Youngstown YMCA Neptunes

Congratulations Neptune League swimmers. We placed 4th overall at Leagues in a very close race for the top five spots. I am so very proud of how all of you swam. Kudos to the 11 & 12 boys Chris Lawrence (50 back), Kamran Sarac (200 free) and Noah Basista (100 IM) who all earned a Zone time at Leagues.  

And Congrats to this group who along with Jordan Stackpole set a new Y-Neptune team record in the 200 yard Medley Relay. They broke one of our oldest team relay records; this one having originally been set in 1975. Other League relays also cut huge chunks of time just as did about everyone who swam. What a fantastic way to end our YMCA NEO League season!

Then Jordan and Kam attended the USA Silver Champs on Sunday and entered the Minute Club – Jordan placing first in the 11 & 12 boys 100 yard free in 58.59; Kam got third with a 59.27. WOW!

Zone/Last Chance Practices – If you have qualified for Zones in an individual event or are part of a Zone relay – the relays were posted on the pool deck wall the Tuesday after Presidential – or if you plan on swimming at our Y-Neptune Last Chance Meet this Saturday, please continue to come to practice. However, the times have changed a bit. See below…

Practice times for the week of March 4th …

Monday-Friday –                      3:30 to 5:00 p.m. (til 5:30 on Tues and Thurs) for swimmers 11 &  older. 

5:30 p.m. Dryland this week on Tues & Thurs. for swimmers 11 & Older too

Monday, Wednesday and Friday –   4:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Sibling swim.

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. will be for 10 & Under or older swimmers who can’t make the earlier practice time.

Tuesday and Thursday -         5:30 to 6:30 p.m. will be for 10 & Under or older swimmers who can’t make the earlier practice time.

Last Chance Meet – We will be hosting our Last Chance Meet this Saturday, March

9 at our pool. Those who should attend this meet are…

Swimmers trying for an individual Zone time.

Swimmers who need to legally swim an event (s) in order to earn their Neptune’s

Challenge pin.

Please know – ZONE RELAYS WILL NOT CHANGE based on any times swum at any

last chance meet. This has been my policy since I became Head coach. Also, any

times swum at any last chance meet will not go into the data base to be used to

determine the Most Improved swimmers in each age group.

Warm-ups are at 9:30 a.m. Meet starts at 10:00 a.m. Deck entries only; cost is $2

an event.

Banquet – Our banquet is this Saturday, March 9. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Please

bring your Chinese Auction items to practice this week or when you come to the

banquet. Make sure your name is on your donation. See you Saturday for food, fun

and awards! Text 330-559-3700 if you still need to make banquet reservations!!!

Zone Qualifiers. I still need shirt sizes and cell phone numbers emailed to me at

SusanNutter11@gmail.com.

I expect all Zone qualifiers to be at as many practices as possible the next two

weeks!!!

Thank you, thank you – And I know you already know this, but Thank You mega

times over to all our fantastic swim families. We seriously could not do this without

all your support, interest, humor, and hard work. You are the best.

One week to our League Championships! Get to practice. Get your fee envelope from Coach Sue. Get psyched about Saturday! Relays are posted on-line, on the wall, in your email. Please look everything over and know where you need to be and when this Saturday. Good Luck! Go Neptunes!

Congratulations to Taylor Tofil for a great swim in her 100 yard butterfly event in Division II at State on Thursday. She moved up two spots during prelims and had a great race.

League Championships is this Saturday March 2 at Cleveland State University. Be sure you look back at past newsletters. Everything you need to know about the meet is listed there as well as on the Neptune Info Board and you can look up meet info on www.neoyswim.org. Click on the Meet Info link at the top of the main page, then scroll down to the correct date and the link that has meet information concerning Leagues.

And – if you are in Leagues you MUST fill out a Cleveland State Waiver and turn it in to me, Coach Sue, this week. The waiver forms are on the bench in the deep pool by the wall where the League Relays and Individual Event swimmers are listed.

League Officials and Timers needed. I need One official per session to work at Leagues. Thank you to those who volunteered to time. Please let me know if you will officiate at the meet.

Banquet information is now out and on-line at our team website. Please fill the form out and return it to Melanie Emerson or at the front desk at the Y asap. Don’t forget to also donate an item to our Chinese Auction that we hold during the banquet. Please bring your donations to the pool and give them to Coach Sue, Shannon Morrow or Erin Parker. Thank you in advance.

Zones qualifiers – be sure to email me your t-shirt size and the cell phone numbers of who will be with you at Zones.

Dry land will take place this Tuesday, but not on Thursday of this week. We will have dry land next week on Tuesday and Thursday. And then dry land will be done until Spring Swim. Thanks to Larry for all that you’ve done with the swimmers this season!!

Sibling Swim has begun. If you have a younger brother, sister, cousin, etc. who would like to see what a swim practice is like, have them come to our Sibling Swim at 4:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. See Coach Rachel for a sign-up sheet.

Wish to continue swimming once the Neptune season is done???? Remember, once our Neptune season is over, the swimming doesn’t stop. If you want to continue swimming in preparation for summer swim league be sure to sign up for our Neptune’s Spring Swim. A form is now on-line!

Spring Swim runs for six weeks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning the week of March 25 and goes through May 3. The cost for Neptune swimmers is only $35! If you have a friend who is a Y-Member, cost is only $40 and if you know someone who would love to begin with competitive swimming, cost for non-Neptune, non-Y members is a reasonable $60! Tell your friends and continue swimming via our Neptune Spring Swim program! Neptune coaches run Spring Swim and it is a great way to prepare for the summer Youngstown Swim League swim season.

Fliers about Spring Swim will be available this week on the bench in the deep pool. There is also an ad in the Presidential Invitational program detailing Spring Swim, and we will have fliers at the Neptune’s Banquet. And if you would like more information about the summer league swimming opportunities in the area – ask Coach Sue!

Dates to Remember!

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet to be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 Morning – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Warm-ups are at 9:30 a.m. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones.

Saturday, March 9 Afternoon/Evening– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open at 4:00; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend. If you have a Zone time in an individual event, please check your email and reserve your hotel room now for Zones

WOW! That was some Presidential Invitational! Zones times were falling as fast as the early morning snow that greeted us at 6:30 a.m. Congratulations to Jordan Stackpole for his THREE Zone times he earned in the 11-12 Boys 50 yard backstroke, 100 yard breaststroke, and 100 yard butterfly. Congrats also to Noah Basista for earning a Zone time in the 11-12 boys 100 breaststroke, to Taylor Kochanowski for earning a Zone time in the 9 & 10 girls 50 breaststroke and to all the relays who improved upon current Zone times. And another Congratulations to Cardinal Mooney high school swimmer, Taylor Tofil, for qualifying for State in the 100 yard butterfly! She swims this Thursday in the prelims hoping to move up and qualify for finals which swim on Friday. Go Taylor!

Presidential – Really, honestly, truly – thank you, thank you to all the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, high school swimmers, YSU Women’s swim team, brothers, sisters – any and everyone who made the Presidential such a success. We had quite a bit to deal with from snow, seating, a basketball game and an overwhelmed YSU concession stand, but we made it. The workers were fantastic. The swimmers did awesome. The coaches from visiting teams were so understanding of our limited space situation and they also wanted me to make sure I thank the awards people for having the awards done as soon as the meet was over. Once a meet is done the last thing a coach wants to do is wait another half hour for their awards. I had more than three coaches stop and ask that I thank the awards people for doing such a great job.

Leagues is our next meet which will be held Saturday, March 2 at Cleveland State University. Who qualified for Leagues has been posted on our website for two weeks, but I also made a quick list of those who are going in individual events and these are now posted online and on the wall at the Y along with who will be swimming in League relays. PLEASE see if you are in a relay!!! Also, at the Y on the posted lists, please put an “X” next to your name on the relay list and on the individual event list to show me that you know you are in Leagues.

And – if you are in Leagues you MUST fill out a Cleveland State Waiver and turn it in to me, Coach Sue, this week. The waiver forms are on the bench in the deep pool by the wall where the League Relays and Individual Event swimmers are listed.

And – I will be passing out League fee envelopes hopefully by Wednesday. Please get these back to me, Coach Sue, as soon as possible. I also still have Divisional fees and Presidential fees that need paid. Get these to me asap. You can leave your fees at the front desk of the Y if that is easier. Just ask that they be put in the fee envelope there. Thanks!

Banquet – Neptune Banquet forms are also on the bench in the deep pool. And will also be on the website. Get these filled out and returned asap. And remember to bring a donated item to the pool for our banquet Chinese Auction. You can give your items to Erin Parker, Shannon Morrow, or Coach Sue. Thank you in advance for your donation!

Dry land starts back up again tonight for those 11 and Older. We will NOT have dry land on Thursday, February 28.

Sibling Swim has begun. If you have a younger brother, sister, cousin, etc. who would like to see what a swim practice is like, have them come to our Sibling Swim at 4:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. See Coach Rachel for a sign-up sheet.

Wish to continue swimming once the Neptune season is done???? Remember, once our Neptune season is over, the swimming doesn’t stop. If you want to continue swimming in preparation for summer swim league be sure to sign up for our Neptune’s Spring Swim.

Spring Swim runs for six weeks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning the week of March 25 and goes through May 3. The cost for Neptune swimmers is only $35! If you have a friend who is a Y-Member, cost is only $40 and if you know someone who would love to begin with competitive swimming, cost for non-Neptune, non-Y members is a reasonable $60! Tell your friends and continue swimming via our Neptune Spring Swim program! Neptune coaches run Spring Swim and it is a great way to prepare for the summer Youngstown Swim League swim season.

Fliers about Spring Swim will be available next week on the bench in the deep pool. There is also an ad in the Presidential Invitational program detailing Spring Swim, and we will have fliers at the Neptune’s Banquet. And if you would like more information about the summer league swimming opportunities in the area – ask Coach Sue!

Dates to Remember!

Thursday, February 21 – Ohio High School Swimming State Championship meet, prelims – Go Taylor!

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet to be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 Morning – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones. More on this as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, March 9 Afternoon/Evening– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open tentatively at 4:30; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend. If you have a Zone time in an individual event, please check your email and reserve your hotel room now for Zones.

Congratulations to all of our Neptune high school swimmers who competed at Sectionals, and to those moving on to Districts this weekend. Congrats also to Taylor Tofil for earning Zone times in the Senior 50 yard butterfly and 15 & Over 100 yard butterfly as well as the 15 & Over 100 backstroke at Sectionals. Theresa Mikolay also made a Senior 50 breaststroke Zone time and a 15 & Over 100 breaststroke Zone mark at her Sectional meet. The Presidential Invitational is this Sunday, February 17th at YSU; our League Championship is Saturday, March 2. The Neptune’s Banquet is Saturday, March 9. Lots going on. Read all about it below!

Presidential Invitational– Our Presidential Invitational is this Sunday at YSU. The sessions and warm-up times are as follows….

Meet Times Morning Session for 6&U, 8&U, 9&10, and 15-18 will start at 8:30 a.m.

Warm-ups: Girls at 7:15-7:45 a.m., Boys 7:45 to 8:15 a.m.

Afternoon Session for ages 11-12, 13-14 will start no earlier than 2 p.m.

Warm-ups: Girls at 1:00-1:30, and Boys 1:30-2:00. Warm ups may commence while the morning session is in progress. The warm up pool will be available throughout the day.

