Let the Qualifying Begin!

As the qualifying season begins Cullman Swim Association swimmers have begun their march towards the championship meets.  The first big meet of the season is the AHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships held at Auburn University.  The cut times are really fast as always, and quite an accomplishment just to make it to the meet.

 

 

Sarah Peel who is an 8th grader at Saint Bernard Prep School, lead CSA swimmers with 3 cut times.  She qualified in the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.

 

John Paul Stolz and Marco Tona also of SBP qualified for the AHSAA meet.   JP in the 50 freestyle and Marco in the 50 freestyle and 100 Breaststroke.

 

Callie Hollingsworth swims for Cullman High School and qualified in the 50 freestyle.  She has been setting a very fast pace this year in the freestyle events.

 

CSA swimmers warming up at the Madison meet in November.  Its been a tough year so far for the Cullman swimmers.  So many of the swimmers have been very close to the fall cut times.

 

Not pictured is Claire Ogstad who has made several Southeastern and Sectional cut times early in the season.  Claire is on her way to another record breaking season.

 

Good luck to all the Cullman swimmers next weekend at Auburn!

Cullman Swim Association

This picture was from our recent Cullman Swim Team banquet.  These are our high point winners for the summer team.  What do all these have in common?  They all worked hard as members of our USA Swimming team, Cullman Swim Association.  It takes more commitment but gives the swimmers and coaches much more needed time to work on technique and well designed training.  As you can tell by the picture our team has a very bright future.  Sawyer Trimble was unbeatable this summer as an 8 year old.  Did he lose one race this summer?  Reese McNeel was state champion in several events, smashed records and oh by the way 3rd at Southeasterns in backstroke.  Sara Peel broke multiple team records and won a state tittle.  All that can be said about Bennett Glasscock is that he became the fastest swimmer in the history of the team.  Congratulations to these swimmers and all the Cullman Swimmers!

Summer Swim Team

Summer Swim Teams from Robert Lawrence on Vimeo.

I love this video, really hits home for us here in North Alabama.  Summer swimming is huge and a part of our lives.  It really is the bridge between seasons.  The parents and swimmers enjoy it like no other time of the year....

State 2013

 

Wow those record setting girls.  Cullman Swim Team is so deep in 13-14 girls that we field 3 great fast relays.  Show are the "fastest" record breakers....Sara Peel, Morgan Matz, Kacie Donaldson and Callie Hollingsworth.

 

A tough group of guys, the 13-14 boys showed some pride this summer and swam fast.  Elijah Price, Seth Campbell, Check Freeman and Ethan Hendrix.

 

Where is Eric Pilcher?  The fastest guys in CST History doing an interview for local TV.  Bennett, Chris and Noah gettting ready to talk about how you go so fast.  More record breakers.

Great Job Coaches!

District Demolition!

Cullman Swim Team melted the record board again at the 2013 District Championships in Guntersville.  Our fine friends from GST put on an excellent meet that was well run in the scorching heat.  So many great races and lots of heartbreaks with swimmers missing cut times by only hundredths of seconds.

 

 

One of the best races of the weekend was Kelly Warren and Claire Ogstad in the 100 Freestyle.  They both smashed the Cullman record for 9-10 girls along the way to making the podium.

 

 

Sawyer Trimble had another great weekend.  He is going to be tough to beat at State.  Truly a premier 8-under swimmer.

 

 

Anna Hilb possibly the most improved swimmer for CST.  She worked hard all year and its  showing now.  In that tough and competitive 13-14 girls.  Personal bests all weekend!

 

 

Great to see Neil Norris back in the pool for CST.  Neil broke the 11-12 boys Butterfly record.

 

 

What about those refs?  Outstanding job and you know they had to endure the heat on the pool deck and stand on the concrete all day (2 days!) 

 

 

This is what its really about, having fun.  Best times of our lives.  Lots of smiles...

 

 

Callie Hollingsworth knows how to do it.  She turned on a 26 in 50 Freestyle.  We knew it was about to happen for her.  CHS coach Jackie Donaldson getting a smile out of Callie.

 

 

Bennett let off a little steam in the 50 Backstroke lowering his team record down to 24.  Ouch, great performance.

 

Cullman Swimmers will be competing at home in the 2013 ARPA State Championships at the CWAC next weekend.  Looks like we will have a strong showing.

Cullman Swimmers Gain Momentum

Cullman Swimmers are showing some great form as they head into the home stretch.  The swimmers will have great momentum as they head into District 2 Championships next weekend.  The result of a year round program and hard work by the swimmers is paying off in a record breaking season.  Allison and Lisa have the swimmers fit and ready to get fast! 

