GTAC News, February 5, 2012

Congratulations to Matt Zimmerman, GTAC Senior Swimmer and SFS Senior, who has committed to swim at the University of Michigan this coming fall. Go Blue, Matt! This year's other committed swimmers so far are DJ MacDonald (SFS) and Rachel Dzierzak (NDA), both going to Ohio State. They all join a long line of GTAC swimmers who have competed collegiately since 1972. Since 2000, GTAC swimmers have earned over $2 million in collegiate scholarships.

Congratulations to Matt, DJ and Rachel! GTAC is proud of you!

Season II

Attached please find the 1) Season II Registration, 2) Season II Practice Schedule and the 3) modified competitive practice schedule for February. It is also posted on our website under Competitive Swimming. There were some minor adjustments made due to the fact that high school practice will be ending.Current non-competitive swimmers are welcome to continue with Season II training. Note that it is offered more often than non-competitive, and your swimmer would be placed in a training group based upon his or her current abilities. Also note that the Senior 2 schedule will be posted shortly. This is a less stringent schedule for those senior swimmers who have not trained competitively year round but wish to continue their high school training. All year-round senior swimmers should register for Senior 1 group. All swimmers who are registering for Season II must also re-activate their accounts on-line at the end of Short Course season.

Season II is an excellent training course for swimmers who wish to prepare for Summer League as well and have not trained with GTAC through the year. Again, each child who has not yet trained competitively with GTAC will be placed in the appropriate group by the coaches. So if you have other children who wish to get ready for Summer League, or have friends who are interested in the same for their children, this is the perfect training for them as well.

GTAC is the only club in Northwest Ohio to offer an interim season between Short Course and Long Course. The purpose of this season is to review stroke technique and the basics of competitive swimming. There are no meets during this season. We will be asking, however, whether or not you plan to attend the early season Plymouth Canton Cruisers long course meet in May as registration for that meet is early. You will sign up on-line.

Good luck in all of your championship meets. Please remember that taper time is very important. Get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat well and follow your coaches' instructions.

Go GTAC! 

GTAC News, November 20, 2011

Welcome to the following new members of GTAC: Quinn Bernath, Erick Coleman, Haley Elliott, Siddarth Fernandes, Maggie Finn, Morgan Finn, Ryan Finn, Sean Finn, Zach Fletcher, Lexi Gilley, Jessica Fuller, Jim Hendricks, Owen Hildebrand, Zoe Howard, Claire Hunter, Maggie McNeeley, Peter Monaghan, Sadie Nadrasik, Sam Nusbaum, Grace Rotman, Alex Schraeger, Katie Schraeger, Erin Sturgeon and Patrick Wentz. We are delighted to have all of you with us!

This Week:

Tuesday evening, 5-7pm: We will be collecting items to mail to our troops for the Holidays. There will be a drop off box in the St Francis pool lobby. Suggested items: hard candies, books, holiday decorations, puzzle books, magazines, cards, small bottles of hand cream, sachets, and BEST OF ALL, personal cards or notes from you! Thank you!

Also on Tuesday evening, we will have GTAC apparel for sale. We want all GTAC parents to wear GTAC at the Turkey Meet. Parents may purchase our 40th anniversary shirt for $10.

NO PRACTICE: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Turkey Meet Timeline: Friday pm: Warm-up @ 3pm, Start @ 3:35pm; Saturday and Sunday morning: Warm-up @7am, Start @7:35pm. Afternoon Warm-ups TBA later this week.

Volunteer Sheet: Please see the attached volunteer sheet. Please note that we are still in need of Concession workers in the mornings (there are no concessions on Friday) and other spots still open. Please e-mail Cindy if you can work those spots.

Kudos to GTAC's Rachel Dzierzak (Notre Dame Academy) and D.J. MacDonald (St. Francis de Sales) who have signed with Ohio State University for the fall of 2012! We congratulate them on their hard work and wish them a great final high school season this year! Each year, GTAC swimmers sign with some of the most competitive collegiate swim programs in the nation. We will keep you posted on future signings!

GTAC News, October 30, 2011

This week: Monday, Halloween: Early practice (3:30-5:30pm) for Pre-Senior and Senior; All other practices cancelled for Halloween Trick-or-treating.

Tuesday, November 2 @ 6pm: Monthly Parent Booster Meeting. Open to all.

The New Practice schedule for Nov 6 through the remainder of the season will be sent out this week. Thank you for your understanding as we went through Water Polo season.

