LPAC Weekly Update: 6/1/15

Jun 1, 2015

Many thanks to all our swimmers, coaches, and parent volunteers for working so hard at Time Trials on Saturday and getting our season off to a great start. Now it’s time to take on the Almaden Gators!

 

TIME TRIALS MAKE-UPS TODAY – NO REGULAR PRACTICES

Remember that today (Monday, June 1) is Time Trials Make-Up Day. There are no regular practices. Those of you who swam all your events on Saturday get to enjoy an evening off!

Swimmers who did not attend Time Trials (or who did not swim all of their events) must attend Time Trials Make-Up Day today. Please be at the pool and check in with the coaches at 6:00 pm. We need parents to stay and help set up, serve as timers and recorders, and clean up afterwards. We hope to be done around 8:00 pm.

Please note that it is very important for swimmers to get a time in every event. A swimmer who enters a meet without a time is ineligible for improvement, which ends up costing the team valuable points. Last year LPAC barely beat Almaden by the slimmest of margins (.01 points), so every point really does count! (If you’re curious about how the scoring system works, check out How Swim Meets Are Scored on the team website.)

 

THIS WEEK AT PRACTICE

The coaches this week will be working with swimmers on specific focus areas based on what they saw at time trials. They will also be working on relays, diving off the blocks, and getting the whole team “race ready” for the meet at Almaden this weekend. Although we know this is a busy week with end-of-school activities, please try to come to practice every day if you can…we will need all our penguins swimming their best on Saturday!

 

PICTURE MAKE-UP DAY: WEDNESDAY (6/3)

If you weren’t able to make it to Team Picture Day, you can come for individual photo make-ups this Wednesday (June 3) at 4:00 pm. Please bring your checkbook if you want to order anything beyond the standard team package.

 

WILL YOU BE AT THE MEET ON SATURDAY?

If you will not be swimming at the meet this Saturday, or will have to miss any part of the meet, you must let the coaches know TODAY. You can either send email to the coaches (coaches@swimlpac.org) or fill out the “Note to Coaches” form at the pool. You should also notify Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Marley (marleywl@yahoo.com).

In general, please plan to notify both the coaches and the volunteer coordinators at least one week ahead of time if you will be missing a meet. The coaches start assigning events and relays on Mondays, and the volunteer coordinators need to be sure all shifts are covered. So please let us know ASAP if your swimmers will be missing any meets this season.

So far, we have heard that the following swimmers are missing all or part of the meet this Saturday (6/6): Ashley Blacow, Emily Burke, Elizabeth Burke, Madison Doutt, Jake DeSantis, Chase DeSantis, Taylor DeSantis, Nikolas Mamola, Madison Mamola, Alexa Wise, Christian Wise.

 

DUAL MEET #1: LPAC @ ALMADEN (SATURDAY, 6/6)

Our first “real” meet of the season will be an away meet against the Almaden Gators — traditionally the toughest team in the league. It was very exciting last year to get a dual meet victory over Almaden, and we’d love to do it again. Watch for more details about the meet (including check-in time and volunteer assignments) later this week.

 

MORNING PRACTICES START NEXT WEEK!

We will switch to morning practice times starting next week (June 8). Practice times will be as follows:

  • 15-18: 6:45–7:45/8:15* am (*dryland on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
  • 12-14: 7:45–8:45/9:15* am (*dryland on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
  • 9-11: 8:45–9:30 am
  • 8 & under: 9:30–10:15 am

Swimmers who unable to attend morning practices because of school or work commitments may attend night practices, Monday through Thursday from 8:00-9:00 pm. Swimmers must have coaches’ prior permission to attend night practices.

*Swimmers ages 12 and up will also have 30 minutes of dryland exercises immediately after their regular practice times on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Please bring running shoes on these days.

 

RAFT TRIP: TURN IN FORMS NOW!

The annual LPAC raft trip will be on Saturday, July 4 (there is no meet that weekend). We meet up near Oakdale and reserve rafts for what is usually a slow, gentle ride down the scenic Stanislaus River. Small rapids add to the excitement, but are tame enough for first-time rafters. Penguins and parents are welcome to join in the fun! Many families choose to spend the night in Oakdale either Friday or Saturday night (or both) and make it a fun family weekend.

You probably already know that part of the LPAC tradition includes attacking other boats with water guns and buckets to see who is truly “King of the River.” If you prefer a less intense experience, however, you can designate your raft as a “dry boat.”

This event does usually sell out, so if you’re planning to go, please go to the Raft Trip page of the website and print out entry forms. Turn those in with payment to the “RAFT TRIP” folder no later than June 27. The cost is $25 per person. Please note that you also need to bring signed waivers on the day of the trip.

 

FUN AGE-GROUP EVENTS

Next Friday (June 12), all swimmers in the 8 & under practice group are invited to a fun trip to Golfland right after practice. On Wednesday, July 8, swimmers in the 9-11 practice group can go to Rockin’ Jump from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. These events are optional, and there is a charge to participate. Thanks to Judy Seps and Mary Patterson for offering to coordinate these fun events! We’re also planning something for the 12-14 age group; stay tuned for more details. Check the Age Group Events page of the website for more information.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS