DOLPHINS TAKE 3RD IN BOTH DIVISIONALS AND DIVISION F
The Dolphins won 3 of 5 dual meets, tied for second in relay carnival, and came in third in divisionals earning us a solid third place in Division F for the season. Definitely a season to be proud of. This solid and often spectacular showing has moved the Dolphins up yet another division to E for the 2007 season. We are ranked fourth and will be swimming Potomac Woods, Old Georgetown, Potomac, our neighbors Merrimack, and Potomac Glen.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW so we can have a great turn out next season in this highly competitive division. Every swimmer counts. Our 2007 A meet schedule is as follows:
June 16 @ Potomac Woods
June 23 Potomac Glen @ Bannockburn
June 30 @ Old Georgetown
July 7 Merrimack @ Bannockburn
July 14 @ Potomac
June 24 thru July 8 is our Relay Carnival window
July 21 Divisionals
July 28 and 29 All Star Relays and Individuals respectively
Go to www.mcsl.org for futher info.
B MEET SCHEDULE of four Wednesday meets: June 13, 20, 27, and July 11.
PRETEAM MEET AND AWARDS: Tuesday, July 17.
BANNOCKBURN BLUE AND GOLD MEET: Wednesday, July 18.
If you’d like to think ahead and plan your summer vacations around the meet schedule, the team would be grateful to have you there for all the meets.
SWIM COMMITTEE PARENTS AGE UP
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPECIFIC JOBS
B Reps: Our stalwart B Reps, Karen Tucker and Sandy Spigler, will be stepping down after the 2007 season. The Dolphins organize four B meets each season. Our Reps need one or two new Reps to shadow them at the last two meets in 2007 and take over in 2008. This person/people would also need to be a member(s) of the Swim Committee. This is a vital task to assure that all swimmers have an active and fun season.
Director for Food Activities: One or two people to be in charge of all food events. The food person/people need to coordinate a few big Costco runs for the season and assure that someone is in charge of each of the following: 2 A meet bake sales, 2 A meet lunches following home meets, 2 B meet food sales, and food for special events like Talent Night and Pre-team Meet and Awards, etc. We also have pasta dinners (parents bring food), Martha’s Table kids at our pool (already stellar organizer for this event), the Pancake Breakfast (already a stellar person managing this), the banquet (also stellar person already in charge). The Director needs to get one volunteer to run each event, provide oversight as needed, and then assure that there is sufficient food, paper goods, etc. purchased for each event. The specific event organizers work on getting volunteers to run the food, get food donations or order food like pizza, subs, etc., organize set up/clean up, etc.
Director of Social Events: The team has several outings/activities each year: ice skating, movies, tie dye, talent night, Martha’s Table, etc. In coordination with the Swim Committee, coaches, and food people as needed, the director needs to decide on the activities and dates for the season, and organize the events.
Preteam Rep: One person to provide guidance and oversight on all preteam activities including practice times as well as coordinating the Preteam Meet and Awards event.
Team Photographer and Videographer: Someone to take photos at meets for the “slide show” presentation at banquet and take the team photo. Also someone to video on occasion during swim practice, or loan your video camera to the coach, so the coach can “show” swimmers how they are doing in the water.
Webmaster: Someone to enhance and manage the Dolphin website.
ALL STAR TIMES
We had an amazing 24 All Star times at Divisionals. Congratulations to the following swimmers:
12 and Under IM, 11-12 Free and Fly: Callie Fosburgh and Elizabeth Fosburgh
8 and Under Free and Fly: Pieter Fosburgh
9-10 Free, Breaststroke and Fly: Elena Palermo
13-14 Free, IM, backstroke: Malena Lair and Danielle Schulkin
8 and Under Back: Nicky Schulkin and Max Palermo
11-12 Back: Elizabeth Fosburgh
8 and Under Breaststroke: Hannah Melrod
11-12 Breaststroke: Ryan Chitwood
11-12 Breaststroke: Callie Fosburgh
13-14 Fly: Danielle Schulkin
NEW RECORDS
Danielle Schulkin set a new Bannockburn team record in fly as well as a Darnestown pool record. Hannah Melrod set a Darnestown pool record in breaststroke.
TIME DROP AWARDS
A clear first place goes to Emily Austin with a total drop of 5 seconds in all her strokes: Best time in 8 and Under Free (1 Second), Breaststroke (1 Second) and Fly (2 Seconds). Second place is shared by 3 swimmers with 2 second time drops: Katie Conaghan 15-18 50 Fly, Willie Conaghan 13-14 50 Back, Caitlin Rooney 15-18 100 IM.
