Going out with a Bang

What an amazing, final meet of the season against the Kimball Farms Marlins! This was by far the most competitive and exciting meet of the summer. Thursday morning, looking at times and reports, it was predicted that we lose the meet by 70 points. Our coaches knew that if we all performed to the best of our abilities, we could go against the odds and win. With a final score of 413 to 380, the Stingrays managed to win by 33 points! Our coaches are unbelievably proud of every single swimmer for giving it their all and working together for a final win of the summer. Each and every race was incredibly close, with all the swimmers in each heat swimming times 1-2 seconds apart or less. The reason we won this meet was because towards the end of each race, every swimmer kicked it into high gear and out-touched their opponents. We are so proud that every swimmer dropped time on their races- this was a night of setting personal best records.

It's safe to say that last night was the most intense and thrilling meet of our 2011 season. Here are our final swimmers of the week:

Swimmers of the Week: Week 5

Jackson Dalby

Jackson is our "go-to" 9/10 boy for the 100 IM and 25 Fly. Last night, he turned on the heat and dropped 9 seconds off his IM time, setting a personal best time of 1:24.19. In his 25 Fly, he set a personal best time of 15.75. Jackson accomplished his goal to drop time on his individual events not just by swimming harder, but making his turns quick and efficient. Jackson, you are such a talented and natural swimmer, we can't wait to see you improve as you move up to 11/12s next year! 

Trent Stubbs

Trent is a leader in his 13/14 boys age group. Trent's been swimming for many years and is very competitive, both with our summer team and his year round team. When Trent has an opponent whose times are just as fast as his, or even faster, that's when he really kicks it into high gear. Last night was one of his fastest nights of the season. Most notable was his 100 IM race, setting a personal best of 1:09.35, catching his opponent on the last lap and out-touching him by .24 seconds. Keep up all your hard work Trent, we can't wait to see you beat your personal times again next year. 

Christina Ibarguen 

Christina is consistently strong in every meet, every race. Usually swimming right before her older brother in the 50 Back and 100 IM, she knows that she needs to warm up the pool and own her race. Christina swims her guts out every time she hits the water, and is a great example for all swimmers on our team. Last night she certainly gave her opponents a run for their money in some very close races, pulling a win for the Stingrays each time. Christina, way to go!! 

Morgan White

Morgan is a 7/8 who swims like a 9/10. Her freestyle and breaststroke have improved tremendously this summer as she continuously drops time with each swim meet. Last night Morgan raced down the pool in her 25 FR, taking only about 1 breath! She swam the 50 FR for the first time ever last night as well, and did not disappoint! Morgan, you are a swimmer with a lot to offer, and we can't wait to see you swim as a 9/10 next year! 

Owen Jacobson

Towards the end of last year's season, Owen had swam a full lap on his own for the first time. At the end of this year's season, Owen set his personal best record with 34.09 in the 25 Free. In his backstroke, he took off 8.47 seconds and set a new personal best record as well! Owen has managed to have the fastest times in Freestyle and Backstroke in his age group this season. He is a very good listener at practice and always is working as hard as he can. We are so proud of you Owen!

Good luck tomorrow to all our swimmers competing in the ASA Championships at Georgia Tech! 

GO STINGRAYS!! 

The Final Countdown

It's hard to believe we have 1 meet left of the season! Despite a few canceled practices due to storms and pool issues, we managed to win our last home meet against Alpharetta Athletic Club with a final score of 498- 276. The Stingrays, with 2 wins and 2 losses, are going into the final week with hopes of ending the season 3-2 against Kimball Farms.

Swimmers of the Week: Week 4

Michael Geraghty
Michael is one of our oldest swimmers on the team, and has been around swim team for a while. Our coaches wanted to note how much Michael has improved in this season alone. He has taken off several seconds on all his races. With very few boys in his age group, Michael swims anything we ask him to, even the hardest events. Thanks for keeping such a positive attitude this season Michael!

Emily Matthews
Emily has been on our team for several years as well. With only 4 girls in her age group, Emily has had to step up and swim at least 3 individual events per meet, often times many of the hard events. She has improved a great deal this season with all strokes, especially backstroke. This week with the sudden illness of one of her teammates, Emily tried new events and did great! Emily, with such a small group of 13/14 girls, we are so glad you are one of them!

Katherine Simons
This is Katherine's first year on swim team. While watching her brother swim with us last year, she was inspired to come out and join us for this season. Katherine is always asking coaches on ways she can improve and how to become the best swimmer she can be. She has been working extra hard on breaststroke these past few weeks and did her best breaststroke yet in the meet this week. Way to go Katherine!