 

Sawyer Trimble is leaving a mark in the 8-under boys this summer.  A contender for a State tittle.

 

Callie Hollingsworth has got her freestyle going.  Consistently crushing the 13-14 50 Free.

 

Michelle Pilcher in her last season swimming for CST is going out in style.  What a career for Cullman Swim Team!

 

Frank Odell...What would we do without him.  Such a contributor to our team and district.  Frank has been the meet referee for all our meets and will be in the post season.  Thank you Frank!

 

Cullman Swim Team rolled thru the last week with victories over Scottsboro and Arab.  Another tough loss to Madison but I think they are feeling some heat.  Next meet is the last home and regular season dual meet.  Our fine friends from Guntersville Tuesday night.  See you at the pool.

Cullman Swimming Tidal Wave!

Its been a fast first couple of weeks of the 2013 Cullman Swim Team season.  The record board is melting. 

 

CST started with a big win over Jasper, a loss to the best team in the state...Madison, a win at Albertville.  The week ended with some incredible performances at the Madison Medal Meet.

 

 

Anna Page eyeing the pool at Madison.  She is one of the new stars for CST,

 

Becoming a pillar of the team, Sarah Peel is breaking all kinds of records and recording some of the fastest times ever of any age group for Cullman Swimming.

 

 

Reagan Martin and Hannah Ogstad ready to go at the Madison Medal Meet.  Both swimmers put in strong performances at the meet.

 

 

Jaden Orr is off to a great season.  Very competitive in the 9-10 Boys.

 

 

Keelie Balch made a SES cut time Saturday at the Madison Medal Meet.  Great to see that 100 butterfly form in the summer sprint season.

 

 

Some of the girls cheering on teammates.  Been fun so far.  Big meets this week with quad meet Tuesday at the CWAC and Scottsboro Thursday night as an away meet.

CST Swims Past Boaz!

Cullman swimmers opened the 2013 season with a win over Boaz.  The Barracudas brought a great team with a lot of swimmers.  Hats off to a well coached visiting team.  Congratulations to CST for a strong opening win..

Jonah Hilb started his season off with great wins in the 10-under boys events. 

 

Kelly Warren is on fire!  Dropping time always keeps you motivated.

 

So many new swimmers, Molly Woods in her first meet ever competed in all her events for the win.

 

 

Fun for everyone...even the parents.  Team President Dana Adams and Super Swim Mom Nikki McNeel.

 

Next up Madison Thursday night, time for a reality check...

Golden Goggles

 

Cullman Swim Association gathered for its season ending party to celebrate all our swimmers who accomplished the most successful season for the team.  The USA Swimming season is extremely competitive and long.  CSA swimmers competed from September thru March swimming from Cullman to Greensboro, North Carolina.

 

2012-13 saw CSA qualify the most swimmers ever in championship meets.  Swimmers making the 2013 Southeastern Championships cut times were: 10-Unders Cannon and Sawyer Trimble, Cabri Adams, Reagan Martin, Claire Ogstad, Reese McNeel, Ed and Wes Johnson,  13-14 girl Sara Peel and Senior swimmer Bennett Glasscock. 

 

CSA had five swimmers qualify and compete in the prestigous 2013 Sectionals:  Age-Group  Cabri Adams, Reagan Martin, Claire Ogstad, Reese McNeel and Senior swimmer Bennett Glasscock.

 

In addition to recognizing the qualifiers all the swimmers recieved a participation medal this year. 

 

The party was the close out of the USA season and the kick off for Cullman Swim Team and the fast paced summer season.

2012-13 Goes out with style!

 Cullman Swim Association just finished up its most successful season to date.  USA Swimming is so competitive but most importantly alot of fun.  Cullman swimmers trained and competed in meets from September to March in Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina.  Its a long season.  Below are some random shots from the last couple of weeks of the season.  Mainly as the swimmers prepared for their Sectional meets.  Just like Southeasterns we had a record number going to Sectional meets as well.  

 

 

Cabri and Claire relaxing by the pool.  Everyone enjoys taper time!

 

 

Reagan joins the girls, such a great group of swimmers.

 

 

Coach Alan Woods with his daughter Molly.  Alan has been a fantastic addition to our coaching staff.  He brings so much knowledge and experience to the team.  Alan is known for his creative workouts and innovation.

 

 

One of CSA and CHSs rising stars.  Elijah had a great season while chewing on the record books.

 

We gotta do what?

 

The rock of CSA and SBP (Senior Sectionals), Bennett closed out his USA and high school swimming journey.  He will be missed.  As I reminded him constantly, he was charting the waters for the future of Cullman Swimming.

