Updates & Best Posts
Posts from ‘Local’
Coming down the stretch with an eye on next year
Friday, July 30th, 2010While teams are looking to finish the season strong, how they perform at Divisional meets could have a big impact on next season.
Katis goes through his sprint in slow-motion
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010Nobody in the area swims the 50 breaststroke faster than Langley’s Chuck Katis. Sprints like that race require a unique approach. Katis explains how that differs from longer races.
Chesterbrook comes up big at the right time
Monday, July 26th, 2010The place was packed. Old swimmers came out to cheer. Chesterbrook didn’t disappoint, turning in its best performance of the season in its biggest meet.
PVS unveils new misconduct policies
Friday, July 23rd, 2010Potomac Valley Swimming and other organizations make a large-scale effort to tighten and improve sexual misconduct policies in the wake of recent public challenges to USA Swimming’s handling of the problem in the past.
PVS Long Course Age Group Championships moved
Friday, July 23rd, 2010This weekend’s Potomac Valley Long Course Age Group Championships have been moved to Audrey Moore Rec Center in Annandale after a mechanical malfunction at rendered the pool at Fairland Aquatics Center unusable. Schedule changes inside…
Sudley keeps rolling along
Friday, July 23rd, 2010Sudley might be difficult to find based on its location, but the Seahorses can almost always be found atop the Prince William Swim League.
Swimming tips for the new triathlete
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010Bart Forsyth of Arlington was a runner first. He took up the sport in law school, running several road races before taking up marathons. Then, while recovering from a running injury, he became an avid cyclist. And before long, he was thinking about triathlons. The catch? He had no swimming experience at all.
Plombon makes a fundraising splash
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010Vienna Woods swimmer Sarah Plombon has conducted a fundraiser this summer to help pay for a “sprayground” that is scheduled to open next year. The facility will be tailored to children with special needs.
Age only a number for Ledecky and Conger
Monday, July 19th, 2010Curl-Burke’s Katie Ledecky, 13, and RMSC’s Jack Conger, 15, each found more success against older competition at this weekend’s Potomac Valley Swimming Long Course Senior Championships.
Record times in the pool … and on the road
Monday, July 19th, 2010On the same day, you have the Potomac Valley Swimming Long Course Championships as well as a dual meet against your team’s biggest rival. Which meet do you choose? For a couple of Rockville Rays, there wasn’t a choice. Do both.
Olney Mill showers its seniors
Friday, July 16th, 2010Summer swim teams find different ways to honor their recently graduated team members. At Olney Mill, the seniors receive laundry baskets full of items they can take to college.
Pepper spices up MCSL record book
Thursday, July 15th, 2010Five meet records fell Tuesday night at the MCSL Coaches’ Long Course Invitational, an annual event, including one that had stood since 1986.
Phelps goes over swimmingly with students
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010Fourteen-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps gave 40 middle school students from Baltimore a swimming lesson Wednesday.
MCSL swimmers take the long way
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010Montgomery County Swim League competitors will test their endurance Tuesday night in the Coaches’ Invitational Long Course meet, in which event lengths are doubled. Ten meet records fell last year.
A CSL tie and undefeated match-ups in the NVSL
Monday, July 12th, 2010Chantilly Highlands and Ashburn Village swim to a tie in the CSL, and four meets that pitted 2-0 teams in the NVSL go a long way toward determining a division champion.
Standing the test of time
Friday, July 9th, 2010Megan Kenna Sharkey bested one of the two oldest MCSL records on the books, and she may break the other. We take a look at some of the oldest summer league records and the allure of league-marks that endure.
Divisional races intensify across the area
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010Division races heat up quickly in the summer season, where winning a close meet in week 2 could turn out to be the difference between a division title and second place.
Upsets abound in week 3 in PWSL
Monday, July 5th, 2010Lower division teams toppled their upper division foes in four PWSL meets this weekend, close meets continue to occur in the PMSL and another strong swim by Carderock Spring’s Charlotte Meyer sets up a showdown between undefeated swimmers next week in MCSL’s Division J.
Promoted teams adjust to tougher competition
Friday, July 2nd, 2010Top divisions in the NVSL, MCSL and Prince-Mont Swim League welcomed new teams into the fold for the 2010 season. It’s a welcome promotion for each club, but competing with some of the area’s fastest doesn’t come without growing pains.
Swimming notebook
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010A handful of new league records were set this weekend, including a few by some of the youngest members on summer swim teams, and Palisades’ Katie Ledecky extended her success in 2010 to the summer season.
Relay drama highlights NVSL openers
Monday, June 28th, 2010As the NVSL opened its summer season, several meets came down to teams’ success in various relays with some going down to the wire and other clubs breaking records as their relay squads determined the outcome of the meets.
