Newsletter_February

TNT Newsletter

The New Team on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay

February / March 2008

A FOND FAREWELL

TNT will miss Coach Mary Hutson, who after 2 and a half years of dedicated service to TNT has decided to leave coaching and to pursue her life goals beyond swimming. Mary Hutson served as TNT's primary entry level coach since August 2005 and is best known for her patient approach to teaching, as well as being a skilled and effective coach. Mary played a direct roll in the success of our program and her positive influence on the team will continue to be felt for years to come.

Mary will be living and working in West Mobile while finishing her studies in Radiologic Sciences at the University of South Alabama. You can send your regards to Mary by email: Marymay15@aol.com

Thanks for everything, Coach.

TNT 8 & UNDERS THUNDER AT DISTRICT CHAMPS

Congratulations to TNT’s 8 & under boys and girls who both won team championship plaques at the 2008 Southeastern South District Meet, held February 16 – 17, at the University of West Florida. This marks the third consecutive year that TNT’s 8 & under boys have won the team title and the first time for the girls. The dual titles are the first time since 2001 that a single team has won both the boys and girls team championships at the South District Meet. RESULTS.

Congratulations to Patrick Parish, who earned the SES South District 2008 Runner – up Boys High Point trophy at the meet, scoring 65 points toward TNT'S championship winning effort. Patrick recorded 5 inidivdual and 2 relay first place finishes, 7 team records and 8 personal best times at the meet.

Congratulations especially to TNT coaches, Mary, Ross and Annie for their dedication and commitment to making this year’s championships a reality.

THREE-PEAT FEAT

Five members of TNT's 2008 South District boys championship winning squad were also members of the 2006 and 2007 first place plaque winning squads. Congratulations to Connor Funke, Killian Kahalley, Patrick Parish, Jack Sledge and Nicholas Szydel on their exceptional accomplishment.

TNT RECORDS FALL AT SOUTHEASTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

TNT sent an all time high number of nineteen swimmers to the 2008 Southeastern Short Course Championship Meet, held February 21 -24 in Nashville,TN. Special thanks to TNT parents who made this year's championship SC meet a great experience for our swimmers.

TNT 2008 Southeastern Short Course Team

TNT had a great meet, accounting for 28 New Team Records, 31 Improved Time Standards and 50 Improved Times. Three TNT swimmers, Kyle Simpson, Tyler Powell and Sahra El - Hamaki qualified for championship finals, winning a total of 8 medals. The team finished 25th place out 51 participating teams and 13th place among teams from Alabama. RESULTS

TOP OF THE CLASS

Six swimmers from TNT finished in Southeastern Swimming's Top 10 Times listing for the 2007 - 2008 Short Course Season: Kyle Simpson, led the team with with seven listings in the 11 - 12 age group; 50 fly 1st, 100 fly 2nd, 50 back 3rd, 200 back 3rd, 200 IM 3rd, 100 free 4th, 200 free 4th. He also had four listings in the 13 -14 age group; 100 back 5th, 200 back 5th, 100 fly 8th and 200 IM 10th. Will Anderson had four listings in the 11 - 12 age group; 1650 free 3rd, 100 back 4th, 200 back 4th and 50 back 7th. Patrick Parish had two listings in the 8 & under 25 back 7th and 50 back 8th. Lauren Chastang made the listing in the 8 & under 25 back 7th; Sahra El - Hamaki made it in the 11 - 12 200 breast 7th and Tyler Powell in the 10 & under 100 breast 5th. View the SES Top 10 Times listing HERE.

FACINATING FOOD FACTS

March is National Nutrition Month and TNT will again be hosting our 4th Annual Interactive Nutrition Seminar on Saturday, March 22, from

12:30 – 2:00 PM. The location is still yet to be determined, so please keep the date and time on you calendars. The program will be presented by Wellness Specialist, Mr. Ken Haynie, who returns for his 4th straight year to share his insight into the importance of proper nutrition and how to make it work to the advantage of the athlete. Ken's presentation includes delicious and healthy food choices prepared by TNT parents and served during the seminar.

Last year Ken discussed his top ten sources for getting the most nutrients per serving from every meal, the importance of drinking water, pre and post workout nutrition, eating plans for meets and answered questions from swimmers, parents, and coaches. Parents and swimmers are encouraged to attend this fun and unique experience. Check out last year’s nutrition seminar HERE.

