Summer Information

Click on one of the following for more information regarding the Shaker Swimming summer programs.  New, interested swimmers can contact Sarah Tobin at shakerswimming@msn.com if more information is needed.

• Youth Shark Summer Information 2009
• Senior Shark Summer Information 2009
• Shaker Masters Summer Information 2009

Shaker Shark Tryouts

If you wish to tryout for the Shaker Sharks, we will have tryouts on the following days:

• Monday, January 12 at 7:20 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 14 at 7:20 p.m.
• Saturday, January 17 at 11:40 p.m.
• Monday, March 2 at 7:20 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 4 at 7:20 p.m.

All tryouts are at the Shaker Middle School.  Please have your swimmer ready to swim.  You can pick up an informational packet at the tryouts.

Shaker Shark Invitational Meet Information

The Shaker Shark Invitational meet entries are due from all Shaker Shark swimmers by Wedneday, November 5.  Please complete the entry form, the CSU waiver form, and the volunteer form.  You may mail in the paperwork or hand it to your coach at practice.  Click here for the Shaker Shark Invitational Meet Information and volunteer form.

New Swimmer Tryouts

If you have a swimmer that would like to join the Shaker Sharks, we are having tryouts on the following days:

• Monday, November 3 at 7:20 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 5 at 7:20 p.m.
• Saturday, November 8 at 11:40 a.m.

All tryouts are at the Shaker Middle School.  Please have your swimmer ready to swim.  You can pick up an information packet from the coaches at tryouts.

Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Peirsol Set World Records

Last night at Olympic Trials in Omaha, Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin each broke the world record in the 100 Backstroke. Natalie Coughlin became the first woman ever to swim the event in less than 59 seconds. Check out the article linked below for more details about last night’s trials.

Coughlin, Peirsol set world records on Day 3 of Trials

AFP: Coughlin breaks 100m backstroke world record

AFP: Coughlin breaks 100m backstroke world record

Phelps, Hoff break world records on opening night

NBCOlympics.com - Phelps, Hoff break world records on opening night

Both Men and Women’s 400 IM World Records fall on the opening night of Olympic Trials. What great races! If you want to know how important flipturns are, watch how Phelps destroys Lochte on the turn - it’s right around 3:40 in the race then they show it again underwater around 4:55. Simply incredible streamline, dolphin kick, and mental toughness. Phelps won the race and broke the world record because of that turn.

Oh, and don’t forget about a new American Record in Men’s 400 Free. Hope you all got a chance to see those amazing swims. If not, or if you want to see them again, follow the link above to see videos of the record breaking swims.

Chlorination

Check out this video on the Olympic Trials courtesy of the swimming video podcast Chlorination at www.swimnetwork.com

Olympic Trials and Time Trials

Dear Swimmers and Families,

This is an exciting time for swimming! The USA Olympic Swimming Trials begins Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska. The top 2 swimmers in each event automatically qualify for the USA Olympic Team. You can watch or record the Trials by following the television schedule. If you are really eager to know the results, you can follow live results at Omega Timing’s website. USA Olympic Trials only happens once every 4 years. Overall, it is the fastest swim meet in the world. Don’t miss a minute! For more information, you can visit USA Swimming’s Olympic Trial Home.

Congratulations to all the Sharks who participated and competed in the Summer Time Trial meet Wednesday, June 25. The coaches were excited to see so many enthusiastic swimmers show off their skills both in racing and in technique. During the skill events, the swimmers accumulated 179 points, besting the necessary 120 points needed to push the coaches in the pool. Super job!

The coaches would like to extend some special thanks. Thank you to all the parents who support your young athletes. Your help in getting swimmers to meets and practices on time, supporting their needs out of the water, and helping them recognize their accomplishments (among the many others!) is critical. Thank you to our team Co-President’s Paula Rownd and Yvonne Dixon for running an excellent concession stand. Thank you to the High School and Select Youth swimmers who helped perform various critical meet tasks: timing, photographing, and score-keeping. Shaker Swimming is proud of its first-rate families and volunteers. Thank you!

Below are some pictures taken at Time Trials. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version of the photo. Thanks to volunteer meet photographer Libby Dixon for these excellent photos!

Swim Fast,

The Coaches

Send it Forward!

Many Shaker Sharks who swim at the Middle School have seen the GoSwim (www.goswim.tv) video on Breaststroke Turns and Pullouts starring Dave Denniston.  Dave Denniston was the 1999 NCAA Champion for Auburn University in the 200 Breaststroke as well as a member of the 2003 World Championship Team.  What many Shaker Sharks do not know is that Dave is currently paralyzed from the waist down.

