CAMEL’s New Masters and College Programs Growing

CAMEL’s Masters program, just a few months old, already has seven members. Working hard in the pool, they have collectively lost over 70 pounds. CAMEL’s Masters have been enjoying time outside the pool as well including the recent social pictured. (left to right: Andy Pelletier, Maureen Ward, Keith Kriet and Don Nelson). For information about CAMEL’s Masters program, click on the “Masters” and/or the “Join Us” tab above or contact Coach Ann. CAMEL has also expanded its offerings for college athletes and has four college athletes already signed up for 2007. Please see the “Join Us” page for more information.

CSI Olympian Camp at Connecticut College

Grace Moriarty (pictured on left with Olympian Kaitlin Sandeno), Jessica Charron, Steph Lawton and Coach Ann attended CSI’s Breakout Camp with Olympians Josh Davis and Kaitlin Sandeno. After the camp, CAMEL swimmers participated in a Bingo practice. Brian Hughes and Rachel Kriet won books (aptly Olympic themed) for full card and Selina James, Rhianna Blake and a stranded Coach Dan (guest from CDOG) won fun prizes for bingos. Pictures from both events can be viewed via the “CAMEL Pictures” link on the middle right of each page.

CAMEL Announces Important Dates

With the start of taper, championships are almost here and the end of the season is on the horizon. Please note these five special dates,

• Regional Pasta Psych Night - Thursday, March 1 7:40-8:20PM Lott Natatorium Spectator Gallery
• Parents, please contact Mary Moriarty to discuss what to bring ASAP (no later than Monday morning 2/26).
• Swimmers, please remember to bring your psych buddy’s poster to hang that evening.
• Age Group Psych Night - Wednesday, March 7 - we are looking for a volunteer to host this team activity
• Annual CAMEL Banquet - Friday, March 23 details TBA Groton Inn & Suites
• CAMEL is compiling the annual slideshow. Please submit photos to Coach Ann or Mary Moriarty ASAP.
• Monday, February 26 and Thursday, March 1 will be team photo days at practice, please ensure each swimmer attends at least one of these evenings.

CAMEL’s 8/U’s and Seniors excel at Champs and WAC meet

A total of five new CAMEL Season Best Times were set by Kara Kirkpatrick, Sammy Kokomoor and Kameal Kalkhoran. Kameal Kalkorhan’s 25 Breast and 25 Fly were also both new CAMEL All-time Team Records as was Sammy Kokomoor’s 25 Free. Sarah Burstein (pictured on the left, with Karley McNeish, Kara Kirkpatrick and Brian Hughes) was named “Swimmer of the Meet” for outstanding support of her teammates throughout the meet. Ana Kirkpatrick’s 25 Back was recognized as the “Swim of the Meet”, well swum and 15 seconds faster than her previous best time. Karly McNeish was recognized for significant improvement, dropping a total of over 10 seconds in her events. Luke Erickson acheived 100% new lifetime bests in his events. CAMEL’s 8 and unders had some great support from the Seniors. Brian Hughes volunteered as an assistant coach and Taylor Strelevitz, with assistance from Adelaide Taylor and Rachel Kreit, arranged for psych bags and psych posters for CAMEL’s 8 and Unders. Pictures from 8/U championships can be viewed bu clicking on the “CAMEL Pictures” link in the middle of the right hand column of each page. CAMEL results and Full USA results for 8/U Chamionships are posted on the “Meets” page.

Two new CAMEL Season Best Times were set by Adelaide Taylor at the WAC invitational. Rachel Kreit’s 1650 was recognized as “Swim of the Meet”. Rachel’s goggles, then her cap and then even her hair tie, all came off during the early portion of her mile swim. Rachel’s determination was unswayed and, in spite of the hardship, she ultimately achieved a best time with the applause only exceeded by the respect of all who stayed transfixed to watch Rachel determinedly complete her mile. Way to go Rachel! Eva Nelson was named “Swimmer of the Meet”. Eva’s distance event times continue to drop with her mile being almost a minute and a half faster than her previous best. Eva’s acheivments in the pool are equally amazing as her team spirit is outside of it. Congrats, Eva! Brian Hughes, Steph Novotny, Taylor Strelevitz and Dana Tricarico also swam well for CAMEL. CAMEL results and Full USA results for the WAC Invitational are posted on the “Meets” page.

