Youngstown YMCA Neptunes
Swim Team
November 2, 2009
Neptune News
Hope everyone had fun at our picture day/Halloween party on Thursday. Thanks to everyone who brought in pumpkins to decorate our pool deck and to Rachel and Ashley Emerson for organizing games for the team. The food was great, btw. Thanks to everyone who helped out.
Second meet news – We swim the Green YMCA this Saturday, November 7 at Green. Their YMCA address is 3800 Massillon Rd., Uniontown, OH 44685. Our warm-ups are at 1:30 p.m. The meet starts at 2:00 p.m. Be sure to bring warm clothing as their gym is very chilly! Our team area is in the gym, and either a coach or two parents (who we will point out to you) will be passing out the event cards. If you can not attend this meet, you should have emailed Coach Sue about this by now!
Fees list/Medical Release Forms – I have been given a list of all swimmers who have yet to pay their swim team dues and/or fill out a Medical Release form. Thankfully, it is relatively short. Unfortunately, if said swimmer comes to practice, they will not be permitted to participate until fees are paid and/or forms are filled out. So, please pay your swimmer(s)’ team dues or fill out their medical release form so I do not have to make anyone feel bad. Thank you from Coach Sue.
Aloha YMCA Invitational – Anyone wanting to attend the Aloha Invitational held at the Ashtabula YMCA on Sunday, November 15, 2009 needs to contact Karla Cabrera ASAP. We have lots of kids going to this meet, and we’d love a ton more. You pick the events you swim and there is a small entry fee per event. Hope you can come!
Invitational deadlines:
USA: November 16th: Pittsburgh Christmas Meet on December 18th-20th (Dual Meet on the 19th) - USA Team only - Must have "A" times - Bonus events available
USA: November 23rd: Candy Cane Classic in Sandusky on December 20th - USA Team only
October 26, 2009
Great job to all who swam at our first meet this past Saturday. We lost the meet to North Canton, our 5 points to their 6 points (we lost winning the overall point total by just 40 points – hmmm…) but we had some spectacular swims! Gina Ungaro set two new pool records (and achieved Zone times) in the 9 & 10 Girls 50 free and the 9 & 10 Girls 50 fly. Theresa Mikolay also set a new pool record (and achieved a Zone time) in the 11 & 12 Girls 50 breaststroke. Nick Boniface got a Zone time in the 15 & Over Boys freestyle; Timmy Kubacki’s time in the 9 -10 Boys 50 butterfly qualified him for Zones and 11-12 Girls 200 Medley relay is also heading to Zones with their time. We also had 84 Personal Best times set based on times swum at time trials!
Thank you – to everyone who helped make our first home meet a success. It is always chaotic that first meet of the season. But the kids swam wonderfully and our concession stand was a thumbs-up success. Our worker shifts went well. Our starter, Mr. Santangelo got us out of there in great time, and I hope everyone had fun. I’m not gonna lie – not having to work around other sport competitions and football homecoming dances is going to make Coach Sue’s job a lot easier next time, but thank you to everyone who kept me updated on when they could be at the meet and when they needed to leave. I think it worked out pretty well.
This Thursday, October 29 we will be having Team Pictures and our Halloween Party. THERE WILL BE NO PRACTICE. Cost of photos and what is available to buy is now posted on our website. Parents – be sure to check this out so you know ahead of time what $$ to send with your swimmer if you can not be there during pictures. Wear your team suit if you bought one! Individual pictures will start at 4:30 p.m. so come early to get this done. We are trying a couple new things this year. Our group photo will be taken at 5:30 p.m. sharp! Even if all the individual pictures are not done yet, we will stop to take the team photo, so all swimmers must be in the deep pool by 5:15 p.m.! Also – to help the process along – DO NOT put your stuff in the bleachers. Leave your things in the Youth Lobby while the group photo is being done so we do not have to move all your things to the side to take the photo. We will then take age group photos this year starting at 6:00 p.m. We will start with the 8 & Unders and work our way through the age groups. After the age group photos are done, those still needing individual photos can get that done. For everyone else - it will be time for open swim in the shallow pool and food in the Youth Lobby.
Last year we had a ton of sweets, so this year we would like to ask those attending... if your last name begins with an A through K – bring a non-sweet item to eat (chips, fruit, subs cut into small pieces, veggies and dip, chicken wings, etc.); those whose last names begin with L through Z bring a sweet (cookies, cupcakes, donuts, etc.) The team will provide pizza and drinks.
