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Reports of WSY National Team YMCA Nationals in Fort Lauderdale written by Coach Mike
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Friday, April 6, 2007 (3pm) WOW.......On the final day of competition, WSY came alive. As one our WSY Alum (Kayla Ricedorf), wrote in her email to the team "Last Day, Fast Day". WSY was fired up. We ended day three in a very close team race. One of our goals as a team was to be in the Top 3. The last evening was typically a very tough evening. After a very warm prelim session, we had our team meeting........I guess everyone thought I was a bit warm, as there was a pre planned water balloon launce at me......it was fun, and ouch.....20 water balloons launched at one time hurts......Don't worry, Coach Kim has video, and we will upload it in a bit. St. John and Leah gave the though of the day, and we had an activity where we discussed how all Juniors and below were going to go home and talk with other WSY swimmers about their experiences at this meet, and how it has changed them as a swimmer. In the words of Adam Wenner "This meet is very humbling". The team came out of the team meeting fired up and ready to accomplish our goals. The evening started off with Leah having a great mile race with a swimmer from Sarasota. They were stroke for stroke for about 1000 yards, and then Leah opened up a lead to win the race, ind improve her National Record from the year before by 13 seconds, going 16:04.96. The girls and guys had great 200 free relays scoring great team points. Next up, Leah had a tough double in the 200 fly along with teammates, Tricia Weaner, and Cookie McIntyre, yes Tricia and Leah just got out of the 200 free relay as well, and back up for a 200 fly. The 200 fly's were very strong, and Leah finished 1st, Tricia captured 8th, and Cookie 12th. Now we had Mary Flynn in the 100 breastroke. Mary had a very tight race in this event.......almost stroke for stroke with the 3 time defending National Champion. At the finish Mary got 2nd (1:04.35)....again more team points, and WSY was moving up the ladder. We had one race left, and we take pride in the 400 medley relay. The WSY girls knew they had a sight advantage going into this relay. In the end, the WSY girls finished first with a National Championship......celebration was now here. As a team, WSY finished 3rd, and the girls finished as National Runner Ups. Many exciting lessons were learned during the week, and every one of the 18 athletes that are part of this years team will go home, and start planning for their next experience, weather that be in college, or the next National Championship meet. A four day meet like this is very hard to complete, both physically and mentally, and WSY swimmers had to overcome adversity many times during the week, however we stuck together as a team, and in the end, as a team, we accomplished our TEAM GOAL of a Top 3 finish at the YMCA National Championships. We have one more team meeting today where we will send off our Seniors, and every athlete will talk about something they learned over the last week, that will help them with future championship meets. After our meeting, it is off for our annual Dave and Busters Trip, and then a very early 6am flight back home. Here are some emails from WSY Alum, and WSY swimmers:
Hey everyone!!!!
I know this is pretty late but i just wanted to congratulate everyone so far and wish you all luck tomorrow. So I have never been to Y nationals, but from what i heard it must be an amazing time. You are all so lucky to have another chance to swim and achieve your goals, but your also lucky for being able to be with your friends and have so much support. From training with you all this past spring and summer, i saw how amazing all of you are. Your dedication and hard work paid off and will continue to. Looking at the results this week you should be so proud of yourselves. I hope everyone had an amazing time, and i can't wait to hear everyone's stories (Mary i am counting on you). It was an honor to swim with WSY and having everyone as teammates for the 4 months i was there. Just remember you are representing a team that most swimmers are intimidated by, and have respect from teams all over the country. Keep the tradition alive!! I wish i could be down there with you all, and also that west shore was closer to my house so i could have trained with everyone longer. Believe in yourselves and good luck!!!!!
Megan Bauer
and another email from WSY Alum Allison Luttermoser:
Hey Guys!!
