Mill Hall Communtiy Pool Saga - Episode 23

Mill Hall borough officials and Friends of the Community Pool continue to talk about the pool renovation. All the details can be read here, in the November 24 edition of the Lock Haven Express.

Become an Official Plunger

As if there is not enough for swimmers to do on December 4. For those not swimming in the Williamsport Brr meet or participating in the Jersey Shore Christmas parade, run over to the Bald Eagle State Park for a good cause (you could do the parade and the polar bear plunge as the parade is in the afternoon).

Plunge into the water while raising money for the Centre County YMCA. Pictures of past Polar Bear swims and additional information can be found here.

8th Annual Polar Bear Plunge
Saturday, December 4, 2010
10:00 AM
Bald Eagle State Park
Marina Boat Ramp

Will Williamsport Pools Go The Way of The Passenger Pigeon - EXTINCT!

News from today's Williamsport Sun-Gazette talks about the state of their public pools. It can be read here. City officials wonder if they can replace or upgrade its aging public pools.

The Jersey Shore Swim blog wonders if parents and families of Williamsport will mobilize and show their leaders the importance of summer recreation or let it go the way of the Montoursville pool.

Links to the Montoursville demise can be found here, here, and here.

"...was not a good workout swimmer."

I was flipping through the channels the other night and came across the Big Ten Network where they were running a series called “Big Ten Icons” (although I think that they should call it 'Big Ten Football Icons' as the majority of the "icons" are football players). It is an original series counting down the top 50 competitors in the conference’s rich history. Each member of the 50 is featured with a special 30-minute show hosted by legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson.

So far, the only swimmer profiled is swimmer Mark Spitz. Check it out on-line with a short 5 minute video clip at Big Ten Icons.

For someone that was not a good workout swimmer, he had an amazing number of achivements. Check it out!

Local YMCA Swim Team’s Announce Schedule

Pine Creek is all that separates Jersey Shore and Lock Haven area swimmers. Because of the relative ease of traversing this body of water, swimmers from both sides mingle quite freely. During the summer, several swimmers from the Clinton County side join the Jersey Shore summer swim team, while some Jersey Shore swimmers have started to travel westward and swim with Lock Haven area swimmers in the USA swim program. Many of the swimmers are friendly with each other but come January 8, it will be all business as the Jersey Shore YMCA travels to Lock Haven University’s Zimmerli Pool to tangle with the Lock Haven’s YMCA swim team.

Lock Haven’s first year head coach, Joel Blesh, understands the familiarity of the local competition as he swan with the Lock Haven YMCA Loggerheads for ten years starting at the age of eight.

He hopes to build upon last year’s successes and returning swimmers. “Michelle Haftl is our lone returning state qualifier,” said Blesh. “She moved up an age group this year, but is working very hard and is getting ready to make another great run this year.” “Other returning swimmers that have been working hard and ready to make their 2010 debut are Nolan and Ethan Dale, Thomas Haftl, Ben Jones, David Orndorf, Sadie Powers, and Brandon and Rachel Kibler,” added Blesh.

Jersey Shore has scheduled two home meets on December 11 and February 5 against Bloomsburg and East Lycoming respectively. Besides traveling to swim against Lock Haven, they are on the road on January 22 against Bellefonte (at LHU’s Zimmerli Pool) and February 25 at Sunbury.

Lock Haven travels on December 11 for a tri-meet against Sunbury and Bellefonte with their other away meet on January 29 against Bloomsburg. They host East Lycoming at LHU’s Zimmerli Pool on February 5.

Both teams will meet up at the Central Pennsylvania YMCA Swim League Championships on February 20 at the Williamsport High School.

Christmas Smell Permeates Jersey Shore YMCA

The Jersey Shore YMCA winter swim team had the YMCA full of Christmas smells as they held their annual wreath fundraiser. Wreaths of firs and pines covered the inside and front lawn as swimmers and their parents rushed to build and fill orders. The morning started with swimmers and their parents unloading the wreaths.

