IOWA CITY EELS ___________________________________________________________________________

                                

    contact: 351-3336 or SwimICE@aol.com                                                                February 6, 2002

   ___________________________________________________________________________

 

Coming in February:

2/9 & 2/10- DASH Valentines Classic                                                2/20- Spaghetti Night                                        

2/11- Sign-up deadline for Spring JO’s                                            2/22-2/24: Spring JO’s at Coe College

2/14- Cookie Night                                                                              2/25- Newsletter inputs due

2/15- ICE bills due                                                                        3/1-3/3- Senior Championships at U of  I                                                                                 2/16 & 2/17- Regionals in Davenport                                                3/7-3/10- Sectionals at U of Chicago                                                                               

                 2/18- End of season practice schedule changes take effect-  *see below*                                

     ___________________________________________________________________________

Coaches Corner

 

GETTING THE MIND READY FOR THE BIG MEET

          One of the most important aspects of peaking during the taper phase of the swim season is how an athlete thinks about racing at the meet.  The mental side of swimming is one of the main factors that separate a normal swimmer from the champion swimmer.  A few pointers to keep in mind (literally) during this period:

 

  1. Focus on the task at hand – Before you race and during the race think about simple things that will help you go fast.  Don’t get caught up in the pressure or atmosphere once you are behind the block.  Reminding yourself to think about things like proper entry, quick turns, and tight streamlines will help you more than dwelling on the fact you are at the State Champs or Sectionals.
  2. Don’t Think About Racing Too Much Away from the Pool – Constantly thinking about your race can mentally drain you during the taper.  By the time you get to warm-ups you can create so much mental baggage that you may fear racing.  Away from the pool think about things like eating healthy, getting enough rest, making sure your schoolwork is done, and other day-to-day things.  Once at the pool for practice or warm-ups start focusing on what you need to do to reach your goals.
  3. Prepare Your Equipment Early – Make sure you have enough goggles, caps, and a spare suit before the Championship meet(s).  I have seen goggles snap and suits split right before huge races (Olympic Trials) so always be ready with a backup.  This eliminates any of those frantic last-minute panic attacks that take you away from getting “up” to swim fast.  You should not have to worry about your stuff while getting ready for a lifetime best.
  4. Maintain Your Psyche-Up and Warm-Up Routines – Each athlete has certain switches that need to be flipped and buttons they need to push before they get into a race situation.  Some like to stretch a bit more that others, some like to do sculling or extra drill work in the cool down pool, some listen to a certain musical group or song, some do meditation drills, and the list goes on.  Make sure you develop a pattern for how you get ready and adjust certain parts of that for what events you are swimming and where you are at in the meet.  Make certain not to follow others or allow them to interfere and to communicate with your coaches on what you need to do to get ready to swim fast.
  5. Remember that Swimming and Racing is for Fun – Remind yourself how hard you have worked to get to this point and realize that big championship meets should be a celebration (not a fear-fest).  This is the point of the season when you are totally prepared to “show off” your mad swimmin’ skills so keep a positive mental attitude and get out there and have fun! 

 

Donald P. Spellman

 

January swimmers of the month:

Frost:  Ben Hartman

Cubes:  Justin Choi

Morays: Chuck Knight

Eels: (Tie) Gabi MacKay & Ian Buller

 

End of season practice schedule changes:  As we approach the end of the 2001-2002 short course season things get a bit crazy.  From mid-February until the second week of March there are a series of qualifying and championship meets which place heavy time demands on the coaching staff.  Added to this situation are the end of the Junior High  season and the Boys’ High School swimming championships.  There is a whole lot going on and to best meet the needs of all of our club members the following practice schedule has been devised.  The big difference from previous years being that non-qualifiers will be given the opportunity to continue practicing on a limited basis up to the 27th of February. 

