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. 

Southeastern Swimming Championships

Believe it or not its here.  SES Championships week has rolled in for Cullman Swim Association.  A last effort by the CSA swimmers to make those precious cut times.  During the month of February the swimmers had chances at Madison and Auburn to qualify for Southeasterns.  Those making the final cuts are;  Wes and Ed Johnson, Reese McNeel, Claire Ogstad, Keelie Balch, Colby Hutson and Sarah Peel.  We had so many others that were so close and made valiant efforts to qualify.

 

Coach Alan and Ruby Hudson after a great swim at MSA

 

 

That start ready position looks familiar.  Molly Woods concentrating before her race.

 

Ruby, Haley and Molly having some fun behind the blocks.  These girls really dropped some time this year.

 

Most of the "Gold" group during warm ups at Madison.  Sarah got her 200 Breast cut at MSA.

 

Charis Peek really became a swimmer this year.  With almost perfect attendance at practice she showed what hard work and commitment can do for you.  A great season for Charis.

 

 

Anna Page and Molly Woods before their race.  Both girls had great seasons.

 

"Hey we are going to Southeasterns!"  Sarah and Colby turned it on to make their cut times.  Congratulations to two fine young people.

 

As I like to say, "The hay is in the barn".... I think CSA will have a fine report after SES at Nashville Aquatic Club this weekend.  With a few Sectional Qualifiers, hopefully we will have a few more after this weekend to make the trip to Atlanta in two weeks.

"Taper Time"

 Its that time of the year, whew...the swimmers trying to make those precious cut times.  CSA has been fairly successful so far this season with several swimmers even making Sectionals times.  I made a couple of videos at practice of the swimmers in preparation.  Always great attendance and focus when it gets down making it to the championship meets.   

 

  

 

 

This last video was made at the Auburn Meet.  CSA swimmers did so well and most hit best times.  Up till the last session of the meet on Sunday we still did not have a Southeastern cut time.  I told the swimmers after warm ups, "Somebody is going to make a cut time this afternoon!". 

 

AUBURN=FAST SWIMMING

 

Cullman Swimming was well represented in Auburn at the Ralph Crocker Invitational.  Most the swimmers hit seasonal best times which always makes a coach happy.  Pictured above are Keelie Balch, Anna Page, Ruby Hudson, Cabri Adams, Reese McNeel and Luke Johnson.

Colby Hutson represented the senior group from CSA.  Colby had a great meet having personal bests in all his entered events.  Great job!

 

How about these two guys?  CSA Senior Official Frank Odell having a discussion with Robby Dellinger who was the meet referee.  Frank has become an icon at SES meets.

Cabri and Reese sharing some great times after backstroke.  Check out those caps.  They both were given Auburn official caps by a team swimmer and Olympic trials qualifier.  That will motivate you for sure.

Session 2 The Work Begins!

Cullman Swim Association swimmers survived the holidays with good practice attendance, now after a hard week of training its time to get some momentum.  The mileage and intensity is up for six weeks as most the swimmers prepare for District Championships.  A few of the swimmers have Southeastern cut times and some even Sectionals.  The prediction is a great group going to the championship meets.

The Gold and a few of the Silver groups were given cards today with their goals for the upcoming weeks.  Its great sometimes to see on paper what a swimmers goals for the season is.  Sometimes its just competing in an event, a motivational time, SES cut time or a Sectional time.

CSA will be competing in Auburn next weekend at the Ralph Crocker Classic.