Finally – we will be having a Pumpkin Carving Competition at our Halloween party this year. If you would like to participate, bring your already carved pumpkin (there will be NO CARVING AT THE Y) to the Y. Also, bring a battery operated light or a glow stick to illuminate your pumpkin. We will be placing your handy-work around the shallow pool to decorate it while you swim during the party. Prizes will be awarded, so get creative! Let’s see how many pumpkins we can put on display. This is going to be so cool! Bring your cameras so we can post our party pics on our website!
8 & Under Practice – If you have an 8 & Under who is coming to the 6:30 practices on Monday and Wednesday when our practices are very full, consider bringing them back to the 4:30 practice. As of right now, we have less than 10 swimmers in that practice. We will now be working with the beginning 8 & Unders in two lanes which will leave four lanes for the advanced 8 & Unders. I think this would really help all the 8 & Unders get to know each other and give them plenty of space to swim. And, remember – the 4:30 group gets to use the slide at the end of practice if everyone listened and worked hard that day!
Invitational deadlines:
October 26th: New Castle Fall Classic on November 14th (YMCA)
October 29th: Ashtabula Aloha meet on November 15th (YMCA)
October 29th: Solon Stars Bronze meet on November 15th (USA team only)
October 29th: Shaker Shark meet at CSU on December 6th (USA team only)
The Ashtabula Aloha meet is a very fun meet and it's fairly close geographically. I'll be taking entries during the Halloween Party this week. Events are posted on the bulletin board at the YMCA. Let's see if we can get enough participation to put together some Crescendo relays!!!
October 19, 2009
First frost, first snow, first meet… yikes! Our first meet is this Saturday. Be sure to read about “What to Expect at a Meet” on the website, and read on to find out what else is happening this week.
First Meet News – We swim
Swim Meet Sign-Off – Several of you have utilized the on-line sign-off function of our website to let me know you are not attending this week’s meet. Thank you! I have also posted a sign-off sheet on the Neptune Info Board. If you can not attend a meet, you can write your name on the page for that meet. I have removed this week’s meet’s page as I am now making the line-up for this Saturday’s meet. If you can not attend this Saturday’s meet, and you have not emailed me about this, I need to know by Tuesday. Please me at suemellish@gmail.com if you are not coming to the meet. If I do not hear from you to say you are not coming, then you will be in the meet. You do not have to tell me you are coming, just if you are NOT coming.
Meet Workers/Concession Stand Needs – Parents, please sign-up to work this week’s meet on the list on the Neptune Info Board. High school parents – you must work this meet, so be sure to sign-up or expect a call from Melanie concerning working. Also – each family - please sign up to bring a food item for the concession stand. Thank you in advance!
At the Meet – Some things to know about your first meet. You will need an event card for each of your races. These will be given out in the gym where our team area is. There will be a table and two parents there passing out these cards. There is also a chalk board there stating which events are “on call.” If you see your event number is “on call,” get your card and head to the pool deck. Older swimmers and coaches will be helping all new swimmers, so don’t panic. It might seem crazy, but we usually come through our first meet all in one piece! You can always find at least one coach on the pool deck at all times. Others will be helping swimmers behind the blocks, gathering them for relays, etc. We will be available to any swimmer that needs help. Returning, veteran swimmers and parents will also be happy to help. Just ask!
At Practice – Just a quick comment about our practices.
* Yes, Monday is a very full night. We will try to accommodate the swimmers as best we can. It would help if those 11 & older swimmers who are only doing an hour practice – that they come at their scheduled 7:30 p.m. practice time.
* Whether there are many swimmers at a practice or just a few, there is way too much talking going on while the coaches are trying to instruct. Our first rule is “No talking while a coach is talking.” Abide by that please, or you will be asked to leave practice. Many are listening, but we have a few who are not and it is making it so others can not hear. Chat in the locker room before and after practice. When you are in the water – it’s time to swim and work hard. I will not let a few make it hard on everyone else.
* I see most of you purchased fins from the vendor last week. Great! Now be sure your name is on your fins so they do not get lost. Also, if you borrow fins from the crates, please put them back at the end of practice.
Next Week News – I hate to crowd your brains with too much information, but I need to remind everyone of what is happening next week so you are prepared.
On Thursday, October 29 we will be having team pictures and our Halloween party. Individual pictures will start at 4:30 p.m. so come early to get this done. We are trying a couple new things this year. Our group photo will be taken at 5:30 p.m. sharp! Even if all the individual pictures are not done yet, we will stop to take the team photo, so all swimmers must be in the deep pool by 5:15 p.m.! Also – to help the process along – DO NOT put your stuff in the bleachers. Leave your things in the Youth Lobby while the group photo is being done so we do not have to move all your things to the side to take the photo. We will then take age group photos this year starting at 6:00 p.m. We will start with the 8 & Unders and work our way through the age groups. After the age group photos are done, those still needing individual photos can get that done. For everyone else - it will be time for open swim in the shallow pool and food in the Youth Lobby.
