Rutland Sprints-Update

Rutland Sprints is on Thursday! I have finally received the meet info! Warm-ups will be at 4:00 pm and the meet will start at 5:00 pm. Remember, it is at the Northwood Pool in Rutland Town, just before the elementary school. 

Head's Up: When I put Northwood Pool into Google Maps, it actually sent me to White's Pool. Do not go to White's Pool. It is completely shut down.

DIRECTIONS to Northwood Pool:

• Head on Route 4 West toward Rutland.
• Take a right on Park Lane, just before the Mendon Country Store. It is a little hard to see. The road veers left, and the name changes to Post Road.
• The pool is at the Northwood Recreation Center on the right. If you pass the Rutland Town elementary school, you've passed the pool.

WELCOME BACK, WST!

We are looking forward to our 2015 Summer Season. Please check back soon for more updates.

First practice is June 22nd, and we can't wait to see you.

Meet and Volunteer Forms

Go, Woodstock.

Team Picnic and Districts Info!

Hey everyone!
I'm trying something new and sharing some info on the blog! How neat! First, as a reminder, our team picnic is on Monday, July 28th! Please come and celebrate our wonderful season and our amazing swimmers! Drinks, plates, and utensils will be provided, but otherwise our picnic is a good old family potluck! Families with last names starting with A-P please bring an appetizer or dessert! Families with last names Q-Z please bring a main dish! It is sure to be a blast!

Also-for those of you attending Districts this Saturday, please note that there are two sessions. The 10&unders are in the morning with a 7:50 warm-up and the meet starts at 9:00. The 11&olders will be in the afternoon. The warm-up time and meet start time is to be determined, but I will let you know as soon as I hear!

Have a great day :)

2014 12 and Overs Morning Practice Time

Please note, the 12 and over morning practice time has been moved to 8-9am due to the changes in staffing and scheduling. Thank you for your understanding.

Summer 2014

Welcome Back, WST Families!

Coach Updates:
We would like to announce some staffing changes for the 2014 WST season. As you may or may not already know, Sam and Maddie are both graduating from their respective colleges this spring. Maddie recently shared with us that she will be studying Portuguese at the Middlebury Language school, and she will not be able to coach this summer. Sam has also stepped down for 2014, as he is now working full time with the Boys and Girls Club in Dorchester, MA directing their film program, and he is also busy planning his summer wedding! So while it is hard to say goodbye, it is impossible not to be thrilled for them both. Congratulations and best wishes to you both!

Fortunately for all of us, change can also be a time for new opportunity. We are pleased to announce that Alex Vutech, a college swimmer with a long and successful history with WST, will be joining us as our head coach this summer. She is an energetic, enthusiastic and multi-talented person, and we are fortunate to have her. We have a terrific crew of new and returning coaches, and we all look toward to guiding your swimmers through the summer season at Woodstock.

Registration Night:
We hope you will join the WST coaches for a "meet-and-greet" at registration night on Thursday, June 5th from 5:30-7:30pm. Your swimmers can also try on and order swim suits. This is the best time to order suits for the summer season, and we strongly recommend ordering early. Suits ordered after this time will likely not arrive in time for the early part of the season.

Stroke and Turn Officials:
We need officials. It's not scary, and if you have been associated with the team for one or two years, we need you! The League provides free training and it's local! June 30th at 6:30pm in Quechee. Please contact us if you're remotely curious, interested or want to volunteer someone! We will be so grateful to have your help.

Finally, please spread the word about WST!

Happy Swimming,
Nicola, Alex and the WST Coaches

States Warmup Times

Warmup times for States, August 3rd and 4th at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center

 

Saturday Morning: 8:20 arrival, meet starts at 9am

Saturday Afternoon: 12:50 arrival, meet starts at 1:30pm

Sunday Morning: 8:00 arrival, meet starts at 9am

Sunday Lunch session (200 Frees only): 11:00 arrival

Sunday Afternoon: 12:45 arrival, meet starts at 1:45

 

Looking forward to a great meet! 

