Lock Haven YMCA Swimmers in Tune-Up

Posting from

Colt M. Coffman, Co-Head Swim Coach, Lock Haven Area YMCA

 

This past Saturday, 23 of our Loggerheads traveled down to the Juniata Valley YMCA to swim the a pre-season meet against the Stingrays. We saw a lot of swims and are off to a great start for the season. Congratulations to Tyler Cygan for qualifying for Districts in the 50 Free, and to Ethan Dale for his qualifying swims in the 50 Free and 200 IM. We had several others that were very close to their qualifying time and will no doubt make it by the end of the season. Shout out to Phil Rodo who swam a 5th event of the 400 IM as an exhibition just so a member of the opposite team did not have to swim alone. Good job to all our swimmers who participated in the meet today and thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped time and officiate; the meets would not be possible with out your valued help. Attached are the results and times from today.

If It's Too Cold To Play In It, Then Play On It

Even swimmers like to ice skate.  Picture above is of ice skaters at Airmen Pond at Bowman Field in Williamsport (birdseye view of rink below).  Public skate times can be found here. 

It is interesting that every year the NHL holds one game (called the NHL Winter Classic) in an outside ice rink that attracts tens of thousands.  Williamsport is one upping the NHL by holding an ENTIRE season of hockey outside.  It is pretty cool to watch the Williamsport Outlaws (Federation Hockey League, see here) play a night game under the lights and stars.  If you are going, bring some blankets and something to sit on (bleachers are cold in the winter)

YMCA Swimi Team Concession Stand Donations

It is time to start thinking about getting the needed donations for the concession stand for our home meets.

We are going to do things a little different this year as to alleviate the problem of someone signing up for an item that they have to bring to all home meets when they are signed out of some of the home meets. We would still like people to volunteer to bring an item to all home meets, however, if you know your child is going to miss some of the home meets, please try to be generous at the meets you know you will be attending. If you do not want to sign up for a food item, we are asking for a $25 cash donation so that we can purchase items.

The list for our first home meet (December 15th) will be hanging on the bullletin board.

As you all know, we also ask that each family supply a drink beverage for our home meets. The list below details which drink item we would like each family to bring as it relates to your last name. Please bring these drink items to our first home swim meet on December 15th.

A-E is a 36 pack of water

F-K is a 24 pack of soda

L-Z is an 8 pack of Gatorade/G2

Sometime next week we will be putting up a list looking for people to work in the concession stand.

'Try It, You Might Like It' Swim Meet

YMCA is instituting several new events for all age groups this year (listed below).  The Invitational Swim meet on Saturday December 22, schedule here,  at Lock Haven University allows swimmers to try out these new events and qualify for districts.

Lock Haven Women Swimmers Crack Top 25 In Poll

The Lock Haven University swim team is ranked No. 23 in the latest Endless Pools/CollegeSwimming.com Top 25 National Poll.  See here for the write-up and here for the poll.

Jersey Shore YMCA Winter Swim Meet Schedule Set

Jersey Shore's winter YMCA swim meet schedule is set and can be viewed below.

"Swimming and water safety education are basic life skills that all should know"

CNN is recognizing individuals who are making awesome contributions to their communities, regardless if that community is local or one considers the 'community' humankind (so community can be anywhere in the world in that sense). 

Sad, but awesome story on  a woman who is teaching inner city kids the best life insurance policy a kid can obtain; the ability to swim.  Go to 2012 Top 10 CNN Heroes here, and vote for her dedication to youth.

Information On Swim Team Wreath Orders

 

Sunday Morning, November 18 – the wreaths are delivered to the YMCA by 9:30 am and we will need volunteers to help unload the truck. Please send an email to smoore@pct.edu if you can be at the YMCA at 9:15 am to help prepare the room and help unload the truck. Also, a sign-up sheet will be placed on the bulletin board at the pool this evening ….. as always the more volunteers we have the quicker we will get done! We need a minimum of 5 to 7 volunteers to carry this off.