CAMEL All-time Records and CAMEL Season Best Times have been updated and reside on the “Goals” page.

CAMEL Championship Entries and Psych Buddies Posted

CAMEL’s Regional Championship Entry, Age Group Championship Entry and Senior Championship Entry are posted on the “Meets” page. (Please ignore the payment link; that is for coaches only). The individual entries and relays are now final. It is imperitive that swimmers and parents check each entry carefully to ensure the swimmers are in the correct meets (and not in meets they are not intended to be in). Entry times and relay only indicators should also be checked for accuracy. Swimmers and parents should review each meet announcement for entry criteria to ensure swimmers are entered accurately. Please remember that all swimmers qualified for CAMEL “A” relays and/or any individual events are expected to attend the Age Group Championship. Participation in the Regional Championship and the Senior Championship is encouraged but not required.

Championship Psych Buddies have been posted on the “Documents” page. Swimmers that are particpating in the Regional Championship are creating a “Psych Poster” for their buddy, bringing it to the pool on Thursday night or to the meet on Friday and hanging it up on the wall in our team area. Swimmers that are participating in the Age Group Championship (including all CAMEL “A” relays) are making a “Psych Box” for their buddy and bringing it to the meet. Swimmers participating in the Senior Championship are bringing a “Bag Tag” to the meet for their buddy.

Parka orders due by 8PM Saturday

If you would like a team parka, please e-mail Coach Ann your size and what name you want embroidered on the parka. This must be done by Saturday 8PM to get into the first order. Payment is due within a week to Mr. Nelson: $118 for adult sizes, $99 for children’s sizes. Some pre-orders are missing size or name data, please check orders to date.

Olympian “Breakout” Camp opened to 9 & 10 year olds

CT Swimming is hosting a Breakout camp with Olympians Josh Davis and Kaitlin Sandeno at Connecticut College (pictured) on Sunday, February 25 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The deadline for registratin is this Saturday, February 17. The cost is $150; payment and registration should be completed online. The camp, which has been advertised as open to 11-17 year olds is now open to 9 & 10 year olds as well.

Improvement charts have been added to Goals page

Improvement charts for CAMEL swimmers continuously registered for the last 13 months (12/23/05 - 2/11/07) are available on the bottom of the “Goals” page. Improvement charts for swimmers that joined or returned to CAMEL after 12/23/05 will be available next week.

Parkas are coming to CAMEL’s online store

CAMEL will be selling parkas in our “Poloworks” on-line store if we get a minimum commitment of six parkas pre-ordered. If the pre-orders are in by Friday, the first set of 6 could be delivered before Age Group Championships. If you would like to pre-order a parka, please contact Adelaide Taylor or Coach Ann. CAMEL Parkas are black with royal blue fleece lining and the word CAMEL in royal blue capitals across the back. Each parka will have a CAMEL logo embroidered on the front left and the swimmers name embroidered on the front right. The cost is anticipated to be approximately $118 plus any applicable taxes. Childrens sizes will be approximately $99 plus applicable taxes. If we get 6 pre-orders, the item will be sold through our online store via the “Poloworks” link on the lower right of each page (type CAMELS in the password box). There will be 10% off at checkout throughout the month of February (excluding parkas) and there is also an ongoing clearance sale on discontinued and overstocked items.

WAC Meet Information Posted

Worker assignments, schedule changes and other important information becomes available in the days before a meet. To ensure families are aware of this pertinent information, they are reminded to please remember to check the “Meets” page frequently in the days before each meet. Both “Timer Assignments” and “Updates & Changes” have been modified for the WAC meet. Please check warm-up times carefully as the meet host has made some slight adjustments. The CAMEL entry has been updated to reflect Age Group Qualifiers and the date each entry time (lifetime best time) was acheived. Events in which swimmers have acheived lifetime best times since 1/1/07 may be scratched if the swimmer would like to do so. Events swimmers should swim have been highlighted on the entry and those that may be scratched have been left unhighlighted. Please notify Coach Ann of any intended scratches ASAP.

