Hi guys,
I cant beleive this will be my last post of the season. We will officially be on our break after this Friday's am practice. Practices will resume on Monday Sept, 15.
It has been quite a season. I came in late, but was quickly made to feel as though I had always been member of the family. We have had tons of success and I am excited to carry the momentum forward to 2009 / 2010 and have another progressive, positive and successful season.
Regional Championships massive success!
We took 10 swimmers to the BCSSA Regional Championships August 8-9 in Nanaimo and had one of the most successful meets of the year. Congrats to the 9 Royals who qualified to compete in the Provincial Championships in Burnaby this weekend.
Josh, Gabe, Sean, Nicole Smythe, Emily Smythe, Julianna, Naomi Roth, Ashley, Sharon (Go Coach S), and Andrew Sean Paone (in spirit).
We also had 8 swimmers compete in the B& C Championships on Salt Spring last weekend. Congrats to Jessica, Kavon (first meet), Julianna, Nicole Smythe, Emily Smythe, Ben Roth and Naomi Roth.
In rememberance of a special Royal swimmer.
Andrew Sean Paone was a devoted, fun, interesting and truly loved member of the Royals Family. He will be missed to no end, but his spirit will always be with us in the water, at our meets, and in our hearts.
Some words from coach Sharon...
First I would like to start off by saying thank you to all the swimmers. You have all found ways to honor Andrew, whether it has been by remembering or dedicating your swims to him. A week ago, we had regionals and you all swam fantasticly. You truly did swim for Andrew!
I have known Andrew for a long time. I am glad I got to know him as a fellow swimmer as well as a swimmer I had the privlage to coach. Andrew, quite as he was, most of the time would greet us (the coaches) every practice with a joke or little story (which I have to admit most of the time I didn't get them), but he of course would explain. Sometimes even with the explanation I still didn't get it and would just say "Andrew get in the pool"
one morning I told the swimmers that once they finished 2 sets on the board I would take them for breakfast at Tim hHortons. Well Andrew heard "finish", and "set". , breakfast. He raced through the set skipping all the rest when he finished set #1 He started to get out of the pool, looked at me and said "ummm I'm done". I laughed at him and said "no your not you still have one set left" he said "but you said when we were done so I'm done " I laughed again at him trying to find a loop hole to get out faster and told him to get back in and finish his set. He did and we all went for breakfast, he ordered two strawberry-jelly donuts and an XL hot chocolate. We all had a great time at breakfast everyone was talking (once the food disappeared we are swimmers the food was the focus ) and laughing it was a great morning.
I have always believed that a swim team is a family. We spend most of our time together, we see each other at our best and our worst, we are there for each other , we cheer for each other, share joy together, and we mourn together. We have lost a part of our GVAS family and he will always be in our hearts.
Sharon
Assistant coach
GVAS
Note from Coach T
Best of luck to our swimmers competing at Provincials this weekend. You guys have done the work. You are focussed, driven and should go into each event confident that all that work will pay off.
Remember from past posts that recovery is an invaluable tool that you need to use at appropriate times. The end of season trasition phase is one of those times. For some that have been swimming 6-8 times per week, you are probably wondering "what do I do with myself?" The answer is relax, have some fun. You can go swimming, but no pace clock, structured set or echo of coach T's "Want a deck of cards.....so you can deal with it". Try some other sports. The main thing is that you come back to the pool deck in September refreshed, rejuvinated and motivated to have a successful season.
If you want to swim do it vicariously by watching videos at www.swim.ee
Coach T
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