DOLPHINS AND THE Wild Things

  Saturday the Dolphins finally were able to swim in their own pool after two weeks on the road.  It was nice to be able to be back in our own team area and be in familiar surroundings.  We knew this was going to be a very tough meet and one that was going to be hard to win.  When putting our meet sheet together the coaches made a decision to get out in front and stay there as long as we could in the order to keep your spirits up.  you all responded by winning 8 out of ten freestyle races taking a 54 to 36 advantage over the wild things. Our backstrokers responded by winning 5 of the 10 events and kept the Dolphins out front with a score of 95-85.  The depth that the wild things had began to show as we entered the breast stroke and fly events.  Throughout those events the Dolphins would only manage to win 3 of the 20 events.  The dolphins had some amazing swims during the breast and fly events turing in 35 personal best, 12 times within.3 of their best.  This was a great effort by all of our Dolphins.  It seems like our depth always rears its head during the breaststroke events and a little in the fly.  As a coach I really believe that a contributing factor in this is the division we are swimming in.  The upper divisions have a majority of their teams swimming seriously in the winter and this helps an awful lot, especially when learning to swim breast and fly.  Six weeks is a very short time to cover everything that is needed in this sport, and that is why I was against the 8 and under fly being added to the meets.  Okay time to get off the soap box. First place winners from Saturday on the boys side were Ryan Southern, Justin Britton (double) Calvin Marr (double), Ian Fry, Michael Lusick, Adam and Matthew  Janicki.  On the girls side the Dolphins who won their races were Reagan Cervenak, Sophia Cloutier (double), Meghan Ice, Laura Wargo, and Elena Summers (double).  Great races you all!!! Although the Dolphins came out on the short end of the score, we had a lot of great swims throughout the meet. We had 65 dolphins turning in personal best times and another 27 swimmers who were within .4 or less of their best times which is much better than the week before. That is 92 out of 120 swims that were pretty good.  Nice job to all our Dolphins! The entire team was great at practice on Friday and the cheering that continued into the meet on Saturday was awesome.  Seniors you did an awesome job and 12 and unders you were great also.  The final wrap on the meet was yes we lost and now lets move on knowing that we swam a great meet with a lot of best times and showing s lot of support for each other. Thanks to all the parents for you continued support and the sacrifices you make getting your swimmers to where they are suppose to be.  On another note I was aked by a parent why we don't do a organize practice on  Friday..The reason is that I think it is important for the entire team to come together and actually hang out other than at a meet.  This is were lasting friendships and memories are made.  Most swimmers only swim 3 to 4 times a week in the winter and do quite well, and we believe we get more out of the Friday now than we would with an organized ptracvtice.