THEY GROW UP SO FAST

Congratulations to those team members who celebrated birthdays during the months of February and March: Sarah Meehan, 8 on 2/1; Emma Wilson, 11 on 2/15; Anna Wilson, 7 on 2/16; Rachael Lane, 11 on 2/18; Meghan Finney, 13 on 2/19; Lauren Chastang, 9 on 2/19; Eric Peterson, 13 on 2/21; Kelsie Quale, 14 on 2/28; Boyd Turnipseed, 12 on 3/4; Abbye Brunson, 9 on 3/5; Jordan Funke, 6 on 3/8; Thomas Kinsey, 17 on 3/10; Amanda Rudat 11 on 3/10; Riley Boles, 10 on 3/11; Tommy O'Hara, 9 on 3/16; Abigail Bradley, 8 on 3/20; Patrick Parish, 9 on 3/30. Another year older and another year faster!

EXTRA SPECIAL SWIMMERS

Congratulations to the following list of swimmers for their extra curricular accomplishments. Special thanks to those parents who submitted the highlights of their swimmers activities outside the pool for this listing

Chase and Eva Knapstein will be playing softball in the Daphne recreational league this spring.

Tyler Powell's YMCA Toros basketball team is undefeated so far with one game to play in the regular season.

Sarah Meehan has been playing basketball for the Gulf Shores Recreation Council. She ended the season with 26 points.

Will Anderson's Christ the King MATHCOUNTS Team won 1st Place at the District Competition and will compete at the

State Level on March 29th at the University of South Alabama.

Griffin Fisk made the Daphne Middle School Girls Soccer Team and they are 3-0. She was also selected to be in the

National Junior Honor Society at DMS.

Ryan Simpson is working through his Confirmation series and is ramping up his baseball season with the Daphne Minor League Mets. In an early season scrimmage, he went 1-1 with a walk, 4 bases stolen, 1 run scored, and tossed a 3 up-3 down inning in his pitching audition.

Tommy O’Hara won 2nd place in his Cub Scout den in the Pinewood Derby last weekend. His car placed in the top 6 overall

in the entire Pack.

Joshua Smith competes with the Blast Soccer club on the U11 team, in addition to swimming.

Killian Kahalley has read 675 books year to date for 2nd grade.

Thomas Kinsey is playing soccer for Fairhope High School. However, he broke his finger and is temporarily taking a break from swimming and soccer.

Ashley Kinsey participated in the McGill-Toolen Scholars Bowl Meet for Christ the King. Their team came in first place.

Megan Midkiff finished in second place for the overall girl competition in the Seeds Classic Rock mile run.

Simon Boles was selected to represent FMS at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC this summer.

Anna Ramsey has been elected for membership in the DMS chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. She was also recognized as a scholar athelte on the DMS 7th grade girls' basketball team.

Will Anderson won 1st Place in his 10-14 age group in the SEEDS 5K Run on March 1st with a time of 21:36. He then ran the 1 Mile Fun Run and was the 1st Place Overall Winner.

Tommy O'Hara ran in the SEEDS 5K run, finishing fourth in the 9 and under division with a time of 29.10. He was the first 8 year old to finish.

Kyle Simpson got the wireless printer to work that Dad has fought since Christmas.

THE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON

In response to several questions about whether the end of the short course season marks the end of TNT’s training schedule; the answer is no. The end of the short course season simply means the official end to meets conducted in 25 yard pools and the beginning of the 2008 long course competitive season in which meets will be conducted in 50 meter pools.

Once the kids are out of school for the summer, TNT’s practice schedule changes in order to accommodate the summer league swim meet schedule. TNT practices continue through the summer until July 18, when the program breaks until training resumes for the 2008 – 2009 Short Course Season on August 11.

2008 TNT LONG COURSE MEET SCHEDULE

The 2008 TNT meet schedule is tentative and subject to change. All meets are scheduled indoors and are long course except for the Destin meet which will be held SCY. Meets listed as "All Age Groups" have events for 8 & under, 9 – 10, 11 – 12, 13 – 14 and 15 older. Meets listed as "No 8

& Under Events" offer 10 & under events, in addition to events for all other age groups. Swimmers age 8 & under may attend these meets but will compete in the 10 & under age group. Meets listed as "Qualifying Times" have qualifying standards that must be met in order to participate. These meets include the Southeastern Championships and Southern Zone Championships.

HOW IT WORKS

With summer approaching, families who are new to year round swimming usually wonder whether TNT, or a local, seasonal program is best for their swimmer. Since seasonal teams and USA Swimming teams are exclusive of each other, the best course of action is dual participation.

Seasonal programs, also known as summer league teams are very popular throughout the USA, with thousands of area participants and millions of others nationwide who ultimately provide the base of year round, USA Swimming teams. Most TNT swimmers gain their initial experience on a summer league team and continue to enjoy participating on them throughout their years in swimming.