The 500-yard events will be held following the free relays at the conclusion of the morning session.

I hope to have Presidential relays posted by this Wednesday and fee envelopes for relays available at that time. Please get your concession stand donations in – you can give them to Coach Sue. Parents – be sure you know what job you are doing at the meet. We need total parent participation to make this meet a success. Close to 600 swimmers have signed up to swim at our invitational and it looks to be a very exciting meet!

Also know… WE WILL NOT BE HAVING PRACTICE ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18 at 4:30, 6:30 or 7:30 p.m. I will come in for the 3:30 p.m high school practice, but only that practice. I will also still do my private lessons, as well. Everyone else - you have the day off from school and from swimming. It only purposely happens once a year – enjoy!

Leagues – Please check our website to see if you qualified for our League Championship Meet to be held at Cleveland State University on Saturday, March 2. The list of League qualifiers is listed there. Look for what individual events you swam and see if you are in the top 20 or 30 for that event. Remember – if you qualified you must attend. I will also be posting the League Qualifier list on the pool deck wall by this Thursday. Please put a “star” by your name to tell me you know you have qualified. I will also post the League relays by next Tuesday, February 19. Again, put a “star” by your name on the League Relay list to tell me you know you are in a relay(s).

Also know – if you did not qualify for Leagues, after the Presidential Invitational, you are done for the season unless you plan to participate in our Last Chance Meet for those who are close to a Zone time and want another opportunity to swim it. Otherwise, we will see you at the banquet Saturday, March 9th at the Georgetown.

Practices from Wednesday February 20 through March 1 are for League and Zone qualifiers only! Practices from March 4 through March 14 are for Zone qualifiers only. But please be sure to come to practice on Tuesday, February 19 to see if you are in a League relay. I will also post League relay qualifiers on-line.

Cleveland State Waiver forms – All League Qualifiers must fill out and turn in to me a Cleveland State Waiver Form in order to participate in Leagues as per Cleveland State’s rules. A stack of forms is located on the bench in the deep pool. Please fill out both sides and give your form to Coach Sue no later than next Thursday, February 21. Thank you!

Wish to continue swimming once the Neptune season is done???? Remember, once our Neptune season is over, the swimming doesn’t stop. If you want to continue swimming in preparation for summer swim league be sure to sign up for our Neptune’s Spring Swim.

Spring Swim runs for six weeks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning the week of March 25 and goes through May 3. The cost for Neptune swimmers is only $35! If you have a friend who is a Y-Member, cost is only $40 and if you know someone who would love to begin with competitive swimming, cost for non-Neptune, non-Y members is a reasonable $60! Tell your friends and continue swimming via our Neptune Spring Swim program! Neptune coaches run Spring Swim and it is a great way to prepare for the summer Youngstown Swim League swim season.

Fliers about Spring Swim will be available next week on the bench in the deep pool. There is also an ad in the Presidential Invitational program detailing Spring Swim, and we will have fliers at the Neptune’s Banquet. And if you would like more information about the summer league swimming opportunities in the area – ask Coach Sue!

Dates to Remember!

Sunday, February 17 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational at YSU; our team’s main fundraising event. All parents work this meet; all swimmers should participate.

Monday, February 18 – NO PRACTICE! Enjoy the day off! If you have private lessons lined-up, please speak to your instructor if you would like to have a lesson that day. Coach Sue will still be giving her lessons!

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet to be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 Morning – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones. More on this as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, March 9 Afternoon/Evening– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open tentatively at 4:30; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend. If you have a Zone time in an individual event, please check your email and reserve your hotel room now for Zones.

Woo Hoo! Congratulations Neptune swimmers on winning our Division 1 Championship Meet. The team earned 2757 points. Lake County West End was second with 2293 points and the Green YMCA took third with 1991 points. Swimmers who earned Zone times include Noah Basista and Daniel Frederick in the 11 & 12 boys 50 yard breaststroke; Santino Marucci in the 9 & 10 boys 50 yard breaststroke; Carly Ungaro in the 9 & 10 girls 100 yard IM; the 13-14 Boys 200 Medley relay; the 11-12 Boys 200 Free relay and the 9 & 10 Girls 200 Free relay. Whew! I hope that is everyone! Lots still going on in the season. Read below to find out what’s going on and where you need to be!

EVERYONE is to continue coming to practice. Our season is far from over!!! We have our Presidential Invitational Meet (Sunday, February 17 at YSU); our League Championship Meet (Saturday, March 2 at Cleveland State) and our Last Chance Meet (Saturday, March 9 at our pool in the morning) for those trying for a Zone time as well as Zones (March 15-17 at Bowling Green) for those who qualified. Oh – and our Neptune Swim Banquet, Saturday evening, March 9 at the Georgetown!

Divisional Fees are now due! Please turn in your fee envelope to Coach Sue ASAP! Thanks!

League Championship Meet – I will know by Tuesday who has qualified for our League Championship Meet to be held March 2 at Cleveland State University. The qualifiers will most likely be posted on-line at www.neoyswim.org. You qualify based on how you placed and on the times you swam at our Divisional Championship Meet. If you qualified for Leagues – YOU MUST ATTEND!!!

FYI - Qualifying for the League Championship Meet:

In the 8 & Under, Cadet (10 & Under) and Prep (11 & 12) age groups, each division will qualify its top three (3) swimmers per event and then the top remaining swimmers in order to qualify a full three (3) heats regardless of their division. This will qualify a total of 30 swimmers in a 10 lane pool …or 24 in an 8 lane…or18 swimmers in a 6 lane pool.

In the Junior (13 & 14) and Intermediate (15 & Up) age groups, each division will qualify it’s top two (2) swimmers per event and then the next at large swimmers, regardless of the division, in order to qualify two (2) full heats.

Please note – Relays that qualify for Leagues are not necessarily comprised of the swimmers that swam in those relays at Divisionals. Usually they are, but not always. Leagues is a month away. A lot can happen in a month’s time. Who will be swimming in the League Relays will be posted the Monday after our Presidential Invitational Meet.

Speaking of the Presidential Meet – All Neptune swimmers should attend this meet; our team fundraiser, to be held at Youngstown State University on Sunday, February 17. YOU PICK what you swim. YOU ENTER YOURSELF via the Presidential entry sheets available on our website or on the bench in the deep pool. Information on the meet is also on-line at our websitewww.yneptune.com under the “Invitationals” link and at www.neoyswim.org. Click on Meet Info link at the top of the neoyswim.org page, then scroll down to the February 17 date and name of our meet.

Please fill out your entry form – you may swim four events - and turn it in to Coach Sue – no one else – along with your entry fee ($4 per event entered) by this Thursday, February 7th! You do not need to mail your entries to anyone. Hand them to Coach Sue!!! ONLY SIGN UP FOR AND PAY FOR INDIVIDUAL EVENTS! I, Coach Sue, will make relays based on who is entered in the meet. I will then post the relays the Thursday before the meet and pass out relay fee envelopes at that time.

Presidential Invitational Swim Sessions…

Morning Session for 6&U, 8&U, 9&10, and 15-18 will start at 8:30 a.m.

Warm-ups: Girls at 7:15-7:45 a.m., Boys 7:45 to 8:15 a.m.

Afternoon Session for ages 11-12, 13-14 will start no earlier than 2 p.m.

Warm-ups: Girls at 1:00-1:30, and Boys 1:30-2:00.

AND… we need ads sold for our meet program for the Presidential. If your business would like to place an ad; if you have a friend who would like to place an ad; if you would like to place an ad… there are ad forms in the deep pool and the form will also be posted to our website.

Neptune Swim Banquet – Save the date, Saturday, March 9 is our fabulous Y-Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Remember to donate an item for our wonderful Chinese Auction. Banquet info – cost, times, reserving who you want to sit with, etc is now out. Please see Melanie Emerson for banquet forms.

Good Luck to our High School Swimmers as they compete in their High School Sectional Meets this Friday and Saturday!

What’s Up; or upcoming…

Thursday, February 6 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational entries are due to Coach Sue along with your individual event entry fees.

Friday and Saturday, February 7 & 8 – High School Sectional Meets

Sunday, February 17 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational at YSU; our team’s main fundraising event. All parents work this meet; all swimmers should participate. Entering this meet can begin the week of February 4th. Forms to do so will be available at that time.

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet. You qualify for this meet at Divisionals. To be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 Morning – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones. More on this as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, March 9 Afternoon/Evening– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open tentatively at 4:30; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend. If you have a Zone time in an individual event, please check your email and reserve your hotel room now for Zones.

Divisional entries are in. Fee envelopes will be handed to swimmers this week. Divisionals takes place this Sunday, February 3 at the University of Akron. Big week for the team, the swimmers, the coaches! Get to practice so you can work on your events, practice relays starts with the people you’ll be swimming with, work on turns, etc. Let’s get ready to do our best and make a great showing. Go Neptunes!

Divisionals are this Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron. The natatorium’s address is Ocasek Natatorium University of Akron 402 Carroll St Akron, Ohio 44304. EVERYONE WHO QUALIFIED FOR DIVISIONALS MUST ATTEND – NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!

The following swimmers are the only Neptune swimmers who are NOT attending Divisionals because they did not swim 3 meets, or because they have a broken bone…

Kayleigh Cici

Julia Eich

Paul Graziano – though I am still holding out hope… : )

Tatum Johnson

Isabella Kelty

Natalie Kovacs

Audrey Madden

Jacob Madden

Rose Marie Pernotto

Alexis Poschner

Jay Raymer

Nicholas Slivkoff

Divisional Pre-Ordered T-Shirts – If you pre-ordered Divisional T-shirts, please see Fitch high school swimmer, Alexis Fisher for your shirt. She will be by the door to our assigned racquet ball court/10 & Under team area before the start of the meet. She will not track you down. You go to her!

As always, if you have a question, please call Coach Sue at 330-424-1128, 330-692-2447 or email me at SusanNutter11@gmail.com

On to other items…

Sunday, February 17, 2013 is our team’s main fundraiser – the Presidential Invitational which is held at YSU. All parents are required to work this meet; all Neptune swimmers should compete in this meet. worker sign-up sheet is now posted on our Neptune Info Board. If you do not sign up to work, a job will be assigned to you. We also need people to head up our awards this year. And someone to head up t-shirt orders for the meet. Eric Ungaro is in charge of making the meet program, but we sure could use help gathering ads for the program. If you can do any of these jobs, please text Melanie Emerson at 330-559-3700.

You will be able to turn in your entries for this meet beginning next week, but don’t worry about that now. Let’s get Divisionals behind us!!!

Neptune Swim Banquet – Save the date, Saturday, March 9 is our fabulous Y-Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Remember to donate an item for our wonderful Chinese Auction. Banquet info – cost, times, reserving who you want to sit with, etc  is now out. Please see Melanie Emerson for banquet forms.  

What’s Up; or upcoming…

Sunday, Febraury 3rd – Divisional Championship Meet at the University of Akron. See you there!

Sunday, February 17 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational at YSU; our team’s main fundraising event. All parents work this meet; all swimmers should participate. Entering this meet can begin the week of February 4th. Forms to do so will be available at that time.

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet. You qualify for this meet at Divisionals. To be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 Morning – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones. More on this as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, March 9 Afternoon/Evening– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open tentatively at 4:30; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend. If you have a Zone time in an individual event, please check your email and reserve your hotel room now for Zones.

