Hi Team!

Well we have done it again, we are State Champions! 5-peaters, we are developing quite a thing here. Thank you all for the wonderful season! The weekend was a blur of good times, team bonding in tent city, and many exciting races. I am always in awe of what we can accomplish together in a few short weeks. The energy of summer swimming, although overwhelming at times, really is quite magical. Now that I have had 24 hours to re-group and spend my allotted post State Meet time in starfish position on the ground, I am ready to get going!

First off, thank you parents and volunteer helpers. A special thank you to Nick and Ellie Mack doing the double, double with me and some of the coaching staff. Double Sessions, double days is what I call the double, double. The double, double is no easy feat. We will have to ask Coach Beckham whether being a swimmer or being a coach all weekend is harder. Beckham gets the award for most cheering behind the lanes and least voice at the end of the meet! Also thank you to those who stepped up to fill positions for me when I needed it most. Thank you to those who brought their tents and coffees for the coaches and ice! Also most of all thank you to the swimmers who brought their very best!

One of the most important parts of the State Swimming Meet is that the kids get to experience what it is like to be part of a team. In an individual sport like swimming it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the very important team aspects of the sport. I think one of the most valuable lessons and experiences we have here at this State Meet is understanding how you contribute to the whole. You all are valuable players and contribute to this extraordinary result. Together everyone achieves more (TEAM), is not just a corny poster on the wall it is something demonstrated time after time at this state meet.

Swimmers swim phenomenal swims when they swim not just for themselves but for their teammates, like in a relay. There were many incredible relay finishes, one of them was a new State Record! Congrats to our 13-14 Girls 200 Medley Relay! Way to go Lucy Pearo, Kendall St. Peter, Maddie Biunno, and Eva Tiron! Also great job to the 18&Under Girls and Boys 200 Freestyle Relays at the end of the meet! Talk about exciting finishes! Wow!

Also Congrats to Quinn Melasky setting a new State Record in the 10&Under Girls 50yd Backstroke! It is a pretty cool thing to get your name on a record board. We had so many incredible swims, it is hard to list them all here. I will just say that it took me the better part of yesterday to sort and organize all the ribbons and medals we earned. These will be available for you to pick up in the lobby at the club. Please do so before the club closes in the fall otherwise all bets are off for what happens to them spending a winter in the swim team closet.

I am wrapping up this message to you and signing off as your summer swim leader, before I get too long winded. As everyone knows, I go on and on. If you all are interested in continuing your swimming in the upcoming school year and I hope you are, there are some good local options. There is of course my team the CVSA Sturgeons and we practice out of St. Mikes, there is the Edge, and the Y Dynamos. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions! I will miss you all! Have a great rest of your summer and I hope to see you all at the pool soon!

Coach Hilary