NVSL opens while others adjust for Week Two
Friday, June 25th, 2010While the NVSL prepares to kick off this weekend, other leagues like the MCSL and DCCL are preparing for their second weekend of meets, with coaches around the area adjusting lineups and swimmers beginning to get into the rhythm of the summer season.
Swimming notebook
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010Swimmers prepare for the first NVSL weekend as well as a long-course meet for their clubs. Curl-Burke’s Kaitlin Pawlowicz and Andrew Gyenis do well in open water competition and a clinic brings two Olympians to Ashburn.
Close meets highlight opening weekend
Monday, June 21st, 2010As the opening weekend of summer swim kicked off for leagues across the area, several meets in those leagues came down to just a few points — highlighting the importance of every swimmer and every place in each event.
Swimmers ready to dive into 2010 season
Friday, June 18th, 2010It’s commonplace for community pools to hold pasta dinners and pep rallies on Friday nights and those surely will begin tonight as the 2010 summer season finally gets underway.
Send in and post your pictures, suggestions
Thursday, June 17th, 2010With just a few days left until the opening weekend of summer swimming, we at reachforthewall.com are reaching out to you the readers for help. With so many pools across so many leagues throughout the entire area, you can help us recognize your community and your team. A major key to coverage this season will depend on photographs, please post them on your team wiki pages and/or send them to info@reachforthewall.com and our reporters will be able to use those pictures to supplement articles when they write about that pool.
Conger, Haase teammates year-round
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Sarah Haase and Jack Conger have seen plenty of each other over the past year. The two swim together year-round for Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club and at Good Counsel, where they combined for four individual wins at Metros en route to All-Met honors this winter. Both also headed to Ireland as part of the NCSA All-Star team in the spring. And if they didn’t know each other well enough through all of that, they’ll get a chance to learn more this summer.
The All-Met standouts, considered two of the top swimmers in the region, both swim and coach together at Flower Valley in Division A of the Montgomery County Swim League.
Getting ready for summer
Monday, May 3rd, 2010Until the summer league season starts up, we at reachforthewall.com will be considering ways to make this site more user-friendly and accessible, and finding ways so that more readers begin consistently writing stories, shooting videos and taking photos to be posted on team pages and to be displayed the homepage. If you or anyone else you know would be interested in contributing content for this summer contact us at info@reachforthewall.com. No prior experience is necessary. And, beginning in June we will once again have results from all of the region’s major summer swim leagues, NVSL, MCSL, Prince Mont, PWSL, DCCL, CSL, CNSL, ODSL and CCSDA. If your league is not on this list and would like to be contact us at info@reachforthewall.com.
Swim coach previously accused of sexual abuse suspended by Manassas club
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010A local swimming coach was suspended indefinitely by his club team in Manassas on Tuesday, a day after he was accused in a civil lawsuit filed in Missouri of sexually abusing a high school senior when he coached there in 2006-07. Occoquan Swimming’s board president Brad Hughes wrote in an e-mail to parents that Robert Mirande, who had been coaching the club’s elite high school swimmers since last summer, would not participate in any coaching activities “pending conclusion of ongoing investigations.”
PVS wins Eastern Zone SC Age Group Champs
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010Potomac Valley Swimming won the combined team title at the Eastern Zone Short Course Age Group Championship for the second time in as many years. Nine other LSC’s from Virginia to Maine participated in the event which was held in Webster, New York April 1-3.
PVS Junior Olympic roundup
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010While many of the area’s top swimmers competed at Junior Nationals over the weekend, the younger age group took part in the 2010 14 & Under Potomac Valley Swim Junior Olympic Championships at Fairland Aquatic Center.
Junior Nationals wrap-up
Monday, March 22nd, 2010Curl-Burke took second overall at the NCSA Junior Nationals this past weekend in Orlando, finishing behind NOVA of Virginia Aquatics (Richmond), which won the meet with a score of 1005.5, ahead of Curl’s 742.5. Rockville Montgomery was fourth with 459 points. A complete round-up of the top finishers from the final three days of Junior Nationals.
Area Roundup
Friday, March 19th, 2010RMSC’s Jack Conger breaks a national age group record in the 200 backstroke, Curl-Burke’s Chuck Katis and K.J. Park go one-two in the 100 breaststroke and several other swimmers impress in days two and three at Junior Nationals. Also, locals get started at the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
PVS Junior Olympic Championships underway
Friday, March 19th, 2010The 2010 Potomac Valley Swim Junior Olympic Championships began Thursday and continue through Sunday and involve many of the top 14 and under swimmers in the area.
NCSA Junior Nationals: Locals on Day One
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010The first day of NCSA Junior Nationals is in the books. Check out how the swimmers from local clubs Curl-Burke, Rockville-Montgomery and Arlington Aquatic fared on Day One and early in Day Two, and get links to see the full results of the first day’s events.