Accounts and our on-line system:

The first bills of the season will be sent out next week. During this past year, we have successfully changed to an all on-line system in which you register with USA swimming, sign up for meets (and we have a more detailed program coming out shortly in which meet events will be listed for each day) and receive all bills on-line. This makes our entire operation more efficient and record-keeping is much better. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as this changeover was implemented.

On-Line Registration Still Needed for Several Swimmers:

Only those swimmers who are registered as active swimmer on-line will be able to sign up for meets. If your swimmer is a high school swimmer, and you have not yet activated your account for this season, you MUST do so in order for your swimmer to compete in the Specialty Meet or Turkey Meet. Thank you!

Carruth Deadline:

A Reminder that all Carruth orders are due this Tuesday, November 1, in the black box at St Francis. Please enclose ONE CHECK made out to GTAC for your order. Orders will be received and distributed before Thanksgiving.

Car Cling Reminder:

If you wish to purchase personalized car clings (up to 3 names can go on one cling), please do so this week. The cost is $10 for two clings. Please write the first names of your swimmers on the envelope so that we are sure of correct spelling.

The order will be placed on Monday, November 7.

Anderson's Fundraiser:

We have another fundraising opportunity: Anderson's vouchers for poinsettias will be available for purchase at the same in-store price. You receive 20% of your total sales as a credit on your account.

Cost: 4 1/2 " pot: $3.49   6 1/2" pot: $6.49     7 1/2" pot: $13.99

Forms available beginning November 1 in the St Francis outer office. Vouchers are redeemable in any Anderson's store from November 22-December 22, 2011.

Volunteer Sign-up for GTAC Specialty Meet, November 12-13.

Please see the information attached. As always, sign up is done on a first-come/first-serve basis. Reply to this e-mail to volunteer.

Holiday Gifts to our Troops

Each year, GTAC sends gift boxes to our troops serving overseas. Preferred items are hard candies, puzzle books, cards, and, most appreciated of all, hand made cards. We will be collecting for our troops at the Specialty Meet, and mailing our gifts immediately after that weekend. Thank you!

Thank you parents for helping with your Halloween party.

GTAC swimmers: Play it safe when you are trick-or-treating tomorrow and have fun!

GTAC News, October 25, 2011

Kudos to all swimmers on a great first meet of the season! Thank you parents for your service!

Halloween Party! Thursday, October 27

This is primarily for the little ones, but any swimmer is welcome to come.

5:15pm: Come in your costume and parade around the pool.

5:30pm: Change into your suit and have a practice, followed by pool games and fun.

Afterwards, nibble on some treats in the foyer.

We are asking all parents to bring a healthy treat to share and if each can assist in clean up.

This is always a very fun party for the kids with special games designed by Coach Chris.

We love seeing everyone's costume, and as always, our coaches will have their costumes as well!

See you all on Thursday!

Monday evening, Halloween: ALL PRACTICES are cancelled EXCEPT for pre-senior and senior.

The new practice schedule will go out next week. The major change will be for pre-seniors who will be training part of the time at the UT Rec Center.

November 1: Deadline for Carruth turn-ins. Please make one check for all payable to GTAC.

Keep up all of the hard work! More news on Sunday!

GTAC News, October 16, 2011

This Week: Due to the St Francis Water Polo Team making the State Meet (Congrats, Knights!), they will continue to practice at their usual time. Therefore, ALL GTAC practices will be at their normal time and will NOT be moved up this week.

THANK YOU!

Our Pasta Dinner was a great success! While it started slow, business became brisk toward dinner time, and we ended up earning nearly $1000 for our Olympic Trials swimmers to travel to Omaha in 2012. Special thanks to the Barone family for donating such excellent pasta and sauce, and Sofo's for their donation of salad and fixings.

DiSalle Developmental Meet, Sunday, October 23:

Coach Chris will be sending out entries and warm-up information, and Cindy will send out a volunteer reminder later this week.

Pre-High School Prep Training, 8-9:30pm:

For those high school swimmers who just completed a sport and wish to train for three weeks prior to the start of the high school season, Coach Rich is offering a three week session from 8-9:30pm each evening beginning tomorrow night. The cost is $58 for USA Swimming Registration and $45 for swim fees. Attached is the up-to-date Registration form which completed. Swimmers as well must register on line to create their account.