The following additional swimmers had best times in the divisional meet in at least one of their strokes:
Willie Conaghan, Jordana Coronel, Elizabeth Fosburgh, Pieter Fosburgh, Jackson Janezich, Danielle Lair, Malena Lair, Hannah Melrod, Elena Palermo, Max Palermo, Danielle Schulkin, Alex Spigler, Spenser Steele, Vincent Steis, Ramzy Suleiman, Corinne Tucker, Matthew Tucker, Kevin Wagman, and Anna Zeisel.
ALL STAR MEETS
The Dolphins enjoyed fantastic success with some remarkable swims at the All Stars. We had a record SIX relays entered with 14 Dolphins swimming and THREE teams winning in this highly competitive first half of the MCSL Relay All Stars. Event 2 set the pace with a win for 2nd seeded Dolphins Elena Palermo, Callie Fosburgh, Danielle Schulkin, and Hannah Melrod in the 14 and Under Graduated Freestyle. Our 7th seeded 13-14 Mixed Free turned in some terrific swims with Danielle Schulkin the only girl in her leg, the best time yet for Willie Conaghan, and great swims by Malena Lair and Jackson Janezich. Our 6th seeded Girls Open Medley took a remarkable 4th place with perhaps the youngest swimmer in the Open, 11-year-old Elizabeth Fosburgh with teammates Malena Lair, Danielle Schulkin, and Callie Fosburgh. The Girls 14 and Under Medley won handily with the strongest anchor, Callie Fosburgh, and the smallest breaststroker, Hannah Melrod, along with great swims by Elena Palermo and Malena Lair to set a new team record. The 8 and Under Boys Medley dropped almost 6 seconds for yet another win with exciting swims from Nicky Schulkin, Max Palermo, Pieter Fosburgh, and Sam Snedden. And hats off to Claire Rock who filled the empty slot at the very last minute for a 7th place finish with teammates Elizabeth Fosburgh, Callie Fosburgh, and Sophie Koneff in the Girls 11-12 Medley.
We also did remarkably well in the Individual All Stars with all of our swimmers either holding on to or improving their seeds with some remarkably fast swimming. Callie Fosburgh, was seeded 2nd and went on to win the 12 and Under IM. Callie also won her free and took 2nd in breaststroke. Elena Palermo was seeded 12th in 9-10 free and captured 9th then dropped from 6th seed to take 2nd in breaststroke with another awesome swim. Malena Lair, seeded 16th in 13-14 free, placed 10th in this event and also dropped from 6th seed to take 5th in backstroke. Hannah Melrod won her 8 and Under breaststroke handily. Pieter Fosburgh, our only male representative at this meet, was seeded 15th in both breaststroke and fly and took 11th and 13th respectively. Danielle Schulkin dropped a seed as well going from 13th to 12th in 13-14 back and held on to her 2nd seed in fly. Finally Elizabeth Fosburgh, seeded 9th in free, took 8th place and dropped from her 10th seed in back to capture 4th place. Thanks also go to Max Palermo and Nicky Schulkin for showing up as alternates as well as other alternate spots held by some of the above swimmers as well.
DOLPHIN AWARDS
The culminating awards for the swim season were given as follows:
8 and Under Boys - 2nd high point: Max Palermo; High point: Pieter Fosburgh
8 and Under Girls - 2nd high point: Emily Austin; High point: Hannah Melrod
9-10 Boys - 2nd high point: Vincent Steis; High point: John Janezich
9-10 Girls - 2nd high point: Megan Wirtz; High point: Elena Palermo
11-12 Boys - 2nd high point: Andy Lair; High point: Ryan Chitwood
11-12 Girls - 2nd high point: Elizabeth Fosburgh; High point: Callie Fosburgh
13-14 Boys - 2nd high point: Willie Conaghan; High point: Jackson Janezich
13-14 Girls - 2nd high point: Danielle Schulkin; High point: Malena Lair
15-18 Boys - 2nd high point: Matthew Tucker; High point: Ramzy Suleiman
15-18 Girls - 2nd high point: Katie Conaghan; High point: Caitlin Rooney
Graduating Seniors: Plaques were given to our Graduating Seniors: Ramzy Suleiman swam in his first A meet at age 4, gaining the title of "professional 8 and under" with his 5 years in that age group. Ramzy swam in numerous Individual and Relay All Stars and has been on the team for 15 years coaching as well as swimming for his last two years. Alex Kinnaird though he often had other interests, has always given his all for the team and showed his support by showing up each Saturday to swim. He was a valuable breaststroker and a great relay anchor. Though Alex is graduating from high school, he has one more year of MCSL eligibility. Please come back, Alex. Sydney Smith has helped the team out over the years when spending her summer here with her Brownell cousins. We have especially valued her occasional 15-18 entry when we really needed a swimmer to fill the lanes.
