TNT Newsletter
The New Team on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay
November / December 2008
YEAR IN REVIEW
ANOTHER YEAR BETTER
2008 marked TNT Swimming 's fifth year of serving Baldwin County's Eastern Shore communties with a choice in professionally administered, year round competitive swimming programs. Toward this end, the past year's successful attainment of our long term goals and objectives were again made possible by the dedicated efforts of TNT coaches and parent volunteers, as well as through our mutually beneficial relationship with the Bounds Family YMCA.
In terms of competitive development, TNT's age group progam continues to provide age appropriate instruction and training with gratifying results. Competition highlights for 2008 include winning the SES South District Boys and Girls 8 & Under Championships, marking the third year in a row for the boys. A record number of 19 TNT swimmers attended both the 2008 Long Course and Short Course Southeastern Swimming Championships, and TNT's Ashley Szydel was one of only two swimmers in the entire Mobile / Baldwin area qualify for the 2008 Southern Zone Championship Meet as a member of the Southeastern Swimming All Star Team.
TNT's contributions within the Southeastern Swimming LSC, State and Area administration also progressed during the past year; hosting the
TNT Beach Blast Invitational Meet in Biloxi last summer, as well as the Southeastern Swimming Fall Meeting and Hall of Fame Weekend
in Gulf Shores / Orange Beach. TNT parents enthusiasticly supported these projects and continue to lead the area as volunteers in our sport, regularly working at various levels as deck officials at USA Swimming, summer league and high school meet venues.
TNT also continued its tradition of hosting fun and innovative "in house" specialty practice sessions and family oriented events, including annual
Mardi Gras and Halloween practices; Short Course and Long Course Awards Banquets; Kick off to Summer and New Family Pool Parties; as well as our annual Fall Picnic and Christmas Party.
Finally, our families continued TNT’s tradition of community service by combining time and effort to help people in need. Last May, TNT families raised money for the American Cancer Society by bagging groceries at Wynn Dixie stores in Daphne and Fairhope, donating all proceeds to the ACS Relay for Life. Our families closed out 2008 with our annual Holiday Charity Project, donating Christmas gifts to Toys for Tots.
SPECIAL THANKS
Several TNT parent volunteers deserve special mention for their efforts during the past year. Two parent volunteers especially deserving of recognition are Terri Kinsey and Debbie Anderson, whose volunteer efforts save our families money and continue to directly contribute to the success of our program.
Terri's excellent work of managing TNT and USA Swimming registrations, as well as the enormous task of doing the team book keeping cannot be overvalued and will always be appreciated. Terri is also a regular volunteer, helping to run team team projects of every kind.
Debbie Anderson’s work continues to be vital to the success of TNT in countless ways. Her organizational skills are evident in almost every aspect of the team’s success, especially fundraising, as well as almost all of TNT’s special programs.
Thank you also to Laurie Simpson who donates her time by embroidering specialty team items and designing our team tee shirts. Her time and expertise make TNT swimmer apparel look special and greatly contributes to team recognition and pride.
Finally, thank you to all unnamed TNT parents who contributed in so many ways to all of our team projects, ultimatley making the TNT experience special for swimmers and team families alike.
TNT SWIMMERS
NEW KID ON THE BLOCKS
A warm welcome to TNT's newest teammate, Barry Booth. Barry practices with level 3 and is a student at Spanish Fort Middle School.
THEY GROW UP SO FAST
Congratulations to TNT swimmers born during the months of November and December. Barry Booth, 11 on 11/14; Alex Daly, 9 on 11/23; Reagan Holifield, 12 on 11/ 29; Emily Sherrod, 13 on 12/6; Simon Boles, 13 on 12/13; Lizzy Kolakoski, 15 on 12/13; Nicholas Szydel 9 on 12/15; Will Anderson 14 on 12/20; Jack Sledge, 9 on 12/21; Adele Mantiply, 15 on 12/30; John Brian O'Hara, 6 on 12/31. Another year older and another year faster.
THE STATE OF SWIMMING
Several TNT swimmers represented their high schools at the 2008 Alabama State High School Swimming Championship Meet, held December 6 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Participating swimmers include: Griffin Fisk and Lauren Kinsey, from Daphne H.S.; Thomas Kinsey and Ashley Kinsey, from Fairhope H.S.; Will Anderson, Kellen Bullock and Sahra El-Hamaki, from McGill - Toolin H.S.; Kyle Simpson, from Spanish Fort H.S.
FIRST USA SWIMMING MEET
Congratulations to TNT swimmers who participated at their first ever USA Swimming Meet, November 14 - 16 at the Vance Rose Invitational in Mobile: McClaine Costantini, Charlie Sledge, Emily Vincent, Zachary Vincent and Nathan Vincent.