Ledecky shines at PVS Senior Champs
Monday, March 15th, 2010Katie Ledecky, 12, shined at the PVS Senior Short Course championships as did others including former All-Met Zach Hayden, former Olympian and All-Met Swimmer of the Year Kate Ziegler, Marshall’s Adam Pennington and 14-year-old Janet Hu. COMPLETE RESULTS INSIDE
Area roundup
Friday, March 12th, 2010Former All-Met and Olympian Kate Ziegler is seeded first in several events for this weekend’s PVS Senior Short Course Championships held at George Mason, and in some races might go up against some of the area’s top young swimmers. Five local swimmers qualified for the men’s NCAA swim championships, check out their seeds for the meet. Former All-Met Swimmer of the Year Eric Friedland is seeded third in the 200 breaststroke. Also, prepping for NCSA junior champs.
Area round-up
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010A round-up of area events, including the Virginia men winning the ACC championships, locals performances for Texas at the Big 12 championships, top performances at CAAs by Ashley Danner and Eric Knight, Oakton All-Met Kaitlin Pawlowicz’s nomination for USA Swimming’s race of the week and local clubs taking national honors.
Phelps to swim in Md. championships
Monday, March 1st, 2010For the second time since December, 14-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps is scheduled to swim in a local club meet — this time entering the Maryland Swimming Championship this weekend at Lejeune Hall at the U.S Naval Academy in Annapolis. Phelps, who previously swam in North Baltimore Aquatic Club’s “Christmas Meet” in December, will swim in four events at the meet, which begins on Thursday and runs through Sunday.
The 24th annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet
Saturday, February 13th, 2010The 24th annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet was held this weekend at the Tacoma Community Center in Washington D.C., hosting more than 350 athletes from around the country. Founded in 1987 by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation and The United Black Fund, Inc., in honor of Black History Month, the meet has been called the “premier minority swim competition in the United States and in the world,” by USA Swimming, according to the meet’s website.
Who will you be watching?
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010In the season’s first month we began to follow as many area teams and individual swimmers as possible, but today we’re asking for your thoughts.
In your opinion, which teams and individuals are the top contenders for end-of-season titles and accolades and what teams and individuals may be flying under the radar at the moment, but could have an impact by season’s end?
How do you choose?
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009Many of the comments over the past few days focused on the balance between high school and club competition. With several high-profile regional and national meets conflicting with high school dual meets, many elite local swimmers are faced with tough decisions on how to split their time. So, our question is: How does an elite swimmer, if forced to choose, pick between individual and team competition with his or her club or high school?
Blohm dominant at Sport Fair Winter Classic
Monday, December 14th, 2009Twenty-six year-old Kurt Blohm is no stranger to dominant meet weekends. He finished all four of his individual races this weekend in first place, setting Sport Fair Winter Classic Invitational Meet records in the 50 yard backstroke (20.99) and the 100 yard backstroke (51.32). In all, 33 meet records were set.
Local standouts at U.S. short-course junior nationals
Monday, December 14th, 2009Rockville-Montgomery placed eighth and Curl-Burke 28th in the overall team standings this past weekend at the U.S. short-course junior national championships in Columbus, Ohio, as Machine Aquatics claimed 33rd on in the men’s standings, and a host of locals swam to top-20 finishes.
Rivals Oakton, Robinson square off Friday
Friday, December 11th, 2009Last season, Oakton celebrated during the Northern Region championships after taking powerhouse Robinson down for the boys’ title. A week later, however, Robinson got the last laugh, winning a seventh consecutive boys’ state championship, and taking home the girls’ title, too. Friday at 6:30 p.m., the two rivals will meet at Cub Run in a meet that has both teams excited for what they said is the most important meet of the dual season.
In biggest meet of the season, Cudahy surprises
Monday, December 7th, 2009At this weekend’s Tom Dolan Invitational Meet, 14-year old Conor Cudahy had one of the most impressive long-distance swims when he dropped dropped close to a minute off his seed time to win the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 9:49.75. Multiple winners included Olympian Kate Ziegler, 13-year old Janet Hu, Samuel Rairden and Emily Zhang among others.
PVS swimmers ready for winter’s biggest event
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009Beginning late Thursday afternoon, the majority of the area’s best swimmers will converge on the George Mason University Aquatic and Fitness Center for the biggest meet of the winter season, the Tom Dolan Invitational.
Small girl prepared to make her big splash
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009Standing 5-foot-1 and weighing a mere 97 pounds, Danielle Schulkin is hardly your prototypical top-flight swimmer, but that hasn’t kept the 17-year-old, Harvard-bound butterfly specialist out of the pool or away from competition. This weekend, Schulkin will travel to Washington state to compete at the AT&T Short Course National Championships
RMSC Wins National Age Group Team Challenge
Monday, November 9th, 2009Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club hosted and won its third annual National Age Group Team Challenge this weekend.