Congratulations Neptune swimmers on a great meet against Copley. We won the meet our 8 points to their 2 points. Congrats also to Jordan Stackpole on achieving a Zone time in the 11&12 boys 100 IM. Then at the Hang Ten Invitational the next day – forgive me if I miss anyone – Jordan got the 11 & 12 boys 50 breast Zone time; Tess Emerson got the Senior 50 breast Zone time. Marco DiVincenzo got the 13-14 100 breast Zone time. Seth Morrow came away with three Zone times – in the 13-14 50 free, 100 free and 100 breast and Gina Ungaro is now in the Minute Club thanks to her great 100 free swim. We also had a bunch of swimmers achieve personal best times not by tenths, but by seconds! Great job everyone!

Our dual meet season is officially over and our Divisional Championship meet is just two weeks away! Time to tweak some things, work hard at practice and get in the right frame of mind to take on our Championship meet. Let’s go Neptunes!

Spirit Wear orders are due today!!!

Divisionals – The Divisional line-up will be up possibly by tomorrow. Remember, you had to swim in 3 dual meets in order to go to Divisionals.  If you did not do so, and cannot swim in Divisionals, remember, you still have the Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational, February 17th at YSU. Keep coming to practice to prepare for that meet.  For those who did swim their 3 meets, you are being put in Divisionals and MUST attend this meet!

Speaking of Divisionals – I still need two people to time at Divisionals. I need these names by this Tuesday or Neptune President; Melanie Emerson will assign two people to time. Please read through old newsletters to find out any info you might need to know concerning the Divisional meet. You may also visit www.neoyswim.org to see this info. Click on the “Meet Info” link at the top, and scroll down to Division 1 information. The meet is being hosted by the Green YMCA and it takes place at the University of Akron on SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2013!!!

But I will remind you…

I, Coach Sue, make the line-up for Divisionals, just like I have done all year for the dual meets. No one enters this meet individually. I make up the line-up and send it in as one team entry.

I also choose what you will swim. I am permitted to put you in two individual events and two relays. Everyone will be in two individual events. You will probably get to swim your favorite individual event; might even get to swim two of your favorites, but you might have to swim an event that is not your favorite. Please remember, if I put you in an event, it is because I feel it is the place where you have the greatest chance to score points for the team. Also know I will make up as many relays as I have people. Hopefully, everyone will also get to swim in at least one if not two relays as well.

There is a $3 fee per event swum. Once I make the line-up, I will pass out fee envelopes. Please return your fees to me asap. Make your check out to the Y-Neptunes and use your fee envelope to return your fees to me, Coach Sue. These envelopes will not go out until January 23.

Our team is required to supply four officials. Those who agreed to officiate at Tom Landers, Denise Dietz, Eric Kochanowski and Jim Jones. Thank you! I also need three timers – Alexis Fisher has signed up to do this. She is a high school swimmer who like her sister, Kayla (see below) are not competing in this meet, but are coming to cheer on their team and have graciously said they would also work. But I still need two more timers! Please let me know if you will time. I am also required to supply two 10 & Under age group coordinators. Thank you Meg Silver and Kayla Fisher for volunteering to do this! I need the names of our workers no later than January 22th.

If you sign-up to work this meet, you get in free and get on deck. If you do not work this meet, you will not be permitted on deck. Please let me know if you would like to work this meet. If I do not get enough volunteers, I will ask Melanie Emerson to assign jobs.

Heat Sheets for Divisionals – Once they are put together which is after teams submit their line-ups by noon, January 24th, heat sheets will be available to print free of charge at www.greenbarracudas.com. The Green YMCA, who is hosting the meet, encourages everyone to print their own heat sheets prior to coming to the meet. A very limited amount of heat sheets will be available for sale (for $5) the day of the meet. Please print your own!

Sunday, February 17, 2013 is our team’s main fundraiser – the Presidential Invitational which is held at YSU. All parents are required to work this meet; all Neptune swimmers should compete in this meet. Thank you to those who attended the informational meeting last week. The worker sign-up sheet is now posted on our Neptune Info Board. If you do not sign up to work, a job will be assigned to you. We also need people to head up our awards this year. And someone to head up t-shirt orders for the meet. Eric Ungaro is in charge of making the meet program, but we sure could use help gathering ads for the program. If you can do any of these jobs, please text Melanie Emerson at 330-559-3700.

Neptune Swim Banquet – Save the date, Saturday, March 9 is our fabulous Y-Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Remember to donate an item for our wonderful Chinese Auction. Banquet info – cost, times, reserving who you want to sit with, etc - to come this Wednesday.

What’s Up; or upcoming…

Sunday, Febraury 3rd – Divisional Championship Meet at the University of Akron. Info on this meet posted on the Neptune Info Board. More info will come out about this as we get closer to the date.

Sunday, February 17 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational at YSU; our team’s main fundraising event. All parents work this meet; all swimmers should participate.

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet. You qualify for this meet at Divisionals. To be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 Morning – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones. More on this as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, March 9 Afternoon/Evening– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open tentatively at 4:30; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend.

Hello Spring! Okay, wishful thinking, but I sure enjoyed the last couple days of balmy weather. Still, there’s lots of winter swimming left, and I am sure more snow in our future as well. Read here about what’s upcoming and on-going and as always, keep coming to practice!!

Last Dual Meet News – Our last dual meet of the season is this Saturday, January 19 against Copley, also known as University Park YMCA. The meet will be held at Copley High School Natatorium 3807 Ridgewood Rd. Copley OH 44321.  We warm-up at 1:30 p.m. The meet starts at 2:00 p.m. See you there!

Presidential Invite Parent Info Meeting – will be held this Wednesday, January 16 in the Youth Lobby at 6 p.m. Come to learn just what this meet is all about and how we need every Neptune family’s participation to make it a success.

Personal Best Ribbons are in your mailboxes! Sorry about the huge delay. First we had to wait on our 1,000 pb ribbon order to arrive. Then the person who has the label program in their computer had major surgery. But, the ribbons are in your mailboxes – the milk crates on the table by the bulletin board in the Youth Lobby. Make sure you check your mailbox!

Divisionals – So as not to be redundant, please read over the past three newsletters so you know just how Divisionals work. We have just a few swimmers who still need their third meet which they will get this weekend, so almost the entire team will be in attendance. Woo Hoo! This makes the coaches very, very happy! I should have the Divsional line-up posted the week of January 21. Then Divisional entry fee envelopes will be passed out. These will need to be turned back into Coach Sue asap. Our Divisional t-shirt order was placed – thank you Marnie Fisher.

Workers Needed For Divisionals - Thank you to Tom Landers, Eric Kochanowski and Denise Dietz for volunteering to be officials at Divisionals and to Meg Silver who will be our Age Group Coordinator. I still need one more official and three volunteer timers. If you would like to get into Divisionals for free and have access to the pool deck, please let me know if you would be willing to fill one of these positions. I need to know if you will volunteer by this Wednesday. Looks like we are on track to enjoying a great Divisionals. Thank you again!

Neptunes Banquet will take place Saturday, March 9 at the Georgetown. Again, read last week’s news for information on this event and about donating to our Chinese Auction. Thank you!

Spirit Wear is now available. You should have received an email with the Spirit Wear order form included. Extra forms will be in the deep pool. Get your orders in asap!

What’s Up; or upcoming…

Wednesday, January 16th – Meeting for all parents concerning the Presidential Invitational. Meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Youth Lobby.

Saturday, January 19th – away meet with Copley. See above for warm-up times and address to the pool.

Sunday, Febraury 3rd – Divisional Championship Meet at the University of Akron. Info on this meet posted on the Neptune Info Board. More info will come out about this as we get closer to the date.

Sunday, February 17 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational at YSU; our team’s main fundraising event. All parents work this meet; all swimmers should participate.

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet. You qualify for this meet at Divisionals. To be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 Morning – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones. More on this as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, March 9 Afternoon/Evening– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open tentatively at 4:30; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend.

Congratulations Neptune swimmers on yet another win this past Saturday against Lake County Central. We earned 9 points to their 2 points. Thanks to all our parents who made this meet run so smoothly, especially the Fishers who head up our concessions; and those who run the meet; Jim Jones, Rich and Shannon Morrow, Tina Kubacki, Audrey Sommers and Patty Graziano. New Minute Club Members include Tim Kubacki and Noah Krausz. Lots of great swims, great team spirit and wonderful cheering from both teams made for an exciting meet. The high school swimmers also swam really well at NEACS and the YSU invite this past weekend. Keep coming to practice; keep working hard and watch the fantastic results continue to pour in!

Next Meet News – Our last dual meet of the season takes place Saturday, January 19 at the Copley University Park YMCA. Their pool’s address is Copley High School Natatorium 3807 Ridgewood Rd. Copley OH 44321. Our warm-ups are at 1:30 p.m. and the meet starts at 2:00 p.m. Please sign-off either on the Neptune Info Board sign-off sheet or on-line by this Thursday, January 10 if you CAN NOT attend this meet. Remember – you must have swum in 3 dual meets in order to qualify for our Divisional Championship Meet to be held Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron. If you only have 2 meets in, you MUST attend the Copley meet January 19th!

Speaking of Divisionals… - Information on that meet is now posted on our Neptune Info Board. Divisional Meet News –Our Divisional Championship Meet – the meet everyone must attend (get your three meets in!!!)– will be held Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron. Yes, it is Super Bowl Sunday. Yes, you will be home in plenty of time to prepare for any parties or see the game. Please set that date aside and do not schedule anything else for that day. We need everyone at Divisionals; plain and simple. Two pools will be running at the same time at Divisionals so there will only be one session. Information pertaining to Divisionals is now on-line and posted on the Neptune Info Board. Please note…

WARM-UPS START AT 8:30 AM

MEET START TIME IS 10:00 AM

11 & Older will warm-up and compete in the East Pool

10 & Under will warm-up and compete in the West Pool

Each pool will be running their session simultaneously to the other.

Let’s see if we can win the Championship again in 2013!

Divisionals – Remember… to qualify to compete in Divisionals, you must have swum in three of our seven dual meets. There is one dual meet left. Be sure to get your three meets in. It is mandatory that you compete at Divisionals.

The following swimmers MUST swim in our last dual meet of the season –Saturday, January 19th at the Copley YMCA - in order to qualify for Divisionals, and remember – attending Divisionals is mandatory! Please make this meet! Our team needs you!

Nichole Breuer

Elizabeth Brogan

Dillon Cailor

Sammy Masucci

Sydney Masucci

Rose Marie Pernotto

More Divisional News – A few things to know about Divisionals

I, Coach Sue, make the line-up for this meet, just like I have done all year for the dual meets. No one enters this meet individually. I make up the line-up and send it in as one team entry.

I also choose what you will swim. I am permitted to put you in two individual events and two relays. Everyone will be in two individual events. You will probably get to swim your favorite individual event; might even get to swim two of your favorites, but you might have to swim an event that is not your favorite. Please remember, if I put you in an event, it is because I feel it is the place where you have the greatest chance to score points for the team. Also know I will make up as many relays as I have people. Hopefully, everyone will also get to swim in at least one if not two relays as well.

There is a $3 fee per event swum. Once I make the line-up, I will pass out fee envelopes. Please return your fees to me asap. Make your check out to the Y-Neptunes and use your fee envelope to return your fees to me, Coach Sue. These envelopes will not go out until January 21. This is also when I hope to have our Divisional meet line-up posted.