Sunday Late Morning, November 22 – volunteers needed by 10:00 am at the JS YMCA so we can prepare/organize the wreaths for pick-up (we have to put on all those pinecones and bows!). This is the bulk of our workload and we need a minimum of 15 to 20 parents/swimmers to get the wreaths processed for pick-up. Again, please send an email to smoore@pct.edu if you can help add pinecones to the wreaths and sort/prepare the orders. A sign-up sheet will be placed on the bulletin board – and keeping with the “theme” the more volunteers we have, the quicker we can get everything organized!!! With all those wreaths, we will need all the help we can get, so bring your helpful swimmer(s) along with you!

Sunday Afternoon, November 22 – volunteers needed by 11:00 am to 1:30 pm at the JS YMCA for distribution and pick-up. If you aren’t available to help in the morning, please consider helping organize the distribution, pick-up and clean-up (boy there are a lot of pine needles after we get done!) We need a minimum of 10 to 15 parents/swimmers to get the wreaths processed for pick-up. Again, please send an email to smoore@pct.edu if you can help with this time. A sign-up sheet will be placed on the bulletin board.

 ADJUSTED Pick-up hours are from 11:00 am – 1:30pm.

For the parents picking up orders, PLEASE make sure to come get your orders asap. It is easier to process the large number of wreaths once we free up some space and have some of the orders picked up. Thank you!

Any questions about the wreath sale can be directed to Todd or Shelley Moore – Wreath Fundraiser Organizers at smoore@pct.edu or tmoore@lamar.com or 570-777-0554.

Jersey Shore Swimmer Takes Top Spot in Girl's 100 Yard Butterfly At West Shore Meet

Results of the meet can be viewed here.

Lock Haven YMCA Seeks Full Time Aquatics Director

The Lock Haven YMCA is seeking a full time aquatics director to oversee the operations of the
aquatics department and programs, including staff supervision, budget management, and planning.  Full job description can be read here and job position announcement here.

Jersey Shore Swimmers To Start Winter Practice

TheYMCA will start swim practice today (Wednesday) at the JS High School pool

Practice times are as follows:Ages 10 & Under – 6:00 PM – 7:00 PMAges 11 & Up – 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM

There are a limited amount of goggles for sale – prices vary depending on the pair you buy.

We are also selling Jersey Shore caps at a price of $5 each.

Lock Haven University Finds Swim Coach In Their Backyard

 Lock Haven University hired Lock Haven native, Joel Blesh, to coach the women's swim team.  More information can be found here.

Swimmers Invited To Participate In YMCA Grand Opening

While the Jersey Shore Branch YMCA does not have a pool (swim team pratices at the Jersey Shore High School), swimmers can still take advatage of the Y's other programs.  All members of the swimming community are invited to the grand opening of the Wellness Center and Teem Room renovation (see here) this Wednesday

Are Youth Activities In Jersey Shore In Danger of Extinction? Or Will Santa Have To Pay Money To Hand Out Presents?

The Jersey Shore School Board tried to introduce a ruling last month by imposing huge fees on any activity (non-school) occurring on school property.  Any activity or persons using school property falls into one of four categories with the Jersey Shore School District Facility Use Agreement (full agreement can be read here):

Class A – Non-profit organizations directly related to school sponsored activities. Examples of these organizations are student clubs, yearbook staff, booster clubs, and other organizations of similar purpose.

Class B - Non-profit organizations unrelated to school activities that provide a beneficial service to the citizens and community as a whole of the Jersey Shore Area School District. Examples of these organizations may include organizations such as the Jersey Shore Community Band, Jersey Shore YMCA, community youth programs (Little League), or community adult programs.

Class C - Non-profit organizations unrelated to school activities that provide a beneficial service to the citizens and community as a whole of the Jersey Shore Area School District, but which may not be primarily located within the Jersey Shore School District (PIAA event, county choir).

Class D – Commercial and profit generating activities that have limited benefit for the School District or the community as a whole.

Let's look at some examples:

The Jersey Shore YMCA provides child care to school-aged children, ages 5 to 12 years old, before and after school at Salladasburg, Jersey Shore, and Nippenose Elementary Schools.  In addition, they also hold YMCA swim team practices at the high school pool.  According to the facility use agreement, they fall into Class B.     Using the facility use fee schedule (see here and basing the costs of the after-school program on only using ONE classroom); it would cost the Jersey Shore YMCA $750 every week to provide activities and guidance to area youth.  This weekly cost would increase if they use more than one classroom and the gymnasiums for the after school programs.

