Practice opportunity for Alpacas and Bactrians

Coach Ann has been offering skill & technique practices for the younger swimmers once per week - “Technique Tuesdays”. To give our Bactrians additional practice time and to allow them to partake in this technique work, Bactrians may attend practice during the Alpaca slot when these opportunities occur on Tuesday (giving Bactrians five additional practice days). The ten dates are noted below and are noted on the “Detailed Team Calendar” accessible on the “Documents” page and are on the Google calendar (for which there is a link in the upper right corner of every page).

1. Tue Jan 23
2. Tue Jan 30 (and the last hour of Wed Jan 31)
3. Wed Feb 7
4. Tue Feb 13
5. Wed Feb 21
6. Tue Feb 27
7. Tue Mar 6
8. Tue Mar 13
9. Wed Mar 21

Spend the day with Olympians Josh Davis and Kaitlin Sandeno

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 25. Connecticut Swimming is sponsoring a day with Olympians Josh Davis and Kaitlin Sandeno at Connecticut College. The camp will run 9am-3pm, with lunch provided. The camp is open to USA swimmers, age 11-17, on a first come, first served basis at a cost of $150. For information and to register go to the camp page on Connecticut Swimming’s website.

CAMEL well represented at Wilton Meets

CAMEL swimmers particpated in both Wilton’s AA meet and in their Senior Qualifier. Between them Asia White and Adeladie Taylor tallied 7 personal lifetime bests, 5 CAMEL season team bests, and 3 new All-Time CAMEL records. “Swimmer of the Meet” was awarded to Grace Moriarty (pictured). Grace noted that Asia was CAMEL’s only junior attending the AA meet, and to ensure Asia had support, Grace made Asia a psych box, stayed at the hotel with the team, accompanied Asia to the meet and was our #1 cheerleader. Grace exemplified the kind of teammanship CAMEL is becoming known for. Way to go Grace! The “Swim of the Meet” was Adelaide Taylor’s 100 Fly. Adelaide powered through the 100 Fly in morning trials to qualify for finals with a 1:06. At finals, in a race that was excitingly close throughout, Adelaide dropped two seconds touching out her opponents with a 1:04. WYW AA CAMEL Results and Full USA Results are both available on the “Meets” page. At the Senior Qualifer “Swimmer of the Meet” was awarded to Rachel Kriet. Rachel has consistantly worked hard all season and, as a result, was one of the few senior swimmers able to acheive over 50% best times during this endurance time of season. Even as tired as Rachel was she stepped up and swam a great 200 Back to conclude Saturday’s session. Congrats Rachel! “Swim of the Meet” was awarded to Meghan Brown for her 100 Breast which was well swum and a also a new personal best by 4.53 seconds. Rachael Kokomoor was recognized for significant improvement. CAMEL Results and Full USA Results are both available on the “Meets” page. Age Group qualifiers to date and Preliminary Relays for Age Groups have been updated and are also available on the “Meets” page. Season Best Times and CAMEL Records have been updated and can both be accessed on the “Goals” page.

CAMEL Monitor Responsibilities Significantly Reduced

Coach Ann and CAMEL President Rocco Tricarico have worked with Coach Mark Benvenuti and Athletic Director Fran Shields from Connecticut College to review CAMEL’s responsibilities regarding facility use, with special attention to the monitor situation. CAMEL is no longer responsible for monitors when the college is in session. (We will look for volunteers to cover spring break). Although swimmers participating in CAMEL’s Alpaca, Bactrian and Dromedary groups should still be accompanied while in the facility, swimmers participating in the Llama, Guanaco and Vicuna groups no longer need to be escorted. CAMEL managment thanks our families for their cooperation the last few weeks while CAMEL and the college worked out a managable plan. Connecticut College is also pursuing additional lighting in the back parking lot.

Signups and Roster Updated

At the conclusion of CAMEL’s membership meeting, the Championship Attendance List and the Regional Volunteer Signups were both updated. Please ensure the information for your family is correct on both forms. If there are highlighted meets on the Championship Attendance List for your swimmer or question marks next to your name on the Regionals Volunteer Signup, please contact Coach Ann. There are still a few volunteer spots that need filling for Regionals, please consider signing up for an additional session. The Long Course Spring/Summer 2007 Roster was also updated. In addition to the links within this article, all three documents can be accessed at any time on the “Documents” page.

Championship Season is Approaching

As the championship season nears, CAMEL’s coaching staff needs to confirm each swimmer’s intended attendance for the upcoming championship meets. The championship signup list has been e-mailed today. It is also posted on the team bulletin board at the pool, posted on the “Documents” page, and may be accessed by clicking on the link earlier in this sentence. If any signup information for a swimmer is highlighted or if there are any errors, the family needs to contact Coach Ann ASAP. General information about these meets is available on the “Meets” page, some important highlights specific to CAMEL are noted here. If you have any questions about championship meets or relays, please contact Coach Ann ASAP. As taper approaches, swimmers should continue to stay hydrated, eat wisely and get enough scheduled rest.

