Storm Forecast for February 15th, 2024

Michael White

Regional Note

We’ll be waiting until uncomfortably late to do entry lists and heat sheets for this weekend to try and make the sessions themselves run a little more quickly.  Friday night, a heat sheet won’t be printed in advance because of the positive check-in events.  Friday night, we’ll post the heat sheets and entry lists for Saturday.  Saturday night, we’ll post the heat sheets and entry lists for Sunday.  So when you don’t see documents on the website as early as usual, that’s why.  Arrival times and details are posted.  The relevant documents you’ll need will be found here.

Spring Practice Schedule Posted

Dryland details are now added, so you can get a full picture of what spring practices will be like.  We’re very excited about the options and flexibility we’ve added for different ages and abilities.

Team Pictures

Historically, we've done team pictures the Monday of Regionals and it's a downright terrible time.  High school boys are racing back after their practice, coaches are antsy because we need practice the week of the champs meet, and it's just bad.   Team and individual pictures will be taken.  [Week 2 edit: We’ve moved the pictures to Tuesday the 9th to avoid the massive musical function on Monday]

Other April Activities

Once we resume practice on April 1st, we've got some things we're cooking up:

  • April 6th--Parent Practice: Some of the kids will get the opportunity to coach the parents on a Saturday morning.  So all that advice you've been giving them, expect to get it back in spades.

  • April 7th--Team Banquet

  • April 27th--Kalahari Day

    • Part 1: Open Water Training for swimmers under 8:00 in their 500 freestyle

    • Part 2: Play Day for all families

I’ve had a few families reach and and say they’re not doing the spring, but they’re not sure if they’re able to do the spring activities.  The team banquet--that’s open to ALL swimmers from last summer, this fall, and this winter.  Yes!

The Kalahari day is split into two pieces, and the play day portion is for everyone, regardless of whether or not they’re actively registered.

Meet Entry Deadlines

Date

Meet

For

Status

2/16-2/18

Regional Champs

Just about everyone

Signup: Closed

2/23-2/25

Wisconsin LSC Senior Champs**

Age 15+ With State Cuts

Signup: Open
Deadline: 2/18 

2/24-2/25

Wisconsin LSC 10U Champs**

Age 10U with State Cuts

Signup: Open
Deadline 2/18

3/1-3/3

Wisconsin LSC 11-14 Champs**

Age 11-14 with State Cuts

Signup: Open
Deadline 2/18

3/7-3/10

Speedo Sectionals**

13&O With at Least 1 Sect Cut + Relay Onlys

Signup: Open

**If you have a swimmer that wants to be considered for relays for one of these meets, please declare them for the meet now!  Indicate in the notes what days they’ll be available

Practice Changes

Thursday, February 15th

Last dryland until April

Friday, February 16th

NO AM PRACTICE

6:15-7:45P at SP West--Typhoon & Senior champs swimmers that are skipping Regionals; make-up evening Masters practice

Monday, February 19th (at West)

10&U Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:35P
11-12 Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:45P
13O Champs Team Practice 6:45-8:15P

Tuesday, February 20th (at West)

Masters AM Practice 5:30-6:50A
10&U Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:35P
11-12 Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:45P
13O Champs Team Practice 6:45-8:15P

Wednesday, February 21st

Masters AM Practice 5:30-6:50A at East
10&U Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:35P at West

11-12 Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:45P at West
13O Champs Team Practice 6:45-8:15P at West

Thursday, February 22nd (at West)

SR Champs Dinner 5:00-6:00P at Noodles
11-12 Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:45P
13O Champs Team Practice 6:35-7:45P
10&U Champs Dinner, 6:50P at Glass Nickel
Friday, February 23rd ( at West)

Masters AM Practice 5:30-6:50A
10&U Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:35P
11-12/13-14 Champs Team Practice 5:30-6:45P

 

Watching Fast Swimming

One of the easiest ways to inspire a young swimmer is to show them older, faster swimmers.  Just like little kids look to be the next LeBron, Simone, or Shohei, it’s very important for swimmers to find some swim role models.  It just so happens that we’re getting into the most fun time for watching swimming!

This week, the World Championships are being shown on the Peacock app, and the production value is fantastic.  You won’t see much in terms of world records as this meet is largely just fine-tuning details for the Olympics but it’s still really fast to watch.  Note that this meet is long course meters, so the pool is longer and times will seem off for littles looking for comparison.

Former Storm swimmers are at the Horizon League Champs right now in Indy, the NSIC Champs in Sioux Falls, the WIAC championships in Brown Deer, the GLIAC Championships, and so many other meets it's hard to keep track.

Big Tens are one of the faster college Conference meets in the nation; women will swim next weekend, Feb 21-14 at Purdue;  men will swim Feb 28-March 2 in Columbus. 

NCAA Champs are SPECTACULAR to watch, with recognizable names in 25 yard pools.  The women swim March 20-23 in Athens, GA.  The men are March 27-30 at very drivable Indianapolis.  These usually get broadcast on the ESPN networks, too.