Last year we had a ton of sweets, so this year we would like to ask those attending... if your last name begins with an A through K – bring a non-sweet item to eat (chips, fruit, subs cut into small pieces, veggies and dip, chicken wings, etc.); those whose last names begin with L through Z bring a sweet (cookies, cupcakes, donuts, etc.) The team will provide pizza and drinks.
Finally – we will be having a Pumpkin Carving Competition at our Halloween party this year. If you would like to participate, bring your already carved pumpkin (there will be NO CARVING AT THE Y) to the Y. Also, bring a battery operated light or a glow stick to illuminate your pumpkin. We will be placing your handy-work around the shallow pool to decorate it while you swim during the party. Prizes will be awarded, so get creative! Let’s see how many pumpkins we can put on display. This is going to be so cool!
Invitationals:
For those of you that signed up for the "Howl at the Moon" invitational at Lake County East End on November 1st, the relays have been selected and they will be posted on the YMCA bulletin board this week. Everyone is in at least one relay!
Other Invitational Deadlines:
October 22nd - Laps with Lizzards at Copley High School on October 31st (any YMCA swimmer may attend)
October 26th - New Castle Fall Classic at Beaver Falls High School on November 14th (any YMCA swimmer may attend)
October 29th - Aloha Invitational at Ashtabula YMCA on November 15th (any YMCA swimmer may attend)
October 29th - USA Solon Stars Bronze Meet at Solon High School on November 15th (USA team only)
October 29th - USA Shaker Shark Meet at Cleveland State University on December 6th (USA team only)
October 12, 2009
Here we go! It’s official. The Y-Neptune swim season has begun. So much is going on this week and in the following weeks, so be sure to visit our website often for updates.
Time Trials are tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13. High schoolers swim at 3:30; 8&Unders should report to the deep pool at 4:30; 9&10 year olds come at their regular 5:00 p.m. time and those swimmers 11& Older – be in the deep pool by 6:00 p.m. Everyone will do a 25 (8 & Unders) or a 50 of freestyle (all other ages) and then one other event of their choice, but not a 500 free. When you get to the pool, see Coach Sue. She will give you an index card. Put your name and age group (not age) on it. Older swimmers and coaches will help swimmers with this – parents can help too. Each swimmer will then be assigned to a lane and the racing will begin. I need parents to time and any officials may come and watch the kids to give them pointers. We hope to have the timing system in place so the kids can get used to the touch pads. See you then!
Swim suit try-ons will be this Wednesday, October 14. Knabes Swim & Trophy will be set-up in the Youth Lobby at 4:30 p.m. and will stay through 7:00 p.m. Team suits will be available is you would like to purchase one. Also be sure to buy a set of fins so you have these for practices.
As of today, in order to be permitted to participate in practice each swimmer must have a membership and their swim team program fees must be paid. Also, be sure to turn in your registration forms and medical release forms. If these are not turned in, you will not have a mailbox.
First Meet News – We swim North Canton, Saturday, October 24 at our pool. The workers sign-up sheet is now up. Sign-up to work if you have a child who is a high school swimmer. Families of high schoolers must work this first home meet and our second home meet, and we will need other parents as well. Questions? Call Melanie Emerson at 330-559-3700.
Swim Meet Concessions – We also have our concession sign-up sheet posted. Please sign-up to bring an item for our concession stand. Money raised from our stand helps buy items for the team. Thank you in advance!
Speaking of items for the team… because of the success of our concession stand, the team bought new equipment which will hopefully be up and running this week. What – you ask, did we buy? We will soon have a Tivo, TV and camera in place so swimmers can watch themselves do starts! This will be a great learning tool to help swimmers see exactly what they look like while doing a racing start. Immediate feedback will enable the swimmers to get back on the block and do another dive after seeing what they need to fix or might do instead in order to dive well. Thanks to all the Neptune parents from last season who made our concession stand a success and helped make this a reality!