GTAC Personalized Car Clings:

It's time to order your car clings and celebrate your swimmer! Cost is 2 clings for $10. Please place a check payable to GTAC in an envelope with the correct name/spelling of your swimmer(s). Up to three swimmers names can be imprinted on one cling. Order deadline is November 1.

Halloween Party:

Thursday, October 27. All swimmers, competitive and non-competitive are welcome. More information to follow, but we will need volunteers to bring healthy snacks for our swimmers after their fun and games.

Booster Meeting:

Tuesday, November 1, 6-6:30pm at the pool. Plan to attend if you want to get more involved in GTAC activities.

Kudos to Coach Kennedy for leading the US Paralympic Team to 2nd place in the Para-Pan-Pac Games in Rio de Janiero last week. He has been coaching for the US Paralympic Team since 2006.

Go GTAC!

GTAC News, October 9, 2011

This Week: Any Practice Changes which apply to your group will be e-mailed to you by Coach Chris

Olympic Trials Pasta Dinner: Volunteer Opportunities for GTAC Families available

Thanks to donations by the Barone family (Rosie's) and Sofo's, GTAC is hosting a pasta dinner on Saturday, October 15 from 11-7pm in the St Francis cafeteria. This will take place during the High School Water Polo Regional Championship at St Francis and all funds will go to underwrite travel and hotel costs for our five Olympic Trials qualifiers. You can fulfill your volunteer credits by helping us out.

1. We need four people to help serve from 11-3pm and four people to help serve from 3-7pm.

2. We need one person to sell or check tickets from 11-3pm and one person to do the same from 3-7pm.

If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail Cindy. This is a great way to help our teammates and enjoy some great food as well. Prices are $7 for diners aged 13 and older; $5 for diners aged 6-12; $2 for diners aged 5 and under. Included is pasta, salad, bread and drinks. Thank you for your support! E-mail Cindy with any questions as she will be coordinating volunteers.

DiSalle Developmental Meet Volunteers

Thank you to all who responded. Volunteers were accepted on a first-come/first-serve basis for timers. Attached please find the volunteer list. We still need a "poster" and volunteers to help with set up before the meet, so if you are interested, please reply to Cindy. More information will follow the week before the meet.

Reminder to Minnows parents

Practice on Tuesdays is at the UT Health Ed pool! Thanks for remembering.

Mark your Calendar

Our Halloween Party is set for Thursday, October 27. More info to come. We want everyone, including non-competitive swimmers, to participate!

Water Polo: You have to see it just once

Water polo has been called a mix of soccer, swimming, hockey and wrestling.....all done while treading water. On October 15 & 16, St Francis is hosting the Northern Regional Championships. Stop in and watch some matches. We will e-mail the schedule to everyone when we receive it. It's not just for boys; we have several girls' teams participating too. Check it out!

Southern Zone Sectional Meet, March 16-18 in Orlando (not Ft. Lauderdale)

Please see attached the Meet Packet for the Southern Zone Sectional Meet, March 16-18 in Orlando, Florida. As in years' past, GTAC is one of only a few out-of-zone teams that have been invited to compete. The meet fills up quickly with several hundred swimmers, and we have been guaranteed 30 out of the 150 out-of-zone spots. It is an outstanding meet, with many Olympians and great swimmers from all over the south attending.

Keith will be arranging hotel rooms, but please check the entry times and plan now to attend. Keith requires all swimmers to be on deck by 7pm on Thursday, March 16, for warm-up, so please plan your flights accordingly.

Keep up your hard work! Go GTAC!

GTAC News, October 2, 2011

Welcome new GTAC Members: Jessica Fuller and Owen Hildebrand! We are delighted to have you with us!

This week: Practice Adjustments

Monday, October 3: 3:15-5:30pm Gold/Pre-S/Senior (No School for SFS, Polo is from 1-3:30pm)

Thursday, October 6: 3:15-5:30pm Gold/Pre-S/Senior (Polo Away)

Friday, October 7: NO PRACTICE at SFS (Polo Home for Tournament)

Accounting Updates

There have been corrections made to calculations done in error and adjusted bills will be sent accordingly. The typical problems were including the $58 USA Registration Fee in the 5% discount calculation or failing to include all fees in addition. If you have any questions once you receive your statement, e-mail gtacbilling@bex.net

Turn Off the Water!

Many times after practice, we have gone into the women's locker room to find the showers left on full blast! Please remind your swimmers to turn off the showers when you are done!

Volunteer Update

We have a few spots still open for the DiSalle Meet on October 23. Attached is the current list of volunteers.

