Thank You.

As I approached our meeting yesterday, I realized I had no idea how many paople would show up. It could have been 6 or 60...as it was totally your choice on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. When I scanned the audience and saw in the neighborhood of 100 people sitting there...I couldn't help but feel extremely humble.
Thank you. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your concern over this program we've been building. Thank you for sharing your time with me. Thank you for YOUR hard work in bringing this program to the strong, powerful, level it now rests at. This team is a statement by you, for you, about you. This team will give you memories you will never forget...friendships that will last a lifetime...and lessons that will carry you through the tough times that will come your way.
I am extremely proud of my connection with this team, and I will always be it's biggest cheerleader. Yesterday's meeting opened a new era for this team. What do you want it to be? What do you want it to become? This is your charge...this is your decision. What will your legacy be?

Finish what you started...

Happy Easter to All

The Easter celebration is in my opinion a day celebrating change. Maybe the most significant change this world has ever experienced. Changes have of course occured since then, but none of that magnitude. People have experienced changes in their lives since the day they were born. Many of those changes you thought were unfair, painful, and too much for you to bear...but guess what...you survived. Not only did you survive...but you became a better, stronger person because that situation.

Change can be painful, but on this Easter Sunday, let's try and remember, there have been bigger changes on this planet than ours...and things turned out ok then. God has brought us to this place for a reason...we'll find out what that reason is someday down the road. Until then, try to appreciate each other, and be thankful that BIG change about 2000 years ago happened.

Happy Easter "Swimming and Diving Family"

Our "Family"

As is normal for our BD/USM Swim/Dive "Family"...we have another job to do.

We have a member of our "family" that has experienced a loss...in her own family. Kim Zwicke's mother passed away on Monday after a long battle with cancer. Kim, our hearts and prayers go out to you and those around you who are hurting right now. While we will respect your desire NOT to be bothered by all your well-wishers, we also want you to know you are loved and we are here for you IF you need us. There are many of us who stand ready to offer a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or simply and ear to listen. Kim, I believe God has eased your mothers burden, and eliminated her pain.

All my faithful blog-followers...love one another. Hug your parents, siblings, grandparents. None of us are invincible.

Just as we have done for so many others who have needed a helping hand...we are here to help.

It's been long enough....

Welcome back Coach...we missed you. That's what you're thinking isn't it? Good....
First the facts....
1. Billy Wong swam in the State Meet this weekend at Schroeder. He performed really well. He now owns new PR's...100 BR at 1:04; 200 BR at 2:18; 200 Free at 1:54; 200 Free Relay split at 24.2.
2. Kimberly Roos is part of a state record setting 800 Free Relay.(1:59 split) She'll be joining us as a freshman in the fall.
3. Steve Lillie is getting back in the water on Monday.
4. USM will be bringing at least 3 new members to the BD/USM boys team next fall, all with some competitive exeprience...how about BD?

Now the opinions....
1. Billy did what he did because he has had a balance of long course training at Schroeder and sprint work with our BD/USM high school team.
2. Our program is not necessarily superior to Schreoder, nor theirs over ours. In my opinion the two programs are a wonderful blend of short course sprint work, and long course strength work. When possible, they should be used to compliment each other top make well rounded versitile athletes.
3. Billy has earned a rest...a break from the pool. My hope is he takes a break after this weekend.
4. Steve Lillie has the right idea. He is motivated. He is dedicated. He has an opportunity to lead this team to a place we haven't been before.
5. Steve and Billy can't do it alone. They need some help. Grambow? Ladd? Gilles? Short? Daniels? Davis? Rice? Murphy? Ferrell? Are you ready to get back at it?

We will need all systems firing if we want to get after that goal of a Conference Title, or Sectional title. Is it possible for us to take down the Mighty Whitefish Bay? Shorewood? Can we place higher than the fabled "8th at State" team from 3 years ago? Can we put an athlete in every event in Madison next Feb? Billy, Colin, and Steven G. are a good start...but that's not enough. You are capable. You are talented enough. Are you committed enough? That's for you to answer.