On Sunday, February 6, 2005, Dave was in his home state of Wyoming, spending time with his friend Andy Miller.  They were having a great time in the mountains, sledding down some snow-covered slopes, until Dave slid into a tree and damaged his spine.  The accident has left Dave, for the time being, without the use of his legs. — www.davedenniston.com

Dave is still accomplishing amazing things in and for the sport of Swimming.  On April 10, 2008, Dave qualified for the United States Paralympic Team.  Here is a video of his qualifying breaststroke swim.  (You can hear his Dad cheering in the background!)

Dave has also established a foundation called Send It Forward!. This idea of Sending It Forward emerged from one of Dave’s first Breaststroke DVDs. The idea was that, in breaststroke, effective swimmers always keep their energy moving forward. This idea has evolved over time into a lifelong commitment to positive energy.

Send Your Energy Forward. Move in a positive direction, no matter how subtly, toward accomplishing your goals each day.

If you are interested in contributing to Dave’s worthy cause or learning more, please visit his website. http://www.davedenniston.com/

High Tech Suits and “Official” Business

John Leonard, the Executive Director of the American Swimming Coaches Association, has written an interesting opinion piece called “Let’s Keep the Tech Suits With The Senior Swimmers”.  The article summarizes some of the dangers of “high tech” swimsuits for younger swimmers from a coaching and parenting perspective.  John’s opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Shaker Swimming coaching staff; however, his article may be insightful for those Shaker Swimming families facing similar situations.

Are you interested in volunteering at swimmeets?  If so, Lake Erie Swimming (LESI) is always looking for officials.  Check out their brochure, “Don’t Just Sit There…. & Vegetate, Get in the Swim…. & Officiate!”, for more information! You can also visit Lake Erie Swimming’s Officials page, www.lakeerieswimming.com/officials.htm, for more information.

Lake Erie Awards Banquet and A New Website

Yesterday afternoon at the Springvale Ballroom in North Olmsted, Lake Erie Swimming hosted its annual Awards Program.  Many Shaker Sharks were honored for their participation in the Zones, Quads, and Sectional meets.  Fernan Echeverria was recognized for 10 years of volunteer work in the LSC (Local Swimming Committees).

Also, the Coach’s Merit Award was announced.  The Coach’s Merit award is awarded to one swimmer from each team.  Each athlete is chosen by their team’s coaches.  The award recognizes athletes that best represent the values of their team both in and out of the water.  Tad Resch is this year’s Shaker Shark Coach’s Merit Award winner. Congratulations Tad!

In a separate note, those of you who frequently visit www.usaswimming.org might have seen this new website featured in their news section. This website, http://www.mutualofomaha.com/usaswim/ is fantastic. It has biographies of top swimmers, videos of racing, cool swimming wallpapers for your computer, and more. Check it out if you like!

Awards Night Slideshow 2007-2008

Dear Shaker Swimmers and Parents,

Congratulations on a successful swim season! Thank you for your continuing support of Shaker Swimming and for your attendance at last night’s awards program. Looking out at all of the smiling faces last night reminds us what a wonderful privilege it is to be part of this dedicated community. Oh, and you all looked dazzling dressed up in St. Paddy’s Day green!

For those who could not attend last night, we are sorry you couldn’t make it. We missed you! You can pick up your Attendance Medal, Team Gift, and any other awards the next time you come to practice.

For those who missed it and for those who would like a copy, we are attaching a copy of the slideshow shown before last night’s ceremony to the end of this post. The slideshow was made possible by the sublime photographic skill and generosity of coaches, parents, and swimmers. Thank you very much, photographers!

In the interest of making a tradition out of this first ever slideshow, we’d like to encourage everyone to take more pictures: at practice, at meets, and at special events! All photographs can be submitted to shakerswimming@gmail.com. In the interest of internet bandwidth, please send only 2 or 3 pictures per email. Thank you!

We hope you enjoy the show!

Yours Truly,

Shaker Shark Coaches

Technical notes:

• This slideshow was made on a Mac using iMovie. To watch the movie, you will likely need the latest version of Quicktime and iTunes (available via www.apple.com).
• The movie file is approximately 165 MB; be patient while downloading. Our advice (especially for those on dialup): start your download, go to swim practice, come back and watch the show!
• There is a soundtrack to the slideshow, so turn up the volume!
• To download the file to your hard drive, right click the link and select “Save Link As…” or your browser’s equivalent.

Right Click On This Link To Download the 2007 - 2008 Awards Night Slideshow to Your Hard Drive!