                                    No practice at Coralville after February 15th

2/16 (Saturday): regular practices

2/18 (Monday): Age group and Senior qualifiers: 6:00-7:15 PM (Seniors to 8:00 PM)

                          Non-qualifiers: 7:00 to 8:00 PM

2/19 (Tuesday): SE Jr. High swim meet at Mercer.  Age group and Senior qualifiers only:

                           6:45-8:15 PM

2/20 & 2/21 (Wednesday & Thursday): Age group and Senior qualifiers: 6:00-7:15 PM

                    (Seniors to 8:00 PM)  Non-qualifiers: 7:00 to 8:00 PM

2/23 (Saturday): Masters & Senior qualifiers: 8:00 to 9:30 AM 

                           Non-qualifiers: 9:15 to 10:15 AM

2/25 to 2/27 (Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday): Senior qualifiers: 6:00 to 7:15 PM    

                                                                              Non-qualifiers: 7:15 to 8:15 PM

2/28 (Thursday): Senior qualifiers only: 4:00 to 6:00 PM- meet warm-up

3/1 (Friday): Masters only (AM)

3/2 (Saturday): Masters only 8:00 to 9:30 AM

Week of sectionals (beginning 3/4) Sectionals qualifiers only: 5:30 to 6:30 PM  

Cookie Night:  On Thursday, February 14th there will be a Cookie Night at both Mercer and Coralville for swimmers preparing for the Regional meet the following weekend.  Cookies, pop, and crafts will be available at both sites.  Come join the fun!

 

Spaghetti night:  On Wednesday, February 20th there will be a pasta feed for all swimmers taking part in the Spring JO’s at Coe the weekend of the 24th-26th.  Beginning after practice in the P&G room (about 7:15 PM), a spaghetti dinner will be served.

 

Swimposium:  More details about the ISI Swimposium.  It will be held at Coe College in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, April 13th.  USA Swimming is sending along several folks to conduct workshops on a variety of subjects for parents, coaches and officials and swimmers Tobie Smith & Kimberly Black (Kimberly being the NCAA Woman of the Year) will be working directly with athletes of all age groups.  Saturday evening there will be an awards banquet open to all in our LSC and ISI is putting together a hotel package for those needing overnight accommodations.  Further details will follow as USA Swimming and ISI formalize plans.  Keep this date in mind- it might prove to be a rather enjoyable time for everyone!

 

Board openings:  The ICE Board of Directors has several vacancies to fill and we’re looking for interested people to help the club out.  Ours is a successful and growing swim club and there is always a need for fresh ideas and different points of view,  if you would like to contribute please contact Jan at 354-9005 or Blawler251@aol.com. 

 

Website is launched:  The new ICE website was launched last week.  The bugs are still being ironed out but improvements will be made.  This is our website- we can design it to suit the needs of our swimmers and that is the primary goal.  To that end, any suggestions or additions will be examined thoroughly.  Anyone wishing to contribute content (pictures, articles, etc.) is more than welcome to do so and efforts will be made to make that process relatively simple.  A special thanks to all who have made suggestions and commented on the site- your input is most valuable.  If you haven’t visited the site the address is www.iceels.org.  take a look and let us know what you think.

 

Fundraising update:     I want to thank the ICE membership for the great fundraising support this winter swim season!!  As of February 1, 2002, 65 families have either donated or raised funds for the club.  Of these 65 families, 51 families have met their fundraising requirement for the winter season; and of these 51 families, 17 families have a fundraising credit for the summer season, and 6 families have met their requirement for the entire swim year (September 2001 through August 2002).  FANTASTIC!!!! 

 

Planned fundraising events during the summer season:

 

Flower Basket Sale in April 2002

USA Swimming Swim-a-Thon in May or June 2002 (ICE keeps 95% of all funds raised!)

Car Wash in June or July 2002

You can also sponsor events at either the Spring Meltdown or Long Course JO’s

Again, a reminder that any ICE family who designated ICE to receive its United Way donations as part of the current United Way Fundraising Campaign and wants fundraising credit needs to let Bryan Lawler (354-9005, Blawler251@aol.com) know.  ICE receives 87 cents of each dollar so designated. 

 

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please let Bryan know. 