Girls...you're up next. August will come quickly. Will you be ready? What are you doing to prepare for the physical/mental/emotional challenges that lie ahead. 2010-2011 could really be a breakout year for this program. I believe in you...in your talent, in your leadership abilities, in your dedication to our sport, and in your committment to your future. BE READY!

Next year's theme is....
The BD/USM No Regrets Tour...don't miss the show.

The Verdict.....

What a whirlwind 24 hours...from Friday morning to Saturday morning. We left here Friday morning with the intention of swimming faster that night in Madison than we have all year. We left the natatorium Fri. night not only faster, but also smarter. From Colin's strong steady performance on the boards Friday afternoon, to the "Ice Cream Championship of the World" at Ella's Friday night...the trip was certainly unforgettable. Steven learned about oxygen, Jim learned NOT to turn left in a pool with lane lines, Billy snores, and and Bob makes loooong 10 minutes speeches.

This was the first trip to State for this crew...but the last only for Jim Jens. An unlikely participant only one season ago, Jim certainly made the most of his opportunity. He swam faster than even I thought he could, then proceeded to leave his senses for a brief moment. Grambow, Wong, and Lillie all were faster than ever before on our 400 Free Relay, with Steven Lillie claiming the title as the teams fastest swimmer for this season.

Our alternates did their job as well, Ladd, Daniels, Gilles, and Davis all had the chance to "FEEL" the State Meet up close and personal. Next year boys....next year!

As the bubbles settle on the 2010 Boys Swim/Dive season, I look back with pride and satisfaction on a job well done. There is always a price to pay for success...but there are riches to gain as well. Your coaching staff is proud of your accomplishments this season gentlemen. You should be too! Some of you are moving on to a new swim season, some to other sports, and some are just taking a deep breath and relaxing....all are good. Pick up your homework a bit, remember the term "student-athlete". Tapers are over so go shovel the driveway for your parents and the special tour of "potter duty".

Personally, I am going to become a "Dad" again. My son Sam swims in his first State Meet next weekend....in Madison...and I'll be there cheering him on. (yes, more pool time for me...but it's a good thing) Tony is beginning practice for the USM MS play and I will be Maddies sidekick again. And oh yeah...my wife gets her husband back.

So....thanks for the memories....and remember...if God will bring you to it, He will bring you through it.

We're on our way...

To Madison. We have successfully completed the journey we set out on in November. We share a common sense of accomplishment, yet with a bit more work to do. We are in the top 16 in Wisconsin. The question is...how much higher can we climb?

BD/USM......START YOUR ENGINES.....

Not quite finished yet...more cudos...

21 OUT OF 27 PR'S!!!! Holy Cow!
Even with the disappointment of losing the Medley to disqualification,(wrongly I might add) our boys still stepped up and let 'er rip. Our first swim after that was Billy Wong's 200 IM. I had no idea how Billy would react to losing the Medley, but he knew he swam well on it and quickly prepared himself for the IM. All Billy did was drop a fabulous 5 sec. in 200 yards from 2:16 to 2:11. YEAH BILLY!!! Not to be outdone, in the same heat of the IM, Geoff Gilles dropped and equally impressive 4 seconds from 2:21 to 2:17. YEAH GEOFF!!!

And that's the way the day went...even though there may have been a disappointment here or there, someone was there to pick up the peices and move the team forward. That's what TEAM is all a bout. One day it's you picking up the team, the next day it's someone else. To get all athletes performing at their best on the same day at the same time is very rare. To achieve 50% or more is terrific...and we had 78%.

As we are looking forward to the State Meet this Friday, we must not forget...even though each individual athlete can't be in the water, it took each individual athlete to get us where we are. Each and every one of you owns a peice of this Meet Friday. Our TEAM is there...represented by a few.

Friday night is the pinnacle of high school swimming in WI. And we will be there! Congratulations gentlemen...

Success is spelled....BD/USM!