Happy Thanksgiving

This was as short week for the Stowe Swimmers: Monday & Tuesday only so we made sure Fun was the focus!

Monday was kick board day, and the opportunities for a workout with a kick board are endless. Some of the favorites were sitting and surfing on the board, both great for improving balance and sculling. The seniors also faced off in Kick'O War competitions for a splashy end of practice!

Tuesday the seniors enjoyed a Thanksgiving Dinner work out with coach Cara. Its amazing how much more fun a workout can be when you title the set, "Mash potatoes mixed with stuffing".

Next Week:

We focus on Legal Strokes and making the changes needed so every one's strokes are technically legal in competition. Wednesday, 11/30 is partner day and we will use a variation of partners so everyone can help each other with their strokes. A fellow swimmers eye can be a helpful tool and motivator.

Stowe Swim-A-Thon Success

Appreciating the power of the team was our week 5 goal, and the Stowe Swimmers proved how much power their team can create on Wednesday, 11/16! Again, for the 2nd year in a row, I was blown away by the positive drive each swimmer demonstrated. Rising to the occasion not because they were asked to do so, rather because they believed in themselves and in their team. The atmosphere of support on the pool deck from parents, friends, and fellow teammates helped reinforce the power of the team.

1 hour swim
36 swimmers
1562 laps
78100 meters
52.06 miles

Name ~ laps ~ meters
JUNIONRS
Anna Alberghini~ 37~ 1850
Amelia Booth ~ 24~ 1200
Mack Bowen ~ 23 ~ 1150
Hannah Burdick ~ 34 ~ 1700
Sophie Burkhouse ~ 29 ~ 1450
Alex Fuss ~ 30 ~ 1500
Eva Hynes ~ 33 ~ 1650
Ludwig Kumpf ~ 22 ~ 1100
Anthony Marron ~ 30 ~1500
Jacob McCormack ~ 4 ~ 200
Emaline Ovellette ~ 17 ~ 850
Lynn Russell ~ 30 ~ 1500

SENIORS
Emily Ames ~38 ~ 1900
Miles Ames ~50 ~ 2500
Oliver Ames ~64 ~ 3200
Heidi Brynn ~ 64 ~ 3200
Lily Carleu ~ 32 ~ 1600
Natalie Doehla ~ 35 ~ 1750
Seychelle Duckworth~ 70 ~ 3500
Grace Dupuis ~ 37 ~ 1850
Alexis Faith ~ 65 ~ 3250
Zach Fuss ~ 50 ~ 2500
Madison Gadomski ~ 45 ~ 2250
Megan Gresham ~ 82 ~ 4100
Rachel Haskins ~ 88 ~ 4400
Tanis Hekstra ~ 43 ~ 2150
Yvain Hoekstra ~ 55 ~2750
Parker Klingsburg ~ 51 ~ 2550
Owen LaBombard ~ 48 ~ 2400
Posy LaBombard ~ 49 ~ 2450
Taylor Marshall-Carney ~ 51 ~ 2550
Will McInstosh ~ 51 ~ 2550
Chapman Roper ~ 47 ~2350
Joseph Silva ~ 32 ~ 1600
Cassie Wisdom ~ 61.5 ~ 3075
Samantha Wisdom ~ 50.5 ~2525

Cheering a former Stowe Swimmer on!

Tasija Karosas, of Stowe, VT, had a great meet last week representing her high school in the Florida State Championships. Tasija started as 8 and under swimmer with the Stowe Swimmers, coached by former head coach, Charlotte Brynn. She continues to hold 19 Stowe records in 3 age groups, 8 & under, 9-10, & 11-12. We will be following her progress as she begins the long course season soon, and trains for her 1st appearance at the Olympic Trials in the 100 & 200 back this summer. Way to go Tasija, you have a big cheering section here at The Swimming Hole.