The work moved indoors as a crew of volunteers placed the cones and bows on each wreath. This was made short work as a huge group that consisted of Michelle, Brian, Kendra, and Austin White; Dave, Sam, Meaghan, and Ellen Keegan; Todd, Shelley, Evan, Gabbie, and Allison Moore; Cathy and Fletcher Farr, Kelly and Dakota Sweitzer; Julie and Allison Panczyszyn; Leigh Ann Rauch; JodI Duda, Jodie Jolin; Larisa and Aylin Yakurt, Patty Kennelley, Rachelle Sheets, and Michelle Watson finished this within hours.

TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF WREATH MAKING AND TOP SELLER, THEN CLICK ON "READ MORE" BELOW.

Jersey Shore Swimmers Try "Swim Your Own Age" Meet

Several Jersey Shore area swimmers participated in their first "Swim Your Own Age" Meet at Bloomsburg representing the Jersey Shore YMCA or Haven Area Aquatic Club. Each swimmer competed not in a range of age groups (ie 10 & unders, 8 & unders, etc) but only with swimmers with the same age. All 10 year olds swam against other 10 year olds and 11 year olds swam against other 11 year olds.There was alot of racing for area swimmers with plenty of down time to goof off.

Results can found on the Haven Area Aquatic Club blog

"...adults are still sticking it to the kids when it comes to pools"

Great article in the November 17, 2010 issue of the Webb Weekly by Gerry Ayers. He talks about his great experience in an outdoor pool as a child and his opinion on the Montoursville and South Side pool closings. The Montoursville pool is history while South Williamsport's pool may open in the summer of 2011.

Let's hope that the adults in the Mill Hall/Lock Haven area don't "stick it to the kids" and figure out a way to keep the outdoor pool open. Kudos to the Jersey Shore Borough officials who see the importance of providing recreational opportunities to their community, especially with their outdoor pool.

Below is the article from the Webb Weekly and below that are some pictures of the Montoursville pool.

From the November 17, 2010 issue of the Webb Weekly. Click article to enlarge and read.

Photo on left is from a 2009 swim meet at the Montoursville Borough Pool. Photo on the right was taken June 19, 2010. Click photo to enlarge.

Photo taken on August 21, 2010. Click photo to enlarge

Photo taken on October 30, 2010. Click photo to enlarge

Moving On To Phase Two

YMCA head coach Patty Kennelley and assistant Steve Sheets are using a training system to bring out the best in their swimmers this year. This will be implemented in three phases.

Phase one was just completed last week which consisted of three weeks of stoke drills. Freestyle was the focus on week one, backstroke week two, and butterfly/breaststroke split week three.

Technique was really stressed in this Phase One of the season. "Last year we started out with alot of dryland training since we didn't have early access to the pool," said Sheets. "This year was different as the kids could get into the water much earlier and this allowed us to implement this program"

Two coaches could not teach all the nuances of stroke work to the thirty plus kids in the early age groups, so they relied on some older swimmers to help out; Tyler Sheets, Evan Moore, Gabbie Moore, Olivia Edler, Olivia Bellomo, Cassie Kitchen, and Kendra White.

The swimmers are currently on Phase Two which stresses endurance which will continue to the middle of January. Phase Three will place more emphasis on 'speed'

Learn Some Tips from the Best-Olympic Swimmers

Several Olympic swimmers are visiting central Pennsylvania to put on a swim clinic. Click on the picture below to enlarge and view the brochure. You can also visit Mutual of Omaha's BREAKOUT! Swim Clinic webiste.

Haven Area Aquatic Club Participates in Nittany Lion Aquatic Club Fall Kick Off

Assistant coach Joel Blesh gives a pep talk to HAAC swimmers

The Haven Area Aquatic Club, featuring several Jersey Shore swimmers,made a splash at the NLAC Fall Kick Off this past weekend. "It was a good experience for these athletes as they got to swim different events they don't get in YMCA meets," said assistant coach Joel Blesh. "They could test themselves in long distance events", he said.