 A very strong youth wrestling program would have to pay $75 a night, every time they turned on the lights and rolled out the mats for practice.  But it is just not young kids that will feel the brunt of the pain.  Jersey Shore's American Legion baseball team, Post 36, would have to pay $75 every time they chased down fly balls on the high school field.

Fortunately, several citizens concerned about youth activities and the onerous impact of this facility use agreement spoke at a school board meeting a few weeks ago.  As a result, the Jersey Shore School Board called for a special meeting on November 5th at 7:00 PM at the Jersey Shore Middle School Auditorium on Thompson Street to address concerns. 

 

PS - The Lion's Club, which holds a Santa event every December at Nippenose Elementary School (which fall under Class B) will be required to pay a fee under the proposed rule.  Santa might need to cough up some money before he meets the kids! 

Jersey Shore YMCA Swim Team Wreath and Swag Sale

The Holiday Season is Just around the Corner!!

And with that, the time has arrived for the Jersey Shore YMCA Swim Team's  MAJOR fundraiser of the season…the annual holiday wreath sale!! This fundraiser helps pay for coaches’ salaries, equipment and overall expenses the team incurs. Because the swim team MUST entirely pay for itself, the sale is super important. Also, the sale helps us keep our registration prices low…other area swim team have registration costs that are in the $100, $200 and $300’s! YIKES!! As in the past, we ask that each family participate in this fundraiser by selling a minimum of 10 wreaths and/or swags. We must sell at least 500 wreaths or swags to meet our financial obligations so let’s set a goal!! But honestly, the more the better!

The order form can be downloaded here. Fill out the form and hand-off to a Jersey Shore swimmer.  Here are some important dates to keep in mind:

• Monday, November 12 - Orders (and money) are due.
• Sunday, November 18 – wreaths delivered to the YMCA (early Sunday morning) and we will need volunteers to help unload the truck. A sign-up sheet will be placed on the bulletin board at the pool once practices start ….. as always the more volunteers we have the quicker we will get done!  Check out postings, from 2010 and 2011, here and here of the delivery date mayhem!
• Sunday, November 18 – volunteers needed at 11:00am at the JS YMCA so we can prepare/organize the wreaths for pick-up. Pick-up hours are from 11:30 – 1:30. Again, a sign-up sheet will be placed on the bulletin board – and keeping with the “theme” the more volunteers we have, the quicker we can get everything organized!!!

Any questions about the wreath sale can be directed to Todd or Shelley Moore – Wreath Fundraiser Organizers at tmoore@lamar.com or 570-777-0554.

Note that the 'Fresh Pine Wreath' is really a 'Fresh Fir Wreath'

Jersey Shore Swimmer Sets New Meet Record In 200 IM At Pocono's 'Out Of Shape Meet'

A Jersey Shore swimmer sets a new meet record in the Girl's 12 & Under 200 IM At the Pocono's 'Out Of Shape Meet' this past weekend.  Results can be viewed here.

Qualifying Times For YMCA Districts Set

YMCA swimming in Pennsylvania have undergone some new and interesting changes which are below:

New qualifying times can be viewed here.  Note that times are the same for all 3 districts

The state will be divided into 3 Districts, as follows (listing of individual counties is located at the bottom of the page):

• West District: The counties west of and including Bedford, Blair, Clearfield, Cameron, and McKean, as well as Jamestown, NY
• East District: The counties of Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, and Berks
• Central District: All other counties

The District Championship meets will continue as the sole-qualifying meet for the State Championship meet. Progression from Districts to States will be as follows:

• In events with 4 heats at the State Meet (see below), each District will send 1 heat. An additional heat will be chosen at large from among the 3 districts, using the fastest times achieved at the District meets. As an example, for 2013 at Penn State, in a 6 lane pool, each event will have 6 swimmers from each District, plus the next 6 fastest from across the 3 districts.
• In events with 3 heats at the State Meet, each District will send 1 heat. In the case that a district fails to qualify an entire heat for the State meet, the remaining spots will be filled using the fastest times from the other districts.

