Week 4 (Meet Week!!!) Update

As week 4 is now underway, there is some information I want to be sure to communicate with all parents and swimmers as we finally get ready for our first meet of the season. First, that I have been extremely impressed with the work ethics and attitudes of the team as a whole. We are at a point where things are no longer new and bodies are starting to get sore, while homework is also mounting and everyone is starting to get tired. It is very easy to lose focus and/or begin to mail it in somewhat. However, we absolutely cannot afford to do this, especially with under 40 practices remaining until taper on the varsity level and even fewer for those tapering for conference. Parents, please encourage your swimmer to challenge themselves on a daily basis and swimmers be sure to stay focused in order to put yourself in the best possible situation moving forward. This article from NCAA Champion Ivy Martin may help to put things in perspective Ivy Martin Talks Meet Prep and provides a great look at a positive mindset.

With that said, here are a few pieces of information regarding the meet tomorrow night at Vernon Hills.

1.)    The meet is technically scheduled to start at 5:00 but will likely begin later due to the time it takes for us to travel to VH and warm up. In all likelihood I would guess that we begin sometime around 5:15/5:20.

2.)    Wheeling High School has dropped out of the meet tomorrow so it will not just be a true dual between us and VH. This does provide some more swims for us as a team but as a smaller team it also puts us at a bit of a disadvantage from a point standpoint. However, it will still be a great measuring stick regarding where our team is at this point.

3.)    The meet will roughly take 2-2.5 hours to complete and will take place on both the Varsity and JV levels. Swimmers will compete at the level Coach Murphy and myself believe they are best suited for at this particular meet. They may move up or down at future meets depending on our discretion. It is our goal to put all swimmers in the best possible positions to succeed and we believe we are on the right track with that goal.

4.)    If this is your first high school meet you will definitely notice some differences between it and a club or park district meet. First, each swimmer is allowed to swim a maximum of 4 events. Within that stipulation they are allowed a maximum of two individual events. Thus they may do 2 individuals and 2 relays, or 3 relays and one individual, or maybe only 2 and 1 depending on the lineups we devise. Each swimmer will compete in at least two events, but more than that is at our discretion depending on scoring.

5.)    The order of events is also different from other meets with each event being swam twice, once as JV and then again as Varsity. Order of events is  as follows.

a.       200 Medley Relay
b.      200 Freestyle
c.       200 IM
d.      50 Free
e.      Diving/10 Minute Break
f.        100 Butterfly
g.       100 Freestyle
h.      500 Freestyle
i.         200 Freestyle Relay
j.        100 Backstroke
k.       100 Breaststroke
l.         400 Freestyle Relay

6.)    It is imperative that all athletes get to sleep as early as possible tonight to ensure they are rested and ready to go for the meet tomorrow. Also, they should plan to bring a snack and/or drink to have prior to the meet. The athletes should not go into competition hungry or dehydrated.

7.)    Thank you again to Lisa Morrone for organizing food for after the meet. This is truly a great thing for all of the athletes and is greatly appreciated.

8.)    Yes, there is still morning practice Thursday morning.

I hope this provides some clarity and I cannot wait to see what we are able to do as a team tomorrow. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns that may arise.

Go ATWB!

Coach Anderson