adjustment. A few swimmers admitted to being tired and found themselves having to be more diligent with time management. This week, going to the full six days will take some getting use to and next week, when we add mornings, even more so.
We are incorporating stroke technique into the practices – mainly on Tuesdays – when the overall noise level in the pool is such the coaches can be heard and with minimal distraction. Additionally, we will be building our base aerobically and will transition to more quality swimming in the next few weeks.
Additional emphasis is on kicking. It is imperative each swimmer enhance his or her kicking proficiency. Please see the item below regarding training equipment. Swimmers must be responsible in bringing their training equipment with them daily.
Coaching Staff
On deck this season assisting with the senior team will be:
Training Equipment
Each senior team member must have training fins, the preferred being the Speedo Optimus; Speedo Power Paddle and a pull buoy is optional (not a bad idea to have one’s own.) All of these items may be purchased at Metro Swim Shop located on the Post Road in Norwalk before Stew Leonard’s. Additionally, a pair of old sneakers is part of the training equipment. Integrating this into our kick training last long course season showed some real improvement for a number of swimmers.
Team Appare
REQUIRED: Team suit – Navy with WRAT imprint - available only at Metro Swim Shop. Team sweats and t-shirt may be ordered in person or online at Athletic Shoe Factory. (Contact Colleen Deliberti at 203-254-9246) Additional imprinted team apparel is also available.
High School Swimming
Currently we are in the midst of the girl’s high school swim season. At this point, only a handful of HS girls have attended practice. It is imperative every effort be made to get to as many WRAT practices as possible. Some programs are more flexible than others and when mornings begin, I hope you all will be at practice. I do need a copy of everyone’s swim meet schedule and would like them ASAP. They can be either emailed or handed to me directly.
Communication
I cannot stress the importance of communication. Every effort is made to get out a Senior News at least every two weeks and there are times when it may be weekly or a brief update. Distribution of the Senior News is made via email, direct delivery to the swimmer and on the team website. Also, last minute announcements will be made on the pool deck to the swimmers and they must pass the information on to their parents. I hope everyone will take the time to read the News. I can be reached via email at: home or at .a href="mailto:ejohnston@westporty.org">work; Cellular phone (203) 209-0198 and office phone (203) 226-8981 ext. 110.
Swim Meets
The time is quickly upon us for registering for upcoming swim meets. I have two meets listed below: the Cheshire IMX Meet and a qualifier at New Canaan. Please adhere to the sign up deadline as meets are quickly closing.
I. Cheshire IMX – October 29-30 at Central Connecticut State University
Starting Times: Warm-up: 330pm Meet Starts: 430pm
Sign up Deadline: Sunday, October 2nd (Our finalized entry is due Monday, Oct 3)
Order of Events: Saturday Sunday
200 Backstroke 200 Ind. Medley
200 Breaststroke 200 Butterfly
400 Ind. Medley 500 Freestyle
II. Pam Libertiny Qualifier and Distance Meet – November 19-20 at New Canaan YMCA
Sign up Deadline: October 15th
Saturday, Nov 19th:
Session B: GIRLS 1650 Freestyle** Warm-up = 1pm Meet Start = 130pm
Session C: Warm-up = 230pm Meet Start = 345pm
Order of Events: 50 Freestyle
200 Freestyle
200 Backstroke
100 Breaststroke
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle Relay
Sunday, Nov 20th:
Session B: BOYS 1650 Freestyle** Warm-up = 1pm Meet Start = 130pm
Session C: Warm-up = 230pm Meet Start = 345pm
Order of Events: 100 Freestyle
100 Backstroke
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
200 Ind. Medley
200 Medley Relay
** Denotes entries in the 1650 will be limited.
WRAT Parents Social
The annual Water Rat Parents Social will be held on Friday, October 14th at the home of Mark and Lisa Gray. Please RSVP. I urge all senior team parents to attend. Your insight and experience may be of some value to parents of younger and newer swimmers. As I ask the swimmers to be strong role models to younger swimmers, I ask the same of the parents. It also is night to socialize off the pool deck.
We are incorporating stroke technique into the practices – mainly on Tuesdays – when the overall noise level in the pool is such the coaches can be heard and with minimal distraction. Additionally, we will be building our base aerobically and will transition to more quality swimming in the next few weeks.
Additional emphasis is on kicking. It is imperative each swimmer enhance his or her kicking proficiency. Please see the item below regarding training equipment. Swimmers must be responsible in bringing their training equipment with them daily.
Coaching Staff
On deck this season assisting with the senior team will be:
- Frisk Driscoll: We are fortunate Frisk is still with us but know we are on borrowed time as he continues to seek a Graduate Assistant position. Frisk’s experience as a high achieving club swimmer with the Water Rats and at the college level both at the University of Minnesota and University of Connecticut offers a swimmer’s perspective from the ground up.