TEAM RECORD BREAKERS
Thirty five new team records were established during the months of November and December. That's a lot of team record pins! Congratulations to the following swimmers for their accomplishments:
Vance Rose Invitational Meet - Lauren Chastang, 9 - 10 girls 50 fly 33.22; Sarah Meehan 8 & under girls 200 free 3:04.08, 50 free 34.50, 50 fly 37.80, 50 back 38.98, 25 fly 17.06; Kyle Simpson, 200 free 1:52.49, 200 IM 2:06.04; Jack Sledge, 200 free 2:59.08, 200 IM 3:27.41, 500 free 7:50.82.
Dynamo Woodie B. Malone Meet - Kellen Bullock, 15 - 16 100 breast 1:09.82, 200 breast 2:35.32 (P), 2:33.99 (F); Griffin Fisk, 13 - 14 girls 100 fly 1:01.31, 200 free 2:02.98, 200 fly 2:20.02 (P), 2:19.75 (F), 100 free 56.54 (P), 56.27 (F); Gracey Kahn, 15 - 16 100 back 1:05.45; Lauren Kinsey, 13 - 14 girls 500 free 5:31.41; Kyle Simpson, 13 - 14 boys 100 fly 54.90, 50 free 23.70, 500 free 5:03.86, 200 free 1:52.34 (P), 1:49.64 (F), 100 back 56.42 (P), 55.63 (F), 100 free 52.01.
PNY Holiday Invitational - Emily Smith; 8 & under 50 breast 46.77, 100 breast 1:39.82.
Alabama State High School Championships - Griffin Fisk, 13 - 14 girls 100 fly 1:00 77, Kellen Bullock, 15 - 16 boys 100 breast 1:07.95, 100 back 1:03.42.
SOUTHEASTERN CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
Thirteen TNT swimmers have established new qualifying times so far this year for the 2009 Southeastern Short Course Championships, scheduled to be held February 26 - 29 in Nashville, TN. Congratulations to TNT Southeastern Qualifiers: Will Anderson, 500 free, 200 free, 50 free; Kellen Bullock, 100 breast; Lauren Chastang, 50 fly, 50 back, 100 fly, 50 free, 100 back; Hannah Denham, 100 breast, 50 breast; Sahra El - Hamaki, 200 breast; Griffin Fisk, 500 free, 200 free, 100 back, 200 IM; Lauren Kinsey, 500 free; Patrick Parish, 100 IM, 50 free, 50 fly; Tyler Powell, 100 breast; Andrew Szydel, 50 back; Ashley Szydel, 200 back; Ben Turnipseed, 50 breast, 100 IM, 100 back, 50 free, 50 back, 100 free; Boyd Turnipseed, 500 free, 200 free, 100 IM, 100 back, 50 free, 50 back, 200 IM.
EXTRA SPECIAL SWIMMERS
Congratulations to the following swimmers for the accomplishments both in and out of the pool. Thank you to those parents who submitted extra curricular highlights of their swimmers for this newsletter.
Anna Ramsey was one of the few girls who entered this year's math and science robotics competition, between 19 middle school and high schools in the Mobile area..
Kelsie Quale recently got the lead part in her human video group's skit "Everything," sung by Lifehouse.
Adele Mantiply's Biology teacher at Bayside selected her as a 2009 Nominee in Medicine for the National Youth Leadership Forum. The criteria for selection are academic excellence, leadership potential and an interest in the field of medicine. Even more importantly to her parents, Dr. Galle said that the inside of Adele's ear now looks like any other normal ear (with a tube in it) and that the ear canal is completely healed.
Ashley Kinsey made the Fairhope High School soccer team. She also swam at the Alabama State High School Championships as a member of her school relay team which qualified for championship finals.
Thomas Kinsey placed 61 out of 200 in the Fairhope High School State Cross Country Meet with a time of 17:44. Thomas also swam at the Alabama State High School Championships and qualified for championship finals as a relay team member.
Tyler Powell has advanced to the highest, 9th, level in Rockwell Music. Tyler performed in a Christmas concert on December 8th.
Hannah Denham won the school-wide spelling bee contest and is moving on to County level spelling bee. She also was chosen for Red Ribbon Award Winner.
Tommy O'Hara was one of the top three AR readers in his class for the first quarter. Tommy also finished second in his age group and third overall in the YMCA/Gulf Coast Area Triathletes' Children's Triathlon. He completed the 1 mile run, three mile bike, and 100 yard swim (incl. transitions) in 22:05.
Patrick Ward competed in his first triathalon.