 

Denise Peek one of our certified USA Officials, with Callie and her signature start.  We can not do it without all the help not only in the pool but on the deck.

 

Cullman swimmers now prepared for the fast pace and fun of Cullman Swim Team.  The summer league is so fast and furious.  Lots of swimmers and super fast.  CST will be hosting State again this year....now in our 53rd year?  Wow

 

Southeasterns 2013

Cullman Swim Association took the largest team in its short history to the 2013 Southeastern Swimming Championships.  The meet was once again held at the Caulkins Center in Nashville, TN.  This is the usual season ender for the team which the swimmers train all year to compete in.  The qualifying times are so tough, so its quite an honor just to make it to the meet.

 

CSA was lead by 10 swimmers.  Cabri Adams, Reese McNeel, Reagan Martin and Claire Ogstad in 10-under girls.  Brothers, Ed and Wes Johnson, Sawyer and Cannon Trimble in 10-under boys.  Sara Peel in 13-14 Girls.  Bennett Glasscock in Senior boys.  Great turnout!

 

 

Ed Johnson gets ready for his 200 Freestyle.  What a meet for this guy and he will be back in 10-under next year.

 

Coach Lisa and Reagan Martin.  Many great swims.

 

Cabri Adams gets ready for the Backstroke.

 

 

Claire Ogstad concentrating before one of her events.  She will be back in 10-under next year.

 

Reese McNeel.  Wow what a meet she had.  Definitely the STAR for CSA.  She swam to a 3rd place finish in the Backstroke and a 7th in Butterfly.  Has to be the best finish in modern times for Cullman Swimming.  A statement made for Cullman Swim Association.

Next up for the CSA  swimmers is Sectionals.  The 10-under girls travel to Greensboro, NC and Bennett Glasscock back to Nashville for Senior Sectionals. 

Baylor Meets

The Cullman swimmers participated in a busy January with two meets at The Baylor School, in Chattanooga, TN.  The first meet was the Nike Open followed by the Southeastern Middle School Championships.  All the swimmers hit best times and really started showing some form leading into February.

 

 

The Peels and the Matzs cheering on Morgan and Sarah.  The Saint Bernard girls put on quite a show finishing 14th out of 40 teams with just two swimmers.  Both girls had personal bests at the Southeastern Middle School meet.

 

 

Morgan preparing for the 100 backstroke is all concentration. 



 

Madi Smith is getting ready for her race at the Nike/USA meet. 

 

Keelie Balch is all business as she prepares for the 100 butterfly at the Nike/USA meet.  She dropped 2 seconds off her best!

 

 

Sarah Peel had two great meets in a row.  She hit a personal best and finished and incredible 2nd place in the 200 IM at the Southeastern Middle School Championships.  She is only a 7th grader.

2012 Is Gone!

The first half of the 2012-2013 season for Cullman Swim Association has ended.  Now all the swimmers have left is crunch time with a couple of meets then the championship season.  CSA is going into the end of our 4th season in our new pool and the team has begun developing its culture for the program.

 

This blog post is dedicated to the swimmers who toughed out the holiday season and did a little extra.  Its so tough during the Christmas and New Years break with all the activities going on but it is a crucial time of the year for the master plan for the season.  

 

Cabri Adams, Reagan Martin and Reese McNeel so dedicated and working hard through out the holidays.  This group of girls have crushed the SES cuts and have many Sectional cuts already.  Coach Lisa Martin has been leading these girls who we can not say enough are the future of the team.

 

Two 13 year olds Elijah Price and Sarah Peel, becoming anchors of CSA.  Both these swimmers have broken records and remarkably made it to AHSAA State as 7th graders!  They swim in the same lane in practice and are fierce training partners. 

 

CSA has had for the first time a strong group of senior guys.  Impressive practices over the past month for all these AHSAA State qualifiers.  Noah, Cmac and Bennett worked hard over the holidays, expect fast times from these guys.

 

USA Swimming performance consultant Mark Hesse spent a day with CSA observing and helping the coaches with planning and strategy for the season.  Its always great to hear a qualified opinion from someone outside our team.  The coaches learned so much and were fortunate to have his presence.  Shown above with Mark is USA certified official Frank Odell and Coach Lisa Martin. 

 

Finally what can I say about these two?  Sarah and Bennett came in on New Years Eve to bring the year in properly.  Coach Alan Woods met these two at the pool on NYE.  Bennett did an incredible set of 100 X100s and Sarah 100 X 75s.  Ouch! Is this a new tradition for those who dare?