 

END OF SEASON PICNIC

Hi WST,

Next Tuesday is our annual Swim Team Picnic!  This event is open to all swimmers and their families, and we’re very excited to have everyone come join us for a night of yummy food and awesome fun!  The Picnic will start at 5:00 PM, and the Rec will have paper products available in addition to providing drinks.  However, the event will also be potluck, so we’re asking families with the last name A-P to bring a main dish and Q-Z to bring an appetizer or dessert.

We will still have normal practice next week and these practices are open to all swimmers, regardless of whether or not they are attending states!

Happy Swimming,

Maddie and Sam

Leagues and Next Week

 Hello WST, 

Leagues

This weekend we have the Southern Vermont Swim League Meet at Rutland!  In order to be entered into this meet, parents must pay the $10 fee by 12:00 PM Thursday at the latest.  If money is not in and parents have not emailed Maddie or Sam specifically about it, swimmers will not be entered.  If you enter your swimmer but do not show up on Saturday you will be billed by the Rec Center for the additional $10 of the full entry fee.  10 and Unders will need to arrive by 7:00 AM, and we will let you know about 11 and Overs when we find out.  Directions can be found at svslvt.org.

At Leagues this weekend the concession stand will also sell T-Shirts.  Short sleeves will be $10 and long sleeves will be $15.  You can see the design below.

Next Week

We will have practice next week, however the emphasis will be on preparing swimmers for the State Meet on August 3-4.  Swimmers not attending States are still welcome to attend, practice will just have a slightly narrower focus.

Next Tuesday is our Swim Team Picnic!  The picnic is open to all swimmers and their families.  This event is a potluck, so we will send out further information about which families need to bring which types of food.  We hope to see everyone come out and enjoy a night of swimming, food, and fun!

We found a pair of glasses on deck after the UVAC meet; if you’re missing your pair and think they might be yours, let us know!

Happy Swimming,

Sam and Maddie

Health and Safety Update: Ears, Eyes and Skin

As everyone heads to the lakes and rivers, don't forget to take care of your ears! The bacterial counts in fresh water is higher than our chlorinated pool, and every year we have at least a handful of swimmers who end up with the painful condition. After lake or river swimming, a little water can get trapped in the ear, and it is a perfect environment for bacterial growth.

If your child is complaining of an ear ache, and he or she says it hurts when you tug on the earlobe or press on the tragus (that funny bump on the ear), it is a good idea to get your kiddo to the doctor for a check. Ask your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.

For a simple and cheap preventative solution, please click the Mayo Clinic link provided for information about how to prevent Swimmer's ear.

SWIMMER'S EAR Prevention Info

Also, please take care of your eyes and body by keeping your equipment and body clean. Try to shower soon after an open water swim and be sure to change or clean your contacts after open water swimming. Barbara Hummel, head coach of the UV Rays, also recommends swabbing your goggles with a Q-Tip and some anti-bacterial soap to prevent eye infections.

When entering the water, don't forget to check for plants such as poison ivy, poison parsnip or giant hogweed. All of those plants can create havoc on an otherwise great summer day! Poison parsnip and giant hogweed are sun-reactive, and the sap can create chemical burns on the skin when exposed to UV rays.

We want everyone to have as much time on swim team as possible, and we hope this helps keep our swimmers as healthy and as safe as possible!

Happy swimming!
Nicola

On the Horizon

Hi WST,

Believe it or not, it's already time to start thinking about Leagues and States!  For those of you who are new to the team, this post will give some preliminary information about what to expect. 

 

Leagues: Saturday July 28th at Rutland

This is a meet for all swimmers with all of the teams in the Southern Vermont Swim League.  10&under swimmers will compete in the morning and 11&over swimmers will compete in the afternoon.  We do not have specific warmup and start times yet, but we will let you know as soon as we do.

 

States: August 3rd and 4th at UVAC

This is the final meet of the season and is open only to those swimmers who have qualified.  Qualifying times are posted on the bulletin board and are available here: http://www.vtswim.org./2013_VSAMeet/VSA_13_Events_List_and_Time_Stds.pdf. 

Each day there is a morning and afternoon session, and, like usual, 10&unders swim in the mornings and 11&overs swim in the afternoon.  Swimmers can qualify up through Leagues.  In order to be eligible, swimmers must have competed in a total of THREE meets prior to States.  We will soon be emailing about eligibility.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions about either of these two meets!

Happy Swimming,

Maddie and Sam