Wilton Meets Fast and Fun

Amid some typical CAMEL fun times at the hotel, local restaurants and on the pool deck, were fast times in the pool!   Kayley Kokomoor, Rachael Kokomoor, Hayley McGill, Kenzle Saspa, Micah Saspa, Adelaide Taylor and Brian Hughes achieved:

• 2 New CAMEL All-Time Records
• 4 New Season Records
• 6 Senior Championship Qualifying Swims
• 12 Age Group Championship Qualifying Swims
• 14 New Lifetime Personal Best Time Swims

CAMEL results and Full USA Results for the Wilton Senior Qualifier are posted on the “Meets” page.  CAMEL results and Full USA results for the AA meet are also posted.  All-Time CAMEL Short Course Yard Records, All-Time CAMEL Long Course Meter Records, 07-08 Short Course Yard Season Records and 07-08 Long Course Meter Season Records have been updated and reside on the “Goals” page.

Preliminary CAMEL Championship Meet Entries Posted

CAMEL swimmers and parents should check all five end of season meet CAMEL entries.  Contact Coach Ann if there are errors or omissions.

• 8 & Under Championship
• Regional Championship
• Age Group Championship
• Senior Championship
• Sectional Championship

Preliminary Regional Championship Entry Posted

CAMEL parents and swimmers should review the meet details in the Regional Championship Meet Announcement  and then carefully check the rough draft of CAMEL’s  preliminary entry for Regional Championships Friday, February 29 through Sunday, March 2.   Please check that you are not entered in the meet if you will not be available that weekend.  If you are entering the meet, please check the events the staff has entered you in on the preliminary entry and contact Coach Ann if you would like to change your entries. 

Hosting this meet is CAMEL’s largest fundraiser for the year.   Families with no swimmers participating in the meet are expected to work one session (we are especially in need of workers for Friday evening).  Families with one swimmer on the team are expected to volunteer at a minimum of two sessions.  Families with two swimmers are expected to work at least three sessions, and families with three swimmers on the team are expected to work at least four sessions, etc.   If you have not already done so, please contact Aaron Burstein to let him know which sessions you will be volunteering for.

CAMEL Swimmers Compete in Three Meets in One Weekend!

Amazing swims by Adelaide Taylor bookended a busy weekend for CAMEL swimmers.  Friday evening, Adelaide kicked off the weekend dropping 42 seconds and setting a new CAMEL 07-08 Season Record in the 1650 at the CDOG Distance Meet.   Adelaide also took 59 seconds off her 1,000 Free in her split.  Way to swim Adelaide!  CAMEL results and full USA results for the CDOG Distance Meet are posted on the “Meets” page.   On Saturday, CAMEL’s 10 and Under’s competed at the CDOG Pentathlon where Elson Guo (pictured right) placed third overall.  All four of Elson’s times were new CAMEL All-time Records.  COngratulations Elson!  Meredith Hird, one of CAMEL’s Junior leaders, attended the meet to mentor CAMEL’s 8/U’s: Sarah Burstein, Elson Guo & Erin McNeish.  The 8/U’s had a fantastic experience - Thank you Meredith!  CAMEL 9/10’s: David Burstein, Christian Hird,  Lillian James, Apolline Jonckheere and Karly McNeish, also swam fast and had fun.   In addition to Elson’s four records, three of Sarah Burstein’s times and one of Lillian James’ times were new 07-08 season records.  CAMEL results and full USA results for the CDOG 10/U Pentathlon are posted on the “Meets” page.   Then on Sunday, CAMEL’s 11 and older swimmers competed at the OAK Pentathlon.  Brian Hughes placed second overall in the morning’s 13/14 competition and Adelaide who had kicked off the weekend also capped it off as she garnered a ninth place trophy as a successful weekend of CAMEL competitions concluded!  Three of Brian’s times were Age Group Championship qualifying swims and four were new season records.  Four of Kenzle Saspa’s times, one of Micah Saspa’s times, and three of Adelaide Taylor’s times were also new season records.  Jesse Gardner’s 50 fly was a new 07-08 season record, too!  CAMEL results and full USA results for the OAK Pentathlon are posted on the “Meets” page.   All-time CAMEL Records and 07-08 Season Records are posted on the “Goals” page.

