CAMEL 9/U’s Lunch together after successful WYW meet

CAMEL’s 9 and younger swimmers and their families enjoyed lunch at Chili’s after the WYW meet. (Pictured clockwise starting top center: David Burstein, Lillian James, Asia White, James, Kara Kirkpatrick, Ana Kirkpatrick and Sarah Burstein). Asia White was presented with her four first place awards and all swimmers at the lunch were given T-shirts. Ten of CAMEL’s swims were new lifetime personal best times. Five new season records were set and both Kameal Kalkhoran and Asia White set new All-time CAMEL Records. CAMEL results and full USA results are posted on the “Meets” page. Season Records and All-time Records reside on the “Goals” page. Pictures may be accessed using the “CAMEL Pictures” link in the right column of each page.

CAMEL Pride shows at the Movies

CAMEL swimmers, families and friends enjoyed lunch and shopping at the outlet mall before the team viewing of the movie Pride. While the juniors enjoyed munching on their popcorn, Sweedish Fish seemed to be the center of some “fishy” fun for the seniors. Photos can be submitted to Coach Ann and are being posted under the “CAMEL Pictures” link in the right hand column of each page.

CAMEL Celebrates at Annual Banquet

CAMEL swimmers and coaches were joined by family and friends as they celebrated two more successful seasons at the team’s annual banquet held Friday evening at the Groton Inn & Suites. After a lively cocktail hour and a fine dinner, swimmer awards were capped off with Eva Nelson announced as CAMEL’s Swimmer of the Year. Susan Button was recognized for years of loyalty, dedication and service to CAMEL and Mary Moriarty was awarded CAMEL Volunteer of the Year. The awards portion of the evening continued with recognition of the coaching staff, Ann Hughes, Head Coach, Bill Blake, Age Group Coach, Margee Charron, Developmental Coach and Molly Goettsche, Assistant Coach. Thanks were extended to the CAMEL board: Rocco Tricarico, President; Mary Moriarty, Vice-President; Jessica White Langley, Secretary; Dianna McNeish, Treasurer; Herb Taylor, Member-at-Large; and Ann Hughes, CEO. The evening concluded with an amazing slide show recap of the year put together by Mary Moriarty with assistance from CAMEL senior Adleaide Taylor.

CAMEL Pride Day at the Movies

Proud past, present and future CAMEL team members, alumni, family and friends are joining together for CAMEL Pride Day at the movie “Pride” airing 4:50PM this Sunday at the Westbrook Cinemas. The movie is rated PG and is about a swim team. Tickets are $5.75 (plus $1.00 fee if pre-ordering a ticket on line). CAMEL suggests families RSVP yes or no to Coach Ann and purchase thier own ticket through the Westbrook Cinema link above. There are 29 CAMELS attending thus far (RSVP’s as of 7:30PM Saturday 3/24). RSVP’s are suggested not required. The RSVP allows CAMEL to let the theater know how many people prefer to sit in our large group, but unless you purchase your ticket online in advance, there will be no guarantee a ticket will be available.

CAMEL Sails Past 100% of Membership Goal

CAMEL welcomes high school junior, Aaron Cramer, to our Guanaco group. Aaron brings CAMEL’s long course roster to 47 and growing. Aaron was referred by one of our newest CAMELS, Dan Nohara, pictured left with fellow CAMELS, Seth Adams, Tyler Tremblay and Phil McLaughlin. There are still a few days left for early bird specials on tuition - swimmers registered by noon Monday, March 26 are entitled to early bird discounts. Full tuition mail-in registration will continue through April 6 and on site registration will be held Monday, April 9, 6:30 - 7:30PM and a make up on site registration is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11 also 6:30 - 7:30PM. Both registration sessions will be in the spectator gallery at Connecticut College’s Lott Natatorium.

Practices for the 9/U Meet are being held at New London HS

Practices for the swimmers participating in the 9/U meet are scheduled for 6:30 -7:30PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at New London High School 690 Jefferson Avenue, New London. The Team Banquet is Friday and we may be back at Conn College for Saturday. Check on the “What’s New at CAMEL?” link at the top of the home page for updates about Saturday’s practice.