Andy Ibarguen, MaryKate Moorman, and Maggie Watts 
Andy, MaryKate, and Maggie are our oldest swimmers on the team this year. They've all been members of this team throughout their youth and high school, and have contributed SO much over the years. With summer birthdays, they all were eligible to swim for one last summer after their freshman year of college.  Our coaches wanted to personally thank them for swimming with us for one last summer. They are all truly leaders and great role models for our younger kids, showing that you can never be too old to be a Stingray. Good luck this week with your final races Andy, MK, and Maggie!

First Win of the Season

What a win last night against the Brookfield Barracudas! All of our Stingrays did a great job in all of their races- I noticed many kids holding blue ribbons this morning! Our swimmers worked especially hard as a team to win many of the relays, which were all incredibly close races. With a final score of 457 to 313, I hope this meet motivates our team to keep up the hard work at practice in order to be successful next week at Harrington Falls.

Swimmers of the Week: Week 2

Teagan Groh

Teagan has significantly grown as a swimmer this past year.  She is a very strong competitor, and has done remarkably well in any race she swims. By placing first in both her individual events, Teagan added to the Stingrays win, but her motivation and team spirit was her greatest contribution of the night. She is always cheering on her teammates and loves to pump up her friends. Keep up your positive attitude Teagan!

Erica Dukat

Erica is also another swimmer who has greatly improved since last summer. With only 4 girls in the 13/14 age group, Erica steps up and asks to swim the hardest events. Being one of the older swimmers on the team, our coaches agree that Erica is a great role model for her younger teammates. She works very hard in the pool, and is very responsible on the deck during both practices and meets. Great swimming Erica, and thanks for being a great example of a Stingray!

Carter Wallace

Even though this is Carter’s first year on our team, he is swimming as if he’s been with us for years! Carter works hard and listens very well at every practice, showing his effort to improve as a swimmer and an athlete. He is a good sport, especially when there is chaos or confusion during the meet. Way to go Carter!

Max Wolverton

Max is another swimmer who is new to the team this year. After these past two meets, it is obvious he is a natural. Max was contending against some very strong swimmers from both teams, but he pushed himself to barely out-touch all other boys in both of his individual events. At practice this week, we stressed to the kids the importance of kicking it into high gear at the very end of the race.  Max’s performance last night showed us that he was really listening and that he put our advice to the test. Keep up the good work Max! 

We are so proud of ALL of our Stingrays last night, we could not have won our meet without each and every one of you. Also a special thanks goes out to all the parents and swimmers who stayed after the meet to help clean up! We were ready to close up the pool VERY early this week, and we greatly appreciate all the help we had after this meet. 

GO STINGRAYS! 

Swim Meet To-Do List

We are so excited for our second meet of the summer against the Brookfield Barracudas. There's nothing like a friendly rivalry with our neighbors across the street. This should be an exciting and fun evening!

In order to make this meet, and any meet, run as smooth as possible, here are some guidelines for both swimmers and parents:

• Give yourself enough time to get from your car to the pool. As many of you know, the streets quickly become lined up with cars. Make sure that you give your self plenty of time to walk from your parking spot to the pool- sometimes it can be quite the hike!

• Arrive on time for your warm-up. It is important that swimmers arrive on time for their scheduled warm-up so that they are in the pool when kids their age are swimming. It's tricky for  swimmers to accurately warm-up when combined with kids on a higher or lower skill level, so please be courteous and arrive on time! 6&Unders and 7/8s warmup from 4:40-4:45. 9/10s and 11/12s warmup from 4:45-4:50. 13/14s and 15/18s warmup from 4:50-5:00. 

• Double check the entry lists in the bullpen when you arrive. Usually there are small changes made throughout the afternoon after the original entry lists are printed. What changes the most frequently are the relays, so it is crucial you double check the blue entry lists to see any changes and make sure swimmer's arms are marked correctly. 

• For 11/12s, 13/14s, and 15/18s: BE READY 3 EVENTS BEFORE YOUR RACE!!! You do not have a bullpen and are responsible for getting to your events. Coaches should not have to run to find you 1 event before your race, so please make sure you are at the deep end in time. 

• Please stay off the steps in the shallow end during the meet. Coaches are very busy during the swim meet and do not have time to make sure people are following this rule. Also, please stay out of the baby pool- there are chairs placed around it for a reason!  We know it is hot and very tempting to put your feet in the pool, but please wait until your race to get in.

We will see everyone tonight at the WWS pool when we take on the BCC Barracudas. 

Go Stingrays!!