‘Abuela’s Swim’ To Raise Money For ALS
Thursday, November 5th, 2009A month after the mother of a Hydro-Sonic Tiburones coach died from Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS, the Tiburones are holding a fund-raising swim-athon and auction.
Trust Fund Set Up For Four Merrill Sisters
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009UPDATED: A trust fund for the young swimmers whose parents died in a car accident this past weekend has been set up, and funeral arrangements have been made.
Swimmers Mourn Loss of Beloved Swim Parents
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Monday’s 4:30 a.m. practice at the Lee District RECenter started with questions, confusion and tears. Swimmers wanted reassurance about their dear swim mates, sisters Emma and Molly Merrill, 13 and 9, in the aftermath of a car accident late Saturday afternoon that took the lives of their parents.
Kids Wanted: Area Meets Designed For Youngsters
Monday, October 26th, 2009Sunday’s dual meet between North Baltimore Aquatic Club and Curl-Burke Swim Club in Baltimore represented everything local coaches say they want more of: fast-paced, team competitions designed just for 14-and-under swimmers.
Johannes Wins Five Golds
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Mount Vernon High junior Anna Johannes, 16, won five gold medals in six events at the Youth Parapan American Games, Bogota DC, Colombia, taking a major step toward her goal of competing in the 2012 Paralympics in London.
Sputtering Growth In The Region: Why?
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009What happened? As USA Swimming celebrated an 11.2-percent increase in membership in 2009, Potomac Valley Swimming officials swallowed hard. The region’s once hot membership growth slowed. Now we want to know why.
Swimming For Gold
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Anna Johannes, 16, churned up the water with the rest of the Potomac Marlins at a recent dawn practice. Though missing one arm below the elbow, Anna had no trouble keeping up with her able-bodied teammates. In fact, in many ways, she was leaving them behind.
Season Begins with PVS October Open, RMSC Kickoff Classic
Monday, October 19th, 2009The Potomac Valley Swimming season opened this weekend with the October Open, a large meet that serves as the first major event of the year for many swimmers in the area. The weekend also played host to the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club Kickoff Classic.
Members Learn Plenty at PVS Swimposium
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Potomac Valley Swimming held its bi-annual Swimposium at the start of October. The day-long event taught swimmers, parents, coaches, club owners and officials how best to improve.
From Olympics to Sea Devils, Tinkham Shines
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009Bob Bowman and Rick Curl aren’t the only Olympic coaches in the area — they’re merely the latest. Stan Tinkham, 77, led the U.S. women’s Olympic team to six medals at the 1956 Summer Games in Melbourne, Australia, and still coaches elite prep swimmers at Sea Devil Swimming.
‘A Roomful Of Tears’; Swim Cuts Still Hurt
Sunday, October 11th, 2009Many have lamented the elimination of dozens of college swimming programs over the last two decades, but Jacob Torok, a hard-working swimmer out of Newtown, Pa., lived through an experience he described as nothing short of a nightmare — twice.
Georgetown Looks To Freshmen For Success
Friday, October 9th, 2009The Georgetown swimming and diving team is starting the season on a high, after finishing second at the Potomac Relays last week — its best finish ever.
Local LLS Swim-A-Thon a Success
Thursday, October 8th, 2009The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society holds a local fundraising swim-a-thon each year. This year the event raised more than $78,000.
New Swim Season Kicks Off, But With Sadness
Sunday, October 4th, 2009The special swim caps and wristbands they ordered hadn’t arrived yet, but more than 20 DC Wave swimmers competed anyway at Sunday’s 2009 All-Freestyle Meet at the Fairland Aquatic Center, hoping to do honor to a dear teammate’s memory.
District’s Own Swim Club Seeks Growth in ‘09-10
Thursday, October 1st, 2009With the club swimming season kicking off for all of Potomac Valley Swimming at Sunday’s 2009 All Freestyle Meet at Fairland Aquatics Center, perhaps no team enters the year ahead with higher hopes for growth than the District’s own team, the DC Wave, which will send more than two dozen swimmers to Sunday’s opening event.
Gaines To PVS Swimmers: Do As I Say, Not As I Did
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009The one thing Rowdy Gaines will not do during Saturday’s swim clinic at Georgetown Prep: Teach anyone to swim the way he learned to swim. Almost every technical element of his gold-medal victory in the Olympic 100-meter freestyle at the 1984 Summer Games now makes him cringe.
PVS Board Writes To Clarify Rules
Thursday, September 24th, 2009Potomac Valley Swimming’s board of directors tries to alleviate confusion on the new swimsuit rules with a letter to members.
Success Multiplies Under RMSC’s Kraft
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009For Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club Coach Dave Kraft, swimming flows as beautifully and logically as a flawless mathematical proof. Last year, he had four nationally ranked swimmers and received a pleasant end-of-season surprise.