How are you doing? I checked weather.com and it looks pretty warm! It was almost 80 degrees last week in Blacksburg and now we are experiencing some flurries! Pretty weird. There are a bunch of Y swimmers on my team and everyone is talking about how their team is doing... naturally, I have a lot more to brag about than they do!! You guys are doing so well, so keep it up!! I am so jealous of all of you. I remember counting down the days until Y nationals. I remember freaking out when the yardage of practice was more than 2,000 yards... because I was sure that I needed to taper more than everyone else. How are the 5 am wake up swims? I bet those are glorious. Hopefully you are keeping up the tradition of being the first people to get in the pool, and getting there so early that sometimes we had to wait outside! I would give anything to be down there with you guys. Watching all of the video sometimes makes my eyes well up. You are the most amazing group of young swimmers and should be extremely proud of yourselves. Some of you are young and this may be your first year, allowing yourself to continue the tradition of excellence that WSY has founded. Some of you may be old veterans... making their last round at nationals. Either way, you must come together on the last night and go out with a bang! Seniors, take advantage of your last swim at Y nationals. I remember mine like it was yesterday. Consider yourselves some of the luckiest swimmers in the country. You swim for an amazing team with close friends. I assure you that you will not forget any of these times long after you leave WSY. I know that I haven't. Good luck and swim fast!
--Allison Luttermoser
p.s. Ladies, stop following in my footsteps with all of the second place relays! GO OUT THERE AND FINISH OFF THE WEEK WITH A GREAT WIN IN THE 400 MEDLEY RELAY. IT'S OUR SPECIALTY!!!!!!
p.p.s. Tricia, the last member of the B team! Swim your little heart out. You make me so proud.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007 (10:45pm) Day 3 was another great day for the WSY swimmers. Normally Day 3 is a very long day with the 400 IM's and the 800 free relay which you must swim twice. We had too many great swims to list. So many of the WSY athletes are swimming best times. After each of our daily team meetings, each one of the swimmers seem to be finding some extra energy within themselves, and then swim faster the next day. It was very hot and humid down here today. I saw many swimmers in the first aid area due to dehydration. As a team, we have gone through over 15 cases of water....thanks goodness for Cosco. We continue to move up the ladder in the combined team points. It is still within reach for WSY to be in the Top 3. Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a very big day for us. All 4 relays need to make night swims, and we have 4 girls in the 200 fly that can score. The day will start early (5:15am wake up call), and we will be ready for a day of fast swimming. One of the challenges I gave every member of this years national team is to go back home and tell their WSY team mates about the fun they had down here, and the hard work that is involved to get here. Tomorrow will be the last day of YMCA swimming for our graduating Seniors....this meet has meant alot to them, and they will remember it for years. Here is an email from WSY Alum Molly Grover who graduated with the WSY class of 1999:
National Team-
Wow! It looks like the Hall of Fame pool is still treating WSY swimmers well! The swims I've seen from the first two days are outstanding, and as always, makes me proud to say that I'm a WSY Swimming alumni. I doubt that any of you guys remember me, but I know at least a few of you were 8 and unders when I was part of the WSY National Team, back in the late 20th century (haha). Sitting at a desk in Washington DC, I'm jealous of you guys having awesome swims in the South Florida sunshine, and, as always with this time of the year, I'm wishing I was about 10 years younger so I could be there with you all. It's awesome to see that all the hard work that you've put in this year is really paying off (apparently Mike's practices haven't gotten any easier over the years!) And know that all your hard work and amazing swims have expanded WSY's reputation beyond just the YMCA swimming world. I coach a USA Swimming team down here, and most of the other coaches (none of which were Y swimmers as kids) know who WSY is, and know just how good they are. My one piece of advice- cherish the memories that you all will have coming away from this meet- no other meet out there has the same atmosphere as YMCA nationals, and you will miss this meet once you've graduated. Oh, and listen to Mike- he knows what he's doing (even the evil 5:45am wake up swims, I see some things never change! :-) Good luck with finals tonight and all your swims tomorrow!