Pasta Dinner

GTAC is hosting an All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Dinner from 11am to 7pm in the St Francis cafeteria to raise money for our Olympic Trials team transportation and hotel. The pasta and sauce are being cooked by the Barone family, owners of Rosie's, so this will be an excellent meal at a great price. Cost is $7 (age 13 and up), $5 (age 6-12) and $2 (children 5 and under). You can purchase tickets ahead of time by dropping a check in the black box (please note the number and kind of tickets you want) beginning this week.

Carruth

You have the month of October to get your orders organized. They are all due, with one check made out to GTAC, on November 1. Catalogs are available in the foyer of the pool.

Keep up the hard work and Go GTAC!

GTAC News, September 25, 2011
Welcome to our newest swimmers: Lexi Gilley, Quinn Bernath, Sadie Nadrasik, Haley Elliott. We are delighted to have you with us!
 
This Week:
Monday, September 26, 4-7pm @ St Francis pool foyer: Suit-fitting with Kastaway Swimwear.
Tuesday, September 27: Gold/Pre-Senior/Senior may choose to practice early (3:30-5:30) due to Polo Team being away.
Saturday, October 1: Our next Clinic! Sign up at the pool this week!
 
All-Americans
GTAC is proud to have produced hundreds of high school All-Americans since 1972. These are the top 100 fastest swimmers in each high school event, and the list is maintained by the National Inter-Scholastic Swim Coaches Association. This year's NISCA All-American list includes several GTAC members of the State Runner-up St Francis de Sales team. They are: Mike DiSalle (200 Free, 50 Free, 100 Free), Dan Miller (200 Free), Rowan Williams (500 Free), Matt Zimmerman (500 Free), DJ MacDonald (100 Breast), Phil Barone (100 Breast) and the following Relay Teams: 200 Free Relay (Trimble, Miller, M. DiSalle, D. DiSalle), 12th in the Nation 200 Medley Relay (Williams, MacDonald, Carmony, D. DiSalle) and 5th in the Nation 400 Free Relay (Williams, Miller, M. DiSalle, D. DiSalle). Congratulations gentlemen on your year round hard work and determination. The complete listing can be found at:
http://www.inswim.net/allam11.html
 
Accounting News
In the next 48 hours you will be receiving an email with a blank invoice from our Business Manager.  The purpose of this email is to make sure your bill is being sent to the proper address.  If you DO NOT receive an invoice (and please check all of your email addresses) - please contact gtacbilling@bex.net.  If you wish your bill to go to a different address - please send an email to gtacbilling@bex.net requesting so.  The billing system allows us to send the invoice to only 1 email address per family.
If you are not swimming with GTAC this Winter and have received an invoice, please contact gtacbilling@bext.net and ask to be removed from the list. If your email address changes during the year, it is your responsibility to let the Business Manager know.
The first round of invoices will be sent out around the middle of October.  All DUES - not entry fees - must be paid in full by December 31.  If you need to make payment arrangements contact the Business Manager. Thanks very much and please respond promptly.
 
Meet Sign-ups
Meet signups are now available on the website. Just login to your account and click on “Manage Meets” next to the swimmer’s name. Sign up by the “Guarantee Deadline” to make sure you are in the meet. SOME meets will open up for late entry for a few days afterward, but you risk being shut out of the meet because meet hosts can decline late entries. You are no longer required to put $30 in the black box to sign up for a meet. Just go ahead and sign up. Notice that by signing up for the meet, you will be billed for the events whether or not you show up to the meet.
 
Practice Schedule
Here is another copy for everyone with the practice exceptions.
 
USA Swimming's Deckpass Program
USA Swimming has begun a new program called “Deckpass”. This will allow to coaches to give the swimmer’s “badges” upon accomplishments, which can allow us to recognize those who may swim better in practice than at meets. The coaches can only give badges to swimmers who are signed up on the USA Swimming website. If the swimmer has a Facebook account, they can get their badges to show up on their Facebook. Go here: http://www.usaswimming.org/deckpass for more information and to sign up. (NOTICE TO THOSE NEW TO USA SWIMMING THIS YEAR: USA Swimming will not be able to process your registration information until mid-October, so you will be unable to sign up until then.)
 
Volunteer Sign-up: DiSalle Developmental Meet
Attached please find the list of jobs open for our first meet which is on Sunday, October 23. Sign-ups are done by reply e-mail to Cindy (just press reply) on a first come-first serve basis (the time your e-mail is received).
 