Our team is required to supply four officials, I’m assuming two per pool; three timers and two 10 & Under age group coordinators. Thank you Meg Silver and Dave Schabb for volunteering to do this! I need the names of our workers no later than January 20th. If you sign-up to work this meet, you get in free and get on deck. If you do not work this meet, you will not be permitted on deck. Please let me know if you would like to work this meet. If I do not get enough volunteers, I will ask Melanie Emerson to assign jobs.

Heat Sheets for Divisionals – once they are put together which is after teams submit their line-ups by noon, January 24th, heat sheets will be available to print free of charge at www.greenbarracudas.com. The Green YMCA, who is hosting the meet, encourages everyone to print their own heat sheets prior to coming to the meet. A very limited amount of heat sheets will be available for sale (for $5) the day of the meet. Please print your own!

Sunday, February 17, 2013 is our team’s main fundraiser – the Presidential Invitational which is held at YSU. All parents are required to work this meet; all Neptune swimmers should compete in this meet. We will be having an informational meeting concerning the Presidential Invitational on Wednesday, January 16th at 6 p.m. All parents should attend this meeting to learn more about this meet and to sign-up for the job you want to do.

Neptune Swim Banquet – My bad. I posted the wrong date for our swim banquet in the last newsletter! Our banquet will actually take place on Saturday, March 9th. It will be at the Georgetown and the tentative time doors will open is 4:30 p.m. with the banquet start date being 5:30 p.m. Please note that we will again be having our ever popular Chinese Auction at the banquet. We ask that each family donate an item to be raffled off during the evening. In the past we have had people donate swim related items, gift cards to restaurants, theme baskets, movie passes, money trees, etc. Shannon Morrow will be heading up the Chinese Auction along with Erin Parker. Start shopping now – there are some great sales out there – and feel free to bring your donation to practice anytime from now until the end of the swim season. Be sure to put your name on your donated item so we can give credit for your donation. Thanks in advance! More on the Chinese Auction and banquet will be posted as we get closer to the date.

Spirit Wear is now available. You should have received an email with the Spirit Wear order form included. Extra forms will be in the deep pool. Get your orders in asap!

What’s Up; or upcoming…

Wednesday, January 16th – Meeting for all parents concerning the Presidential Invitational. Meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Youth Lobby.

Saturday, January 19th – away meet with Copley (warm-up times, directions will be posted next week)

Sunday, Febraury 3rd – Divisional Championship Meet at the University of Akron. Info on this meet posted on the Neptune Info Board. More info will come out about this as we get closer to the date.

Sunday, February 17 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational at YSU; our team’s main fundraising event. All parents work this meet; all swimmers should participate.

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet. You qualify for this meet at Divisionals. To be held at Cleveland State University.

Saturday, March 9 – Y-Neptunes’ Last Chance Invitational. Held at our pool, Saturday morning. Tentative start time is 10 a.m. We offer this last chance meet as an opportunity for area YMCA swimmers to qualify for Zones. More on this as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, March 9– Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. Doors open tentatively at 4:30; banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend.

Goodbye, 2012. Hello, 2013. As we start off the New Year, please take a moment to look at last week’s news. Lots of information there. No use in rewriting what was already said. Look it over and then read this week’s news for updates.

Next Meet News – Our next meet is this Saturday against Lake County Central at our pool. Our warm-ups begin at 11:30 a.m.; the meet starts at 12:30. Parents, be sure to sign up to work and to bring items for the concession stand. Thanks in advance. The line-up will be posted hopefully on Wednesday – today.

We are coming in to our busiest time for swim team. We have our last two dual meets in January – this Saturday, January 5th at home and then our last dual meet of the season is Saturday, January 19th at Copley. Then Sunday, February 3 is our Divisional Championship meet at the University of Akron. Look at last week’s news and on the Neptune Info Board for more about this meet. Remember – if you want a Divisional Championship t-shirt, you must order it by this Saturday – no exceptions! All that info is in last week’s news.

Then Sunday, February 17 is our team’s main fundraiser – the Presidential Invitational which is held at YSU. All parents are required to work this meet; all Neptune swimmers should compete in this meet. We will be having an informational meeting concerning the Presidential Invitational on Wednesday, January 16th at 6 p.m. All parents should attend this meeting to learn more about this meet and to sign-up for the job you want to do.

Then we have our League Championship meet on Saturday, March 2 at Cleveland State University – you qualify for this meet based on your times at Divisionals. Our Neptune Swim Team banquet will take place Friday, March 8 at the Georgetown, and then those who have qualified for Zones will compete at the Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green on Friday, March 15; Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17. And mixed in with all this are high school meets, Sectionals, Districts and State. Whew! I will make a list of these important events that will appear each week in the news so everyone can keep track.

 With all that is going on… please get to practice, work hard and get ready for this very exciting time. Everyone is doing a great job and we want to keep this momentum going straight through Zones!

What’s Up; or upcoming…

Saturday, January 5th – home meet with Lake County Central; also – Divisional T-Shirt orders due to Marnie Fisher – she’s the concession stand diva.

Wednesday, January 16th – Meeting for all parents concerning the Presidential Invitational. Meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Youth Lobby.

Saturday, January 19th – away meet with Copley (warm-up times, directions will be posted next week)

Sunday, Febraury 3rd – Divisional Championship Meet at the University of Akron. Info on this meet posted on the Neptune Info Board. More info will come out about this as we get closer to the date.

Sunday, February 17 – Y-Neptune Presidential Invitational at YSU; our team’s main fundraising event. All parents work this meet; all swimmers should participate.

Saturday, March 2 – League Championship meet. You qualify for this meet at Divisionals. To be held at Cleveland State University.

Friday, March 8 – Neptune Swim Banquet at the Georgetown. More on this as we get closer to the date.

March 15, 16 and 17 – Great Lakes Zone Championship Meet at Bowling Green. Must achieve qualifying times to attend.

Hope everyone had a fabulous holiday, and hello first major winter storm of the season. When the weather turns icy and iffy, be sure to call the Y before heading to practice. We will try to cancel practice before you get on the roads, but we often cancel mid-way through the evening if conditions get worse. Your best bet is to call the front desk and ask if practice is still a go when the snow is flying or the ice is falling. When in doubt, stay home. No practice is worth a fender bender.

Please read this entire newsletter. There is very important info here about Divisionals; information you need to know!!!

Sixth Meet News – Two more meets to go before our dual meet season is over. Our next swim meet will take place Saturday, January 5, 2013. This will be a home meet against Lake County Central. If you cannot attend this meet, please sign off by Thursday, December 27 either on-line or on the sign-off sheet located on the Neptune Info Board. Parents, please sign-up to work and to bring an item for our concession stand. This is our last home meet of the season. Let’s make it a fantastic one!

Divisional Meet News –Our Divisional Championship Meet – the meet everyone must attend (get your three meets in!!!)– will be held Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron. Yes, it is Super Bowl Sunday. Yes, you will be home in plenty of time to prepare for any parties or see the game. Please set that date aside and do not schedule anything else for that day. We need everyone at Divisionals; plain and simple. Two pools will be running at the same time at Divisionals so there will only be one session. Information pertaining to Divisionals is now on-line and posted on the Neptune Info Board. Please note…

MEET START TIME IS 10:00 AM

11 & Older will warm-up and compete in the East Pool

10 & Under will warm-up and compete in the West Pool

Each pool will be running their session simultaneously to the other.  

WARM-UPS START AT 8:30 AM

Let’s see if we can win the Championship again in 2013!

Divisionals – Remember… to qualify to compete in Divisionals, you must have swum in three of our seven dual meets. There are two dual meets left. Be sure to get your three meets in. It is mandatory that you compete at Divisionals. We need everyone there in order to win this meet. Get your three meets in!

The following swimmers MUST swim in our last two dual meets of the season – Saturday, January 5th at home and Saturday, January 19th at the Copley YMCA - in order to qualify for Divisionals, and remember – attending Divisionals is mandatory!

Nichole Breuer

Elizabeth Brogan

Dillon Cailor

Kayleigh Ceci

Tatum Johnson

Natalie Kovacs

Sammy Masucci

Sydney Masucci

Rose Marie Pernotto

There are also about 15 swimmers who need one more meet in order to qualify for Divisionals, but the best news is the majority of our awesome Neptune swim team has their three meets in and have qualified for our Divisional Championship Meet to be held Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron!!!! How exciting! It will be a great meet. Set that date aside. You have a championship meet to attend that day! Go Neptunes!

More Divisional News – A few things to know about Divisionals

I, Coach Sue, make the line-up for this meet, just like I have done all year for the dual meets. No one enters this meet individually. I make up the line-up and send it in as one team entry.

I also choose what you will swim. I am permitted to put you in two individual events and two relays. Everyone will be in two individual events. You will probably get to swim your favorite individual event; might even get to swim two of your favorites, but you might have to swim an event that is not your favorite. Please remember, if I put you in an event, it is because I feel it is the place where you have the greatest chance to score points for the team. Also know I will make up as many relays as I have people. Hopefully, everyone will also get to swim in at least one if now two relays as well.

There is a $3 fee per event swum. Once I make the line-up, I will pass out fee envelopes. Please return your fees to me asap. Make your check out to the Y-Neptunes and use your fee envelope to return your fees to me, Coach Sue. These envelopes will not go out until January 21. This is also when I hope to have our Divisional meet line-up posted.

Our team is required to supply four officials, I’m assuming two per pool; three timers and two 10 & Under age group coordinators. I need the names of our workers no later than January 20th. If you sign-up to work this meet, you get in free and get on deck. If you do not work this meet, you will not be permitted on deck. Please let me know if you would like to work this meet. If I do not get enough volunteers, I will ask Melanie Emerson to assign jobs.

Heat Sheets for Divisionals – once they are put together which is after teams submit their line-ups by noon, January 24th, heat sheets will be available to print free of charge at www.greenbarracudas.com. The Green YMCA, who is hosting the meet, encourages everyone to print their own heat sheets prior to coming to the meet. A very limited amount of heat sheets will be available for sale (for $5) the day of the meet. Please print your own!

Divisional T-Shirts – T-shirts for our Divisional Championships are available by pre-order ONLY!!! What the t-shirt looks like is now on our website. It is short sleeve and a light grey color. Cost is $15. We must send in one team order. So if you want a t-shirt, please put a check (made out to the Youngstown Y-Neptunes) for the correct amount in your own business or letter-size envelope. On the front of the envelope, include your child’s name and shirt size, seal the envelope and give it to Marnie Fisher at our last home meet, Saturday, January 5th. Marnie is in charge of the concession stand. You will find here there throughout the meet.

If you want to turn your Divisional t-shirt order in prior to this, give your envelope, with your order written on the outside and your payment inside, to the front desk. Tell them it is for a Neptune Divisional t-shirt order. They will put it in a large manila envelope and Marnie will pick it up the envelope of orders. If your envelope does not have your swimmer’s name on it, the correct size and the correct amount of money within, your order will not be place. Please do not hand the person at the front desk a check and expect us to figure it out. Use your own business or letter-size envelope to place your order. If you do not do this correctly, you will not be called, tracked down, etc. Your order will simply not be placed and you will not have a t-shirt. So please do it right if you want a Divisional t-shirt. Orders will only be taken up to January 5th. You will not get a t-shirt if you try to order it after January 5th. Please do not give your order to anyone except Marnie Fisher or the front desk!