Several of the younger kids got to swim long distance events such as the 200 yard freestyle and individual medley and the 100 yard butterfly, breaststroke, and backstroke. "It was a fantastic start for our young swim team," said head coach Andy Waeger. "More importantly, they had fun." For a meet synopsis by coach Waeger and meet results, visit the Haven Area Aquatic Club's blog(scroll down to the bottom of the page for for link to results).

Swimmers from Jersey Shore get ready for an afternoon of swimming

No visit to Penn State is complete until a stop is made at the Creamery for some ice cream

Jersey Shore Town Meeting Christmas Parade

Jersey Shore YMCA Swim Team Parents Advisory Committee President Shelley Moore wanted to get this information out to Jersey Shore swim parents.

Hello Swim Parents!

Both the summer and winter swim teams have been invited to participate in the Jersey Shore Town Meeting Christmas Parade. The parade route will run from the gravel parking lot in front of the Jersey Shore Middle School to the Santa Hut on Main Street. The parade organizer said that the route should only take 15 minutes to walk. This will be a nice opportunity to show our swim team pride, even in the cold months!

We are looking for two parents to organize this event. There is not much involved…maybe coming up with a theme (snowflakes? Swimming is COOL!?) and a giveaway (candy? Candy canes? Hot cocoa?) for the swimmers and organizing the participants. If you are interested in heading up this event, please let me know at smoore@pct.edu PLEASE!!

Unfortunately the parade is the same day as the Billtown Brrrrr Invitational in Williamsport. So, if your swimmer is not considering participating in the Billtown Brrrr….maybe they would enjoy walking in the parade with a few of their swim friends!!!

Date: December 4th, 2010
Gathering time: 1:45pm
Step off time: 2:00pm
Forming at: Jersey Shore Middle School – Stone parking lot
Ending at: The Santa Hut on Main Street

Support Jersey Shore Swimming by Wearing Their Colors

Swim team clothing sale will occur until November 29. At that time, all orders and monies must be in. If a swimmer/parent sells 5 items, they will be given a free T-shirt. Please note that we cannot guarantee the items will be here in time for Christmas gifts. Checks need to be made out to Shelley Moore not to the Jersey Shore Swim Team as stated on order form. Please click on forms to enlarge.

Parents Meeting and Meet & Greet Night

The Winter Swim Team Board presented themselves to parents of swimmers last night and reviewed a timeline of this upcoming season.Members of the Winter Swim Team Board include (from right to left ) Shelley Moore-President, Cathy Farr-Secretary, Fletcher Farr-Treasure, Julie Panczyszyn-Second Vice President, and Michelle White-YMCA League Representative. Missing from photo is Nicole Shadle-First Vice President.

• Wreath sales need to be finalized this week. Volunteers are needed to put pine cones together. Cones will be brought to practice and parents that stick around can put everything together while waiting. Volunteers are also needed to unload wreaths and place pine cone display on the wreath on delivery day. Sign-ups are on the bulletin board for those volunteer positions. This is a major fundraiser and the reason we can keep our registration rates low.

• Swim team clothing sale will occur until November 29. At that time, all orders and monies must be in. If a swimmer/parent sells 5 items, they will be given a free T-shirt. Please note that we cannot guarantee the items will be here in time for Christmas gifts. Checks need to be made out to Shelley Moore.

• Official and timer requests were made by Julie Panczyszyn. Twelve timers are needed per home meet (only 2 home meets this year). If 24 people sign-up for a home meet, then each timer only has to work ½ the meet. Only six timers are needed for the away meets. Again, if twelve people sign up for this, then they only have to work ½ the away meet. Sign-ups on the bulletin board in the pool area.

• Officiating recertification is taking place at the YMCA this Thursday night. If interested in becoming an official, the team will pay expenses. Talk to Michelle White for more information.