Keep up the hard work, swimmers! Go GTAC!

GTAC News, September 18, 2011
Welcome to the following new swimmers for 2011-2012: Nate Agnastou, Andrew Bohm, Gareth Francis, Rhys Francis, Ben Gordon, Karissa Gordon, Jenna Hallett, Lily Hunter, Alex Kloster, Austin Lazenby, Grant Lazenby, Evan Mesteller, Gavin Mesteller, Tai Monger, Vivienne Monger, Lindsay Myers, Matthew Petee, Alex Smale, Avery Smale, Christian Sobczak, Aidan Stephens, Paige Stephens and Peter Tracy. We are delighted to have you with us!
 
This week: Although you have received notice of the adjusted practice schedule, here is a copy for all of you to download. Please note the additional Friday practice for Mini-Minnow and Minnow. There are no practice changes this week, but we have attached the complete list of practice adjustments (due to water polo games) through Nov 6.
 
Carruth: You can earn 45% of all you sell toward your account. The catalog is available at the SFS pool. All orders, with one check made out to GTAC, must be turned in by Monday, November 1.
 
Patron Drive: Now is the time to sell ads for our heat sheets. Your ad will be placed in ALL GTAC heat sheets through the end of Long Course, 2012, and you receive 50% back toward your account. Patron Drive forms are attached.
 
Suit-fitting: Monday, Sept 26, 4-7pm, Pool Lobby. Kastaway will be here for fitting and ordering. We are a TYR team and all competitive swimmers are required to have our TYR Royal blue suit with logo, a GTAC cap (if one is worn) and a GTAC shirt (which will be provided at no charge). Note to High School and College Swimmers: You do not need to purchase a GTAC suit, but we ask that you wear a GTAC cap and t-shirt when competing.
 
Olympic Pasta Dinner! Saturday, October 15 beginning at 11am in the SFS Cafeteria:
This is a fund-raiser to help underwrite the cost of our five Olympic Trials Qualifiers travel and stay in Omaha in June (and any more who qualify by then). The cost will be $7 for adults, $5 for kids age 11/under, and it is All You Can Eat. This will be the same weekend as water polo regionals, so we hope to have lots of ticket sales. You may purchase tickets in advance after October 1 or buy them at the door. Mark your calendar now and help our swimmers Go for the Gold!
 
Volunteering for our Meets: As you know, all competitive members, including pre and post high school swimmers, are required to volunteer at 5 sessions of GTAC meets. One session = one morning or one afternoon of the meet. Next week, we will be posting via e-mail all of our volunteer opportunities for Short Course. We host four meets during Short Course, so getting in your volunteer times is very easy.
 
Officials: GTAC is very fortunate to have a large group of officials, but we always can use more and it is a great way to volunteer. The next certification meeting will be held at St Francis on Tuesday, October 4 from 6:30-9pm. If you have any questions, please e-mail Cindy. Reminder to all officials: Please turn in your 2012 Non-Athlete USA Swimming Registration (copy attached) so that GTAC can turn it in with payment.
 
Questions? E-mail Cindy for dry-side question. E-mail your coach directly for wet-side questions. Their e-mails addresses can be found on our website under About GTAC/Coaches.
 
We are glad to see so many new and "old" faces at the pool! We all get better by encouraging one another. The hard work is ahead, but we are all in it together!
 
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, September 11, 2011
Welcome to the 40th Season of the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club! We are delighted to have you with us and welcome our new members to our club. We also want to welcome our newest coaches (Check their bios on the Coaches page under About GTAC on our website.) This is the first  of our regular 2011-2012 Weekly E-mails. We apologize in advance if you receive multiple copies, but for this e-mail only, we are sending it to all previous short course participants who may not yet have registered or will not be swimming until after a Fall Sport. After this, we will only send this weekly e-mail to families who are registered or who, by reply e-mail, request that they continue receiving this e-mail. We will be happy to send this e-mail to as many e-mail addresses as you wish, but please note that GTAC Billing will ONLY be sent to the primary e-mail address listed in your on-line account.
 