Very special awards are given each year in the following categories:
8 and Under Most Improved- Kaili Gregory, Jessica Kline, Max Palermo and
Arthur Ammenson. With these hard working swimmers rests the future of the team.
Most Improved Overall- Nora Harrington and John Janezich. These swimmers worked hard to improve their strokes and drop time in their swims throughout the season.
Practice Award- Corinne Tucker and Alex Spigler: This award is given for dedication, determination, hard work and focus during swim practice.
Coaches Award- Kellan Steele and Willie Conaghan: This award goes to swimmers who offer excellent examples to all the team members in their overall comportment and dedication to the team.
Team High Point Award: Callie Fosburgh and Jackson Janezich: These swimmers scored the most points during the season.
Rabi Smith- Sarah Silberbrandt: This most special award goes each year to one swimmer from the Long Branch pool and one from Bannockburn. The awardee embody what Rabi Smith meant to his team: he wasn’t always the best swimmer in the water, but he cared about his team and his teammates and was willing to do whatever was asked of him to serve the team. This awardee demonstrates what the team is all about.
COACH’S CORNER--Sam Brownell
Congratulations to everyone on a great season. We finished a solid third in both the Division Meet and in the Division. We had an excellent week of practice leading up to the Division Meet and the hard work paid off as almost everyone swam best times on Saturday. In a tough division, after moving up three divisions, we proved that we
belonged and competed with every team we swam against. The first week of the season, the Darnestown coach did not even know where Bannockburn was, nor had he ever heard of Bannockburn. We went out and not only showed Darnestown, but we also showed the rest of the Division who Bannockburn is, and the exciting part of our team is that we are going to be even better next year. Our swimmers will be more evenly spread
across the age groups, and even though the loss of Ramzy and Alex will hurt, we will come back stronger than any previous Bannockburn team next summer. Congratulations and keep up the hard work in school and sports over the winter.
SWIMMING TIP of the WEEK
Remember the most important part of swimming in a big meet is to be relaxed. You cannot force yourself to swim fast. You can trust your training and let yourself swim the way you have been prepared and the results will take care of themselves.
THE BIGGEST SWIM TIP OF THEM ALL: WINTER SWIMMING
At the recent debriefing meeting with the coaches and Swim Committee, Coach Ramzy mentioned that the season was so strong and got off to such a terrific start due to all the winter swimming the Dolphins did. Staying in the water over the winter offers huge benefits for all swimmers even if it’s a once a week program at the YMCA for younger swimmers. Here are some recommendations from Head Coach Sam Brownell:
SDS @ Holton Arms, Lab School, St. Albans
Curl Burke @ Holton Arms, American University
RMSC- Rockville
ASA- Stoneridge
There are flyers for SDS and ASA at the pool. The Dolphins swim mostly with these two teams.
FINAL B MEET
Everyone was thankful to have another opportunity to swim our rescheduled B meet with Old Georgetown. (And by the way, we’ll be swimming Old Georgetown in the A meets next year so our swimmers had a glance at the upcoming competition.) The swimming was excellent in this final B meet of the season with Dolphins showing huge improvements in all their strokes. And how about those grill guys? Led by private first class Kevin Wagman, who will undoubtedly receive a promotion soon, the team grillers were superb breaking all records for burgers, dogs, sausages, and chicken tacos ever cooked. Our fearless leader, Jim Bell, gives special thanks for the crew who prepared and sold the food.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Thanks go to Sarah Sneider and helpers Une Lee and Moirs Steis for the most excellent of all pancake breakfasts enjoyed by about 50 Dolphins and their parental units. Both the yummiest and most civilized pancake breakfast we’ve probably ever had with many Dolphin helpers on clean up duty. Boy can those Dolphins pack those pancakes away!
BANQUET
Thanks to the beautiful decorations managed by Coach Nura Suleiman and her amazing cohort of Dolphin helpers including Caitlin Rooney and family, Spenser Steele and family, Malena Lair and Kevin Wagman, we all enjoyed an evening at the beach during our final awards banquet. Meris Steele was the parent organizer extraordinaire who gets endless kudos for her fine work. The Dolphin dinner was splendid thanks to so many wonderful cooks and great take out places.
SWIM TEAM COMMITTEE THANKS ALL PARENT VOLUNTEERS
As the season draws to a close, the Swim Team Committee would like to thank all parents for their incredible dedication and hard work in making the season so successful. If you have any comments about how we might improve for next season, please pass them along to any of the Swim Committee members: Lynn Brownell, Dave Chitwood, Mary Conaghan, Patricia Ferrari, Abbie Fosburgh, Penny Mitchell, Sandy Spigler, Lynne Steingass, Karen Tucker, or Larry Wagman.
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