Bobcat Bulletin 12/8/25

Denise Humphrey

Bobcats,

YAY US!!! After many years of applying for US Swimming's Safe Sport certification, we finally achieved this prestigious status! You'll see a "Safe Sport" badge now proudly displayed on the team's website. This means that we have committed as parents, athletes, coaches, and officials to uphold policies that protect our minor Bobcats from potentially abusive situations!

Upon registering for the team, you signed a waiver stating that you had read these policies and would abide by them. If you need a refresher, please visit the team's website and look for the "Safe Sport" tab at the top of the page. There you will find all of the team's policies. 

A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who participated in this process! It means a lot for our kids!

 

1. SNOWBALL INVITATIONAL, DEC. 12-14 AT OUAC:

It's meet week! That means that there are a flurry of tasks that must be completed before we welcome guests to Athens! We are expecting 13 teams with 450 swimmers from across Ohio and West Virginia to come to Athens this weekend!

PSYCH SHEET: Attached you will find the psych sheet. 
 
HEAT SHEETS:  These will be emailed to you later in the week.  
 
VOLUNTEERS: EVERY family will be needed to volunteer for more than one shift. The high school aged swimmers are not allowed per OHSAA rules to participate in this meet, so that cuts out lots of BSC family volunteers. I have asked other teams to contribute volunteers, too, but we are the host team and the burden falls largely on our shoulders. PLEASE register for your spot on the team's website.
 
TIMELINE: 

Session 1-Friday, Dec. 12:

Open warmup (all lanes) 5:30 PM- 6:05 PM

One way sprints lanes (1-10) 6:05-6:10 PM

Competition 6:15-8:15 PM

 

Session 2 Prelims (11 and over)- Saturday, Dec. 13:

Warmup (all lanes) 8:15- 8:45 AM

One way sprints lanes (1-10) 8:45-8:55 AM

Competition 9:00-11:50 AM

 

Session 3 Timed Finals (10U) - Saturday, Dec. 14:

Warmup (all lanes) 12:30-12:50 PM

One way sprints lanes (1-10) 12:50-1:00 PM

Competition 1:10- 3:10 PM

 

Session 4 Finals (11-14)- Saturday, Dec. 14:

Open warmup (all lanes) 3:45-4:15 PM

One way sprints lanes (1-10) 4:15-4:25 PM

Competition 4:30- 6:30 PM

 

Session 5 Prelims (11-14)- Sunday, Dec. 15:

Warmup (all lanes) 8:15-8:45 AM

One way sprints lanes (1-10) 8:45-8:55 AM

Competition 9:00 AM- 11:40 AM

 

Session 6 Timed Finals (10U) - Sunday, Dec. 15:

Warmup (all lanes) 12:15-12:35 PM

One way sprints lanes (1-10) 12:35 PM-12:45 PM

Competition 12:55 PM-2:30 PM

 

Session 7 Finals (11-14)- Sunday, Dec. 15:

Open warmup (all lanes) 2:50-3:20 PM

One way sprints lanes (1-10) 3:20-3:25 PM

Competition 3:30- 5:00 PM

 
AWARDS: We will podium the top 3 finishers in each event. The 10U awards will be presented at the end of the 10U sessions. The 11 and over awards will be awarded after each duo of events during the PM Finals sessions. Awards for Friday's session will be presented at the beginning of Saturday's Finals session.
 
VENDORS:  Event apparel and Jolyn will be on site. Cash and credit may be used to make these purchases.
Concessions will be available in the Atrium Cafe which is located in the attached Grover Hall. OU is a cashless campus so ONLY cards are acceptable forms of payment for concessions.
 
 
PARKING: A recap of parking for each day is also listed below as it is different each day. Maps are attached.

Friday, December 12, 2025- Campus dark green and purple lots are open after 5pm. Lots surrounding the Convo 111/127/128/129 will be closing at 11pm on Friday, December 12. All guests need to ensure they pay attention to lot closure signage as they are responsible for any citations or relocation fees after lot closures. A list of all upcoming lot closures can be found here for reference.