Mollie Grover
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 (10:30pm) Tonight was a great evening of swimming for the team. The team spirit is at an all time high, with WSY swimmers at the end of the pool for every race. Not a single WSY swimmer was in the water tonight without the crowd of over 500 people knowing who we are. The times swum tonight were faster than prelims, and we are scoring many points. Overall, we are in the Top 10, and the girls are sitting in 2nd place, where we have a close race with Capital YMCA from Raleigh. Full team scores are here. Tomorrow is a very big days for us with some big swims in the 800 free relay. If there is one race WSY swimmers can perform well, it is the 200 free. The weather continues to be great, and no rain in the forecast. The food is great, and everyone is getting along so well. It is amazing every day at the team meetings how well this team is coming together. It will be very hard at the end of the week, when we have to say good bye to our graduating seniors, as this will be their last YMCA Nationals with WSY. Several of these swimmers have been attending this meet since they have been in 8th grade, and now it is time for them to move on to the next step in their life. Keep the emails coming.......they get ready every day, and posted on the team bulletin board in the hotel hallway. Here are some more emails to the team:
Dear west shore y national swimmers,
I hope u guys are having a blast cause i no im not! I would just like to wish u peoples good luck. your mascot is cheering u on at home. I will keep on top of the results. make sure on the last day u guys get a tan so u don't look like me. Mamau is already dark. not fair! I want to hear all of the stories when you get back so that will help me work harder and be able to swim with u at this meet next year! Make sure u buy some swim suit's!!!! cause i no i would! U guys better kick some major butt so u get 1st or 2nd over allll i no this is some of your guys last year so i will wish u great luck in all you do with the life that is ahead of u. Well i hope you guys do great and have good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s mamau says go go go go go baby go (i think her head might blow off)
luv u all , puddy
Good luck and best wishes to a fine group of young men and women representing the West Shore YMCA. We are keeping track of your swims in prelims and finals and sharing them with the Y members. It’s nice to see that you’ve overcome the first day jitters and are on your way to lifetime best swims. Cherish the time you have together, meet friends from other states and focus on the goal. Give 110% all in your swims, support your teammates but don’t forget to enjoy the moment. Blessing to all!
PS – make sure your parents are wearing sun screen.
Executive Director West Shore Branch YMCA
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 (2pm) What a prelim session.......we had a rough start yesterday, but after several team meetings and getting the team together, today was a break out day. Eric Naylor really started us off, going a lifetime best time in the 100 fly, Alie had a great 200 breastroke (another lifetime best), as did Mary Flynn who has a night swim in the event. Cookie worked her way into a night swim in her 100 fly. Both Kin Justin Beegle, and Steven Gasparini has lifetime best times in their 200 breastrokes well. Both Tricia and John are in the big 8 of the 200 free as well. The guys are in the consol final for their 400 free relay (improving a big time 4 seconds over their seed time), and the girls are going into the Top 8 seeded 2nd and will gave a great race with teams from Sarasota, and Raleigh. We have a team meeting in an hour........prelims ended early today, giving the team a much needed afternoon of rest. We really appreciate all of the emails, and I post all of them on the team bulletin board here, and read them at our daily meetings. Weather is in the high 80's here, and the coaches are trying not to get sunburn. The momentum is rolling, and I feel as though it will continue through the remainder of the meet. I will leave you with a great email from WSY alum Anthony Randall:
It's about that time, for some its March Madness, even thought its April but for swimmers all around the country its, YMCA Nationals time. The one time where a week determines and shows who has the heart to take home the title "National Champion". Many of you, I have seen grow up and some of you I haven't had the pleasure to meet. For those of you who don't know, I am Anthony "Cityboy" Randall, swam with WSY from the time I was 6 till my senior year. I have countless memories at the WSY. More importantly, I remember times with my teammates, many of whom I still consider my best friends. You all i'm sure already know are continuing a program that settles for nothing but greatness. I'm sure Mikes practices haven't gotten any easier so i'm sure that you all are prepared for your swims. I take pride in saying that I am an alum of WSY swimming, when you say it people know who we are. Being a part of WSY is something that always stays with you no matter where you go. For your seniors, this is your last year and many of you have swam unbelievable during your High School careers but this is different. This is the opportunity you get goose bumps thinking about on the plane ride. The ability to lead a team and your teammates to swims they never thought were possible. You may not know but i'm sure you do, this is the time that the younger kids look for you as their motivation. It starts from the moment you landed and ends when your holding the banner that reads "National Champs". I wish you all the best as I will be and sure several other alumni will be watching video and reading mikes daily blogs. Last but not least, take pride in what you accomplish, if you have a bad swim shrug it off its a long meet, many things can change. If watching Michael Phelps this past week wasn't proof that anything is possible, I don't know what is. Have fun and enjoy yourselves.