Sizes are as follows

T-shirt = $15.00

(Add $2.00 for all 2XL, 3XL)

T-SHIRT SIZES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

ADULT:   SM, MED, LARGE, X-LARGE, 2XL, 3XL

YOUTH:   SM (6-8), M (10-12), L (14-16)

More Divisional Info is posted on the Neptune Info Board and on our website. Please take the time to read through it and let me know if you have questions.

Friday Clinics are now done. We will now go back to having regular practices on Fridays, but we will only have a 4:30 practice and a 6:30 practice. If you want to practice on Fridays, come at either of those two times. And yes, we will continue to have our 3:30 p.m. high school practice sessions, just as we always have on Fridays.

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

Congratulations Neptune swimmers on another win this past Saturday. We won our meet against Vermillion; our 10 points to their 1 point. Lots of great swims from both teams. Congratulations also to the 11-12 Boys and 9-10 Girls 200 medley relays for achieving Zone times.  Christmas is fast approaching. Read to see what will take place the next two weeks.

Toys Still Needed –The Breakfast with Santa event still needs more toys! Thank you to those who already donated a new toy for this wonderful event. If you would still like to donate a toy, please bring it to the front desk by 6 p.m. this Wednesday. It will get wrapped and given to a needy child at the Breakfast with Santa event. Thanks in advance!

Next meet news – Our next swim meet will not take place until Saturday, January 5, 2013. This will be a home meet against Lake County Central. If you cannot attend this meet, please sign off by Thursday, December 27 either on-line or on the sign-off sheet located on the Neptune Info Board.

Divisional Meet News –Our Divisional Championship Meet – the meet everyone must attend (get your three meets in!!!)– will be held Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron. Two pools will be running at the same time so there will only be one session. More information will be coming on this, but set aside Sunday, February 3 for this meet. Let’s see if we can win the Championship again in 2013!

Divisionals – Remember… to qualify to compete in Divisionals, you must have swum in three of our seven dual meets. There are two dual meets left. Be sure to get your three meets in. It is mandatory that you compete at Divisionals. We need everyone there in order to win this meet. Get your three meets in!

The following swimmers MUST swim in our last two dual meets of the season – Saturday, January 5th at home and Saturday, January 19th at the Copley YMCA - in order to qualify for Divisionals, and remember – attending Divisionals is mandatory!

Nichole Breuer

Elizabeth Brogan

Dillon Cailor

Kayleigh Ceci

Tatum Johnson

Natalie Kovacs

Sammy Masucci

Sydney Masucci

Rose Marie Pernotto

There are also about 15 swimmers who need one more meet in order to qualify for Divisionals, but the best news is the majority of our awesome Neptune swim team has their three meets in and have qualified for our Divisional Championship Meet to be held Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron!!!! How exciting! It will be a great meet. Set that date aside. You have a championship meet to attend that day! Go Neptunes!

Friday Clinics – Only one clinic remains for 2013. That clinic takes place this Friday, and I believe it is a breaststroke clinic. We will only be holding two sessions – the early 4:30 p.m. session and the later 6:30 session. There will not be a 7:30 session this Friday, December 21. Then the following week we will go back to having regular practices, but again we will only have a 4:30 practice and a 6:30 practice. If you want to practice on Fridays, come at either of those two times. And yes, we will continue to have our 3:30 p.m. high school practice sessions, just as we always have on Fridays.

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve!

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 26, Enjoy your family, gifts, downtime Day!

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

Hope everyone had a good time at our Christmas party Monday night. Thank you to everyone who attended and brought food to share. And we also hope you liked your surprise. If you did not make it to the party, know the team was given a gift – an underwater sound system meaning now when you have your face in the water following that black line on the bottom of the pool, you will be listening to music. Used by the Olympic synchronize swimmers for both training and competition, the sound is spectacular. Merry Christmas a bit early, Neptune swimmers!

Fifth Meet News – Our fifth meet will be this Saturday at our pool against Vermillion – maybe we will have to play music for warm-ups! Our warm-ups are at 11:30 a.m. The meet starts at 12:30. Parents – be sure to sign up to work and to bring an item for the concession stand. Thanks in advance!

Toy Drive – We also want to let our Neptune families know if they would like to bring a toy to the meet Saturday, we are helping the YMCA gather together toys for their annual toy drive. There will be a large bin at the meet worker/swimmer check-in table on Saturday. If you are able to donate a new toy, it would be greatly appreciated.

Divisional Meet News – Just found out our Divisional Championship Meet – the meet everyone must attend (get your three meets in!!!)– will be held Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the University of Akron. Two pools will be running at the same time so there will only be one session. More information will be coming on this, but set aside Sunday, February 3 for this meet. Let’s see if we can win the Championship again in 2013!

Divisionals – Remember… to qualify to compete in Divisionals, you must have swum in three of our dual meets. There are three dual meets left. Be sure to get your three meets in. It is mandatory that you compete at Divisionals. We need everyone there in order to win this meet. Get your three meets in!

Caps are in – see Eric Kochanowski for your caps if you ordered a set. Eric will also be placing a second order. Please let Eric know if you would like a set of caps. He needs to know by the meet this Saturday.

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve!

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 26, Enjoy your family, gifts, downtime Day!

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

High schoolers might possibly have morning or afternoon practices on some of these days. We are still working on that and will let you know!

Congratulations Neptune swimmers on your win over the Green Family YMCA. We earned 9 points to their 2 points. We had lots of personal best times recorded as well. Hopefully, all the personal best ribbons from this season will be in your mailboxes by week’s end. We had to wait for our ribbon order to come in, and now we are just waiting for the stickers to be made.

Congratulations to Jessie Morrow for earning a pool and team record in the 200 IM and the 100 Breaststroke for 15 & Over girls. Jess’s breaststroke time is also a YMCA Zone time and qualifiers her to swim at YMCA Nationals to be held in April in Greensboro, NC. And… congratulations to Jordan Stackpole for earning a YMCA Zone time in the 11 & 12 boys 50 yard butterfly this past weekend.

Fifth Meet News – Our next meet will be a home meet against Vermillion on Saturday, December 15, 2012. If you can not attend this meet, please sign off on the Neptune Info Board or via email by this Thursday, December 6.

Christmas Party – Our Neptune Christmas Party will take place Monday, December 10- next Monday - and will begin at 6 p.m. and go to 8 p.m. We will only have high school practice that day. We are trying something new by having a pot-luck party. Information about the party will be posted on the website by today, Monday, December 3. A sign-up sheet for food to bring will be on the Neptune Info board tonight. We will be having an Ugly Christmas Sweater competition this evening as well. There will be an adult category and a swimmer category. Please feel free to wear your most “festive” sweater to the party and see if you win the competition!

High School Swimming – Practice attendance for the month of November is now posted on the pool deck and on the Neptune Info Board. If your team requires at least three practices with your high school team a week, then there should be a 12 next to you name. Not sure how teams determine who letter, but if you are not making the minimum, you might want to change your schedule. High school coaches – email me so I can send you a copy of this tally for your records. PLEASE NOTE – we will be keeping attendance at dry land for the months of December, January and February as well – FYI.

Team Caps – I have been told our team caps will be in on Tuesday!!!

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve!

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 26, Enjoy your family, gifts, downtime Day!

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

High schoolers might possibly have morning or afternoon practices on some of these days. We are still working on that and will let you know!

And so begins the holiday season! Lots going as November rolls out of here and December makes its debut. Read ahead to keep track of all the Neptune happenings from swim meets, Christmas parties, days off and such.

Next meet news – Our next meet is this Saturday at HOME!!!! against Green. We warm-up at 11:30. BE ON TIME if you want to warm-up. The meet starts at 12:30. If you are not swimming at this meet, you should have signed-off by now!!!

Parents – be sure to sign up to work – remember, all families must work at least 3 meets. If you do not choose a job you would like to do, you will receive a phone call telling you what job you have been assigned. And be sure to sign-up to say what you will be donating to our concession stand. Both sign-up lists are on the Neptune Info Board. Thank you in advance. We couldn’t, wouldn’t have such an awesome team if it were not for our fantastic parents!!!

Pictures are in. Be sure to grab your photos if you ordered them. They are in a cardboard box on a top bench in the deep pool. They will be there during practice.

Fins are in – Well, they’ve been in; at least for those who ordered sizes 1-3 and 3-5. If you ordered a larger size, please call CAS and find out where your fins are. We have not received any larger fins. Stop by the Aquatic Director’s office for the fins we have received.

Upcoming events in December – Mark your calendars. Monday, December 10th will be our Y-Neptune Christmas Party. We are attempting to get the auditorium upstairs for this and will be changing the food format somewhat. More on this once I am given an update. Also, we are working with the YMCA toy drive this year. If you would like to participate, please bring a new toy our December 1 home meet. We will continue to take donated toys through December 15. Then on Wednesday, December 19th, high-schoolers… we are asking that after you practice this day, if you will stay and help wrap these gifts. The Y will provide paper, tape, and will also feed you! You provide your time, and excellent wrapping skills! Please see Taylor Tofil if you will be able to participate in this volunteer wrapping session.

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve!

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 26, Enjoy your family, gifts, downtime Day!

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

High schoolers might possibly have morning or afternoon practices on some of these days. We are still working on that and will let you know!

Shameless plug for one of our swim moms. Marnie Fisher – the fabulous woman who runs our concession stand at our home meets and at our Presidential Invitational in February has taken on a new venture. She is now the proprietor of Queen B’s Cookies. If by chance you are in the need for some holiday cookies and just can’t bring yourself to whip up batches of your own, The Queen is here to help. I am making her bring a price list for her cookies to the meet this Saturday. Stop by the concession stand and ask for a price list that includes the 39 (yes, 39…) different cookies/candies she makes. And… “like” her on facebook under Queen B’s Cookies to keep up-to-date on what’s cookin’.

Congratulations Neptune Swimmers! We won the meet against Tuscarawas our 8 points to their 3 points. I’m sorry I was not able to be there to see how well you swam, but I enjoyed looking through the results. Great job to everyone!

Next meet news. Our next meet is Saturday, December 1 and it is a HOME meet! Say what? A home meet? Such things exist? Indeed they do! The Green YMCA will be coming to our pool. Please know when we host a meet; it starts a tad sooner in the day. Our warm-ups are at 11:30 a.m., so everyone needs to be at the pool by 11:15 a.m. Green will warm-up at noon and the meet starts at 12:30 p.m.

If you must miss this meet, you must sign-off by this Wednesday on the sign-off sheet at the pool– not Thursday – since that is Turkey Day and we will not have practice. Or by Thursday, on-line. Remember, we will not be having practice on Thursday or Friday this week. Enjoy your holiday!

Home Meet Workers/Concession Donations – Sign-up sheet are now on the Neptune Info for parents to sign-up for jobs at our home meet December 1. Remember each family must work at least 3 meets during the season. We need workers at home meets, at Divisionals, and Leagues. We also ask that each family donate an item for our concession stand. Selling food and drinks at our home meet is a major fund-raiser for our team. Please sign-up on the donation sheet to say what you will bring to our home meet December 1. Thank you in advance!