 

Scott Stimmel prep athlete profile:   The Iowa City Press Citizen recently ran a nice piece on ICE swimmer Scott Stimmel. It’s always good to see swimming get some publicity!  There is a copy of the article on the bulletin board at Mercer or you can read it online at: http://www.press-citizen.com/sports/preprofiles/index.htm

 

 

MEET RESULTS:

 

 Bettendorf Splash Invitational Meet, January 11-12: Girls:  10 & under:  Stephanie Choi:  100 free, 1:09.36, 2nd; 100 breast, 1:24.81, 1st; 50 back, 38.55, 5th; 100 fly, 1:24.85, 1st; Lily Doershuk: 100 fly, 1:58.74, 8th; Grace Murray: 200 free, 2:31.57, 2nd; 100 back, 1:27.84, 8th; Hannah Osborn: 200 free, 2:47.69, 7th; 100 back, 1:29.84, 9th; 50 fly, 39.96, 6th; 100 free, 1:17.65, 9th; 50 back, 40.35, 7th; 100 fly, 1:43.54, 5th; 11-12: Chelsea Hartman: 200 IM, 2:55.51, 10th; 100 fly, 1:23.16, 5th; Christine Olson: 200 IM, 2:32.07, 2nd; 1650 free, 19.53.35, 4th; 100 breast, 1:17.55, 10th; 13-14: Jacqueline Astor: 500 free, 5:47.82, 9th; 200 free, 2:10.97, 8th; Ashley Matteson: 1650 free, 20.35.44, 6th; Amy Olson: 100 breast, 1:14.65, 4th; Lauren Talman: 500 free, 5:36.06, 3rd; 50 free, 27.60, 7th; Seniors: Heather Gray: 200 free, 2:06.50, 5th; 50 free, 26.80, 4th; 100 fly, 1:04.57, 3rd; 100 free, 58.06, 8th; 200 fly, 2:23.37, 4th; Amanda Knight: 100 breast, 1:14.85, 5th; Boys: 10 & under:  Justin Choi: 100 fly, 1:37.57, 4th; Ben Hartman: 25 breast: 33.14, 9th; 50 back, 1:00.14, 10th; 25 back, 27.33, 6th; Heejae Yoo: 50 free, 47.34, 8th; 25 breast, 29.78, 8th; 50 back, 54.05, 6th; 25 fly, 31.63, 10th; 25 free, 22.13, 7th; 50 breast, 1:07.10, 5th; 25 back, 27.38, 7th; 50 fly, 1:08.34, 4th; Kanoe Russell Yun: 200 IM, 3:00.55, 2nd; 500 free, 7:10.34, 10th; 200 free, 2:45.43, 4th; 50 breast, 45.45, 6th; 50 fly, 39.04, 4th; 100 IM, 1:26.79, 3rd; 100 free, 1:16.61, 8th; 100 breast, 1:36.66, 5th; 50 back,
41.42, 7th; 100 fly, 1:32.42, 3rd; 11-12: Hong-Bin Yoon: 100 breast, 1:41.26,
8th; Senior: Chuck Knight: 200 breast, 2:34.54, 2nd.

 

Swimmers from the Iowa City Eels Swim Club were selected to compete in the 18th Annual Midwestern Age Group All-Star Championships in Lawrence, Kansas January 19-20.  Team Iowa finished third in the final standings and the following ICE swimmers finished in the top 15 during individual events: Girls: 10 & under:  Stephanie Choi:  100 Breast, 1:23.76, 6th; 200 Free,
2:29.33, 15th; Beth Eyanson:  50 Fly, 34.51, 13th; 100 Back,  1:16.77, 12th; 100 Free, 1:07.84, 10th; 50 Back, 33.03, 4th; 100 Fly, 1:18.46, 8th; Sarah Striegel: 100 Breast, 1:25.90, 12th; 50 breast, 39.78, 9th; 11-12: Christine Olson: 100 Breast, 1:15.29, 7th; 100 Fly, 1:09.47, 15th; 200 IM, 2:26.88,15th; 13-14: Anna Kampling:  100 Fly, 1:02.49, 6th; 50 Free, 26.12, 9th; 100 Free, 56.72, 15th; 200 Fly, 2:25.72, 13th; Ashley Lawler:  200 Free, 1:58.88, 6th; 200 Back, 2:21.27, 13th; 500 Free, 5:13.31, 5th; 400 IM, 4:54.57, 13th; Amy Olson: 200 Breast, 2:36.56, 12th.