Sue Seith: Also, a former Water Rat swimmer, Sue’s great strength is her immense knowledge as an Athletic Trainer. Since receiving her Master’s in Athletic Training from the University of Michigan, Sue has been on staff at West Virginia University, University of Hartford and Sacred Heart University. Currently, Sue is splitting her time as a trainer for a few high schools in the New Haven area as well as coaching with greater emphasis being on the pool deck. Having Sue’s vast knowledge is invaluable.
Pete Mesavage: Pete was a high school standout at Stratford High School and Fairfield Prep as well as a Y National competitor and swimmer at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Pete enjoys being a part of the Water Rat staff and has been on deck first as an 8 & under coach and most recently with the age group and senior team. Pete enjoys being able to help the team where needed. Pete also has his own business offering painting, home repair, contract services, etc.
Tom Behn: Tom offers a wealth of swimming knowledge with nearly 30 years of coaching experience under his belt including the Stratford Y and Shelton Monroe. We are very fortunate to have Tom on our coaching staff. Tom currently oversees the TAG training group but will be on deck with the senior program when able to due to his fulltime job as a high school teacher in the Bridgeport School system.
Training Equipment
Each senior team member must have training fins, the preferred being the Speedo Optimus; Speedo Power Paddle and a pull buoy is optional (not a bad idea to have one’s own.) All of these items may be purchased at Metro Swim Shop located on the Post Road in Norwalk before Stew Leonard’s. Additionally, a pair of old sneakers is part of the training equipment. Integrating this into our kick training last long course season showed some real improvement for a number of swimmers.
Team Appare
REQUIRED: Team suit – Navy with WRAT imprint - available only at Metro Swim Shop. Team sweats and t-shirt may be ordered in person or online at Athletic Shoe Factory. (Contact Colleen Deliberti at 203-254-9246) Additional imprinted team apparel is also available.
High School Swimming
Currently we are in the midst of the girl’s high school swim season. At this point, only a handful of HS girls have attended practice. It is imperative every effort be made to get to as many WRAT practices as possible. Some programs are more flexible than others and when mornings begin, I hope you all will be at practice. I do need a copy of everyone’s swim meet schedule and would like them ASAP. They can be either emailed or handed to me directly.
Communication
I cannot stress the importance of communication. Every effort is made to get out a Senior News at least every two weeks and there are times when it may be weekly or a brief update. Distribution of the Senior News is made via email, direct delivery to the swimmer and on the team website. Also, last minute announcements will be made on the pool deck to the swimmers and they must pass the information on to their parents. I hope everyone will take the time to read the News. I can be reached via email at: home or at .a href="mailto:ejohnston@westporty.org">work; Cellular phone (203) 209-0198 and office phone (203) 226-8981 ext. 110.
Swim Meets
The time is quickly upon us for registering for upcoming swim meets. I have two meets listed below: the Cheshire IMX Meet and a qualifier at New Canaan. Please adhere to the sign up deadline as meets are quickly closing.
I. Cheshire IMX – October 29-30 at Central Connecticut State University
Starting Times: Warm-up: 330pm Meet Starts: 430pm
Sign up Deadline: Sunday, October 2nd (Our finalized entry is due Monday, Oct 3)
Order of Events: Saturday Sunday
200 Backstroke 200 Ind. Medley
200 Breaststroke 200 Butterfly
400 Ind. Medley 500 Freestyle
II. Pam Libertiny Qualifier and Distance Meet – November 19-20 at New Canaan YMCA
Sign up Deadline: October 15th
Saturday, Nov 19th:
Session B: GIRLS 1650 Freestyle** Warm-up = 1pm Meet Start = 130pm
Session C: Warm-up = 230pm Meet Start = 345pm
Order of Events: 50 Freestyle
200 Freestyle
200 Backstroke
100 Breaststroke
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle Relay
Sunday, Nov 20th:
Session B: BOYS 1650 Freestyle** Warm-up = 1pm Meet Start = 130pm
Session C: Warm-up = 230pm Meet Start = 345pm
Order of Events: 100 Freestyle
100 Backstroke
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
200 Ind. Medley
200 Medley Relay
** Denotes entries in the 1650 will be limited.
WRAT Parents Social
The annual Water Rat Parents Social will be held on Friday, October 14th at the home of Mark and Lisa Gray. Please RSVP. I urge all senior team parents to attend. Your insight and experience may be of some value to parents of younger and newer swimmers. As I ask the swimmers to be strong role models to younger swimmers, I ask the same of the parents. It also is night to socialize off the pool deck.