Upcoming events in December – Mark your calendars. Monday, December 10th will be our Y-Neptune Christmas Party. We are attempting to get the auditorium upstairs for this and will be changing the food format somewhat. More on this next

week. Also, we are working with the YMCA toy drive this year. If you would like to participate, please bring a new toy our December 1 home meet. We will continue to take donated toys through December 15. Then on Wednesday, December 19th, high-schoolers… we are asking that after you practice this day, if you will stay and help wrap these gifts. The Y will provide paper, tape, and will also feed you! You provide your time, and excellent wrapping skills! Please see Taylor Tofil if you will be able to participate in this volunteer wrapping session.

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Thursday, November 22, Turkey Day!

Friday, November 23, Black Friday!

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve!

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 26, Enjoy your family, gifts, downtime Day!

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

High schoolers might possibly have morning or afternoon practices on some of these days. We are still working on that and will let you know!

Now that we are into November, remember, if the weather is ever bad, and you are not sure if practice will be taking place, please call the YMCA and ask before heading out the door. If we are able, we will post on the website if practice is canceled or send out an email blast, but this is not always possible. If the roads are bad, if the weather report calls for conditions worsening as the evening wears on, if you are saying to yourself as you look outside, “Hmmm, it sure is bad out.” Stay home. It’s only swim practice. You will not fall behind in your training or miss out on any great happenings by missing a practice if the weather is bad. But when in doubt – call the YMCA.

Third meet news - Our next meet is against Tuscarawas at their pool this Saturday, November 17. Their pool’s address is 600 Monroe St., Dover, OH 44622. We warm-up at 1:00 p.m.; the meet starts at 1:30 p.m. I should have received your sign-off by now if you are not attending this meet.

Swim Clinic – I’m finding the need to clarify some aspects of our Friday Clinics. Why Clinics - Friday evening practices were very light. Instead of having a coach there for 5 hours for 5 kids a practice, we decided to make these times into clinic times. And then suddenly we were over-run with swimmers, which is great. So instead of just having the last hour be a clinic time, we made all practices clinics to accommodate the interest. However, the idea behind having clinics concerning specific strokes was to help those swimmers who CAN NOT DO those strokes. If your child swims butterfly legally, do not sign up for the butterfly clinic. They will be bored. If your child has no idea how to swim butterfly, please sign-up for the clinic. If your child does not know how to do a backstroke flip turn, sign-up for the backstroke clinic. If your child can do a backstroke flip turn legally, stay home so those who are struggling can have the coaches’ attentions for this brief period of time. We will continue with clinics at these times on Friday through December. After the first of the year, we will probably go back to having practices on Friday just as we had before. Clinics will run as follows – Friday, December 7 – Backstroke; Friday, December 14, Butterfly; Friday, December 21, Breaststroke. I will also ask the coaches on deck to review freestyle turns at each clinic if time allows. Thank you for your interest in our clinics!

Practices – Thank you for getting to practice on time and getting in the water when you step on deck. We are getting much more done, which is greatly appreciated!

Also… at practices, we will be presenting “One Small Thing.” Look for this to be written on the practice board every Monday. “One Small Thing” will be what you will focus on at every practice that week. This “One Small Thing” can make all the difference if done every time you push off the wall to swim. The idea behind “One Small Thing” is that these tips will become habit at practice which will become habit whenever you race resulting in personal best swims. These are not earth-shattering words of wisdom or great secrets that will now be divulged. Nope. You might already do the “One Small Thing” when you swim. But for an entire week, this will be your focus. We will add another “One Small Thing” each week throughout the rest of the season. Let’s focus on creating some worthwhile, effective, purposeful habits. And then watch for the positive results that are realized!

Upcoming events December – Mark your calendars. Monday, December 10th will be our Y-Neptune Christmas Party. We are attempting to get the auditorium upstairs for this and will be changing the food format somewhat. More on this next week. Also, we are working with the YMCA toy drive this year. If you would like to participate, please bring a new toy our December 1 home meet. We will continue to take donated toys through December 15. Then on Wednesday, December 19th, high-schoolers… we are asking that after you practice this day, if you will stay and help wrap these gifts. The Y will provide paper, tape, and will also feed you! You provide your time, and excellent wrapping skills! Please see Taylor Tofil if you will be able to participate in this volunteer wrapping session.

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Thursday, November 22, Turkey Day!

Friday, November 23, Black Friday!

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve!

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 26, Enjoy your family, gifts, downtime Day!

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

High schoolers might possibly have morning or afternoon practices on some of these days. We are still working on that and will let you know!

Great job at our second meet against the David YMCA on Saturday.  I will be making up the personal best ribbons as soon as our ribbon order arrives from Hasty Awards. I anticipate a great year, so I ordered 1000 PB ribbons. Make me run out of ribbons again this year! Lots going on this week. Some changes are listed below. Read on so you are up-to-date on what is happening with our fantastic Youngstown Y-Neptune Swim Team!!!

High School practice officially starts today. Though many high schoolers have been practicing at the 3:30 time slot since September, all Mooney, Youngstown Christian, Fitch, South Range, etc. swimmers who practice with the Y-Neptunes should be at practice. I will be keeping attendance. It may affect if you letter. Get to practice!

Also – High School practice on Tuesday and Thursday will now be in the water for 2 hours – from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dry land will then begin at 5:45 p.m. Make a note of this and adjust accordingly. Attendance to dry land will also be kept. Get to dry land. Your attendance to both in pool practice and dry land will be reported to your high school coach on a weekly basis.

Another Also – There will now be high school morning practices – a coach will be in attendance - on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. in the deep pool.

 A word about practices. There is a problem that needs addressed where practices are concerned. Getting in the water. So we are absolutely clear… when it is your turn to practice and I call you down on deck, come down, look at the warm-up and get in and begin. By now no warm-up needs to be explained. We have been doing this for a couple months. Read the board, get in the water and get swimming.

The coaching staff is done begging swimmers to get in the water. Once your foot hits the pool deck, I expect you in the water in a matter of minutes. If you have been sitting in the stands prior to practice, you better have your hair in a cap if need be, your fins and goggles in your hands and be in the water minutes after I give you the go ahead to come on deck. I am done with the hair capping delay/forgot my goggles blah/chatting/goofing off/ pushing people in the water nonsense that has become an issue for some people. Also – a BIG “also” - I do not care if the water feels cold. It’s cold. It’s better if it is cold for practicing. It’s going to stay cold. Get over it.

While for most of you, getting in and beginning your warm-up is not an issue – thank you – for those where this continues to be an issue…If you do not get in and begin warming up immediately, I will ask you to leave practice. No warnings. NO NOTHING! It is a privilege to be on our team. It is a privilege to practice with our team. It is a privilege to be coached by the Neptune coaching staff. This is not play swim. If you want to do that, go over to the shallow pool and have at it, and leave those swimmers who come to practice to work more space to do so.

I also understand most of you do not drive. If you are a bit late coming on deck due to unforeseen circumstances like traffic, etc, no big deal. But once you walk on deck, look at the warm-up, find a lane and get in.

High schoolers – Warm-up starts at 3:30 p.m. Practice will begin at 3:45 p.m. If you are not in the water by 3:30, then come to the last practice of the day for 11 and older swimmers. We will be running two to three lanes (doing a variation depending on time) of the high school practice at that time. I know that of the high schools involved this year, you are all out of school in time to make it to practice by 3:30 p.m. I am tired of seeing you walk in the Y before 3:30 p.m. and not seeing you emerge from the locker room until 20 minutes later. And again, once your feet hit the pool deck, read the board for your warm-up and get in. If one has not been posted yet, do a 200 SKIPS.

No more standing around discussing who said what at school, what dance is coming up, what you’ll be eating for dinner. Enough already! Talk about it in the locker room after practice. If you cannot handle this, I will ask you to leave practice. If you cannot handle this on a daily basis, don’t swim high school. For the most part, the above only pertains to just a few people. The majority of you come to practice to work hard, and your dedication is appreciated.  I am tired of the others who mess around and mess up my practice. It is going to stop. You have been warned.

Orders for Fins/Suits/Pictures – I will let you know when any of these items come in. Until that time, the coaches know nothing about when orders for anything will arrive.

Friday Clinic Format Change – Due to the overwhelming positive response to our Friday Clinics (Woo Hoo!!) we are going to make some changes. All age group practices on Fridays will now be clinics. The 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. time slot will be for 8 & Unders who want to do the clinic. The 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. time slot will be 9 & 10 year olds; and the 7:30 to 8:30 hour will be for 11 and older swimmers. Please still sign-up on the sheet with your name and age. We will still limit the clinics to 20 swimmers per clinic, and please know there will be two coaches working each clinic. High schoolers will still have their regular practice on Fridays.

Next Meet News – Our next meet is against Tuscarawas at their pool on Saturday, November 17. Their pool’s address is 600 Monroe St., Dover, OH 44622. We warm-up at 1:00 p.m.; the meet starts at 1:30 p.m.

Signing off for the Tuscarawas Meet must be done by THIS Thursday, November 8, 2012. If you know you are not going to be there, please sign-off by this Thursday either on-line or on the Sign-Off sheet on the Neptune Info Board. Thank you in advance.

Looking ahead… We will not have practice on the following days…

Thursday, November 22, Turkey Day!

Friday, November 23, Black Friday!

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve!

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day!

Wednesday, December 26, Enjoy your family, gifts, downtime Day!

Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve!

Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day!

High schoolers might possibly have morning or afternoon practices on some of these days. We are still working on that and will let you know!

Other upcoming events in November and December… as a team, we will be working with the YMCA’s Toy Drive and also helping with wrapping the toys. We will also be having a team holiday recipe exchange this year, and our date for our team Christmas party – the format might be a bit different this year – will be announced shortly.

Are we a good time, or what?!

Interesting week ahead for the Neptunes. Hurricanes, Halloween, meet with David YMCA. Read on to find out what you need to know…

Hurricane Sandy is coming to town or at least remnants of the storm will be felt here according to the news. You know swim practice is very, very secondary as compared to your safety. If it does get bad here, please call the Y to make sure they have power, and please check our website or your email in case of cancelation. I am hoping we will be fine, but let’s be prepared in case it does get bad.

Elected officials are also coming to town; this afternoon. Due to the events at the Covelli Center this evening – Monday – the news is reporting that the South Ave. exit for 680 will be closed, and possibly South Ave. from 680 to the Covelli Center will be closed as well. So… if this is how you get to the Y, find an alternate route. The rally at Covelli begins at 4:30 p.m. Here’s hoping it doesn’t affect the downtown area too much.

Halloween is this Wednesday, and since many of you will be out trick or treating, we will only have the high school practice this evening. All other practices are canceled. Remember, however, the “Coach Sue Candy Rule.” You should not eat all the goodies you acquire during trick-or-treat. It’s just bad for you. So, Coach Sue will make the ultimate sacrifice (someone has to do it) and help take some of that candy temptation off of your hands. Please feel free to bring her a piece of your stash. She loves Kit-Kats, M&Ms, Clark Bars… - any chocolate really. But no gum. Her dad is a dentist and he frowns upon his only daughter chewing gum. Bad for the teeth. Oh, and you can bring something for the other coaches too. It is rumored Coach Sue is not the best at sharing; especially chocolate – or popcorn, right Coach Michael : )

Second Meet News – Our second dual meet of the season will be against the David YMCA this Saturday, November 3 at the David YMCA. The address to their pool is 7389 Caritas Cir NW, Massillon, OH 44646. Our warm-ups are at 1:00 p.m. with the meet starting at 1:30 p.m. Remember – you must swim in three of our seven dual meets in order to attend our Division Championship meet the first weekend of February. It is MANDATORY that you attend Divisionals! So, get your three meets in before the snow flies, or holiday parties begin, or whatever else might keep you from a swim meet. Also, if you did not sign-off saying you could not attend this meet, I am putting you in the line-up and you MUST be there.