This Week:
1. Monday, September 12: First Day of Practice--PLEASE NOTE: Your swimmer will only be permitted to practice if 1)You have registered him/her on-line; 2) You have submitted a completed, signed registration form; and 3) have paid all previous season fees and the appropriate current season fees. Cindy will be at the door all week to accept forms and payments (the early-bird discounted price is no longer available for returning swimmers) and strictly enforce the above.
2. Tuesday, September 13: 6pm--New Parent Meeting (This includes all parents who are changing from Non-Competitive to Competitive Teams). 7pm---Returning Parent Meeting. Enter through the Natatorium entrance and you will be directed to the meeting room. NOTE: THERE IS A PRACTICE CHANGE FOR THIS DATE DUE TO HOME WATER POLO MEET AND THESE MEETINGS: Senior, Pre-Senior and Gold will practice early. At the bottom of this e-mail are all of the practice changes through November 6. Note that if Gold/Pre/Senior cannot attend an early practice, they may come later as there will be coaches there for training, except when there is a Home Polo Game or No Practice.
All families are required to have one parent attend the meeting. We want to make sure that everyone has a copy of our parent handbook, that you meet our new coaches and that you have an opportunity to hear about our 50/50 credit program.
 
Accounting and Meets
All billing questions should be addressed to gtacbilling@bex.net . Remember that you sign up for any meets via your on-line account and you are billed for them by e-mail using the primary e-mail address which you have listed.
 
Swimming Groups
Attached please find your child's current swimming group. If you have already registered him or her for another group, you may make adjustments without losing your dicounted price.
 
New Swimmers
If you have new swimmers who wish to try us out, please have them e-mail Cindy. She will be happy to meet with them and help them with their one week trial period.
 
Carruth and Patron Drive 50/50 Fundraisers
We will have Carruth packets and Patron Drive forms available on Tuesday for pick-up. Just as before, 50% of any patron ads you bring in, and 45% of any Carruth you sell, is credited directly to your account. Later in the season, we will offer an Anderson's Poinsettia voucher sale in which 20% is credited to your account.
 
Question: What if my swimmer is in high school and rowing or playing polo before high school season begins, but still wants to compete at the Turkey Meet this season or compete in the Senior Meet in March? Since your swimmer is not training with GTAC, he/she does not have to pay GTAC fees. In order to be a competitive member of GTAC, the only fee required is $58 for USA Swimming Registration. Register your swimmer on-line, fill out the paperwork and submit it with a check for $58 and you are all set. If your swimmer competed for another USA Club last season, you must also submit a Transfer form and $1 (for other Ohio team) or $5 (for other non-Ohio team.
 
If you have any questions at any time concerning the dry side of things, e-mail Cindy  cynthiamillen@gmail.com  Questions about your child's training should be e-mailed to his or her coach directly. All coaches e-mails can be found on our website We are an athlete-centered, parent-supported, coach-directed club and we believe that this is the best formula for success on all levels.
 
Kudos to Coach Keith Kennedy on beginning is 12th year as Head Coach of GTAC. He is our longest-running head coach, overseeing the largest and most succesful team GTAC has ever had. Congratulations, Keith.
 
Let's train hard and have fun! GO GTAC!
 
 
Sept 12- Nov 6 Exceptions for St Francis Pool (Does not apply to UT Health Ed Pool)
Sept 13                 GTAC 3:15-5       Gold/Pre/Senior              Home Polo Game
                             NO PRACTICE    All other groups practicing at SFS
Sept 27                 GTAC 3:15-5:30 Gold/Pre/Senior              Polo Away
Sept 30                 GTAC 3:15-5:30 Gold/Pre/Senior              Polo Away
Oct 3                    GTAC 3:15-5:30 Gold/Pre/Senior              No School            Polo 1-3:30
Oct 6                    GTAC 3:15-5:30 Gold/Pre/Senior               Polo Away
Oct 7-8                 GTAC No Practice at SFS                           Polo Home
Oct 10                  GTAC 4-5:30       Silver/Gold                     Early Release @ SFS
Oct 14-15             GTAC No Practice                                     Polo Home
                             GTAC Trials Fundraiser in Café
Oct 17 thru 20     GTAC 3:45-5:30  Gold/Pre/Senior            SFS Exams
Oct 21                  GTAC 3:15-5:30 Gold/Pre/Senior              Polo Away
                             5:15-6:45 Silver
Oct 24 thru 28      GTAC 3:15-5:30 Gold/Pre/Senior         Polo Finished
                             Bronze 6:16-7:30,Silver 6:15-7:45
Saturday Clinics: Must sign up prior to clinic date. Open to Bronze and up swimmers only. First Group Age 11- and up. Second Group 10 and Under.
Sept 17             Starts and Turns         10-11 am/11-12
Oct 1               Underwater Taping and Analysis       10-11 am/11am-12pm
Oct 22             Above Water Taping and Analysis    10-11 am/11am-12pm
 

GTAC News, July 26, 2011
 
This has been an outstanding Long Course season for our team. We have performed better than ever, by working together, encouraging one another, pushing each other.
Thank you swimmers and parents for your hard work and dedication. What excellent swims, times, experiences we have enjoyed together. Hard work and dedication will always bring success in swimming and in life. That is why swimming is the best sport , in my opinion, for helping young people become successful adults. Thank you for all that you have given to our swimmers this season.
 