One Big Happy Family: Marcinkowski’s Masters
Sunday, September 20th, 2009The furious growth in the last five years of the Curl-Burke Masters swimming team under head coach Frank Marcinkowski is regarded with nothing short of awe and reverence by officials at the U.S. Masters Swimming, the sport’s national governing body.
Former Fairfax High Coach Ready For Howard
Friday, September 18th, 2009Howard University on Thursday named former Fairfax High Coach Matt Salerno, 28, head coach of its men’s and women’s swimming and diving team. Salerno, who got his first big coaching job at 22, figures his relative youth will not slow him down.
PVS Bans Suits Oct. 1; Awaits USA Decision
Sunday, September 13th, 2009No matter what happens this week at USA Swimming’s annual convention in Chicago, Potomac Valley Swimming intends to open the season with a ban on full-body, non-textile suits, officials say. The PVS board of directors voted to put the new suit rules into effect Oct. 1, meaning that even if USA Swimming’s membership decides to delay the suit ban until Jan. 1, local swimmers will be prohibited from wearing high-tech suits at local meets.
Swimming Growth In District Region Slows
Thursday, September 10th, 2009In 2009, Potomac Valley Swimming experienced the region’s smallest uptick in membership in the last four years, and the increase paled significantly when compared to growth around the nation, falling well behind the 11.2 percent rate of expansion shown by USA Swimming overall.
Producing The Next Great Swimming … Kid
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009After spending the last 30 years producing Olympic hopefuls, Curl-Burke Head Coach Rick Curl now wants to teach little children to swim using an Australian swim school concept never before tried in the United States. And Arlington’s three-time Olympic medal-winner Tom Dolan intends to run the venture. The only thing missing? A site.
Aqua Hoya Club Folds; Curl-Burke Takes Over
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009Curl-Burke Swim Club founder Rick Curl said he wasn’t sure whether to call it an acquisition or take-over, but his club added a coveted location to its already expansive program when it stepped in after the Aqua Hoya Swim Club folded this month.
Lee’s Big Move Pays Off
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Four years ago, Felicia Lee moved from New Jersey to train with North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Lee’s performances this summer validated that decision, and her two individual gold medals at last week’s U.S. junior championships hint that she could be among the next great swimmers to train under Bob Bowman.
Locals Score Medals At Eastern Zone Meet
Sunday, August 16th, 2009All-Star Aquatics Caroline McTaggart, 12, led Potomac Valley swimmers by earning six medals — four gold and two silver — at the 2009 Eastern Zone Long Course Age Group Championships in State College, Pa., that concluded Saturday. Other local standouts included Curl-Burke’s Jessica Chen, 12; Rockville-Montgomery’s Devin Truong, 10; and Fairland Aquatics Michael Stevens, 12, all of whom won multiple medals.
NBAC Racks Up Medals At Junior Championships
Saturday, August 15th, 2009The North Baltimore Aquatic Club capped a stellar week at the U.S. junior swimming championships in Federal Way, Wash., with gold-medal performances on the last night of competition Friday from Camryne Morris, 14, and Drew Cosgarea, 16, in the women’s 1,500 and men’s 800 freestyles, respectively; Felicia Lee, 17, grabbed another medal with her second place in the 200 individual medley.
How Will Gibson Do Against The Big Boys?
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009As a 12 year old, Andrew Gibson would be a top-seeded swimmer at the Eastern Zone Championships that start today. But on Aug. 1 Gibson turned 13, and as a 13 year old, he will be fighting to reach the finals in his six events, competing against more seasoned swimmers as he represents Potomac Valley Swimming at the meet in State College, Pa.
Lee Gets Off To Fast Start
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009Towson’s Felicia Lee on Monday kicked off what could be a coming-out meet for her as she won the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. junior nationals in Federal Way, Wash., and smashed the meet record in the process.
In the Nick of Time, A New Place to Splash
Sunday, August 9th, 2009The cavernous Wilson Aquatic Center opened on Thursday in Northwest D.C. Swimming lessons and master’s practices officially begin today at the $34.7 million facility, which is a short walk from the Tenleytown-AU Metro station in Northwest. The facility is open year-round and has four indoor pools (a 50-meter racing pool, a kids pool, a leisure pool and a whirlpool). It’s free for District residents, and nonresidents can purchase daily and monthly passes.
20 21 Questions: Elizabeth Pepper
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Three weeks ago, Elizabeth Pepper, 16, flourished at the PVS Long Course Senior Championships at the University of Maryland, winning two events, the 400-meter freestyle and the 200 butterfly. Before traveling last weekend to Federal Way, Wash., for the U.S. Open, Pepper discussed how she prepared for the meet, why she loves swimming (and a certain boisterous country musician) and why staying in the pool is necessary to her health
NBAC’s ‘Last Meet’ Attracts Local Stars
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009The first-ever Far Eastern meet begins today at the Meadowbrook pool, home of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Many local swimmers will be competing in the meet’s 118 events.