1 Down, 4 to Go

What an exciting first meet against the White Columns Waves! Each and every swimmer gave it their all in the 86 events swam that night. All of our coaches and I were especially proud of new swimmers who competed in their very first meet. Although we didn't manage to pull out a win against the Waves, all of our Stingrays put up a great fight, with a final score of 297 to 381.

First, I want to recognize all of our 6&Under swimmers:

Austin Anderson            

Rachael Lawrence

Riley Broadway             

Luke Lohman

Josyln Cameron             

Kayla Macleod

Meg Esposito                 

Ashley Meyer
Harris Newbold

Owen Jacobson              

Devon Schoonover 

Caroline Jenacova          

Gwyn Wallace 

All of our 6&Unders have made tremendous progress in the last few weeks of practice. Many of them swam an entire length of the pool without any assistance for the first time! 6&Unders- we are so proud of you, keep up the good work!

Second, we want to say how impressed we were with our IM swimmers at the meet. The IM (individual medley) is a very difficult event for swimmers of any age. These swimmers were great examples of  "team players" by trying their hardest at any event given to them, especially one as hard as the IM. We even heard some swimmers ask to swim the IM again next week!

After every week during the season, we want to acknowledge special swimmers as "Swimmers of the Week."  Here are the first 4 of the season:

Swimmers of the Week: Week 1

Elliot Esposito

Elliot practiced extra hard all week to improve his strokes in preparation for his first IM. His enthusiasm and team spirit stood out this week, and we are proud of how well Elliot swam all of his races- way to go!

McKenzie Glaze

Our coaches took note on how dedicated of a swimmer McKenzie is. She works very hard at every practice, but tries even harder at any race given to her. Moving up from 9/10s to 11/12s is very difficult, and McKenzie continues to give %100. You go girl!

Haven Newbold

Haven has made tremendous progress as a swimmer in the last few weeks. After a great amount of practice, Haven finally swam putting her head in the water and without holding her nose. Haven stepped out of her safety zone, and tried something she didn't feel comfortable doing in effort to improve her swimming. We can't wait to see your next race Haven! 

Luke Lohman

All of the coaches agree that Luke has come a very long way since the first day of practice. Ever since the first practice, Luke refused to get off the steps or go near the deep end. Every now and then, he would swim with a coach holding on, but it was never for long time or long distance. But the week of the first meet, he became a little fish! At the first meet, he finally got into the deep end, and swam the entire lap. Even at the start of the meet Luke, was so excited to swim that he got upset when he wasn't able to jump right in because the big kids were warming up. He is another swimmer who stepped outside his safety zone. Keep up good work Luke! 

Finally, our coaches want to note the sportsmanship our team displayed at our first meet of the season. Swimmers remained in the water until the last person finished, shook hands with opponents, cheered on their relay throughout the entire event, and more. We are so proud of the races and effort shown, but we are more proud of how our team carried themselves during a tough meet.

Keep it up Stingrays!

Swim Meet Day Tips

The first swim meet of the summer is finally here! All of our swimmers have been practicing for many weeks, and everyone's hard work is finally going to pay off! Here are some tips our coaches came up for you to think about on the day of the meet.

Swim Meet Day Tips

1. Drink plenty of liquids
To stay hydrated during the long swim meets, it is very important to drink plenty of water during the day! Avoid soda, carbonated drinks, and beverages that contain a lot of sugar. Make sure to bring water and Gatorade to drink during the meet as well.

2. Avoid the sun
To prevent sunburn and exhaustion, try to stay out of the sun during the afternoon. We don't suggest going to the pool for recreation, because that will drain your energy as well. We know it is very tempting with these extreme temperatures, but please try to stay inside where it is nice and cool!

3. Preserve your energy
On the day of the meet, try to rest as much as possible! Take a nap, watch a movie, play a board game, etc. Try not to be too active, as you will need your energy for the race!

4. Eat healthy
For lunch and snacks on the day of the meet, try to avoid junk food, fast food, and sugar. We suggest healthy pasta or carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. After your race, THEN you can go and eat candy and snacks from the Splash Cafe, you deserve it!


5. Arrive with the Stingray Spirit
Show up to the meet proudly wearing your Stingray colors- green, black, and white. Many swimmers draw stingrays and catchy phrases such as "Eat my bubbles" or "Go Stingrays!" on their arms and backs. Sharpie ink comes off with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol, so many swimmers mark themselves with the Sharpie pens. Most importantly, show up with a positive attitude. We have a big group of talented swimmers, and win or lose we are going to have a blast! Sportsmanship is very important, so always cheer on your teammates. After a race, it is good to demonstrate sportsmanship to the opposing team by shaking your opponents hand as well.


All of the coaches and swimmers are very excited to begin our first meet this season, so let's show up loud and proud. GO STINGRAYS!!!!

Get To Know Your Coaches

Get to know the coaches of the Wildwood Springs Stingrays! Our 5 coaches are very experienced and qualified swimmers, all having swam on summer leagues, high school teams, and club teams. Our coaches dedicate their summers to working and coaching swimmers in hopes that they will come to love the sport as much as they do. 

Head Coach: Elizabeth Watts 

What school do you go to and what are you studying?

"I am a rising junior at University of Georgia. I am studying Journalism with Magazine Emphasis and Fashion Merchandising."

How long have you been with Wildwood Springs?

"I have been swimming since I was 4, but I have been a part of the WWS Stingrays for 13 years. I've been a coach here for 6 years, and this is my second year as Head Coach." 

What is your favorite stroke?

"I would have to say it's a tie between freestyle and backstroke."

What is your favorite memory with Wildwood Springs?

"I have many great memories as a swimmer on WWS, but my favorite memory was at the Championship Meet when I was in 9/10s. My best friends and I were in a relay that qualified and placed in the top of the finals. It was a medley relay, and we each were able to swim our favorite stroke. It was a lot of fun." 

Assistant Coach: MaryKate Moorman 

What school do you go to and what are you studying?

"I go to Georgia Southern and I am majoring in Fashion Design and minoring in Business."

How long have you been with Wildwood Springs?

"I have been with WWS for 9 years, I started swimming when I was 10."

What is your favorite stroke?

"My favorite stroke is freestyle."

What is your favorite memory with Wildwood Springs?

"My favorite WWS memory would have to be when I won my first butterfly race when I was ten because I remember being so scared of swimming it, but when I did it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and it ended up being my favorite event until I was 16."

Assistant Coach: Mimi Prothero

What school do you go to and what are you studying?

"I go to UGA and I'm majoring in International Business with minors in French and Chinese."

How long have you been with Wildwood Springs?

"I've been with WWS for 5 years, but I've been a swimmer since I was 7."

What is your favorite stroke?

"Although when I was 9 I would have bet a million bucks that I would never say this, but my favorite stroke is butterfly."

What is your favorite memory with Wildwood Springs?

"My favorite WWS memory would have to be 2 years ago when I got a PR (personal record) in the 50 fly at the Georgia Tech Championships Meet and qualified for finals."

Assistant Coach: Kyle Mecca 

What school do you go to and what are you studying?

"I will be a sophomore at the University of Rochester studying Biomedical Engineering."

How long have you been with Wildwood Springs?

"This is my 2nd year coaching, and I was on the WWS swim team for 4 years in the past."

What is your favorite stroke?

"My favorite stroke is freestyle."

What is your favorite memory with Wildwood Springs?

"First meet of my first year swimming here I came in first in my first event."

Assistant Coach: Elizabeth McNeely

What school do you go to and what are you studying?

"I will be a senior next year at Roswell High School."

How long have you been with Wildwood Springs?

"This is my 3rd year coaching for WWS, but I have been a swimmer on the team since I was 6."

What is your favorite stroke?

"My favorite stroke is freestyle."

What is your favorite memory with Wildwood Springs?

"My favorite memory with WWS is swimming in the Olympic pool at Georgia Tech as a 6 year old."

And So The Season Begins....

Although we were delayed a day due to dreary weather, we have officially kicked-off the start of summer swim team season. All of the swimmers arrived today anxious to jump right into the pool. I was so excited to see many of our returning swimmers at practice, as well as many new Stingrays who have decided to join our team.  All of the coaches and I really look forward to see just how much each and every one of our swimmers will improve over the course of the season. 

Not only do we have many new swimmers on the team this year, but we have new equipment as well.  We finally are through with blocks of cement in buckets to hold the backstroke flags! The team has invested in brand new flagpoles, which will significantly help our swimmer’s races. Our new flagpoles are anchored in the ground, meaning that they will be in the same place each time they are used.  This will make the swim count of backstroke very accurate for the swimmers, and give our pool deck a professional look. The coaches are pleased that we will be using the backstroke flags during practice at least twice a week, rather than just the day of the meet. As nice as these new flagpoles look, I ask all swimmers to please refrain from leaning/touching/holding onto them! Additional equipment we will be using on a regular basis will include kickboards and alignment boards.

So to conclude my first entry of the season, I want to personally welcome all of our new families, along with returning families to our WWS Stingrays team. I can’t wait to get to know each and every one of you. Despite the chilly weather this week, keep up your enthusiasm, and I’ll see you at the pool!

    - Coach Elizabeth Watts