WOW! Great Swims at City Meet!

What a day! The rain seemed to hold back until the our arrival. It poured just enough to make it so the river bed we pitched the tents on became a little gully of water. Harrison and Jimmy seemed to enjoy the entertainment in creating a small drain ditch to divert the pool of water from the tent.

Congratulations to all the swimmers who made it to the top 16 in their events yesterday! I hope that I can remember all of them. Last night I saw Joanna and Emily along with Chase Martin, Drew, Billy, Dennis and Tyler. I also watched swims from Melissa K., Mikaya, Ryan and Caroline. Shu, Yuma and Mimi made a great showing for the Doi family. Mary Grace and Rachel Felton were two more of our totally awesome 13-14 girl stars. Lauren Van Eaton made a big splash along with Courtney Melia and Dennis Sohn. The announcer seemed to have a little trouble with some of the names of our swimmers (and team affiliation). I hope I haven't forgotten anyone! It was a good wet day of swimming.

You can check the paper today and in the sports section you'll see quotes from one of our team moms...Mrs. Alford. Under the CASL article, you can find a wonderful story about some of our former team members, the Pitmans. See you at the pool today for the last day of swimming fun until our banquet. Remember...the banquet is set for August 9, 2008 (a Saturday night).

To all the patient pirates at the meet last night, THANKS for coming and trying to wait them out! An unprecedented FOUR meets were rained out this year. In the eleven years we have been swimming this has never happened! We forfeited the meet, only after a long wait. Next year we will swim in the Red Division. Alas, I am saddened that last night was the last duel meet for me as a swim mom and I didn't get to see my children swim.

I hope everyone will look forward to sharing some sweaty memories at Warner park during the exciting City Meet! Let's make this a fun-filled weekend with some great effort in the pool!

Last Duel Meet on Monday

Monday is the last duel meet of the season! We would love to end the season with a win. With all our swimmers at the meet we could very well beat the Stuart Heights team. We need everyone there! If you were on the line-up when the meet was orginally rained out, OR listed as a alternate, you need to be there! Please let Samuel know if you cannot attend for any reason. Let's meet at the Stuart Heights pool and have a fun time competing. It will be a great feeling to win one for the team! One year when we swam, the winning team came down to the LAST senior boys relay and guess who was the last swimmer who pulled out a victory for the team? It was SAMUEL, our coach! Swim hard for the Ridge Raiders!! Let's WIN!

No Practice on Tuesday! Fun Get-Together 6-8 pm

The sun is glinting across the pale blue water as Samuel and I arrive for practice. Alas...where are all the swimmers? A few young pirate-types straggle in, but show little enthusiasm for the Captain's orders. What is happening in the pirates' cove? Where is that "yo ho!" spirit?!!!

Avast matey, we would love to see 'ya at the pool this Tuesday from 6-8 pm for some spirit building fun. We will be playing some of 'ye 'ole faithful games of pool and pirate history, run by none other than the pool master himself...old "Red Beard", Cap'n Samuel. There will be lost treasure and someone may even have to walk the plank! Adult Pirateers, please stay and socialize with the other grown-up types. It will be a chance for us all to get together and rally for our last swim meets!

Bring your family and use one of your 6 pool visits. Pirate types get hungry, so if everyone opens Davy's locker and brings a few snacks from home, we could possibly feed any hungry ruthless types on deck. The pool sells drinks for a dollar, or bring your own drinks for your family. If you want to bring a friend (teenage pirates find this especially important), but remember there is a $5 guest fee.

We may need to alert the authorities if we have a lot of swimmers coming for them to add an extra lifeguard...so let us know if you are coming! Hope to hear from you! (email or phone call)

Red-Beard's Mom

Big Meets Next Week!

Swimmers and parents should let Samuel know immediately if you will not be at the next three meets.

Monday we face off against the ever-tough Gaters of Red Bank at their pool. Thursday we match up against the Stuart Heights team in our own pool. Monday we return to the scene of the rain out to swim Stuart Heights again using the same line up from the original meet.go. If you are on that line up, please make every effort to attend. Remember this line up cannot be changed except to designate alternates that are already listed on the line up sheet.

Plan to attend ALL THREE MEETS! We need everyone! Wear your team shirt, bring something to cheer on your buddy, yell for all our swimmers and show some enthusiasm. Let's end the year up right!

City Meet Entries Due!

City Meet entries are due. There have only been 4 swimmers signed up so far. Remember that you must turn in your money with your entries. Entries go in Samuel's folder and the check should be placed in Gretchen's folder. Today and yesterday practice has been attended by only a very small group. We have two big meets next week. Please come to practice in preparation for these meets.