CAMEL Swimmers compete in 1650 and Pentathlon

CAMEL Results and Full USA Results from CDOG’s Distance Meet have been posted on the “Meets” page. Three CAMEL seniors, Rhianna Blake, Brian Hughes and Stephanie Novotny (pictured) competed in the 1650; all acheived new personal best times by significant amounts and all also set new season best times with Stephanie Novotny’s time setting a new CAMEL all time record for both her split in the 1000 and the full 1650. Brian Hughes’s split was also a new CAMEL All-Time record. The three were joined by 22 other CAMELS competing in the OAK Pentathlon in which 20 new season best times were swum and 7 new team records were set by Kameal Kalkhoran, Sammy Kokomoor and Asia White. The CAMEL staff announced that Sabrina Brown has been recognized as Swimmer of the Meet. Sabrina, just recovering from pneumonia, came back strong with three new personal bests dropping a total of over 7.5 seconds in her events. Sabrina was recognized for both her personal acheivements and for her complete support and encouragement of her teammates efforts. Way to go Sabrina! Brian Hughes, Stephanie Novotny, Dana Tricarico, and Asia White all were awarded trophies for placing in the top 12 overall. CAMEL results and full results for the OAK Pentahlon are available on the “Meets” page. Season Best Times and All-Time CAMEL Records are posted on the “Goals” page. Preliminary Age Group Relays have also been updated and reside on both the “Meets” page and the “Goals” page.

CAMEL Membership Exceeds Goal

CAMEL exceeded membership goals for short course and is well on the way to doing it again for long course. Before the current season has drawn to a close and before the membership advertising campaign has even begun, CAMEL’s long course membership has already passed 75% of Goal.

Membership Meeting Thursday, January 25

The CAMEL Board of Directors has announced a general Membership Meeting for all CAMEL families. It is strongly encouraged that every family attend. the agenda includes plans for hosting the Regional Championship Meet, board reports and member comment and Q&A.

CAMEL Flies Through Another Successful Weekend

CAMEL literally flew through two more meets with Brian Hughes (pictured) and Sammy Kokomoor both setting new All-Time CAMEL Team Records in fly. CAMEL swimmers opened the weekend with some fast swimming at the FINS qualifier where Leah Gionet was named “Swimmer of the Meet” for her amazing leadership. Leah’s upbeat approach to ensuring all her teammates had the best experience possible in and out of the pool is rare quality in any athlete yet alone one just 11 years old. Weston Blake’s 200 Backstroke was well swum, hotly contested and ultimately touched in with a lifetime best by 43 seconds - definitely the “Swim of the Meet”. Jesse Gardner was recognized for improvement. Eight new season best times were acheived and Brian Hughes set a new CAMEL record in the 13/14 boys 200 Fly. CAMEL results and full USA results for the FINS meet can be accessed on the “Meets” page. Season Best Times and All-Time CAMEL Team Records can both be accessed on the “Goals” page.

On Sunday, seven of CAMEL’s youngest swimmers represented the team well at the HMST 8 & Under Quadrathon. Karley McNeish was named “Swimmer of the Meet”. Karley had 100% new lifetime best times and a smile before and after every swim, hers and her teammates’. Kara Kirkpatrick took over 6 seconds off her fly for CAMEL’s “Swim of the Meet”. Sarah Burstein, Luke Erickson and Kameal Kalkhoran were recognized for notable acheivement as each set some new team season best times. CAMEL’s youngest competitior, Ana Kirkpatrick, age 5, swam a fast lap in the girls relay that finished in 1:57.61. Six new season best times were set and Sammy Kokomoor set a new All-Time CAMEL Team record in the 8/U boys 25 Fly. CAMEL results and full USA results for the 8/U meet can be accessed on the “Meets” page. Season Best Times and All-Time CAMEL Team Records can both be accessed on the “Goals” page.

Challenge Champions

Congratulations to Seth Adams, Brian Hughes, Jay Lockaby, Steph Novotny, Tyler Tremblay, and Dana Tricarico who all not only finished the 100 100’s challenge, but who all also challenged themselves to doing part of the set stroke! Lillian James was the only Bactrian to accept the challenge of 50 50’s which she completed with gusto. Congratulations Lillilan! Two Alpacas were able to crunch out all 75 75’s: Way to go Jessica Charron and Grace Moriarty. Adelaide Taylor and Asia White also put in excellent effort missing only one send-off each.

Official’s Clinic in Fairfield

There will be a clinic to train new officials and recertify current officials. The clinic will be held Wednesday evening, February 7, in Fairfiled. Details

Long Course Tuition Reminder

Please remember that to get the $200 early registration discount bonus for full year athletes, long course tuition must be paid by 6:00 PM Tuesday, January 16. Long Course registration will be ongoing, but swimmers registering after 6:00 PM this Tuesday will not be eligible for the discount, they will be charged the full long course tuition.

Busy Weekend for CAMEL Offers Both Practice and Meet Each Day!

• Saturday - Practice 8:00 AM
• Saturday - FINS Qualifier Meet morning session 8:00 AM, afternoon session 12:00 noon.
• Sunday - HMST 8/U Quadrathon 9:00 AM
• Sunday - 100/100’s Challenge 3:00 PM (75/75 for Alpacas, 50/50 for Bactrians that want a challenge)

Host Announces Changes to FINS Qualifier Meet

FINS has announced that the morning session warm-ups have been moved one hour later. The afternoon remains unchanged. Both sessions are anticipated to be an hour warm-up and not much more than two hours of swimming. FINS meet information, updates and changes, timing assignments and any other meet information for this and all CAMEL meets may be accessed on the “Meets” page.