This Week With ASC January 16-22, 2022

Mark Noetzel

Swim Families,

 

This week - MLK Holiday is tomorrow, 1/17/22 and here’s the schedule for practices. Read USA Swimming’s article on the holiday HERE.

Monday, 1/17/22

  • Senior Group - 8:30-10:30 am

  • Silver Group - 5:30-6:30 pm

  • Gold - may come with either Sr. or Silver.

Tuesday through Friday

  • Senior Group Tues thru Friday - 3:30-5:30, No Saturday

  • Silver Group Wed & Thurs - 5:30-6:30, No Saturday

  • Gold Group Tues, Wed, Thurs - 5:20-6:30, No Saturday

  • Bronze Group Tues & Thursday 4:40-5:20

 

Next Big Island Swimming Competition - February 12, 2022 at ASC/HPA

The BIIF (High School) Athletic Directors agreed to a request by myself and the BIS Head Official, Dar Gerber, to move the BIIF meet forward one hour on 1/22/22, so that a BIS meet could occur following the high school competition at HPA that morning. 

  • High School Warm Up 7:30, Meet begins at 9am, ends at 11:30 (approx).
  • BIS 1st Session Warm up 11:30 or as soon as the BIIF meet ends. The meet will begin 1 hr after the start of warm up.

This meet will serve the purpose of allowing swimmers who are most near (has a AA) or already possess the “AAA” standard, to compete in two, possibly three events.  It will also allow those who are developing their times at the B to A level, to swim a couple of races. Because it's a long day for the officials (Both BIIF and BIS meets) swimmers will be limited to the numer of events they may swim and there may be qualifying standards (e.g. AA or faster, for some events). More info will come forth as we near the date.

 

The meet will be the last one offered in short course yards (25-yard pool) before we move to a 50-meter competition course from March thru August.

 

A note about time standards - As swimmers beginning in the program start to compete, their results (time) fit into a scale (see below and for exact times, see the link)  HAWAIIAN SWIMMING TIME STANDARDS.

 

For new swimmers to achieve a “B” standard is great and is their first level of recognized achievement in the Hawaiian Swimming system. Please note, ASC coaches push athletes to simply strive to improve their personal bests, and the rest will take care of itself.  ASC has had athletes on the chart below, all the way to the Jr. National (18/under) Championships.

The more swimmers compete, the more opportunities they have to learn “how to compete.” So, as parents, keep encouraging and listening to your swimmer(s). No need for you to give any technical advice to them, that’s for the coaches. Just keep encouraging them to do their best and work hard to strive to achieve their goal. Often, the best thing you can say to a swimmer, is that you’re proud of them for trying and you enjoy watching them compete and exercise.  

Climbing the Hawaiian & USA Swimming Steps

USA National Championships

USA Jr. National Championships

USA   Futures  Championships

USA Speedo Senior Sectional Championships

Age Group Zone and Senior Zone Level

AAA -   Hawaii    State Championships

AA - Hawaii Jr. Age Group and Invitational Level  

A - Hawaii Jr. Age Group Championship Level.

B - Hawaii Level Age Group 

 

Swimmer Drop-Off & Parking

It is very important that ASC families utilize the grass parking area to park. It is located as you first enter campus on the left side, near the track & baseball field.  With the parking lot being occupied by HPA high school student vehicles or their parents picking them up, we need to make every effort to avoid causing congestion, especially on game days (LIKE WEDNESDAY, 1/19/22 HPA home soccer). 

 

BECOME AN OFFICIAL - JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM & HELP BIG ISLAND SWIMMERS

Want to be on deck in the future to watch your swimmer compete? Become an official. It’s not hard, you will get really great training and be able to shadow officials until you’re ready to go. ASC needs more Stroke & Turn Officials to our roster! Please talk to Coach Mark or Barbara re: the option of becoming a deck official.

 

SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT to Catherine Breen, Jarek Duba and Jana Dubova for getting involved and starting their training this past weekend at our home meet, December 18, 2021.

    ASC’s Registered Officials

  1. Catherine Breen*

  2. Jana Dubova*

  3. Jarek Duba*

  4. Laura Robertson

  5. Melissa Schad

  6. Ignacio Soler

  7. Michelle Weyrick

  8. Robyn Scarth

 

USA - Swimming/US Center For Safe Sport 

Many families have continued to have their swimmers take the SafeSport course, as well as taking it themselves. The coaching staff thanks you for doing this. Here’s the link to the USA Swimming SafeSport/US Center for Safe Sport.  Keeping our athletes safe is the responsibility of all of us.

All for now,

Lastly, the coaching staff truly appreciates the opportunity to work with your swimmers. We realize the importance of physical activity and the development of skills that support the growth and development of teamwork, loyalty, and other character traits, and we’re glad you swimmer(s) are with us.

HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITORS

Lastly, I want to give a SHOUT-OUT to our ASC Senior Group Swimmers who are competing every weekend for their high school program.  Many have already swum two meets for their school (HPA on Jan 8, Hilo High on Jan 15, 2022).

  • Minnow Benedict - Honoka’a High School

  • Beaudin Schad - Parker School

  • Lucas Duba, Eve Ely, Kekai Haines, Ariana Hudgins, Sophia Jordan, Hamilton Lee, Nereo Loreto, Vaitea Sekona, Kouske Soler, and Sean Weyrick for HPA.

Remaining High School Meet Schedule 

  • 1/22/22 at Pahoa

  • 1/29/22 at HPA

  • 2/5/22 at Kamehameha

  • 2/12/22 at HPA

  • 2/18 & 2/19 at Kamehameha BIIF Prelims and Championships

  • 3/4- & 3/5 at Kamehameha HHSAA State Championships.

All the best,

Coach Mark