Our Zone swimmers will be traveling next week to IUPUI for Central Zones. We have 14 swimmers going of the 18 who were eligible. Their names are on the front of our website and we are very proud of them. And Coach Chris, the Ohio Age Group Coach of the Year (for good reason) will be attending as one of the Ohio Team coaches.
 
We just completed a very successful Speedo Sectional, coming in 2nd place behind the Ohio State University Team. DJ MacDonald, entering his senior year at SFS and a GTAC swimmer since age 8, earned his first Olympic Trial cut in the 200 breast. We are very proud of him. UT's Rachel Johnson earned three Trial cuts (200 back, 400 free, 400 IM), scored in every event she swam, and won Female High Point. Carly Harter, McKenzie Bagan, Mike DiSalle, Rowan Williams and Dan Miller also scored in the top eight. There were many new Senior National and Junior National cuts as well.
 
Good luck to our swimmers going to Senior Nationals and Junior Nationals next week in Palo Alto, California (Stanford University). Watch our website for updates.
 
I am going to be at Fort Knox, Ky. tomorrow, speaking at the US Paralympic Military Summit as the Swim Clinician. US Paralympics works with wounded vets to help them compete in various paralympic sports. I will also be in San Diego in October speaking to vets coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq. This is a very humbling honor to be asked to speak to our vets. Finally, I will be coaching the US Paralympic Team in Rio in October at the Para Pan-Pac Games.
 
Please note that all bills must be paid in full ASAP. Help us to close our books on the Long Course season.
 
I look forward to seeing all of you at the returning Parent meeting on Tuesday, September 13 at 7pm. It is required that one parent from each family attend so that you get all of the proper material and information that you need. So mark your calendar now.
Practice information, meets and other info will be posted to our website next month, but please plan now to attend the meeting. New parents will come at 6pm. We are attaching a Patron Drive form so you can be thinking about fundraising now.
 
Thank you again. As we enter our 40th season this coming fall, we have so much to celebrate. Go GTAC!
 
Keith

TO: ALL GTAC FAMILIES
 
FROM:   Keith and the Coaches
 
We are ALL extremely proud of our team this summer and all that the swimmers have accomplished to this point.  We have a few coaches that will not be returning in the fall.
I would like to thank all of our staff for a great year and season.  Karl, Beth, Amanda and Frankie will be moving on in pursuit of personal goals and jobs.  We wish them the best of luck in the future and thank them for all that they have given GTAC and to our swimmers.
 
We have hired four new coaches whom we are really excited to have on deck with us.  Coach Dave will be returning in the fall and we welcome him back as well and we missed him this summer. We will be providing more info about our new staff in the upcoming fall season info and meetings.
 
As always, GTAC is here to provide the best training, stroke technique and coaching in the Midwest, right here in Toledo, Ohio.
 
We are also currently working on "Project 8 and under."  As you know, our future success lies in our 8 and unders.  We are looking for 40 NEW 8 and under boys and girls.
If you know of any, please encourage them to swim with GTAC. We are always looking for any referrals for the Fall.  Please encourage your friends and swimmers that you know to join GTAC.
You will receive a GTAC referral credit if they do.
 
Fall and Winter Info will be available soon on www.gtacswim.com and via email from Cindy.
 
BEST of Luck to our Senior Elite Swimmers that will be competing starting Thursday at the Sectional meet in Cleveland.
 
Sectional Swimmers-
Here is the info on the team dinner.  We have reservations at 6:30 at Bricco on Wed. http://www.briccocleveland.com/
The address is 1438 Euclid Ave, it is just a few blocks from the pool and is a moderately priced Italian restaurant.  They are setting up one table to seat 30 for the coaches and swimmers and another smaller table of 10 for parents (but they can accommodate more if needed).  They are ok with doing separate checks.

