Reports of WSY National Team at YMCA Nationals in College Park Maryland written by Coach Mike

(2:50pm  7/29/05). Yesterday got to be a very long day as we had to swim a few events last night from the night before (Wednesday), as we had to cut short Wednesday evening due to severe weather in the area.  We had a great evening last night with the Girls 800 free relay team receiving 14th (Erin Luley, Kim Jezerick, Alie Zelenky, and Kayla Ricedorf).  The girls 4r00 free relay went well above everyone's expectations receiving 10th place (4:05.58).  The 400 free relay team was Alie Zelenky, Erinne Butler, Emily Weaner, and Kim Jerzerick.  Our 200 breastrokers did well as Gene, Sam, Mary and Amanda scored some team points.  Kalya continued to improve her times as she scored in the 200 back with a time of 2:26.48.  One WSY National record was taken off the book as Tricia's 100 fly National record (set last year) was broke by 13 year old Felecia Lee of Montclair, New Jersey in a very impressive time of 1:02.48.

As far as today's action.....we had our best day yet, and the team is also very happy that EVERY RELAY that we entered in the meet has made it back for a night swim.  Both of our 200 free relay relays will be swimming tonight (Men's team of Matt Hershey, Sam Goldsmith, John Cremo, and Genre Noone and the Women's team of Erinne Butler, Alie Zelenky, Ashlyn Stumpf, and Kim Jerzerick).  Kayla will be back tonight swimming the 200 fly, and Mary and Amanda will be swimming the 100 breastroke.  Our girls 400 medley relay team (Kayla Ricedorf, Mary Flynn, Lauren McCleaf, and Alie Zelenky) are seeded 5th going into tonight's final, an event in which WSY holds the National record.

We had many other great swims today from some of our first timers in the 50 backstroke.  Lifetime best times today came from Sam Carberry, Adri Phillips, Aimee Porr, Emily Weaner.  Congratulations to Erin Luley who dropped an amazing 14 seconds in the metric mile. 

I will attempt to get more video uploaded this evening after our team dinner.  I think all of you will be impressed with how this team is swimming.  After last evening we were in 21st place as an overall team, and after this evening we should have no problem breaking into the Top 20 as a team........more later

keep them coming, the team does enjoy hearing from you.  These are presented each evening at our team meeting: email mike at nationals

To the national team, I've been watching results everyday and am very excited to see so many of you have great swims. I hope everyone had fun and have a great last night of finals, it looks like it is going to be the best night yet. I am very happy for each and everyone of you - way to finish a season. Congrats Tina Gingrich     To the national team, hey guys i just wanted to wish everyone good luck this week.  i will be following the meet online and keeping up with it as much as i can.  try to have as much fun as possible.  i wish i could have seen coach kim go nuts at the hotel desk when she found out there were no rooms.  have fun!     Drew Soisson

 

(12:30pm  7/27/05). The WSY National team continues to make progress here in College Park Maryland.  We had some fantastic swims today.  Emily and Lauren started things off with two great swim sin the 100 fly, followed by all of our 200 breastrokers.  Kylee had a lifetime best time of 2:52.46, as did Alie with a time of 2:53.56.  Mary and Amanda had some fast times that were good enough to get an evening swim.  On the men's side, our lone male rookie Justin Beegle dropped 3 seconds in his 200 breastroke with a time of 2:46.49 (although his roommate John Cremo must be rubbing off on him as Justin's last 25 meters looks like John's stroke).  Sam and Gene had nice time drops to get an evening swim tonight.  Our 200 freestylers looked good, with some great 2nd 100's in their event.  Erin Luley went 2:16.47, rookie Claire Loht looked she had been to Nationals before, as she went 2:18.18, and Kim Jerzerick went a lifetime best of 2:15.18.  The girls had a 400 free relay, and knew they would all have to swim fast to make an evening swim, and did they ever.  Their seed time was 4:12, and they knew it would take at least a 4:08 to make it back.  Kim, Erinne, Emily, and Alie went 4:08.17 to get an evening swim seeded 13th.  The Finals will begin at 6pm this evening.........more later

(11pm  7/26/05). We had many great swims today.  Several of those great swims came from WSY swimmers who are here for the first time or may not have made finals.  It is very good to see all of the swimmers getting along and having fun, as this leads to an environment to swim fast.  At our team meeting this evening at dinner, John Cremo, Kayla Ricedorf, and Ashlyn Stumpf gave the thought of the day, and each one of them talked about topics such as "not giving up, finishing your races hard, and not letting the intimidation of a big meet or older swimmers get to you"

We had many great swims this evening at finals including Kayla's 100 back and 200IM, Gene and John's 50 breastroke, and the girls medley relay (Kayla, Mary, Ashlyn, and Alie) who won the consol heat, and the guys medley team (Matt Hershey, Sam Goldsmith, John, and Gene) who got 17th.  I can really tell this group is very focused and ready to swim fast this week, as after dinner when the swimmers got back to their rooms, everyone was asleep within 20 minutes, including Coach Derek who is my room mate (He hates when I stay up late like this.......I already make him mad as I keep the room about 45 degrees......ask him about it.  After Day 1, we are in 18th place in the combined scoring

I am in the process of uploading video from tonight and earlier today.  Thanks to Sam Carberry for video taping most of the prelim sessions today............We have another big day tomorrow.  I am very glad this meet is indoors as the temperature outdoor is over 100 degrees....WOW.  The team will be ready to go for our AM swim at 5:30am, so until tomorrow.........I leave you with a few more emails I received today:

keep them coming, the team does enjoy hearing from you.  These are presented each evening at our team meeting: email mike at nationals

Dear Mike and WSY National Team,   Hi to all!          Good luck to everyone. We are all thinking about you. Congrats Adri on your best time in the 100 back!                 Claudia Phillips    Dear mike and the national team... I'd like to let you all know that court and feldish (letter from yesterday)were severely punished for their antics yesterday. Using work time to send an email is against the rules at harrisburg country club. As my assistant sam knows, we run a tight ship and don't tolerate slackers. I hope you all rock the house this week. Your friend (who most of you are too young to even know), Alex P.S. Sam, there's a Yale boy down there. His name is Matt Sweitzer from New Canaan Y. Tell him goldie says hi and to swim fast Dear mike and the national team... tell claire to swim super fasttttttttttttttttt. i miss her   ~ Hayley

 

(5:30am  7/25/05)  Wake Up calls cam and everyone was in the lobby by 5:45am for the van rides to the pool for the 6am swim.  We caught some good video of our wake-up swim today  Everyone was in a great mood and we had a super AM swim.  After our swim we had a breakfast at the University of Maryland Dining Hall, and then we went to register for the meet, which included getting our wrist bands and looking over the meet psych sheets, and most important, all of the swimmers getting their "goody bags".  Off to the grocery store for water and snacks, and trying to teach Amie Porr how to use a credit card.  Lunch was super......and I forgot just how much these kids can eat.  We had out first team meeting and the kids surprised me by singing Happy Birthday (however the cake said I was 40 years old......).  The team is now resting, and we will be back at the pool for a 4pm swim, then dinner and more rest for the night as we get ready for the first day of competition.  There are very high expectations for this team, as we have placed Top 10 for the last three (3) Nationals meets.  This is a very young WSY team, and everyone is aggressive and ready to swim fast.

and the letters to the team start arriving.........keep them coming, the team does enjoy hearing from you.  These are presented each evening at our team meeting: email mike at nationals

Dear Mike and WSY National Team,   Heyyyy this is Jess Feldish and Sara Court(house) saying hi from the Harrisburg Country Club. We just wanted to both wish everybody the best of luck during the next week of competition.  We wish we could be there cheering you all on. So this email will have to do. I wish all the swimmers good luck and kick some butt. Gene, where are you christmas (look for cindy lou whoo) Mary, hold down the party room while we aren't there and make sure you keep hydrated. And Alie, make sure that you don't swim too much IM... So I think that's it. We love you all and good luck.

(1pm  7/24/05) We left the YMCA parking lot today at 1pm on our way to College Park, Maryland.  We are staying in a new hotel this year (1st time in 6 years........long reason as to why, but ask me sometime about last year and how I got locked out of my room until 4am...), so we are not sure what to expect.....a new environment for all.  We will get one swim in the pool today.  Just two days ago, the USA National Team was in this pool as they used the University of Maryland pool to prepare and assemble prior to departing for the World Championships (which began today) in Montreal.