ZSC Newsletter for the Week of 11/10-11/16 - Note Boilermaker Meet Signup Deadline is THIS Friday

Club Administrator ZSC

This Week’s Events

Good job Green Machine at the Carmel Fall Frenzy this weekend!

Two new meets are posted. Signup links are below.

Candy Cane Classic (Sunday, December 7) is a FAVORITE of our 12 and unders, so be sure to signup by Saturday, November 29
Boilermaker Meet at Purdue is open for ALL swimmers and the signup deadline is THIS Friday, November 14

Seasonal Swimmers (All Foundation, Evolution 2, and Momentum 2) please fill out your Intention to Return survey by THIS Saturdya, November 15. I will resend it to those we haven't heard from yet.

Personalized Caps are in. You can reach out to Jessica Berry if she doesn't catch your swimmer at practice this week.

Thank you to all who made it out to brave the cold and gather as a swim community to celebrate our success last weekend at Lion's Park. I'm still cold thinking about all of the swimmers who chose to get Sno-cones! I've attached a picture of some of our award recipients.

Upcoming Practice Changes

Thanksgiving Week - Pike is unavailable. All practices will be held at the Zionsville pool

Monday 24th

4:15-5:45pm - All Juniors
5:30-6:45pm - All Evolution
6:00-7:00pm - Foundation 1
6:15-8:00pm - Momentum 2

Tuesday 25th

5:00-7:00pm - All Juniors
6:00-7:00pm - Foundation 2
6:00-8:00pm - Momentum 1
6:30-8:00pm - Momentum 2

Wednesday 26th

2-3:30pm - All Juniors
3:30-4:30pm - Momentum 1/All Evolution/All Foundation

Thursday 27th or Friday 28th

No Practice - All Squads

Saturday 29th

TBD

The last day of practice for Season 1 will be Thursday, December 4. The season culminates with the Candy Cane Classic meet for 12 and Under swimmers on Sunday, December 7.

Season 2 will begin on Monday, December 8

Seniors follow Coach Eric's calendar or messages for schedule changes

Age Group Practice Schedule - current schedule

Senior Practice Schedule - current schedule

Google calendars with each age group squad’s schedule are also kept updated on our website. You can click on your swimmer’s squad calendar.

Upcoming Meets

Candy Cane Classic – Sunday, December 7 at Pike

We are the host of this 12 and Under meet, but have moved it to Pike this year due to the construction at the high school and pool lobby.

Meet Schedule:

Girls:

On-deck: 7:45am

Meet Start: 9:00am

Boys:

On-deck: 11:45am

Meet Start: 12:45pm

Signup here by Saturday, November 29

Meet Letter

Boilermaker Aquatics Winter Championships - Friday, December 12 - Sunday, December 14

Despite the name "Championships," this meet is open to ALL swimmers! Ask your coach if you have any questions about your swimmer participating.

Meet Schedule (note 10 & Under are Timed Finals; 11 & Up are Prelim/Finals):

Friday Night - Distance Events

On-deck: 4:15pm (specific event arrivals will come out the week of the meet)

Meet Start: 5:30pm

Saturday Morning Prelims - 13 & Over

On-deck: 9:00am

Meet Start: 10:15am

Saturday Afternoon Prelims - 11-12; Timed Finals - 10 & Under

On-deck: 1:30pm

Meet Start: 2:45pm

Saturday Finals - 11 & Over

On-deck: 5:15pm

Meet Start: 6:30pm

Sunday Morning Prelims - 13 & Over

On-deck: 6:45am

Meet Start: 8:00am

Sunday Afternoon Prelims - 11-12; Timed Finals - 10 & Under

On-deck: 11:45am

Meet Start: 1:00pm

Sunday Finals - 11 & Over

On-deck: 4:00pm

Meet Start: 5:15pm

Signup here by THIS Friday, November 14

Meet Letter

Meet Schedules on Website:

Age Group Meet Schedule

Senior Meet Schedule

Zionsville Christmas Parade

We will be continue our tradition of participating in the annual Christmas parade! On Saturday, November 29th, this family friendly parade begins at 5:00pm at Eagle Elementary and ends at Old National Bank at approximately 6:00pm. We are looking for parents to participate in the walk this year as well! Looking for any donations of candy this year to distribute at the parade. You can contact Jessica Berry or have your swimmer bring candy to their coaches and they will get the candy to her. Thanks!

Fostering a Culture of Excellence - November Focus - Respect

At ZSC we value strength of character and are committed to helping our athletes grow in more than just their athletic abilities. Each month, as a team, we will focus on a character trait.

This month is RESPECT: showing honor, politeness, and care towards others, self, and authority

Coaches will be talking about this with their squads, and you can help reinforce at home!
By emphasizing sportsmanship and honor, and contrasting these with the opposing vices of disrespect, contempt, and rudeness, we can inspire our swimmers to embody respect in all aspects of their swimming journey.
Focusing on 1) respect for teammates, 2) respect for the spaces they occupy, 3) respect for coaches and officials, 4) for parents, and 5) a clear stance against bullying.

Why I Love Being an Official

Kate Huber, parent of Merna (Evolution 1) and Otto (Foundation 2), describes how much she has enjoyed becoming an official:

If you've been following our recent social media posts, you're aware that we've been sharing information about becoming a USA Swimming Official. But I wanted to take a moment to share why this volunteer role has been so rewarding for me personally—because not everyone sees those posts.

As an Administrative Official (AO) working the "dry side" of our meets, I get to be part of the behind-the-scenes magic that makes everything run smoothly. Ever wonder how those times magically appear on Meet Mobile shortly after your swimmer touches the wall? That's us! From managing entries and seeding to overseeing the timing system that feeds results to that app we all refresh obsessively, I'm right in the heart of the action. What I didn't expect when I started was how much deeper my appreciation for the sport would become. I understand the rules better, I can explain race outcomes to my swimmer, and I've connected with a fantastic community of dedicated volunteers who genuinely love what they do.

The timeline was surprisingly quick! I completed my online requirements in October 2024, knocked out my apprentice sessions at the ZSC Green Machine Intersquad Meet, Candy Cane Classic, and Boiler Aquatics Winter Championship, and by December 2024, I was officially certified. Two months from start to finish—and now I'm part of every meet in a whole new way!

That said, we especially need Stroke & Turn Officials! These are the officials you see on deck, ensuring fair competition by watching for legal strokes, turns, and finishes. It's an incredibly rewarding role—you get the best seat in the house to watch the races unfold, and you play a crucial part in maintaining the integrity of the sport. If you've ever wondered whether a turn was legal or why a DQ was called, becoming a Stroke & Turn Official will give you that expertise. Plus, you'll be right there cheering on not just your own swimmer, but the entire ZSC family!

Whether you're drawn to the deck as a Stroke & Turn Official (where we really need you!) or prefer the ‘dry side’ like me, I can't recommend this experience enough. We've created a step-by-step guide to help you get started—reach out to me or Christine Raches if you have any questions.

Trust me, that white polo looks good on everyone!

Lost and Found

Does anyone recognize this jacket? It went home with the wrong swimmer: