slight changes

For the middle school girls,... tomorrows meet is the same as always (be on the deck at 3:00, wear your team shirt to school,..). Come prepared to swim fast!! On Wednesday though, I know that I have 8 AM for practice on the calender but I am changing it to 4:00 PM. It is optional because I know that it can be hard to get a ride, but I would like you to come if you can. It will go until about 5:15 or so. We won't be doing any hard stuff, just little fixes of strokes and turns and starts.
Make sure you rest up this weekend because when we come back it will go by fast and we will be working hard!! : )

Middle school updates

Even though we didn't win last night, I think we had a great meet. Going through the results, there were A LOT of best times. Way to go girls! On top of that, we set another free relay record! Awesome.
-Remember there is no practice tonight due to club TCB. Have a great weekend off : )
-We only have one practice and then we have our next meet so please come to practice on Monday ready to work and be mentally ready.
-Again, great job yesterday. 3-1 is still a great record to be proud of.

State Meet Info

Here is a link to the state info on the MHSAA website... http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/gsw/index.htm . Look at the D3 info for instructions on admittance, parking, etc. for the D3 meet.

I will have directions to Oakland by Wednesday.

Wednesday we will be heading back to the Talsma house for some pasta, etc. We should be done by 6:30 or 7:00.

Thursday, the middle school girls have a home swim meet. The state girls will have a short final workout before the MS meet starts. They will then head over to the west gym locker rooms to shave down. I would like for the girls to eat before we get on the road. If anyone would like to provide food for the girls for Thursday night that would be great. Just let me know if you would be willing. If we get a chance to eat here before we leave we won't be quite as late getting to Rochester. If we need to get a little something when we get there we can do that.

If you have any other questions, please let me know.

I am looking forward to some fast swimming and great diving this weekend!!!! The girls are ready to go fast!

It's all in the way we fly!!!!
T

Keep it going,...

Our season has been going great thus far. We have beaten two teams that we usually don't and I think we have a great chance for the next one. I hope that we can keep the steam going and plow through our next couple meets like we did the others. I have been seeing great times and our we have been getting along great as a team. Please remember that as we get further along in our season, there will probably be less and less best times. Don't let that get you down. It's hard to keep dropping your times meet after meet. You will probably reach a plateau. That's OK. Just remember to keep doing your best and it'll be 'aight.'
-Pictures are on Monday. Don't forget your team suit!!!
-Away meet on Tuesday. We will be stopping after for some dinner (McDonalds) after the meet.
-Remember to keep getting your Vitamin C. We gotta try to stay healthy during this time of year!!
Lets keep it goin!

Varsity Girls' Awards Night

End of Season Awards

November 24, 7:00 pm
Hamilton Middle School Cafeteria

We will have a short time for dessert and socializing, followed by the presentation of season awards, participation awards, etc.

All parents of juniors and seniors are asked to bring a dessert.

If you have any questions, please call or email Coach Talsma.

OK Green Finals Results

What a great meet. All of you girls swam great!!!!

I will need to write some more later.

It's all in the way we fly!!!
T

Conference Prelims Results

We definitely flew tonight. Let's keep it rolling and go even faster tomorrow.

It's all in the way we fly.
T

Pre-Conference Team Dinner

Thank you to the Ritter family for opening their home to our team, and thanks to all parents who were involved in providing a delicious team dinner. Although the food was wonderful, the entertainment was unforgettable!

Middle School

Alright girls, a couple quick notes.
-Our meet on Thursday is at Zeeland Cityside pool (downtown). If you need directions let me know and I will print some off. It is a six lane pool and has been all redone so it should be nice.
-As always on an away meet we need to dress up for school and the bus ride. Please be at the the pool as soon as school is done.
-Please remember all our policies for riding home with a parent. All the forms need to be filled out at the office before the meet.
-There will be an optional one hour practice on Friday (3-4). I will have to be out of town and the High school girls have conference so,... Mrs. Rozema will be here to watch over practice for me.

Items for the week

I am excited for the conference meet this week. Our girls that are tapering for the conference meet are swimming great! The conference taper group will be getting out of practice earlier each day this week. However, I don't want them to feel rushed to get through their practices so I am not releasing my projected finish times for their practices. I want them to fully recover between each effort and be prepared to swim each rep the way they need to swim it. I am encouraging them to work on homework if they get done before their ride is available. On Thursday, the conference girls will have a very short practice and then will have the opportunity to shave down at the pool. They should come supplied with the necessary items to shave down. The expectation is to shave down everywhere the suit does not cover (this does not lead to more hair growth when the hair comes back). After shaving down we will head over to the Ritters for our pasta party. The girls can be picked up around 7:00 pm.

The girls that are tapering for the state meet are starting to come around and I look forward to them swimming fast at the conference meet as well. State girls had their last morning practice this morning. They will not have morning on Wednesday. Practice times will be normal probably through next week, depending how they are feeling. Those girls that are close to a state cut will be going to the second shave meet next Tuesday at the Holland Aquatic Center. The warm-up starts at 5:00 and the meet starts at 6:00. This is a pretty laid back meet that offers one last opportunity to get a state cut. Any girls that are close to a state cut have the option of going. I will talk with those girls individually later.

Conference Meet Info(bus leave, warm-up, meet start):
Diving:
Prelims will take place on Thursday. Warm-ups will be 3:30 pm with diving starting at 5:00 pm. The divers will leave immediately following school on Thursday.

Swimming:
Prelims will take place on Friday. Warm-ups will start at 3:00 pm and the swimming starts at 4:30 pm. Swimmers will be leaving immediately following school on Friday.

Swimming and Diving:
Finals will take place on Saturday. Warm-up starts at 11:00 am and competition begins at 12:30 pm. We will be leaving our pool at 10:40 am. Swimmers and divers will need to have rides back after the meet. We will be heading back to the middle school cafeteria after the meet for a fun time with swimmers and divers and their family and friends. Todd Ritter will get more info to you as we get closer.

It will cost $5 per session to enter the stands and programs will be available for $1. Doors to the spectator area will open at 4:00 on Thursday, 3:00 on Friday, and 11:00 on Saturday.

Regional diving and state meet info will be coming shortly.

Again, I am very excited for the next three weeks and all the fast swimming and great diving that will take place. It's a good time to be a Hawkeye!
T

MHSCA Girls' Swimming Coach of the Year: Eric Talsma

Congratulations to Coach Talsma on this great achievement! He was honored in Lansing yesterday at the 50th Michigan High School Coaches Association Awards Ceremony. What an impressive accomplishment --- it is much deserved! WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF HIS HAMILTON SWIM PROGRAM!