Monday 3/17 practice at 7:30 PM
Tuesday 3/18 practice at 7:30 PM
Wednesday 3/19 practice at 7:30 PM
Thursday 3/20 practice at 7:30 PM

Remaining March Saturdays will be from 11 AM till 12:30 PM
April Saturdays 5, 12, 19 will be from 10 AM till 12 PM

The following events are coming up soon and require pre-entry, so check them out and get your entry in timely. For those of us going to the Y Nationals, I need your individual entry early since it is a Team Entered Meet, and everything has to be coordinated, therefore I need your entry no later than Friday, April 11, 2008.

March 22 Asphalt Green meet
April 6 CT State Championships at East Lyme meet
April 11-13 Colony Zones
April 27 Nassau Park Good Will Games Pool
May 1-4 USMS Nationals
May 15-18 Y Nationals
June 21, 2008, Madison Mile

Coach Mike

The Binge Swim (open-water) Training Bender is open to everyone and anyone who desires to do so is encouraged to take part. The entire program lasts ten days encompassing plenty of swimming, sun, sand, chlorine, and a few good nights out and about. Please notice that the binge training mostly takes place on the weekend of May 23rd (three days due to Memorial Day) and the following weekend ending on June 1st. Some swimmers participate in all sessions, others only in sessions of their choosing (i.e. you can participate in as little as one session or in as many as all sessions – it’s whatever you like!).

We had a very successful meet this Sunday at the Y. With the help of Y coaches Ellen, Erin and Marta who were here at 7 AM to set up for the meet, and stayed and ran the computer and scoreboard programs. Bill, Christine, Dave, Dean, Jake, Jack, Jim, Kim Stevens, Laura, Martha, Pam, Sheila, Wayne Shadbolt, and Tom who timed, and helped set up and take down the pool. We were able to run a meet with 112 entrants and still get done by 1 PM. It was fun to have so many contestants at our pool, and an awakening for many of us that it’s time to start getting in shape for Y Nationals in Fort Lauderdale which are only 2 and a half months away.

Meet results are now available.

Coach Mike

It’s time to start planning for Y Nationals being held in Fort Lauderdale, May 15-18, 2008. We hope to have a strong showing from the Westport Y, so let me know your plans. You must be a Y member no later than February 15, 2008 to qualify. So, if you know someone who is thinking about it, get them to join ASAP. A good way to get started is to sign up for the Ground Hog Meet at the Y on February 24^th. We need you there to help run the meet, so you might as well swim.

Coach Mike Laux

Joining USMS just got easier! You can now join United States Masters Swimming by simply filling out your registration form via the secure web interface and paying your fees with your Visa or MasterCard. You can even print your own copy of your registration card. Why wait any longer? Just head over to the secure registration site to join or renew your membership now.

Read more at the USMS site.

There has been some interest in having swim practices next week on Monday (12/31) and Tuesday (1/1). They Y is open from 5:30 AM till noon on Monday, and some people are swimming at 10 AM. They Y is open from 10 AM to 2 PM on Tuesday, and some people have expressed interest in swimming at 11 AM.

Wednesday and Thursday is regular schedule with practice at 8:15 PM.

Have a Happy New Year!!!

Coach Mike Laux

Upcoming event that Liz Fry sent out via email:

Hi all,

Dave Parcells had a dream to set up a fund to support needy patients and families with expenses not covered by insurance as they undergo treatment for MS. Unfortunately he passed away before fulfilling this dream. I am creating an event to help achieve that dream and at the same time present a challenge that Dave would have enjoyed –to jam as much yardage as possible in one month. Those that knew Dave would agree he would love this challenge.

The January Jam starts January 1^st and participants will track their yardage for the entire month. I will send out weekly results to all participants that email their yardage to me. Please send your weekly total yardage to me by 7:00 PM each Tuesday EST at eafry@aol.com. Additional information is included in the attached entry form.

The intention of the Jam is to promote fitness through swimming while raising funds for the Dave Parcells MS Fund. Have fun and please use caution and do not build up your yards too quickly.

Warm wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season,

Liz Fry

Entry Form

Best wishes to Bill Krumm in his new position with USA Swimming as a Sport Development Consultant for the Western Zone. Thanks for everything you’ve done for the masters team over the years!

Read more at USA Swimming.

Until Thanksgiving Monday and Wednesday workouts won’t start until 8:30 PM. After Thanksgiving we’ll be back to the 8:15-10 PM schedule.

Results are now available for the 2^nd Annual Pattaconk Plunge that took place on September 22.