Districts

Cullman Swim Association blasted through the Central District Championships held at the Crossplex in Birmingham.  The swimmers always enjoy taper time and this year it worked to perfection with very nice time drops.  Many of the swimmers got coveted Southeastern time cuts and several got Sectional cut times.  Its the championship time of the season, this is the fun part!

Reagan, Luke, Jaeden, Sawyer and Ruby enjoying the meet.

Cabri and Kelley rocked Southeastern cut times in the 11-12.  True warriors they waited and swam time trials and crushed their times!

Gold swimmers Kelly, Cabri, Sarah and Keelie enjoying the meet.  The Blue Crush will be in action this weekend in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee for the Southeastern USA Championships.

Winter Kick off at Georgia Tech

Cullman Swim Association kicked off the new year with the Winter Kick Off meet hosted at Georgia Tech. It was an exclusive meet for the "Gold" group to gauge our mid season form as we get ready for the championship season.  The pool was the home of the 1996 Olympics so this added to a little extra special fun.  All the swimmers improved which is a great feeling for a swim coach.  

After warm ups the team is ready to swim fast!

Rachael Hilb after her fast 100 free

Ed Johnson swam a PR in 100 backstroke

Ed studying his time

Keelie getting ready for 100 Butterfly.  A best time!

 

Reese giving the water a stare down getting psyched

Reese swam a great 100 butterfly.  On her way to a new best time!
Gotta hang on and keep working hard and coming to practice.  The season is here.  Go Blue Crush!

State Swim Meet 2014

The 2014 ARPA State Swimming Championshsips are in the books now.  Cullman Swim Team had a great turnout with some fantastic swims.  As usual the summer season flew by with a very successful season.

 

 

Hannah Ogstad in the ready position for her race at State.

 

Jonah Hilb getting ready to swim 11-12 Boys Butterfly

Ellijah Price ready for his 13-14 Boys Backstroke

 

Anna Evans qualified in several event for the 13-14 Girls

 

Luke Johnson became one of the stars this summer.  Very successful season in the 8-under Boys

 

Cabri Adams gets ready for Backstroke in the 11-12 Girls

 

Claire Ogstad aged up and still had a great race in the 11-12 girls Breaststroke

 

Jonah Hilb swimming the Butterfly at ARPA State

 

 

As I always say this is what its all about, having fun and being competitive.  This season closes out till this day the best senior boys group ever.  These guys are fast.  Many wins with many records.  What a way to close out age-group careers...Gold in Medley and Free Relays! Oh did I mention team records in both?  Eric Pilcher becomes the "The Man".   All these guys will do well, they know how to work hard!

State 2014

Cullman Swim Team

Cullman Swim Team has hit its midseason stride with many swimmers showing good form.  Time to work hard with Districts right around the corner at Boaz.  It is always challenging but even more so this year.  The season ends with ARPA State at the new CrossPlex facility in Birmingham.

 

 

How bout a double rainbow?  Its been the usual crazy weather of thunderstorms all summer.  One meet canceled and one ended early so not too bad.

 

Rachael Hilb has been swimming well, little winter training paying off

 

Swim Parent President Delon Trimble shown here with Ben Harrison and our announcer Wes Warren.  As always the CST parents come through and work hard for the swimmers.

 

One of the new stars of Cullman Swimming, Luke Johnson.  Having a great season!

 

Keelie, Kelly and Cabri  this group of 11-12 girls are an outstanding age group.  Great when you have two competitive relays.

 

Dax Olszowka another new guy doing great for CST.

 

Cullman Swim Team is about fun, lots of smiles while competing which is so nice to see!

Sectionals 2014

CSA was well represented this year at the 2014 USA/Sectionals meet held at Georgia Tech.  The pool has much history being the site of the Olympic Games in 1996.  Making the trip for CSA was; Claire Ogstad, Reese McNeel, Ed Johnson, Wes Johnson and Keelie Balch.  All of these swimmers had to make extremely fast qualifying times, a notch up from Southeasterns.  Most all of the swimmers hit best times.   I was extremely proud of all these swimmers.  Its so tough to swim at Southeasterns in Nashville and then three weeks later compete again on a high level.  As a coach its tough to have them at their peak twice a month apart,



 

 

10-unders Claire, Ed and Wes

 

 

Claire getting ready for her breaststroke.  Her performances have been a first for CSA.

 

 

Wes dropping the hammer in breaststroke

 

 

Ed concentrating before butterfly

 

 

Wow what a race!

 

 

Ed just set a team record in freestyle!

 

 

Keelie racing the 200 butterfly

 

 

Keelie swam both 100 and 200 fly

 

 

One of the stars for 2013-14, such a hard worker

 

 

That's what it feels like to set a new personal best and team record.

 

 

Claire on the podium with her medal.  Making the team proud.

 

 

Southeasterns

Cullman Swim Association swimmers competed in the 2014 Southeastern Swimming Championships.  The meet was hosted by Nashville Aquatic Club at the Centennial Sportsplex.  Making the trip for CSA were qualifiers Claire Ogstad, Wes Johnson, Ed Johnson, Keelie Balsch and Sara Peel.

 

Claire Ogstad definitely stole the show for CSA swimmers.  She finished an incredible 2nd in both Breaststroke events for 9-10 girls.  This was the highest finish ever for a CSA swimmer.  She is just tenths of a second off AAAA time standards which will be another first for our young team.

 

The workhorse of CSA, Keelie Balsch had a great SES.  She dropped time in the 100 Fly and got that special sectional cut time.  She now adds that to her 200 Fly for Sectionals.

 

Ed Johnson had a great meet making several Sectional cut times for 9-10 Boys.  He and his brother placed well in all their events.

 

Ed showing some proper form in his Fly event. 

 

Sarah Peel swam the 50 Free and the 100 and 200 Breaststroke.  Sarah  finished strong after a season coming back from injury. 

 

Great picture of Claire battling in the 100 Breast.  That race was one of the best of the whole meet for any age group.

Colby Hutson racing the 13-14 Boys 100 Fly.  Colby swam strong and dropped time.

 

Southeasterns was a honor for our swimmers to compete in and we are proud of all of them for their dedication and effort.  It was most of all a lot of fun for everyone.