Anthony Randall
WSY '03
Monday, April 2, 2007 (11pm) We are off and running. WSY swimmers have one complete session under their belts. We had a day of many "ups and downs". If you ask any one of the athletes here, they will tell you that you must keep yourself positive, and after you swim one event, you need to move on to the next event, with the same intensity. It was a rough prelim session with many WSY swimmers (actually many swimmers in the meet) having trouble getting started. We did have several prelim swims that were life life bests. Alie Zelenky had her lifetime best 50 free. WSY swimmers that swam in tonight's finals were Tricia Weaner, who captured 3rd place in the 100 back. Leah had a great race in the 500 free, where we saw Corinne Showalter get 1st place, and break the oldest National Record on the books. Leah took 2nd in a very closely watched race. These two swimmers will be racing in the mile on the last day as well. Jon Rubritz who swam his lifetime best time in the 500 free this morning, swam in the consolation final. WSY Im'ers did very well with Cookie Mcintyre, Mary Flynn and Steven Gasparini scoring points in evening swims. The girls 200 Medley had a great finals swim to get 2nd place. There were a few tired looks after this evening finals. We had a brief team meeting on the bleachers at the pool to go over fatigue and how to deal with it. We came back to the hotel for our team dinner, and everyone was in bed by 10pm........keeping in mind we had all been up since 5:15am.......we have 3 more long days. To swim fast in this meet, you need to be focused, relay on your great endurance from the workouts throughout the year, and have great teammates. We are looking forward to a great day tomorrow in the South Florida Sun!! We are working on uploading some video soon...........more later.......Mike
Sunday, April 1, 2007 (6pm) Here are a few emails we received from current and former WSY swimmers:
Dear WSY National Team,
Yesterday when coach Kim called me on the way to the Publix I almost cried. I pictured myself in the passenger seat of the van, adjusting the radio and screaming at Tricia in the back seat. It's really hard to accept that you guys are all down there without me, and that I'm stuck up here in boring old Mercersburg, PA, icing my shoulders and checking out the WSY web site
every 5 minutes for updates. Most of you know that I recently took a school trip to France, and as a result, I was out of the water for over 3 weeks. If I could go back, I would forget France just for one last trip with my some of my favorite people, even despite the 3 AM wake-up swims.Being away at Mercersburg for the past three years has taught me alot about West Shore. During the winter season, I would make about 5 weeks of practice, combining my thanksgiving, christmas, and spring vacations.
Despite the fact that I barely got to see any of you, I was always treated as if I were there, slacking off with you every day of the year. The trips to spring nationals were always special, because I got to make up for lost time with my friends and teammates. This year, it is especially disheartening to browse the psyche sheets and see all of the incredible seeds, and know that I can't be there to help the team to what looks to be our best finish ever. The guys team especially is stacked this year, and I wish I could be there to swim some relays and help earn some points to finally earn the West Shore men the respect that we deserve.
To the guys: Kick some butt. I know Mike is going to censor this when he reads it, but seriously dudes, FSU. John and Butters, I can't believe that I have to miss out on our last swims as West Shore Swimmers, but it's been a great time swimming with you boys over the past 10 or so years since johnny and I swam those medley relays with andrew amato and evan stare. Butters, please don't buy those disgusting sausage breakfast sandwich things, no one likes them. Gasparini and Beegle you guys better hold it down in those breastroke events, that 200 especially is going to be deceitfully easy to make it back, so don't be afraid to go after it in prelims. Beegle, I expect you to lead this unruly and uncooth mens team, set the example. St. John, you are ugly, but swim fast.