St. Andrew's takes third, wins several individual events at Class 1A state swimming championships

The Power of Positive Thought

THIS WEEK IN PRACTICE: Team Goal - replace negative thoughts with positivity!
Wednesday 11/9 was the loudest practice this season, as Message in a Bottle day called for team cheers along with team work. It was great to see the teams of mixed age groups working together to accomplish their "messages" as they hurried to be the team swimming the most meters, in other words, accomplishing more "message" workouts than the other teams. We had fun team names with 'Team Michael Phelps' lead by Oliver Ames, 'Purple Penguins' led by Emily Haskins (swimming the most distance during the Junior practice time & loudest team cheer), 'The Wed Dogs' led by Seychelle Duckworth, and 'Purple Ninja's' led by Rachel Haskins (swimming the most distance overall). We finished practice by cheering on the Juniors with a 25 meters choice from a cannon ball start! Great job everyone!

Thursday 11/10 the seniors accomplished a 'test set' of 100's on a challenging interval of their choice, for 30 minutes. Everyone did great and learned how to stay positive, believe in themselves, set a goal and achieve, and how to improve as an athlete. Way to go to our white cap winners, Lane 4: Emily Haskins holding 20x100 on 1:35 & Cassie Wisdom 17x100 on 1:55, Lane 3: Parker Klingsburg 15x100 on 2:15, Lane 2: Tanis Hoekstra 20x50 on 1:30. These swimmers where chosen for their tenacity in this workout and positive self talk.

SWIM TEAM:
New England Regional Qualifying Times have been released. Congratulations to 6 of our swimmers who have qualified on 10/30. Heidi Brynn (11) 100 Back & Breast, Zach Full (10) 100 Free, Megan Gresham (13) 500 Free, 200 Fly & Back, 400 IM, Emily Haskins (15) 200 IM, Rachel Haskins (18) 500 Free, & Samantha Wisdom (10) 100 Free, 50 Fly, Back & Breast, 100 IM.

NEXT WEEK IN PRACTICE:
Team Goal - "Support your Team: give support & you will receive support!)

Wednesday, November 16th - Stowe Swimmers 2nd Annual Swim-A-Thon
~all swimmers in practice this day will be swimming for 1 hour as many laps as they can!
~all swimmers need a lap counter, bring a friend or relative to cheer you on!
~gather pledges or donations for your laps! (due November 28th)
~set a goal and go swim it!

I can't wait to watch all the swimmers burn it up in the pool!

It is November in the pool!

A big training month for the Stowe Swimmers as we focus on team work in the lane, using the pace clock for accountability, putting negative thoughts out of our head, and enjoying the feeling we get after working hard!

Sunday, 10/30 IMX Challenge Meet

10 swimmers posted 18 personal best times and 26 top 10 finishes in their respective events!

Great job to Heidi Brynn, Seychelle Duckworth, Alex Fuss, Zach Fuss, Megan Gresham, Emily Haskins, Rachel Haskins, Tanis Hoekstra, Yvain Hoekstra, & Samantha Wisdom!

IMX is a USA Swimming program that encourages all swimmers to race all the competitive strokes and an IM in one meet! Megan Gresham (13) and Rachel Haskins (18) both swam the full IMX Challenge with 500 Free, 200 Fly, 200 Back, 200 Breast, & 400 IM! They are contenders for 1st place in their age group at this meet, we are awaiting the points result!

Learn more about the IM Ready and IMX Challenge programs from USA Swimming.

Monday was a fun Halloween workout that involved a monster tombstone kick set!

RIP:

We focused alot of our sets this week on using the clock every time, flip turns and coming off the wall in the correct positions, & working hard enough to get uncomfortable in the water. All things that will help us swim faster in 4 months! The Juniors continue to work on technique to improve the efficiency, building endurance by swimming 400-600 meters a practice, & started Breaststroke this week as well.

COUNT DOWN to the SWIM-A-THON: 12 days!!!! November 16th

Start collecting pledges and set your goal high - How many laps can you swim in 1 hour!

We will need parent and friend volunteers to come and count your swimmers laps please. Remember that his a team building event that will help keep all the Stowe Swimmers in sharp team apparel. This event gives all the swimmers a strong sense of individual and team pride, in the water and also out of the water in the community!

Next Week: #4 (marks 1 month in the pool!)

Week Goal: Positive Thoughts out way negatives

Message in a Bottle Practice - Wed 11/9