Saturday, December 13, 2025- Parking will be unavailable in Convo lots 111/127/128/129 as well as Peden 132, to support Commencement guest parking. Participants can park in any other surrounding dark green or purple parking lot that has available space.

Sunday, December 14, 2025- Campus dark green and purple lots are open all day. Participants are welcome to park in Walter Lot 134 or any other nearby lot.

 

 

 

2. MEET REGISTRATION:
 
This Friday is the deadline for you to register for the next Block Party meet. This will be the final meet of 2025! During warmup, we will gather all of the BSC parents for the next "Parent Engagement" activity. We're calling it a "Suggestion Box". We're hoping to hear from you about how things are going and share our goals with you! After the meet, the kids will get to enjoy some holiday treats thanks to the Athlete Engagement Committee!

You will register for the meet on the team 's website, https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/ohbsc/page/home. Click on the "Events" tab. From there look under "Team Events" and you'll see the Block Party meet listed.

Next to the meets' name, you'll see a pink "Attend/Decline" button. Click on that button and let the coaches know if your child will be participating or not. This is EXTREMELY important as we need to know attendees for making relays!

You should NOT pick your child's meet events! Please allow the coaches to do this! Just let the coaches know which days you can attend!

Meet Name

Meet Date

Location

Groups attending

Registration deadline
Dec. Block Party Dec. 18 Athens  Green, White, Black, Bronze, Silver Dec. 12, 9:00 PM
Dayton Raider Invite Jan. 10-11 Dayton White, Black, Silver Dec. 19, 9:00 PM
Icicle Invite Jan. 31-Feb. 1 Athens Green, White, Black, Bronze, Silver Jan. 16, 9:00 PM
SSDL Championship Mar. 19-22 Fishers, IN Swimmers with A times Dec. 15, 9:00 PM
 
 
 
3. SWIMSTRONG DRYLAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, MARCH 19-22, FISHERS, INDIANA:
Because we are an SSDL team, we have been invited to compete at this energetic championship meet at the end of the short course season! I am required to send a list of entries to the host team by Dec. 15. There are qualifying times to participate. Those swimmers who have A times should register to attend. If your swimmer is close to an A time and wants to attend the meet, please know that there will be another opportunity for us to enter additional BSC swimmers. The meet host is just looking for estimated numbers now to assist with their planning. So, keep working hard so you can travel to Indiana with us!
 
 
4. HOLIDAY PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Dec. 22: no changes
Dec. 23: no changes
Dec. 24: no practices
Dec. 25: no practices
Dec. 26: no practices
Dec. 27: no practices
Dec. 28: no practices
Dec. 29: practice for HS swimmers ONLY at Parkersburg YMCA 11:00-1:00/ practices for ALL 5:15-7:30 PM
Dec. 30: no changes
Dec. 31: no practices
Jan. 1: no practices
Jan. 2: no changes
Jan. 4: Silver and Gold practices 2-4
Jan. 5- regular schedule resumes
 
 
 
5. UPCOMING DATES: 

Dec. 12-14          Snowball Invitational, Athens

Dec. 18                Block Party meet and "Suggestion Box" Parent Engagement activity

Dec. 18                Pre-Comp Team Session 2 ends

Jan. 10-11            Dayton Raider Invitational, Dayton

Jan. 31- Feb.1      Icicle Invitational, Athens

Feb. 7-8                Barbara Kay Championship, Worthington

Feb. 8                   Super Pool Sunday Meet, Parkersburg

Feb. 27- Mar. 1     Ohio Regional Championship, Athens

Mar. 5-8                Ohio Senior State Championship, Columbus

Mar. 12-15            Ohio Junior State Championship, Geneva

Mar. 19-22            SSDL Championship, Fishers, Indiana

 

"To be successful at anything, you don't have to be special. You simply have to be what most people are not- consistent, determined, and willing to work for it."- Anonymous

 

Go Bobcats!
Denise