Girls, you are awesome. This year you guys probably have the best team we've ever had, and I am fully confident that you will destroy those girls from Triangle Area. Tricia, don't you dare leave the R and B station on in coach kim's van. Even if you do though, I hope you have a fun week down there, the last representative of the B team. Mary, since I'm not down there, and the pressure is not on for me to beat you, I am not afraid to tell you that you are better than me, so beat me. Erinne Butler, stay away from Gasparini he is too young for you. Adrienne Phillips, I am madly in love with you. Leah Gingrich, you are my hero. I won't be there to harass you and tickle you this year and waste all of your energy, so no excuses, you have to beat up on the girl from Sarasota.
I will be following the results, and you will all definitely hear from me as the week goes on. In the event of a disappointing swim, I don't want any of you to be upset. Learn from your swim, and move on, because let's face it; things could be alot worse. you could be stuck in PA while your friends are down in Ft. Lauderdale having the best week of their lives.
2 4 6 8 lets go west shore
love, Sam Goldsmith
National Team:
You're here, finally. I hope the weather down in Fort Lauderdale is as beautiful as it has been in the past so you all can fully enjoy the experience this meet has to offer. For some of you this will be your last Nationals, and I can tell you already I that miss it dearly and wish I was sitting at the team meeting with you guys right now. I'm pretty sure Tricia is wearing those big dumb black sun glasses that she always wears down there, sinjin has some sort of caffeine in him. Whether this is your first national meet in general or with this team, live it up because this meet has it all. Finals at this meet is something of a different kind, I hope you guys who haven't had the opportunity to swim at night get to taste what's it like swimming under the lights. For the next week, this team is going to go through an emotional roller coaster and if you have no idea what I'm talking about you'll soon learn. One thing West Shore has done the best in the past is act as a team. Of course, every team is going to have their individual rivalries and disputes, and that's normal but this week put them behind you. You guys need to have each others back at this meet. Treat others the way you want to be treated. You're literally going to be around each other 24/7, there'll be times to have fun but everyone needs to recognize when its time to be serious.
People know who you are. West Shore YMCA is a household name at this meet. We supply YMCA Nationals with the best swimmers PA has to offer. As this team does every year, we come into this meet with people in high seeds in every event. I'm sure Mike has told you this several times already, "YOU NEED TO GET UP AND SWIM IN PRELIMS!" You need to attack your races, come out swinging that first 50, because if you don't someone else is going to be taking your spot under the lights at finals. I was sick to my stomach last year when I came in the number. 4 seed in the 100 breast and couldn't make the alternates list for consolations. You guys, (except Sinjin)have put in way too much time to come down here and lose. (Give him some credit he's been better than Nick)When your behind the blocks, look at the person in the lane next to you and think to yourselves, "No way. There is no way they went through what I did this season." And that's true. You guys have tested yourselves all year long in practice and you'd be fools to not reap the benefits here. It's your time to shine. For those of you who swam at high school states and weren't satisfied with yourself, here's your second chance, Nationals is redemption. Rock that kid in the lane next to you. As your stepping onto the blocks ask yourself that one question that Mike always starts screaming in practice when things take a turn for the worst. "What do ya say?"
Yours truly,
Cremo
Sunday, April 1, 2007 (9am)
Happy April Fools day today. No pranks planned for anyone, as far as I
know. Sorry we did not write yesterday. The weather here is great
with 
sunny
days (about 77 degrees) and not too much humidity. We have been having
great wake-up swims at 5:45am, and as usual we are the first and only team in
the pool (keeping tradition alive). This morning everyone was up and in
good spirits at 5:30am, and had a power bar and some water, and was ready for
the 90 minute workout. From what I am told the pool water is refreshing in
the morning, and I must admit we have been having some great workouts.