Sarah Meehan was selected to play on the Daphne All-stars soccer team. The tournament was held 11/15-16, they won the Championship and were undefeated 4-0.
Jackson Tunks won the class spelling bee and will be participating in the Fairhope Intermediate School Spelling Bee in January 2009.
ANOTHER FIRST
Sports Illustrated has named Michael Phelps as its 2008 Sportsman of the Year. Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the Olympic Games in Beijing, is the first swimmer in the magazine’s 54-year history to win the award and the sixth Olympian to be so honored. Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated has presented the award each year to “the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." SI chose Phelps from the 39 nominations submitted by Sports Illustrated writers. The list of nominees included NBA star Kobe Bryant, PGA star Tiger Woods, President-elect Barack Obama and Dara Torres. Read the whole story HERE
TNT PARENTS
DEDICATED DADS
Special thanks to TNT dads, Allan Simpson, Arston Grant and Joe Bullock, who created a substitue heating system for the YMCA indoor swimming pool, after the main heating system broke down several weeks ago. Volunteering their time, money and ingenuity, the three engineers re-routed the pool water through the Y's hot tub heater, allowing our swimmers to continue training during the winter months. The YMCA is still trying to have a new pool heater installed and until that is accomplished, our swimmers and all YMCA members who use the aquatic facilities will continue to benefit from the effort of these three TNT parent volunteers.
HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG?
The following was taken from an email sent by Dave Thomas, Director of USA Swimming's Club Development: "Can a child be too young for competition?" The answer is "yes" if we are strictly referring to competition as competition of the adult model because young athletes often do not have the psychological, social, and physical skills necessary for the competitive environment. However, if we structure competition to make it developmentally appropriate for these young athletes, they can benefit from the experience and develop the skills to prepare themselves for competition. You can read the entire article HERE .
YOUR ATHLETE'S BODY
The physical characteristics that determine sport performance are constantly changing during the growing years of childhood and adolescence. Knowing something about normal growth will tell us much about what kind of athletic activity is appropriate for different ages. As boys and girls move through the exciting stages of growing up in sports, some appreciation of the ever-changing body can make the experience the satisfying one it should be. You can read more about this interesting subject HERE
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A recent survey by the National Council of Youth Sports reports more than 44 million children in the U.S. participate in some type of organized sport. Seventy-five percent of young athletes participate in sports activities year round. Child athletes need fuel for their bodies. The following article contains a breakdown of some of the important nutritional needs READ
SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS
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.
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.
BE SOMEONE
It's not enough for your swimmer to simply show his or her face when entering the Y for TNT practices. If you do not possess a YMCA member card, your swimmer should have recieved his or her specially designed TNT ID card to display when entering the building. TNT bag tags may also be used as identification upon entering the YMCA in the absence of, but not as a substitute for, the above mentioned ID cards. The Y is trying this system out in order to cut down on non members, mainly people playing basketball, from using the Y facilities. It is suggested that parents punch a hole in the ID card and attach it their swimmer's swim bag. Please notify Coach Jan if your swimmer did not receive an ID card, or a TNT bag tag.
GREEN IS ALSO A TEAM COLOR
This is a reminder of the financial obligations for all TNT families. In addition to the monthly dues and swim meet fees, TNT requires all families to contribute to TNT fundraising efforts. The first half of your fundraising fee is due in December, and any outstanding fundraising fees for the first half will appear on the January statement. If you participated in the Wreath Sale or obtained sponsors for TNT, one half of any amount exceeding your family's requirement will be credited to your account and will be used toward dues and meet fees. If you have any questions, please contact Terri Kinsey.
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.
Americas EZ Mortgage
A-Safe Online Backup Service
Baldwin County Bonding Company, Inc.
Ben M. Radcliff - Contractor, Inc.
Bryant Bank
Bounds Family YMCA
Cricket Realty and Management
Daniel C. Deese, DMD
E.G.M. L.L.C.
Fairhope Health Foods
Goodyear of Daphne
Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, P.C.
INEOS Phenol
Jan K. Finney, Accountant
J.H. Wright & Associates
J & M Marine and Industrial, LLC
KONE, Inc. Elevators and Escalators
Mary Beth Mantiply, Attorney at Law
Morris Ready Mix, LLC
Performance Contractors, Inc.
Salley Trucking, LLC
Shannon Thomas Arndt, Attorney at Law, P.C.
Sledge’s Custom Building, Inc.
Steven Kinsey, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Sunflower Cafe
T. Leavell & Associates, Inc.
Tameron Honda - Eastern Shore
Thomas Hospital Infirmary Health System
Threaded Fasteners, Inc.
Volkert & Associates, Inc.
Watermark, LLC
Waterville USA, Inc