October 5, 2009
It’s the last week of pre-swim which means our focus is … butterfly! It also means if you are deciding to stay with the team (of course your are!), you must have your Y membership and your team fees paid this week so you can continue to practice from Monday, October 12 on. Please get your fees paid so your swimmer(s’) practices are not interrupted. Thank you in advance. No Goats for Coach Sue – For those who have been more than extremely supportive in my attempt to win a herd of angora goats, though my essay was a finalist, I did not win the goats. But fear not! There are animals in my future. This slight set-back just gives me time to clean out the barn. Anyone willing to participate? Might make for some interesting dryland training! Seriously, though, I really appreciate all your votes and words of encouragement. I will keep you posted on my small farm adventures to come! First meet news (sort of) – Our first meet of the season will actually be our time trials which will be held next Tuesday, October 13. In a previous newsletter, I had said time trials would be Thursday, October 15, but the date has been changed to the 13th. Parents – I will need your help to make this work. We will be putting in the touch pads and using the timing system and scoreboard, so here is your opportunity to do a dry run at timing with our system. I will also need runners and anyone who wants to brush up on officiating – please come on down and critique the swimmers. High school swimmers should come at their regular time – 3:30 p.m. Swimmers who are 8 & Under, please come at 4:30 p.m. Those who are 9 & 10 – come at 5:00 and swimmers 11 & 12 and 13 & 14 should come at 6:00 p.m. I will discuss this at practice this week, but if anyone has questions or concerns, give me a call at 330-424-1128. If you can not make time trials – do not panic! If you are a returning swimmer, I kind of know your times and where to put you in a meet. If you are new swimmer, we will try to time you either on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Swimsuit Try-On Day is next Wednesday, October 14. Team suits will be available. So will goggles, caps and fins. Everyone should have their own pair of fins. Be sure they fit and be sure to put your name on your fins once you are sure they fit! First meet news – our real first meet will be Saturday, October 24 at home against North Canton. I suggest everyone try to attend this meet as the weather will not be snowy (or so I hope) and it is a home meet. Remember – you must swim in 3 of our 7 dual meets in order to participate in our Division Championship Meet and I want everyone at our Championship Meet this year! Also - Note the new start time!!! We warm-up at 11:30 so be at the pool by 11:15. Visitors warm-up at noon and the meet starts at 12:30 p.m. Parents – be sure to sign up to work and what you will bring for the concession stand on the Neptune Info Board by the pool table next to the Youth Lobby. If you have questions about signing up, call Melanie Emerson at 330-559-3700. First “TEAM” Invitational Meet: There is a new YMCA invitational being held this year that we will try to attend as a team! It's the "Howl at the Moon" YMCA invitational swim meet at Lake East YMCA in Painsville on November 1st. Let's get as many swimmers as we can at this meet! If we can get enough participation, then I'm told that some of our coaches will consider swimming in the coach/parent relay!!! This looks like a really FUN invitational, with pumpkin relays and many mixed male-female relays, along with individual events. All you need to do is review the meet information on our bulletin board at the Y or on www.neoyswim.org. Choose which individual events you'd like your child to swim and give that information to one of the coaches or you can e-mail Karla Cabrera at yneptunes@hotmail.com. Your entries should be accompanied by a check for $3.00 per event made out to Y-Neptunes. The coaches will select relays so please just send me your individual events! I need all entries no later than Monday, October 12th. Also... There are VERY COOL T-shirts available to purchase from this meet. Please let me know when you send in your entries if you'd like to purchase a meet T-shirt. They are $15.00 each and feature a wolf howling in front of a Glow In The Dark Moon! You can pay for the meet T-shirt on the same check as your entry fees. Just let me know what size you need. Other Upcoming Invitational deadlines: October 9th - USA Mark Braun meet on November 20-22 (USA Team only) Cleveland State Univ. October 9th - YMCA Green Barracuda Invitational on October 17th (Any YMCA swimmer can attend!) Akron, OH October 9th - YMCA Ridgewood National Virtual Meet on October 18th (Any YMCA swimmer can attend!) Parma, OH October 12th - YMCA Lake East "Howl at the Moon" Invitational on November 1st (Any YMCA swimmer can attend!) Painsville, OH October 13th - USA Odd Age Group Meet on November 8th (USA Team only) Strongsville, OH
September 28, 2009
Week of September 28, 2009
Welcome to week three of our four week pre-swim period. This week we will focus on breaststroke with free and back mixed in for good measure. Read below for more information about what’s coming up in the weeks ahead.
Membership purchase – All Neptune swimmers must have their Y membership purchased/renewed BEFORE Monday, October 12 or you will not be permitted into practice. This is a Y rule and not one I can make exceptions for so don’t ask me to! If you have never had a Y membership before, I would suggest getting this done this week or next week as you will have to have a hand-key made up in order to get by the front desk, and this takes time. Also know the rest of your team dues must also be paid by Monday, October 12.
Home meet news – We will be having an earlier start time this year for our swim meets. Our meets will begin at 12:30 now. So… Neptune swimmers will need to be at the Y by 11:15 in order to warm-up at 11:30 a.m. The visiting team will warm-up at noon, with the meet beginning at 12:30. Thank you to Whitney for making this possible.