The events for the State meet will be as follows:

4 heats each of all of the existing events.

10 & unders: 200 medley and free relays, 50 free, 100 free, 50 back, 50 breast, 50 fly, 100 IM

11 12s:: 200 medley and free relays, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 50 back, 50 breast, 50 fly, 200 IM

13 14s: 200 medley and free relays, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly, 200 IM

15 & overs: 200 medley and free relays, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly, 200 IM

3 heats each of the new events:

10 & unders: 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly

11 12s: 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly

13 14s: 200 back, 200 breast, 200 fly, 500 free, 400 IM

15 & overs: 200 back, 200 breast, 200 fly, 400 IM

Swimmers will be permitted to swim in a maximum of 4 events, with no more than 3 being individual events.

The schedule and timeline for the State meet will be as follows:

• Friday pm: 13 -14; 15 & over 500 free and 400 IM (swimmers permitted 1 swim max for this session)
• Saturday am: 13 14s
• Saturday pm: 15 & overs
• Saturday pm: National Time Trials
• Sunday am: 10 & unders
• Sunday pm: 11 12s

The expectation is that the District meets will follow approximately the same time schedule

Additional factors for the State meet:

• Time between sessions will be shortened, with warm-ups for the afternoon session expected to begin immediately following the morning session
• Time allotted for awards is to be reduced. Award ceremonies will be retained, but with less time allotted for walking to the awards stand and receiving awards.

Pennsylvania YMCA Swimming District Alignment

East District	Central District	West District
Ambler	Bellefonte	Allegheny Valley
Boyertown	Bethlehem	Baierl
Brandywine, PA	Bloomsburg	Bradford
Hatboro	Carlisle	Brookville
Jennersville	Chambersburg	Butler
Kennett Area	East Lycoming	Clearfield
Lansdowne	Greater Pittston	Corry
Lionville	Hanover	County
North Penn	Hazleton	DuBois
Phoenixville	Jersey Shore	East Suburban
Pottstown	Juniata Valley	Eastside
Reading	Lancaster	Franklin
Ridley	Lebanon	Greensburg
Rocky Run	Lock Haven	Hollidaysburg
Tri-Hampton	Moshannon Valley	Indiana
Tri-Valley	Nazareth	Jamestown
Upper Bucks	Northern Dauphin County	Johnstown
Upper Main Line	Pocono Family	Laurel Highlands
West Chester	Schuykill	Ligonier
	Scranton	Meadville
	State College	Mon Valley
	Sunbury	New Castle
	Waynesboro	Oil City
	West Shore	Ridgway
	Wilkes-Barre	Sewickley
	York	Shenango Valley
		Titusville
		Uniontown
		Valley Points
		Warren
		Wilmerding

Passive Swim Community Watches As More Central Pennsylvania Pools To Close

Williamsport, the seventh fastest growing metropolitan area in the country (see here), looks to close two public swimming pools (see here).  Nary a peep went up as the Montoursville pool closed several years ago (see here and here) it looks like there is very little to say from the Williamsport swim community. Memorial Park Pool has been closed for repairs and leaks this summer and today's issue of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette quotes Williamsport's Recreation Director Justin Simpson "I haven't heard many complaints about the pool being closed".

Central Mountain High School Swimming Recruitment Poster

Below is a nice swimming recruitment poster done by Mike Rodo for the Central Mountain High School Swim Team.

Jersey Shore YMCA Swim Team Registration Dates

October 2 and 3 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the YMCA.

Here is the cost of swim team this year  (change from earlier posting)...

Registration:

$70 for first child

$50 for second child

$20 discount for each additional swimmer

$45 for high school swimmers

 

Team Suit - Dolfin Tracks Reversible Cross Back and the Dolfin Tracks Jammer (you can check it out on the D&J Sports' website)

$40 for the girls suit

$27 for the boys suit

YMCA Membership (only need to purchase a 6 month membership which needs to be paid by October 31st)

$45.90 for a 6 month youth membership; $87.72 for a full year

$248.88 for a 6 month Family membership; $474.30 for a full year.

$190.74 for a 6 month Single Parent Family membership.