Ziegler Tries To Get Back On Track At U.S. Open
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009After a disappointing summer in which a bout with swine flu kept her from defending her back-to-back world titles in the 800-meter freestyle, Kate Ziegler is getting back to the basics. The 20-year-old Great Falls native is getting back to the basics this week, competing in the U.S. Open in Federal Way, Wash. The U.S. Open is a meet typically for swimmers aiming to make their first ascent to international relevance, not for those searching for their second.
Monday Pool: All Stars
Monday, August 3rd, 2009The summer league all-star meets provide a unique opportunity for the top-tier swimmers from across the league to compete directly against each other. No more duals, no more checking the Internet to compare times, just straight-up competition. Here are some of the highlights from the MCSL and PMSL individual all-star meets that were held this weekend.
Monday Pool
Sunday, July 26th, 2009And thus the summer season ended for thousands of young swimmers across the DC-metropolitan area. Local leagues held their divisional meets Saturday, as teams jostled for next year’s divisional placement and local pride. Records throughout the area fell as swimmers saved their best for last, while fighting it out for first.
A Hectic Saturday for Many PVS Swimmers
Saturday, July 25th, 2009Many of the swimmers who competed in yesterday’s PVS Age Group Championships also swam earlier in the morning, for their summer swim teams’ divisional meets. With such a quick turnaround between meets, the swimmers had little time to relax before their afternoon swims.
Conger Is Making Waves
Saturday, July 25th, 2009Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club’s Jack Conger is making a big splash at the Potomac Valley Swimming Age Group Championships. He has already set two PVS records this weekend, and he holds two national records, all of which have led to lofty expectations for the fourteen-year-old.
No Question, Hu Wins at Age Group Champs
Friday, July 24th, 200913-year-old Janet Hu won two events on the first night of the PVS Championships and looks for more today. But who is this shy girl who is beating everyone by full seconds? Turns out she’s just a girl who swims really, really fast.
Daily Results from PVS Age Group Champs
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009PVS Age Group Champs Archive
With almost 900 swimmers competing at the Potomac Valley Swimming Age Group Championships, it can be hard to keep up with all the winners. We’ve got all your first-place finishers, from each of the weekend’s 100 events, right here. Check it out!
Final Team Scores
1. Rockville-Montgomery: 6653.5
2. Curl-Burke Swim Club: 4771
3. Snow [...]
Powerhouse Clubs In Weekend Slugfest
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009The Potomac Valley Long-Course Age-Group Championships start Thursday at the Fairland Aquatic Center in Laurel. Officially, it gives 890 kids who are 14-and-under a chance to experience a real racing environment in a 50-meter pool. Unofficially, it’s an opportunity for Rockville-Montgomery (49 top seeds in 100 events) and Curl-Burke (32 top seeds) to slug it out, swimmer by swimmer, for bragging rights and local pride.
Best Posts of the Month
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Today, reachforthewall.com turns one month old. We launched June 22, and since then, we’ve received lots of submissions on our wiki-style Team Pages. We’ve featured many of them on the left sidebar on our home page, under “Updates and Best Posts,” but on our one-month anniversary, we’d like to highlight some of the best submissions we’ve received thus far.
In Swimming, Autistic Children Find an Outlet
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009Thirteen-year-old Justin Etherton finds therapy for his autism in the swimming pool. He is embraced as a member of the Kenmont summer league swim team. Though he consistently finishes last in his races, his family says his involvement at the pool is the best thing that’s ever happened — to them and to Justin.
Monday Pool
Monday, July 20th, 2009The final weekend of regular season summer swimming was highlighted by another nail-biter in the MCSL’s most heated rivalry, Rockville vs. Tilden Woods. Plus, the PWSL’s Sudley Seahorses, who won their 68th consecutive meet Saturday and wrapped up their 10th undefeated regular season. But the team needs to win its divisional championship, which will be at Sudley next weekend, to shore up an unprecedented 10 years without a loss.
Fish Swimmers Go The Distance At PV Meet
Sunday, July 19th, 2009Despite The Fish swim team’s reputation for excelling in distance events, Coach Ray Benecki rejects the notion that his is a “distance program.” Regardless of what you call The Fish, they were all over the endurance events at this weekend’s PVS Championships, including earning wins in both the boys 800- and 1500-meter freestyles.
Quick Studies: Young Swimmers Snatch Titles
Saturday, July 18th, 2009Curl-Burke’s K.J. Park, 17, knocked off college swimmers to win the 200-meter breaststroke at the Potomac Valley Long Course Senior Championships. But he wasn’t the only young swimmer to defy age and experience Saturday: RMSC’s Elizabeth Pepper, 15, held on to win the women’s 400-freestyle in 4:22.57, besting Liz Kemp and Leslie Swinley, both 21 and Curl-Burke swimmers.
