Despite the water temperatures, shallow turn-end, and DQ slips flying ... Willow Oaks took home the "W" last night, securing a winning season and 3rd place our first year ever in the Red Division. Congratulations!

Marlbank is our last dual meet of the season. And I can tell you right now, it is going to be tight. Marlbank has only lost to Windy Point this season. They have some strong swimmers, but if we practice intentionally and race our hearts out, they can be beaten.

I hope you enjoyed this morning's fun day -- because we are back at it Wednesday-Friday -- and on Monday, we need everyone possible at practice to fine-tune starts, turns, and fast finishes leading up to the meet.

There were some heartbreaking moments yesterday -- missing City Meet by .01 -- getting DQd on turns and finishes (practice habits), and things completely outside of our control. It takes a lot to race well. I hope to see that determination to succeed these next few days.

I've also attached the meet invitation for the Summer Splash Invitational. Swimmers will be limited to 3 individual events (they must have a legal time in an event to swim it), and one relay. There is a cost for this meet of $5 per event and $5 swimmer surcharge. Despite that, I hope you plan to participate (swimmers may not swim an event in which they have a City Meet Qualifying Time). 

We also have a very special CONGRATULATIONS to McKenna Neveaux who crushed the 25 Backstroke record of 21.44 for 7-8 girls set by Emily Lynn in 2006. McKenna swam a 20.55! Way to go McKenna! We have a lot of raw talent on this team -- I'd love to see more of our kids break some records!

And our City Meet qualifying list keeps growing. Congratulations:

• Jack Founds (5) - 25 Free
• Olivia Goodman (6) - 25 Free; 25 Back
• Luke Unsbee (6) - 25 Back ADDED: 25 Free
• Nora Hurst (7) - 25 Free, 25 Back, 25 Fly
• Peyton Fenn (8 ) - 25 Breast ADDED: 25 Back, 25 Fly
• Malia Goodman (8 ) - 25 Free
• Emma Hoang (8 ) - 25 Free 25 Back
• Rhodes Lomax (8 ) 25 Free, 25 Back, 25 Breast, 25 Fly
• McKenna Neveaux (8 ) 25 Free, 25 Breast, 25 Back, 25 Fly
• Winnie Scott (8) 25 Free
• Bennett Kulzer (7) 25 Free, 25 Back
• Bryson Neveaux (7) 25 Free, 25 Back
• Sebastian Cahoon (8 ) 25 Breast
• Axton Parker (8 ) 25 Free, 25 Breast, 25 Back, 25 Fly
• Camorrah Connor (9) 25 Breast
• McKenna Behan (10) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Johanna Carleton (10) 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Addie Fenn (10) 100 IM, 50 Free. 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly 
• Charlotte Melillo (10) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Hudson Kulzer (10) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Bronx Rosario (9) 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Avery Bethel (11) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Sloan Colton (11) 50 Back
• Katelyn Miller (12) 100 IM 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back NEW! 100IM, 50 Breast
• Kaylin Scalzi (12) - 50 Back
• Owen Humble (12) 50 Back
• Dominick DiCarlo (14) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Akai Gillette (13) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Brooke Gordon (13) 50 Fly
• NEW! Lily Humble (14) 50 Fly
• AJ Melillo (13) 50 Back
• Christopher Mowery (13) 50 Free, 50 Breast
• McCoy Tuttle (14) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Abby Kanak (16) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Lizzie Kanak (18) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Riley Hobbs (17) 100 IM, 50 Fly
• Jacob Petery (17) 100 IM, 50 Fly 50 Free, 50 Back
• Garrett Root (16) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Blaine Wooleyhand (17) 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly

The team now stands at: 40 Swimmers out of 91 -- 44% of our team is now qualified, and an astounding number are close to their first cuts of the season. Remember, if you have a lane, you have a chance, but you have to earn it. Let's get to work ... Let's GO Willow Oaks!