Fees and Forms – If you are in the pool practicing, you are to have paid your Y membership; Neptune swim team dues and have turned in your Medical and Registration forms to the front desk. All forms and fees go to the front desk. Please pass the word that anyone can still join the swim team, up until the middle of December, actually; but no one will be permitted to get in the water until all fees and forms are turned in.

Invitationals/USA Meets – Keep checking the Neptune Info Board for info on this extra meets. I know the Ashtabula YMCA Aloha Invitational is coming up November 18 and the West Shore Christmas Cadet Meet is December 9. See Coach Kristen for details or email her at kkuntzm2@kent.edu

Great job to everyone who attended our first dual meet of the season against Ridgewood. No, we did not win the meet, but we had several Zone times logged, many experienced their first swim meet – ever – and returning swimmers got a taste of what they need to work on in order to have a successful season.  Lots going on this week, so read ahead to know where you’ll want to be and what you need to do. I will post the meet results as soon as they are emailed to me.

Congratulations to the Neptune swimmers/families that ran the Peace Race on Sunday. I saw the following swimmers doing the 2-miler… Grace Raymer, Jay Raymer, Kayla Fisher, Alexis Fisher, Aiden Orlovsky, Julia Castellano, Noah Landry, Maddie Leek, Thomas Frederick, Daniel Frederick, Liam-Martin Weiss, Luke Stoeber.  Our fastest female runner was Kayla Fisher with a time of 16:16.28, and our fastest male runner and over-all fastest Neptune runner was… Noah Landry with a time of 14:58.97. Way to represent, Neptunes! I will be posting our team races for November, December and January on Wednesday of this week at the Halloween party. Be sure to sign-up and run! Maybe we need to make up Neptune shirts to wear when we run so everyone knows who we are!

Picture Day/Halloween Party is this Wednesday, October 24. We will have high school practice that evening from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., but all other practices are canceled for this evening so we can get our pictures done, eat and have fun! Individual pictures will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the deep pool. We will begin setting up the team picture at 6:00 p.m. If you only want to be in the team picture, be at the Y by 5:45 p.m. We will eat and have the shallow pool for play/fun swim immediately following the team picture. We will have the shallow pool until 8:30 p.m. Anyone who did not get an individual picture done prior to the team picture; Rich, the photographer will continue to do individual pictures after the team picture is done. If you have a private lesson with Coach Sue on this day, she will begin doing those immediately after the team picture. Now – about that food. Swimmers who have last names beginning with the letters A-L are to bring a non-sweet food item (fruit, chips, veggies and dip, etc.) to share; those who have last names beginning with M-Z are to bring a dessert item (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc.) for our Halloween party. The team will provide pizza and water. See you then!!!

Swim Caps – Please remember that this Wednesday, October 24, is the last day to order personalized Y-Neptune swim caps. Order forms are on-line. Follow the instructions on the form to order.

Fees and Forms – If you are in the pool practicing, you are to have paid your Y membership; Neptune swim team dues and have turned in your Medical and Registration forms to the front desk. All forms and fees go to the front desk. Please pass the word that anyone can still join the swim team, up until the middle of December, actually; but no one will be permitted to get in the water until all fees and forms are turned in.

Second Meet News – Our second dual meet of the season will be against the David YMCA on Saturday, November 3 at the David YMCA. The address to their pool is 7389 Caritas Cir NW, Massillon, OH 44646. Our warm-ups are at 1:00 p.m. with the meet starting at 1:30 p.m. Remember – you must swim in three of our seven dual meets in order to attend our Division Championship meet the first weekend of February. It is MANDATORY that you attend Divisionals! So, get your three meets in before the snow flies, or holiday parties begin, or whatever else might keep you from a swim meet.

Swim Meet Reminder - The only way to judge how you are doing in practice is to go race at meets. Then you know what you need to work on to improve. Almost half our team did not come to Ridgewood. It is hard to win a meet unless everyone shows up to represent. Again, thank you to those who came to our first dual meet. Everyone else – let’s go! And by the way – a big Thank You to our assistant coaches who did a great job helping new swimmers get to where they needed to be; another big Thank You to returning Neptune parents who helped new Neptune families understand how a swim meet goes. We have a fantastic team!

We also need someone to chair our Spirit wear. Please contact Melanie Emerson at 330.559.3700 cell

Busy week ahead! Our first meet of the season is this Saturday, October 20. Read below to find out more information. Also, this Sunday is the Peace Race. Be sure to sign up if you plan to run/walk. We are in full swing now and our team continues to grow. Keep coming to practice. Keep working hard and let’s have a great time this Saturday at North Royalton when we swim Ridgewood.

First Meet News – Our first dual meet is an away meet against Ridgewood but the meet will take place at the brand new North Royalton YMCA. That pool’s address is 11409 State Road, North Royalton, OH 44133. We warm-up at 2:00 p.m.; the meet starts at 2:30 p.m. We will probably be done around 7:00 p.m. Neptune high school swimmers – this means you will be able to do your first practice of the season for your high school, and then get one of your needed three YMCA meets in so you can attend Zones if you make a Zone cut. Get to this meet!

Anyone who is not attending this meet should have already told me (last Thursday) by signing off on the Neptune Info Board –that sheet is now down; signing off online; or sending me an email. I am making the line-up. If you have not signed off, you are in the meet. Questions? Call me, Coach Sue, at home 330-424-1128 or on my cell at 330-692-2447.

New Parents Meeting – We will hold a New Parents meeting this Wednesday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Youth Lobby. We will be discussing what to expect at a swim meet and we will be available to answer any other questions/concerns you might have regarding the team so far. This is not a mandatory meeting by any means. But please come if you have questions you’d like answered. We will do our best! Thank you!

YMCA Virtual Meet – Just so everyone knows, we will be participating in the YMCA Virtual Swim Meet this year via our results from our first dual meet, October 20, 2012. All that is required to participate is to turn in our times from a swim meet held between October 20 and I believe October 28, 2012. Our times will be compared to all the YMCA’s nationally who also turn in times. I will post our “results” when they become available. So… swim FAST on October 20th! And let’s see where we stand nationally!

What Would You Like To Swim – Thank you to those who filled out the sheet telling me what you would like to swim. I still have these papers on the bench by the deep pool door. I need everyone to take one, fill it out and return to me ASAP. On this sheet is my policy concerning what events you will swim in a meet. I need to know what you would like to swim, but I will also probably ask you to try some events that might not be your favorites. Please look over the form, fill it out and get it back to me. This will help me do my line-ups throughout the season.

Peace Race – If you plan on running/walking the Peace Race – our team’s pick of monthly running events, forms are available on the Form Desk by the Front Desk at the Y, or go to our website and print off a Peace Race form. I am currently looking for our November running event. Any suggestions?  Let me know!

Personalized Caps – We will be putting in an order for Neptune swim caps this year. An example of what the cap looks like is on our Neptune Info Board. There are forms there as well, and you can print a form on our website. Caps will have “YYN” on each side and your swimmer’s name on each side. Cost is $11.25 per cap with a 2 cap minimum order. Thanks Mr. Kochanowski for organizing this for the team!

Mark Your Calendars – Halloween Party and Team Pictures! - will take place Wednesday, October 24. We will have high school practice that evening from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., but all other practices are canceled for this evening so we can get our pictures done, eat and have fun! Individual pictures will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the deep pool. We will begin setting up the team picture at 6:00 p.m. If you only want to be in the team picture, be at the Y by 5:45 p.m. We will eat and have the shallow pool for play/fun swim immediately following the team picture. We will have the shallow pool until 8:30 p.m. Anyone who did not get an individual picture done prior to the team picture; Rich, the photographer will continue to do individual pictures after the team picture is done. If you have a private lesson with Coach Sue on this day, she will begin doing those immediately after the team picture. Now – about that food. Swimmers who have last names beginning with the letters A-L are to bring a non-sweet food item (fruit, chips, veggies and dip, etc.) to share; those who have last names beginning with M-Z are to bring a dessert item (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc.) for our Halloween party. The team will provide pizza and water. See you then!!!

YMCA Invitationals/USA Meets – There is a section on the Neptune Info Board concerning upcoming YMCA Invites (anyone can attend these) and

Brrr… welcome to October! Actually had to scrape my car windows this morning! Just think… when it is colder outside, our water in the deep pool will feel that much warmer! Busy, busy next couple of weeks. Read ahead to find out what you need to know for this one.

First off – Congratulations to all the Neptune swimmers who attended the first YMCA invitational of the season; the CFYN Rocktober Pentathlon at the University of Akron over the weekend. Lots of great swims and personal bests AND… we have our first Zone qualifier of the season. Congratulations to Tess Emerson for getting a Zone cut in the 13-14 girls 100 yard breaststroke.

The trial period is over! Thanks to all the new swimmers who decided to give the Neptunes a try. If you are staying with the team, you must now buy a YMCA membership and pay your team dues. Actually, new and returning swimmers; everyone must now have a YMCA membership and have paid their team dues and turned in a registration form and medical release form in order to practice. If your name is not on the list that Aquatics Director, Tara Deagan, has given to the front desk saying you have done all of the above, you will not be able to practice until ALL FEES have been paid, and ALL FORMS have been turned in. Please do not come down on the pool deck and complain to the coaches about this. Just get the above done and you can practice. Thank you in advance!

New swimmers – if you decided you will not be joining the team, please shoot me off a quick email – SusanNutter11@gmail.com – so I know to take you off our roster and remove your name from the email list so you do not receive Neptune emails now through March!  Thanks!

Time Trials are this Wednesday. Please look over the information concerning Time Trials that was in last week’s newsletter. Parents – I will need timers for Time Trials. Just come down on deck during your child’s practice time and we will give you a watch. Thanks in advance for all your help!

First Meet News – Our first dual meet is an away meet against Ridgewood but the meet will take place at the brand new North Royalton YMCA. That pool’s address is 11409 State Road, North Royalton, OH 44133. We warm-up at 2:00 p.m.; the meet starts at 2:30 p.m. We will probably be done around 7:00 p.m. Neptune high school swimmers – this means you will be able to do your first practice of the season for your high school, and then get one of your needed three YMCA meets in so you can attend Zones if you make a Zone cut. Get to this meet!

If you can not attend this meet, please sign-off on the Neptune Sign-Off sheet or on-line at our website. I need to know by this Thursday if you will NOT be attending this meet. If you do not sign-off, that means you are coming to the meet and I will be putting you in the line-up. Everyone gets to swim at least two individual events and possibly two relays. I will make up as many relays as I have people so hopefully everyone will be swimming at least one relay if not two. Questions? Call me, Coach Sue, at home 330-424-1128 or on my cell at 330-692-2447.

YMCA Virtual Meet – Just so everyone knows, we will be participating in the YMCA Virtual Swim Meet this year via our results from our first dual meet, October 20, 2012. All that is required to participate is to turn in our times from a swim meet held between October 20 and I believe October 28, 2012. Our times will be compared to all the YMCA’s nationally who also turn in times. I will post our “results” when they become available. So… swim FAST on October 20th! And let’s see where we stand nationally!