• Concession stand sign-ups are on the bulletin board for the two home meets, December 11 and January 29. Two shifts of four people are needed during the afternoon to feed the hungry spectators.

• End of season banquet will occur sometime in April. It is somewhat late after the regular swimming season but takes into account the kids who are swimming in YMCA Districts, States, and Nationals. Usually an end of season gift for the kids.

• YMCA Championships are being coordinated by Jersey Shore (at Williamsport High School). Volunteers are needed in large numbers to make this happen. The team is encouraging as many swimmers as possible to participate; we want to have a good showing. Part of this responsibility of hosting is that we also have concession duty. As a result, we will have a special concession committee for this event. We are looking for volunteers to man the stand at least one hour during the day.

• The Jersey Shore Christmas Parade will feature Jersey Shore swimmers on December 4. Hopefully most swimmers will be able to participate and show the community swimmer pride.

UPDATE - Mandatory Parents Meeting and Meet & Greet Night!

Due to the change in practice times, the meeting times have been updated to match practice times:


Mandatory Parents Meeting and Meet & Greet Night!
When: Tuesday, November 9th
Where: JS High School – outside the pool area
Time: Both Practices – beginning at 5:30pm & 6:30pm

Frightful Night at Lock Haven's Zimmerli Pool

It was a scary night at USA swim practice last week, not because practice was hard (that is not to say the coaches aren't pushing the swimmers in preperation for this weekends swim meet, Nittany Lion Fall Kick-Off) but because the coaches took advantage of Halloween to lighten the mood.

Fred(head coach Andy Waeger) and Barney (assistant coach Joel Blesh)explain the Halloween practice!



A halloween party is not a party until the traditional bobbing for apples occurs. This time, it is just on a larger scale. Aaron during the bobbing for apples competition




The winner of the costume competition was Ian dressed at 'dimwit the broken lightbulb'.

USA Swim Team Practice Set in Preparation for Inaugural Meet

USA's Haven Area Aquatic Club is setting the practice schedule for the week leading up to its first swim meet,the Nittany Lion Fall Kick-Off, since the inception of the club.

Monday
5:45 - 7pm - blue/gold group

Tuesday
5:45 - 7pm - gold
6-7pm - white

Wednesday
5:45 - 7pm - blue/gold group

Thursday
5:45 - 7pm - gold
6-7pm - white

Friday
5:45 - 7pm - blue/gold group

Saturday (meet at PSU)
Please adhere to the following schedule.

• Warm Ups - begin at 1:30pm ... please arrive no later than 1:30pm. We will warm up as a team.
• Session begins at 2:15pm.

Sunday (meet at PSU)

• the morning session please arrive no later than 8:15am ... warm ups begin at 7:30 and the meet begins at 9:00am.
• the afternoon session (exact same as Saturday)
• Warm Ups - begin at 1:30pm ... please arrive no later than 1:30pm. Session begins at 2:15pm.

General information for the meet @ Penn State
~meet is being held at the McCoy Natatorium
~parking will be available in the near by parking garages ... there is a charge for parking
~food and some PSU apparel will be for sale
~admission is $4 per session ... heat sheet is included in the price of admission

Team suit and cap is required

10 Year Vision Becomes Reality

Click on record board to enlarge

There was always idle talk about placing a record board in the Jersey Shore High School pool to replace the small one near the swimming pool entrance. About 10 years ago, several parents decided to make the dream become reality. An effort led by Sue Thompson and Sharon Koch led the swim team booster club into numerous fundraising efforts to accumulate funds for the project.

On November 1, 2010, swim team parents Sue Thompson and Danette McPherson, along with Jersey Shore Athletic Director Bill Mincer, placed the names, dates, and times onto the new board. The ultimate vision was to also have a pool record board, but because of costs, the group concentrated on just the high school records. That part of pool records will need to be taken up by another group of parents.

Records are meant to be broken! Good luck to the 2010-2011 high school team in chasing those times!