“Early Bird Registration” Open for CAMEL Spring/Summer Long Course USA, Pre-team Lessons & Masters

“Early Bird Registration” is open for the following CAMEL Spring/Summer programs:  Long Course USA, Pre-team Lessons and Masters.  Athletes registered and paid in full by February 15 will be entitled to an “Early Bird Discount” of $150 off tuition for USA athletes or $45 off tuition for Pre-team Lesson swimmers and Masters athletes.  Standard registration for these three programs and for Summer Lessons and Summer Masters Aqua Fitness will be held in conjunction with team try-outs the evening of Monday, April 7.   

Please remember to check out What’s New at CAMEL via the Updates Tab

Please remember to click on the “Updates” tab to check what’s new at CAMEL each time you visit the team web site.

68 Athletes participate in CAMEL CDOG Joint Event

Thirty-nine CAMELS were joined by almost as many CDOG  swimmers for a combined practice, a mini-meet, and a joint luncheon.  The swimmers challenged themselves to some tough endurance sets sandwiched between two fun practice favorites, “together swims” and IM “start & finish relays”.  Even after all that practice, the athletes were able to step up and post some fast times at the mini-meet.  72% of the CAMEL swims were new lifetime personal best times and twenty-two 07-08 season records fell.  Elson Guo set a new All-time CAMEL Record in the Boys 8 & Under 25 Yard Breaststroke.  After the meet, the swimmers, coaches and officials were treated to a luncheon which was chaired by Selina James.  Both CAMEL and CDOG’s parent group’s did a great job working jointly to put a wonderful experience together for the teams.  The swimmers enjoyed themselves and, without their caps, it became hard to tell one team from the other as new friendships blossomed.  CAMEL Results and Full Results for the CAML/CDOG Dual Meet are posted on the “Meets“ page.  All-time CAMEL Records and 07-08 Season Records are updated and reside on the “Goals” page.

CAMEL Swimmer brings home 14 Medals from Argentina

CAMEL swimmer and coach, Tina Hughes, recently represented the USA competing in the 11th Macabbi Pan Am Games in Argentina and will be returning to the USA tomorrow with 14 medals (7 Gold and 7 Silver), a new lifetime best time in the 50 Free and a new record in the 100 Free!  In addition to swimming for CAMEL, Tina coaches CAMEL’s Junior USA team and Pre-team in the summer.   Outside the pool, Tina is a sophmore at the Jewish Theological Seminary majoring in Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages and she is also a sophomore Psychology major and a swimmer at Columbia University in NY. 

CAMEL/CDOG Second Annual Joint Practice, Dual Meet & Luncheon is Saturday, January 5

CAMEL and Cheshire YMCA’s CDOG Age Group Swim Team are holding a joint practice on Saturday, January 5.  The practice will be followed by a joint meet and a joint sandwich luncheon.  CAMEL swimmers may participate in any or all of these activities.  The practice is scheduled for 8:00 - 10:00AM.  The coaches strongly recommend that all Alpacas, Llamas and Guanacos take advantage of this unusual practice opportunity.  Vicunas may also attend if they would like a challenge.  All CAMEL swimmers (even pre-team) age 5 to 14 have been entered in the meet (unless they are already in high school); please notify Coach Ann ASAP if you are not planning on participating.   High school swimmers may intern as assistant coaches for the meet portion of the morning and/or they may run a few exhibition practice time trials concurrent with the meet (though not as a part of the meet); please let coach Ann know your choice.  All CAMEL and CDOG swimmers are welcome to attend the joint sandwich luncheon which will be held in the spectator balcony at the conclusion of the meet.   Selina James is coordinating the luncheon and is soliciting volunteers for her committee.  Coach Ann is coordinating the meet portion of the day and is also soliciting volunteers to time or to run the Daktronics and Hy-Tek.  Meet information, the associated updates & changes document, a Preliminary Psych Sheet, and the CAMEL Entry are all posted on the “Meets” page (and are also accesible via links indicated with blue font embedded in this sentence).  Swimmer additions, and event changes will be accepted through Saturday morning).