CAMEL Long Course 07 Preliminary Meet Schedule Announced

CAMEL’s Preliminary Long Course 07 USA Meet Schedule is available on the “Meets” page. The associated Meet Commitment Form is available both on the “Documents” page in the Forms section and as a link posted above the Meet Schedule on the “Meets” page. Meet Commitment Forms need to be submitted ASAP in one of these three ways:

1. Brought to Coach Ann at the banquet Friday, March 23
2. Snail mailed to Coach Ann at 48 Irving Street, Manchester CT 06042-3082 (postmarked by Saturday, March 24)
3. E-mailed to coachann@camelswim.org by noon, Monday, March 26

For those with questions about how to fill out the form or any questions about which meets to enter, please contact Coach Ann.

CAMEL’s Spring/Summer Long Course Program contiues to grow

CAMEL welcomes our two newest CAMELS, Dan Nohara and Jordan Eastabrooks bringing the CAMEL LC roster to 46 before formal registration has even begun! Both are high school boys and will be part of our growing Guanaco practice group. Early bird registration discounts continue for one more week. For more information and to take advatage of the early bird registration, contact Coach Ann at 860-306-7910 or via e-mail at coachann@camelswim.org. In person registration and try-outs will be held 5:30 - 6:30PM, Monday, April 9.

CAMEL Records Fall at Age Group Championships

Eleven relay and four individual All-time CAMEL Short Course Yard Records fell at Age Group Championships. Adelaide Taylor set new marks in the 100 and 200 Breast and Brian Hughes broke records in the 1000 Free and the 200 Fly. Twenty-nine 06-07 Season Records also fell (12 Individual and 17 Relay). CAMEL’s fast swimming also garnered the team 411 points, significantly more than last year’s 155. CAMEL results (with statistics on page 3) and full USA results may both be accessed on the “Meets” page. All-time CAMEL SC Yard Records and 06-07 Season Best Records reside on the “Goals” page.

Photos from the meet, curtesy of Steph Novotny and Brian Hughes, may be viewed by clicking on the “CAMEL Pictures” link in the right hand column of each page.

CAMEL’s LC registration is ongoing

CAMEL welcomed two new swimmers Wednesday. Stephanie LeFebvre and Sheyanne Biltcliffe (pictured left) took advantage of CAMEL’s preseason registration and joined CAMEL for taper activities and will continue to get to know the team through the remainder of the season. To encourage preseason registration, in addition to participating with CAMEL for the month of March for free, early bird tuition discounts will apply for swimmers registering for long course before the close of short course on March 25. For information contact Coach Ann. Other photos from CAMEL’s winter taper (including shots from the CAMEL snowball fight, Regional Pasta Psych night, championship coloring and the Age Group Dinner) can be viewed by clicking on the “CAMEL Pictures” link in the middle of the righthand column of each page.

CAMEL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OVERWHELMINGLY SUCCESSFUL

CAMEL participated in and hosted Regional Championships this past weekend. In addition to being fun (pictured left, Eva Nelson), the meet was overwhelmingly successful in and out of the pool.

• 6 Individual swims were new All-Time CAMEL records.
• The 13/14 Girls 400 Medley Relays set new All-Time CAMEL Records in both the 13/14 Age Group and the Open category
• All 9 “A” relay results were new season record times.
• 25 of the individual swims set new season record times.
• Two thirds of the individual results (118 of 181) were new lifetime personal best times.
• Preliminary estimates are a total profit of $16,300.
• The preliminary entry fee report indicates CAMEL’s profit from entries is $11,073.50.
• Preliminary estimates indicate CAMEL’s profit from concessions is $3,140.
• Preliminary estimates indicate CAMEL’s profit from program sales is $1,435.
• Estimated profit from vendors is $651.50.

CAMEL results, full USA results and scores are all posted on the “Meets” page. Season Best Records and All-time CAMEL Records are posted on the “Goals” page. Pictures may be sent to Coach Ann and submissions to date may be viewed by clicking on the “CAMEL Pictures” link in the middle of the right hand column of each page.