Haase Girls Turn Friday Final Into Sister Act
Saturday, July 18th, 2009Before Friday night, Colleen and Sarah Haase had never swum against each other in a formal competition.
That all changed at the Potomac Valley Long Course Senior Championships when Colleen, 20, finished first in the 100-meter breaststroke final at the University of Maryland, topping 15-year-old Sarah, who was second, by less than half a second. “I was like, I can’t let my sister who’s five years younger than me beat me,” Colleen said. “That would be really embarrassing.” The sisters said they had “no idea” they would be the top two finishers in the race.
Kids, And Kids At Heart, Dive Into PV Champs
Friday, July 17th, 2009Wally Dicks, 46, represented the oldest of a decidedly un-boyish group of competitors testing themselves — and earning a few stares along the way — Friday night at the Potomac Valley Senior Long-Course Championships, a meet populated mostly with high schoolers and college kids home on school break.
Morning Results From the PVS LC Champs
Friday, July 17th, 2009In Friday’s morning heats at the Potomac Valley LC Championships, 277 male and female swimmers competed for 16 spots in the 200-meter freestyle finals, with Curl-Burke’s Kristen Moores, 20, and George Mason’s Tom Koucheravy, 24, landing the top seeds for the night’s finals. Heats in the 100 breastroke, 100 butterfly and 400 individual medley also took place.
PV Senior Champs Open; Boys 800, Girls 1,500
Thursday, July 16th, 2009University of Virginia swimmer Leslie Swinley, 21, won Thursday’s girls 1500-meter freestyle final in 17:19.48 to kick off the 2009 Potomac Valley Senior Long-Course Championships at the University of Maryland, a star-studded meet for the area’s best swimmers. Bishop O’Connell’s Michael Flach, 18, finished first in the boys 800 free in 8:22.04, as Thursday’s entrants showed up with a variety of objectives.
High-Tech Swimsuits Are A Drag on Wallets
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009The PVS Long Course Senior Championships run from Thursday through Sunday at the University of Maryland, and many of the swimmers competing this week feel they need to wear the best to beat the best. This year, that means wearing the Speedo LZR, the steep price of which has caused a significant leap in cost for parents unaccustomed to spending so much money on swimsuits.
20 Questions: Brady Fox
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009Local standout Brady Fox, 18, swims for Rockville Montgomery Swim Club, Hallowell Swim Team in the Montgomery County Swim League, and the Argyle Country Club in the Country Club Swimming and Diving Association. The recent Georgetown Prep graduate has U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying times of 56.67 in the 100-meter backstroke and 2:01.79 in the 200-meter back and swam for the U.S. Junior Nationals team in 2008. He will swim for the University of Virginia in the fall.
Records Fall at MCSL Coaches Invitational
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009MCSL’s Coaches Invitational Long Course meet featured many new records and a Hall of Fame ceremony honoring league founders, coaches, volunteers and swimmers who helped shape the league in its early years.
Making the Most of Lessons Learned
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009Devin Truong’s parents made him learn to swim after he nearly drowned in a Florida pool four years ago. Now he’s one of the best young swimmers in the country.
Monday Pool
Monday, July 13th, 2009Last weekend might have been a little slow due to the holiday, but this weekend was anything but. A “friendly rivalry” meet between D.C.’s only two summer league swim teams (which also happened to be a key PMSL A Division contest), an “almost impossible” tie meet in the MCSL, and closely contested meets from the PWSL and CNSL are all included in today’s roundup of the weekend’s meets.
Monday Pool
Monday, July 6th, 2009While some leagues took a break this holiday weekend, MCSL and PMSL competed at full speed on Saturday. There was plenty of red, white and blue to be found at pools in the region, as teams celebrated the Fourth of July before the meet and a win (hopefully) after.
Heavy On Talent; Short On Water
Friday, July 3rd, 2009Great club programs? Check. A strong swimming tradition? Check. Enough lanes to go around? Uh … Depends on how many swimmers you pile into each. Local swimmers and officials seek solutions to the strange water crisis in the District’s suburbs, a region with dozens of pools but more swimmers than it can readily accommodate.
For Old Georgetown, It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time
Friday, July 3rd, 2009Swimmers from Old Georgetown Pool in Bethesda gave up weekly doughnut days to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which they donate to a Washington organization that feeds the city’s poor.
Bridlewood To Celebrate Fourth With A Bang
Friday, July 3rd, 2009The Bridlewood Bridalwaves, a team in the Prince William Swim League, will celebrate the Fourth of July with a charity fund-raiser involving about 700 kids from nearly all 24 of the PWSL teams.