Summer league programs, however, are limited in their ability to provide the kind of quality instruction and coaching that parents and swimmers of TNT are accustomed to, mainly because most summer league teams are composed of inexperienced, seasonal participants whose main athletic pursuits lie outside the sport of swimming. The majority of these children are learning basic swimming skills that our team members have already mastered. Many parents of these swimmers simply drop their kids off at the pool and use the seasonal team as an extended swimming lesson program, or even as a baby sitting service.

Fortunately, TNT continues to offer swim training and competitive opportunities throughout the summer, participating in area long course meets and concluding with our annual long course awards dinner and Southeastern Championship meet in July. The quality of TNT training sessions is also reflected in the composition of the team; mostly experienced, year round participants for whom the sport of swimming is a priority.

So, what to do? It is suggested that TNT level 1, 2, and 3 swimmers who choose to participate on a summer league team, do so. These swimmers should also practice with their summer league teams, but NOT at the expense of practicing with TNT. If they are unable to practice with both teams on a given day, they should practice with TNT instead. These swimmers should compete with their summer league and also in monthly USA Swimming meets when scheduled.

Level 4 & 5 swimmers should practice with TNT exclusively, attending summer league practices only when required. When these swimmers do occasionally attend summer league practices, they should volunteer to use their expertise and experience to help the coaching staff teach skills to the less experienced, seasonal swimmers. Level 4 & 5 swimmers should compete with their summer league and also in USA Swimming meets when scheduled.

Parents can be assured that those swimmers who choose to participate exclusively with their summer teams are always welcome back to TNT when the

2008 – 2009 short course season begins in August. If you have questions about how to proceed with your swimmer, please see Jan Mittemeyer.

CURBING CONGESTION

Mention has recently been made by members of the YMCA staff regarding the parking practices of some parents while dropping off and picking up swimmers. Signals include waiting along the curb adjacent to the sidewalk, otherwise known as the “chat line,” as well as in spaces designated for handicapped drivers. While old habits can be hard to brake, convenience should take a back seat to prudence in this matter. Please observe parking regulations at the Y.

LOCKER ROOM ETIQUETE

Special thanks to parents and swimmers who are doing their part to keep the men’s and women’s locker rooms at the Y in good shape. Since swimmers generally are the wettest patrons in the locker room, extra effort should always be made to keep the floors dry whenever possible. This includes drying off on the pool deck prior to entering the locker room, as well as before entering the changing stalls/dressing areas after showering. Dry floors create fewer hazards for those Y members less nimble than our energetic, healthy, swift moving swimmers, so please do your part to keep the locker rooms clean and dry.

A LESS LENGTHY STATEMENT

If possible, parents are asked to please pay family account balances in full in March so that our volunteer bookkeeper can clear the billing accounts before the upcoming long course season. This will result in a much shorter monthly statements in the future.

THE BEST KIND OF RELAY

TNT is participating in Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. Last year we raised over $1,400, but were not able to participate in the actual event because it conflicted with a swim meet. This year we will try again; the event is May 2 from 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. Debbie Anderson will be sending more information on how to "join" our TNT Relay for Life Team. If you have any questions or suggestions, please call Terri Kinsey 929-1916.

PARENT TIP OF THE MONTH

The following is an excerpt taken from the Parents Section of the USA Swimming Website: Learning about oneself while enjoying the sport is one of the most important aspects of swimming. The swimming environment encourages learning and fun, helping your child to develop a positive self-image. Athletes who find their self-worth through winning will go through tough times when they lose, and everyone, even Michael Phelps, will lose sometime!

To learn more about being a great swim parent, visit the Parents Section at usaswimming.org/Parents.

SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS

Parents, has your dentist mentioned that your children's teeth stain easily? Well, it may not be because they don't brush regularly. Believe it or not, swimmer's teeth are at greater risk than the average person because they spend prolonged periods in chlorinated water. This is due to the acidic nature of chlorinated pool water which gradually erodes tooth enamel. High acid levels cause pitting of the teeth making them porous and more susceptible to staining. Swimmers can guard against this condition by brushing their teeth after practices. There are now also dental products developed specifically to protect teeth against this condition, including ProNamel Toothpaste.

THE GOOD GUYS

TNT thanks those supporters who advertise their business on our web site. Proceeds from advertising sales help us with operational expenses and allows TNT to provide low cost, competitive swimming instruction to children of all ability levels. Please visit http://www.swimtnt.com/advertisers_page_07-08.html to learn more about the services our advertisers offer.

Will Anderson

Riley Boles

Simon Boles

Sahra El – Hamaki

Griffin Fisk

Lauren Kinsey

Adele Mantiply

Taylor Miller

Haley Miller

J.D. Powell

Tyler Powell

Kelsie Quale