High School Swimmers – Coach Jessie is doing dryland training after your practices on Monday and Wednesday. Dryland begins at 5:15 p.m. and goes until 6:00-ish. I expect all high school swimmers to be participating in this. I will be speaking to your school coaches to make them aware of these dryland opportunities, and Jessie will be keeping attendance so we can report this information back to your high school programs. Be sure to bring running shoes and water to dryland.
Fins – we have unearthed our extra fins that some of you have been using at practice. But remember – everyone should purchase their own set of fins. Our swimsuit vendor, Knabes Swim and Trophy Shop ( www.knabes.com) will be selling these on SwimSuit Try-on day, Wednesday, October 14. You can also call Knabes and order your fins ahead of time so you can just pick them up on the 14th. Remember – the fins in the crates are just spares we keep on deck in case someone forgets their fins. These are not to be considered your personal equipment and we can not guarantee we will have your size. Get your own fins so you are always prepared for practice! If you have grown out of your fins, consider donating your old pair to the team or ask around and see if anyone would like to buy them.
Our First Home Meet is October 24. All high school parents will be working the first two home meets so they get their meets in before their swimmer leaves for their high school program and yes, other non-high school parents will be working these meets as well. A workers sign-up sheet will be posted this week. Be sure to sign up early to get the jobs you want. If you have questions about this, call Melanie Emerson at 330-559-3700.
Invitational Deadlines:
USA: CCS Age Group & Open at CT Branin October 17-18 - Entries Due Monday September 28th (USA Team only)
USA: Mark Braun Meet at Cleveland State November 22nd - Entrids Due Friday October 9th (USA Team only)
September 21, 2009
Week of September, 21, 2009
Welcome back
What’s Up? – If you want to keep in the know, be sure to visit our team website on a regular basis. The address is listed above. New swimmers – the website is where you will get most of your information, though you can always feel free to ask a coach!
Speaking of coaches – Our entire 08/09 coaching staff is back on deck this year and rarin’ to go. Coach Ashley is now in YSU’s nursing school, but will be on deck two nights a week. Coach Laura will be on deck two or three times a week, depending on how she feels because … she is going to have baby number 2 sometime in April! Wish her congratulations when you see her. Coach Jessie is finishing up her degree at YSU this year and will be on deck three days a week, plus she will be doing dry land training for the high school kids on Mondays and Wednesdays. Also, Jess spent this summer as a counselor at Stanford’swim camp working under Stanford’s head coach Skip Kenney. She’s got lots of new info, drills, nutrition advice, etc. to share. Coach Kristin is finishing up her schooling at YSU and will be on deck four nights a week. Coach Stacy has added another night of coaching so you will see him three nights a week this year, and then there is me – Coach Sue, who is completely boring compared to everyone else! I will be on deck four nights a week, and look forward to seeing everyone at practice!
Mailboxes – As soon as you register and turn in your medical release form, a mailbox will be created for you. Our mailboxes are actually two milk crates with hanging file folders – one for each family – and are located on the small table in the Youth Lobby by the shallow pool windows. Be sure to check your mailboxes for team photo envelopes, ribbons won, worker’s slips and any other info we feel you might need.
Pre-Swim/Team Registration – Pre- swim will continue through October 9. If you decide to join the team, you must have your YMCA membership and full swim team dues paid by October 12 – the first day of our regular season. I suggest getting your membership sometime during the week of October 5 as you will need to have your hand-key created and that can take time. The Y is going to be very strict about their membership policy. You will not be permitted in the pool after Friday, October 9 unless you have your membership, so be prepared!
Important Dates to Remember:
Week of September 21 – Focus will be on backstroke
Week of September 28 – Focus will be on breaststroke
Week of October 5 – Focus on butterfly
Friday, October 9 – Have YMCA membership and
Monday, October 12 – First day of regular season practice for those who are paid
Wednesday, October 14 – Swim-suit Try-On day. Please buy fins for your swimmer(s)
Thursday, October 15 – Time Trials – Will need parents help to run this meet – more
information to come on this next week!
Saturday, October 24 – First Meet – Home against
Thursday, October 29 – Team Picture and Halloween Party Day!
Neptune News
With our new website, we have an email option that you can use!
Simply email me: Put NEPTUNE SUBSCRIBE in the subject bar.
FOR FAMILIES: tell me who you and your children are and what age group they swim in.
FOR SWIMMERS: tell me what age group you swim in
Then I'll send you an invitation. You must reply to the invitation to automatically receive updates to this web site.
Enjoy! 
Sheila