More CAMEL Records Fall

Eleven new CAMEL 06-07 Season Records and five new All-time CAMEL Records fell this weekend. CAMEL’s record breaking weekend opened with the CDOG Distance Meet in which eight of the nine CAMEL swims, 89%, were new lifetime personal best times. Eva Nelson was named “Swimmer of the Meet”. Eva’s hard work in the practice pool over the past weeks shined through as she took over 30 seconds off her 1000 Free and another five off her 400 IM. As always, Eva shined out of the pool as well. Eva’s interaction with her teammates is indicative of her amazing teammanship. Eva epitomizes what it means to be a CAMEL. Way to go Eva! Also swimming well were Rachel Kriet, Steph Lawton, Steph Novotny and Brian Hughes. CAMEL Results and Full USA Results for the CDOG Distance Meet are available on the “Meets” page. At the SNCO Elm City Meet, Jesse Gardner (pictured) was named “Swimmer of the Meet”. Jesse achieved 100% life-time best times and qualified for finals in the 50 Free. Jesse’s hard work and attention to stroke technique were obvious in all his events. Jesse also ensured the long day was filled with humor for his fellow CAMELS. Congrats, Jesse! Leah Gionet, Brian Hughes and Adelaide Taylor also qualified for finals. Cat Ward’s 200 Free, 38 seconds faster than her previous lifetime best, was recognized as the “Outstanding Swim of the Meet”. CAMEL results and Full USA Results for the SNCO meet are available on the “Meets” page. CAMEL All-time Records and CAMEL Season Best Times have been updated and reside on the “Goals” page. Preliminary relays for Age Group Champioinship and preliminary entries for upcoming championship meets are available on the “Meets” page. Entries will be finalized February 19, CAMEL athletes and parents should review the entries for accuracy.

CAMEL Store Clearance Sale

This spring, CAMEL’s on-line store will be carrying team parkas and other exciting merchandise. A clearance sale is underway to make space for these new items. To encourage swimmers and parents to wear team apparral at meets, throught the month of February, the on-line store will have a 10% discount at check out. CAMEL’s on-line store is accesible via the “Poloworks” link on the lower right of each page. When the site loads, type “CAMELS” in the password box to view CAMEL merchandise.

Jessica Charron Named Swimmer of the Meet

Five new CAMEL Season Best Times were acheived and Brian Hughes’s 200 Fly set a new CAMEL All-time record at the BEAR Qualifier. Jessica Charron (pictured) was named “Swimmer of the Meet”. 100% of Jessica’s swims were new lifetime personal best times - a significant accomplishment at this point in the season. Also remarkable is Jessica’s upbeat approach to all aspects of both practice and competition. Jessica, a junior who has been participating in occasional senior practices, including 100/100 day, cheerfully accepts any challenge put forth. Way to go Jessica! Rachael Kokomoor’s 200 Breast, which improved over 20 seconds with phenomenal pull-outs, Kaley Kokomoor’s fantastically finished 200 Fly and Stephanie Lawton’s well paced 200 Fly were all recognized as “Outstanding Swims”. CAMEL results and Full USA Results can be accessed on the “Meets” page. Age Group Qualifiers to date and Preliminary CAMEL Age Group Relays are also available on the “Meets” page. Updated CAMEL Records and Season best times are posted on the “Goals” page.

New Feature Added

There is now a link to the latest news from USA swimming located on the lower right of each page on the website. Also, CAMEL is looking for a historian to collect data (and/or for volunteers to submit items) to add team history content to the “About” page. To volunteer or submit items, contact Coach Ann. Other recent updates include the posting of CAMEL’s 8/U Championship entry and initial Updates and Changes, both of which reside on the “Meets” page. The preliminary Regional entry is also posted on the “Meets” page.