 

BLAST Winter Invitational in Cedar Falls on January 25-27: Top ten finishers included-
GIRLS:  10 & under:  Stephanie Choi: 200 free, 2:27.88, 2nd; 50 fly, 37.86, 7th; 100 breast, 1:23.14, 2nd; 100 free, 1:07.59, 1st; Sarah Striegel:  200 IM, 2:59.44, 3rd; 500 free, 7:28.71, 4th; 50 free, 34.39, 10th; 100 fly, 1:27.50, 3rd; 100 IM, 1:23.09, 6th; 50 breast, 41.63, 3rd; 200 free, 2:47.69, 7th; 50 fly, 36.49, 3rd; 100 breast, 1:28.16, 4th; 100 free, 1:14.74, 10th; 11-12:  Christine Olson: 400 IM, 5:15.74, 1st; 100 fly, 1:09.52, 8th; 200 breast, 2:44.15, 7th; 13-14:  Jacqueline Astor:  100 free: 1:01.13, 4th; 200 back, 2:40.61, 7th; 200 breast, 2:53.98, 5th; 50 free, 28.38, 8th; 200 free,2:09.97, 4th; 100 breast, 1:18.18, 6th; Ashley Lawler:  400 IM, 4:56.01, 1st; 500 free, 5:11.55, 1st; 100 free, 56.66, 1st; 200 back, 2:20.98, 1st; 1650 free, 17:36.54, 1st; 50 free, 27.02, 1st; 100 back, 1:07.92, 2nd; 200 free, 2:00.61, 1st; Amy Olson:  400 IM, 5:19.58, 3rd; 100 fly, 1:09.50, 2nd; 200 breast, 2:40.93, 2nd; Jennifer St. John:  200 back, 2:42.22, 8th; Lauren
Talman:  500 free, 5:30.45, 2nd; 200 IM, 2:22.95, 1st; 100 free, 58.40, 2nd; 100 fly, 1:08.09, 1st; 50 free, 27.20, 3rd; 100 back, 1:09.80, 4th; 200 free, 2:05.29, 2nd; 100 breast, 1:18.13, 5th;     Senior:  Amanda Knight:  200 IM, 2:31.54, 6th; 200 breast, 2:38.56, 3rd; 100 breast, 1:15.85, 6th; Kaela Kramer:  100 fly, 1:10.54, 9th; Kristin Lee:  50 free, 26.72, 3rd; 100 back, 1:10.11, 7th; 100 breast, 1:10.91, 1st; Mollie McBreen:  100 fly, 1:13.88, 10th; 200 back, 2:41.37, 10th; 200 fly, 2:46.89, 6th; Jessica Murillo:  500 free, 6:22.56, 6th; Janae Weiser:  100 free, 59.30, 8th; 100 fly, 1:07.60, 5th; BOYS:  10 & under:  Justin Choi:  100 free, 1:19.14, 2nd; 50 fly, 42.86, 4th;
100 breast, 1:46.33, 5th; 50 free, 37.99, 6th;  Kanoe Russell Yun:  100 fly, 1:26.32, 1st; 100 IM, 1:22.79, 2nd; 50 breast, 44.13, 2nd; 100 back, 1:25.64, 3rd; 200 free, 2:36.55, 1st; 100 breast, 1:35.80, 2nd; 50 back, 39.49, 2nd; 100 free, 1:14.89, 3rd; 11-12:  Devin St. John:  200 IM, 2:59.27, 5th; 100 free, 1:10.48, 6th; 50 fly, 33.43, 3rd; 50 free, 31.01, 10th; 100 fly, 1:17.76,
5th; 200 back, 3:03.25, 9th.

 

Final notes from communications:  The short course season will soon be ending and the swimmers (and parents) will be ready for a well deserved break! Here are a few things to keep in mind:  The Annual Parent Meeting will be Sunday March 24th at the Rec Center in downtown Iowa City.  This is a potluck dinner, team recognition, and parents meeting all rolled into one gala event.  Please plan on attending; it is always a good time.  The long course season is scheduled to begin the first week of April with the stroke clinic likely beginning around the 8th.  If you know of anyone interested in joining the Eels, the stroke clinic is the best way for them to start. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to call Kelly at 339-7579 or e-mail at keleyn@inav.net.  If you do have access to the Internet our website (www.iceels.org ) will be continually updated and should contain the latest information available on a range of ICE related concerns.