What Would You Like To Swim – This week I will have a paper on the bench by the deep pool door. I need everyone to take one, fill it out and return to me ASAP. On this sheet is my policy concerning what events you will swim in a meet. I need to know what you would like to swim, but I will also probably ask you to try some events that might not be your favorites. Please look over the form, fill it out and get it back to me. This will help me do my line-ups throughout the season.

Mark Your Calendars – Halloween Party and Team Pictures! - will take place Wednesday, October 24. We will have high school practice that evening from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., but all other practices are canceled for this evening so we can get our pictures done, eat and have fun! Individual pictures will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the deep pool. We will begin setting up the team picture at 6:00 p.m. If you only want to be in the team picture, be at the Y by 5:45 p.m. We will eat and have the shallow pool for play/fun swim immediately following the team picture. We will have the shallow pool until 8:30 p.m. Anyone who did not get an individual picture done prior to the team picture; Rich, the photographer will continue to do individual pictures after the team picture is done. If you have a private lesson with Coach Sue on this day, she will begin doing those immediately after the team picture. Now – about that food. Swimmers who have last names beginning with the letters A-L are to bring a non-sweet food item (fruit, chips, veggies and dip, etc.) to share; those who have last names beginning with M-Z are to bring a dessert item (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc.) for our Halloween party. The team will provide pizza and water. See you then!!!

YMCA Invitationals/USA Meets – There is a section on the Neptune Info Board concerning upcoming YMCA Invites (anyone can attend these) and USA meets  (if you are a member of USA swimming).  If you like to do more meets than our 7 scheduled team dual meets, see Coach Kristen  about these other events.  Just know, these meets charge a fee to attendandhave entry deadlines.  Again,Coach Kristen can help you with these.  Three meets coming up include the YMCA of Wooster Mile Meet on Sunday, October 21 at Wooster, Ohio; a closed meet called the Youngstown Showdown in Hubbard, Ohio and the Copley 2nd Annual Halloween meet, in Copley, Ohio both taking place October 27, 2012.  Thank you!

Hellooo October and Hellooo Neptune swimmers! Great to see so many people back at the Y or new to the team. This is your weekly newsletter. It will be emailed to you and also posted on the Neptune Info Board at the beginning of each week, and also posted on our website.

THIS WEEK!!!

Pre-Swim is about over. This is the last week of the $50 trial period; meaning if you wish to join the team, and we hope you do, then you need to get your Y membership this week – if you do not already have one – and pay your swim team dues. Remember, those doing the trial – where swim team dues are concerned, you’ve already paid $50, so you just owe the remainder of your swim team dues.

Swim team dues and membership – If you plan to begin attending Neptune practices, you need to have all paper work and fees paid this week. After this week NO ONE will be permitted in practice, on deck, etc. if you have not paid your swim team dues, have a Y membership, and have turned in both your registration forms and medical release forms. If you filled out and turned in a pre-swim registration form, you do NOT need to fill out another registration form. You do need to pay the remainder of your team dues. This is going to be enforced this year! On Monday, October 8, if you do not have all of the above done, you cannot practice until all requirements are completed. Please do not come down on deck and complain to me about this!!! Rules are rules.

Important!!!

CAS (Competitive Aquatic Supply www.casswimshop.com) our swim suit vendor will be here this Wednesday, October 3 beginning at 4:00 p.m. to outfit the team. They will be set-up in the Youth Lobby and will be there until 7:30 p.m. Please come BEFORE your practice to try on suits and shop!!!

If you would like a team suit, CAS will have it so you can try it on and buy it the same day. If they do not have your size, you can pay for it and it will be shipped. Our team suit this year is by TYR and is called FireRock. We will be sporting the green version, of course!

CAS will also be selling practice suits, goggles, and FINS. Remember, if you want to use fins when we do fin sets in practice, please buy your own. If you have fins your children have out-grown and want to sell them, put a note on the Neptune Info Board. If you want to donate your old fins to the team, that is appreciated as well.

Dryland Training for high school –Dryland begins this week and will take place on Tuesday and Thursday. High schoolers will practice from 3:30 to 5:00 on those days and then hit the gym immediately afterwards. Bring your workout clothes on those days and plan to be busy until 6 p.m. We are also working on finalizing how our team nutritionist will work with everyone. There is talk of having a webinar set-up for parents at the Y during a practice. We are also planning on having a section of the website earmarked for nutrition information, food suggestions and recipes.

Monthly Runs – New this year, we are going to pick at least one running/walking event to do together each month as a team. This is for fun. This is not mandatory. Consider it cross-training with bling. Most of the runs also include walks if running is not your thing. Parents, siblings, please feel free to participate as well. This is going to be loosely organized in that, Coach Sue will pick the event, and you are responsible for entering and paying the fees associated with each event.

First up is the illustrious 2012 Youngstown Peace Race, an international event, which will take place Sunday, October 21 – the day after our first dual meet of the season! Several options exist for this event. You can do the 10k or a 2 mile run/walk and there is a free kids’ run (200 meters). The great part about the 2 mile walk/run is that it is in downtown Youngstown and it starts at our YMCA!

Visit www.peacerace.org to learn more about this race. Watch the images that go across the main page. That’s our own Coach Stacy in the bright green shirt out front in the one image! You can register on-line, but do so soon so you get your bling – a long sleeve Dri-Fit technical shirt! Also be sure to click on The Course link to watch a video of the 10k course or see where the 2 mile takes place. Here’s hoping Coach Sue’s pulled hammy eases up enough to run the 2 mile. If not, I’ll be walking it! Let’s get a sea of Neptune swimmers participating as well!

NEXT WEEK!!!

Time Trials will take place on Wednesday, October 10. Time trials!!! Just come to your regular practice, but know your practice will probably finish up early this day.

What Happens at Time Trials –

1 - Each swimmer is given an index card with their name and age on it.

2 – Each swimmer will be asked to swim either 25 yards (if they are 8 & Under) or 50 yards (everyone else) of Freestyle.

3 - Coach Sue will put each swimmer in a lane. Swimmers are to use that same lane every time they race.

4 – Once everyone has had a chance to swim their freestyle, swimmers may choose ONE other event to swim for a time. It must be no longer than 100 yards of something. We will not be doing time trials on 200 or 500 yard events.

5 – Timers will write down the event swum and record their lane’s swimmers’ times after each swim. They will hold on to these cards until the swimmer is done swimming his/her two events.

6 – Timers will turn in their cards and stop watches to Coach Sue at the end of each Time Trial session (ie practice time)

In order for Time Trials to run smoothly, I need…

1 – Swimmers to come to the practice that is for their age, if possible.

2 – Parents to volunteer to time at Time Trials. The more parents I have, the faster this goes. This also gives parents a chance to use a stopwatch so they are ready when they work a meet if they sign up to time at a meet.

Time Trials is for…

1 - Coach Sue. It helps me to write our first meet’s line-up if I have an idea of what your times are.

2 – You. I will record your Time Trial times on your Personal Best sheet. When you swim this event again in a meet, if you improve on your initial time, you earn a Personal Best ribbon.

3 – Swimmers NEW to the team. You will get a chance to race like you would in a meet.

4 – Returning swimmers. See where you stand at this point in the season by being timed.

If you can NOT attend Time Trials, it is no big deal. Also know, if a NEW swimmer misses Time Trials, I will try to get a freestyle time on you during a practice later that week. If you are a returning swimmer and miss Time Trials, you WILL NOT have an opportunity to swim for a time during a practice. That got crazy last year and interrupted too many other practices.

Thank you in advance for making Time Trials run smoothly!

GENERAL NEWS

Swim Meets – Our meet schedule is posted on the website. Our first meet that takes place October 20, 2012 is an away meet at Ridgewood’s new pool in North Royalton. It is an awesome facility and I encourage everyone to attend to be part of this new YMCA’s inaugural aquatic event. The local news will be on hand to do a story on this first swim meet. Be sure to look pretty that day : )

New Neptunes – There is a link on our website that details what to expect at a swim meet. Please read that over. The week of October 15th we will also be having a brief Parents’ Meeting to go over what to expect at a swim meet. I will release that date next week.

Concerning attending swim meets – Remember, it is mandatory that each Neptune swimmer compete in at least 3 of our 7 dual meets throughout the season. In order to attend out Division Championship Meet, every swimmer must have competed in 3 dual meets. Everyone on the Neptune swim team MUST attend 3 of our 7 dual meets. Invitationals do not count for this. My advice… get your 3 meets in early in the season, so if bad weather comes along, illness kicks in, the holidays are all consuming – you have your 3 meets done and know you can attend Divisionals. Know as your coach, I would LOVE that every one of you swims in all of our dual meets. If you do - you get recognition at our team banquet. This should be your goal, but I understand life happens. Just know you owe me at the very bare minimum – 3 meets. Thank you!!!

Invitationals/USA swimming – Coach Kristen Kuntzman will be one of the coaches on deck at Monday and Friday practices. She is the person to talk to if you want to become a member of USA swimming. She is also in charge of posting, putting up deadlines, entering and attending YMCA invitationals and USA swim meets. Kristen will attend an invite or USA meet if we have 10 or more swimmers signed up for that meet. Coach Sue will also try to attend these extra meets when possible. I will be posting Kristen’s email in the next newsletter. In the meantime, check the Neptune Info board for information on invitationals/USA swimming meets.

A bit more explanation…the Youngstown Y-Neptunes is a YMCA team and also a USA team. Your Y membership and team dues makes you a member of our Y-Neptune YMCA team and makes it so you may attend all of our dual meets. As a Y-Neptune YMCA swimmer, you may also participate in YMCA invitationals. These are extra meets hosted by various YMCAs and there is an entry fee per event. We do not attend these meets as a team. This is something extra you do on your own. Information on these meets will be posted on the Neptune Info Board so you can see what other YMCA swimming opportunities are available if you would like to compete in more than our 7 dual team meets throughout our 6 month YMCA season. You can see some of the YMCA invitationals available by going to www.neoyswim.org and clicking the “Meets” link.

The Y-Neptunes also pay USA dues making us a USA swimming team. If you would also like to attend USA swim meets, you must pay an extra fee to become a member of USA swimming and then you are able to enter USA swim meets as a Y-Neptune/USA swimmer. These USA meets also charge an entry fee to participate. We offer this as yet another venue for swimmers to compete. Again, we do not attend USA meets as a team. These are extra meets you do on your own.

Our policy at the Y-Neptunes is that we are a YMCA team first. Swimmers are not to sign up to attend any USA meet that falls on the same day as one of our YMCA dual meets, championship meets or our team fund-raiser meet that we host in February; the Presidential Invitational. You are more than welcome to swim any YMCA invitational or USA meet (if you have paid your USA membership fee and meet entry fees) you would like as long as they do not conflict with our team dual meets.

If you wanted to, by attending our team dual meets, YMCA invitationals and USA meets, you could swim a meet every weekend, both Saturday and Sunday from now until March. I DO NOT recommend any such thing. Just know the opportunities are there. That is what is so great about our team. We offer our swimmers more swimming and competition opportunities than any other team in the area!

Good luck to all swimmers competing at the YSL Summer Swim League Championships on Saturday, August 4, 2012.

We will be updating this web site and the new registration forms will be available shortly.  Thank you.