Everyone looks very fast in the water, and Matthew and St. John completed their
first 3 workouts of the entire year (the both got starburst awards). The
breakfasts at the hotel are wonderful, and everyone has been getting a good
amount to eat. Last night we had a great team dinner and social time at
Bubba Gump's (for those
WSY Alum....this is the same location as Pussers....you know the place).
We had some GREAT FOOD.....personally, I had the pound and a half of Cajun
shrimp, and the only person that put a hurtin on her food more than me was
Claireee Loht.........she put away a hamburger like no one I have ever
seen......which usually translates into some fast swimming. Today is
actually a very relaxing day, with not too much activity other that one more
water workout. The meet begins tomorrow, and things will heat up very
fast. Many of the WSY swimmers were following the fast swimming at the
World Championships in Melbourne, and the World Record assault by Team
USA....this provided for some good motivation for our team here in Fort
Lauderdale. We had some good "Thought of the Day's" yesterday by Adri,
Justin, and Adam........each day we have a few different members of the team
provide us with some new thoughts. We will write more later, and as we get
some video,
we
will upload it here
Friday, March 30, 2007 (11pm)
A great day of travel for the team. We left the YMCA parking lot at
9:45am, and had a wonderful drive to Baltimore airport. Today was a very
relaxing travel day......not many folks traveling on Friday AM's.
We
went through Atlanta, and then on to Fort Lauderdale. We landed about 7pm,
and took some time for myself and Coach Scott to get the vans.....made a brief
stop at Subway for the team, and then back to the hotel to check in, and get
settled. We had a quick team meeting to go over the plan for Saturday, and
then it was off to bed, as most of the team is tired, and looking forward to a
great day of practice!!! We did get our first email from WSY Alum
(and North Carolina State Swimmer Kayla Ricedorf (Thanks Kayla)
National Team!
Kayla Renee here in North Carolina wishing I was in Florida with you! I can not believe it is Y Nats. time already for yall! I know the meet does not start for like 2 days or so but I had to write...its just soo exciting! The team this year can do so extremely well it is going to be sooooo exciting to read about! Each and every one of you has come so far this year (do not worry I have been watching you!) and you will be able to have some top notch performances...I know yall can get at least 3rd place!
All of you come here as a team and throughout the meet you should still be that same strong team you came here as. I know sometimes it's hard getting caught up in swims that maybe do not go your way...but let them go...move on to the next race...encourage each other for each and every race. Everyone wants to know that someone is watching them tear it up in the pool! Seniors this is your very last spring Y Nats. and do not take that for granted...me and my friend at State were talking about it the other day and we are so jealous of you right now!!!!haha well anyways I will be watching you...so all you got to do is be ready, get up , and race your butts off! Enjoy that sun too!...but do not go out on the beach unless your are allowed to right Mike?! haha I will be writing you back sometime this week so beware!!
GOOD LUCK & SWIM FAST,
Kayla Renee
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 Well another YMCA Short Course Nationals is almost here. We held our team meeting tonight before practice, and you could tell each of the WSY swimmers was getting excited for another trip to Fort Lauderdale. We will be leaving on Friday afternoon of this week, and arrive in Fort Lauderdale on Friday evening. The meet will begin on Monday of next week, and 18 WSY swimmers are ready to meet the expectation of this years team. The team that will be attending the meet this year is one of the most experienced teams we have taken to the Y National meet in several years. One of the goals I gave to the athletes at our meeting tonight was all 10 relays (5 men's and 5 women's) swim at night. This is a goal I have never set before, but it is a goal in which I feel we can accomplish. We have set the bar high this year, and I know every athlete on this trip will raise their level to meet the challenge. If you have not yet seen the psych sheets, they are available here. If we can meet the goal of all 10 relays having night swims, we should be able to score in the Top 3 as a team. The swimmers are ready. There is a certain level of expectation when you are representing WSY at a National Level meet, and all of the swimmers understand that expectation. I will continue to report the events of the day as we get to Fort Lauderdale. Until then, the swimmers will be preparing themselves for an experience of a lifetime.........more later