Summer Leagues: Not Just for Swimmers
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009Summer swimming is becoming a popular way for high school athletes to stay in shape for fall, winter and spring sports. The low-impact total-body exercise, they say, provides a more enjoyable and thorough workout than running in the blistering summer heat.
Monday Pool
Monday, June 29th, 2009Meets across the Washington metro area Saturday were marked by fast times and close final scores. Nine meets were decided by fewer than 12 points. Upper County of MCSL and Belair Swim and Racquet of PMSL were among the teams to eke out close victories.
A week after meets across the region were canceled, halted or just plain miserable during a tremendous thunder storm, weather was not a factor for meets on Saturday.
Here’s how some local teams fared when they were only competing against each other, and not Mother Nature.
Tragedy Puts Swimming on Hold For CCRA
Saturday, June 27th, 2009Update: Md. Mom, Girl Killed by Tree Limb Recalled for Friendliness
Swimming was pushed aside Saturday for the Chevy Chase Recreation Association Stringrays.
The team and community were dealt a blow Friday night when 7-year-old team member Sloane Murray and her mother Kelly were killed at approximately 7:20 p.m. after a large tree limb fell on [...]
After Olympic Struggles, Ziegler Is Back in the Pool
Friday, June 26th, 2009At 17, Kate Ziegler broke two of Janet Evans’s records. Three years later, in the Beijing Olympics, she finished 10th and 14th in two of her best events. Now 21, with the U.S. Championships approaching, “I don’t know what the future holds for me,” she says. “As I grow older, it’s a different dynamic. ….. I’m taking it more one year at a time — one month at a time.”
Teach Your Children Well
Friday, June 26th, 2009Local summer swim leagues rely on their teenage team members to help train the next wave of talent. Joanna Ladas and Julie Pinero, from Strathmore Bel Pre of the PMSL, are two who came up through the team’s developmental program and are now giving back to it.
20 Questions: Kaitlin Pawlowicz
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009Curl-Burke Swim Club standout Kaitlin Pawlowicz, 16, didn’t get a chance to represent her country last summer; she missed the cut for the Olympic trials. But in May she was able to swim for the United States at the Mel Zajac Jr. invitational in Vancouver, B.C. In the first of what will be a weekly feature with a figure in the local-swimming community, Pawlowicz discusses that meet as well as missing out on last year’s Olympic trials.
Weekend Roundup
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009Rain affected almost all of the meets in the region this weekend. Though many were canceled, some teams were able to get their swims in or partially in before the storms set in. Here’s a look at some of the action from Saturday.
North Baltimore Swimming In Imports
Monday, June 22nd, 2009The North Baltimore Aquatic Club, the home club of Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff, has in recent years been luring young swim stars from across the country who believe they can best launch their careers by leaving their home pools—and even their families. “It’s just nuts,” said coach Paul Yetter, who grew up swimming at NBAC alongside Olympians Anita Nall and Whitney Metzler. “Kids from out of town visit and they want to move. ….. I’m not sure we do anything special other than believe we can be high-level athletes.”
Ziegler Falls Short In First Races Since Olympics
Sunday, June 21st, 2009Great Falls’ Kate Ziegler, 20, lost four times to a former training partner in four races at the Mission Viejo Tyr Swim Meet of Champions this weekend. In her first competition since Beijing, Ziegler swam significantly slower than her personal bests in the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle, finishing second in every one to Chloe Sutton, 17.
Montgomery County Coach Has Influenced Generations of Swimmers
Friday, June 19th, 2009Joe Flaherty has been coaching teams in the Montgomery County Swim League for 34 years. He’s taught countless swimmers in that time, always challenging them to “Have an impossible dream, dare greatly to achieve it and don’t quit until you do.” Those students have now become coaches, parents and board members in MCSL, sprinkling Coach Joe’s lessons throughout the league.
Welcome to reachforthewall.com
Thursday, June 18th, 2009With Monday’s official launch of reachforthewall.com, a team of Washington Post journalists and editors will bring you local, national and international swim coverage daily.
You want results? We will have results. On your editable team pages (see Top Submissions, left) will be this season’s schedule and the latest results.
You want times? We will give you times. Every Monday you’ll find an updated list of the top 100 times in every event from across the area when you click on the “Results/Statistics” link at the top of the homepage.
You want coverage of summer leagues, club swimming, high school meets? We will do that, too. So check us out Monday and send us your suggestions, comments and criticism to info@reachforthewall.com.
The Nation’s Talent Pool
Saturday, February 7th, 2009The Greater Washington region has become the most successful youth swimming hub in the nation, in large part because of a pair of decades-old clubs anchored in Maryland and Northern Virginia. The Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC) and Curl-Burke Swim Club (CUBU) are for the second straight year ranked first and second nationally among more than 2,000 swim clubs in the nation, according to a USA Swimming computer ranking that evaluates the results of club swimmers ages 11 to 18.