JO Swimmers-
Congrats again for giving GTAC the BEST finish ever (5th!) in the State. Attached please find the complete JO Wrap-up listed by swimmer. This will also be posted on our website.
 
We are proud of ALL of our swimmers and thank you again for giving us the opportunity to work with your children.
 
GO GTAC!
 

GTAC News, July 10, 2011
Kudos to all of our swimmers who competed this weekend. There were 15 new JO cuts on Friday ALONE at the Regional Meet, and many more on Saturday and Sunday. At the Senior Meet, there were many new Sectional cuts. We had outstanding swims, hundreds of personal best times, a new State Record in the 10 & under Girls 50 free (Catherine Kight), a NEW 200 Free National Record (yep, they did it again and faster: 2:05.70 for the 10 & under girls) AND once again, WE WON the Northern Regional Championships! Way to go GTAC swimmers!!
 
This Week:
MONDAY, July 11: Last Chance Time Trial Meet @ SFS. 6pm Warm-ups/6:30pm Start. Only for swimmers .5 seconds or less from their desired cut time. We will only be running a few lanes for one hour only.
Friday, July 15: NO PRACTICE for Northview Swimmers.
 
Next Week:
Beginning July 17, there will be a slightly adjusted schedule at Laurel Hill since their swim team season is completed. We will send that out shortly.
Tuesday, July 19: Banquet at Olander Park, 6-9pm. You must register on-line by this Wednesday through your account and bring payment to Coach Keith (do not put it in the black box) at Olander that evening. Cost: $6 for 12 & under and $10 for 13 & up, adults. Coach Keith could use some volunteers to help with set up. Please e-mail him if you wish to volunteer.
 
Good luck at JO's!! Go GTAC!!

GTAC News, July 2, 2011
Kudos to the 10 & under girls 200 Free Relay Team (Kight, Metzger, Kreger, Fields) which just broke the National 10 & un record with a time of 2:06.02 today. Way to go, girls!! Catherine Kight also broke Margo Geer's meet record in the 50 free with her split.
This news comes after a wonderful week of High Points at Findlay, Cincinnati and excellent in-season swims at Mission Viejo.
Swim fast at Regionals next week! Go GTAC!
 
Next Week:
Monday, July 4: No practice for all groups except for Senior Elite.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 8, 9, 10: No practice due to Regional Meet for except for Senior Elite.
Monday, July 11: 9am. GTAC Last Chance Time Trial Meet @ SFS.
Please note that all swimmers are welcome to continue to practice through July 29 even though they may have competed at their final meet. The season ends at that time for all swimmers, EXCEPT for Zone and National competitors who will train one more week.
 
Important Dates!
July 19: GTAC Banquet @ Olander Park, 6pm. Mark your Calendar and more info to come.
 
August 1: USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Applications are DUE to USA Swimming. Please click on the following site to apply on-line or to download application. You must obtain transcripts. For those who have completed grades 10, 11 or 12.
http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1582&Alias=rainbow&Lang=en
 
Accounting Note: All checks which were submitted over the last two weeks of June and the first week of July (that includes post-dated checks submitted on May 1) will be deposited on July 8. Please be sure you have noted that in your check book. Thanks!
 
Fundraising for Short Course!
Attached please find our Patron Drive form. Contact local businesses NOW to get advertisements for the coming season. Remember that you get 50% of all the money you raise directly credited to your account! Short Course will begin the week of September 12, so get a head start now!
 
Share the News of our Success!
Do you know a summer league swimmer who might be interested in GTAC? Attached is our summer league flier to be distributed at all championship meets. E-mail it to your interested summer league friends (remember, they may NOT already belong to a USA Swim Team). They are welcome to e-mail Cindy with questions or call our hotline at 419-531-2800. And if they join, YOU get a $50 referral credit!
 

GTAC News, June 27, 2011
Kudos---
Alexa Francis for setting several new GTAC long course records for 8 and unders and achieving high point at the Findlay meet; Alex Richards for winning high point for 11-12 girls;
Haley Patrick and Cameron Kaminski for also achieving runner-up high point at the Findlay Meet (See their photo, attached);
Catherine Kight, Katie Kreger, Kelly Metzger and Brea Fields for achieving two new State Records in the 200 and 400 Free Relays and the 200 Medley Relay; Kelsi Berry and Catherine Kight for winning high point in the 11-12 girls and 10 & under girls respectively;
All of our GTAC swimmers for their OUTSTANDING swims in Findlay, Cincinnati and Mission Viejo this weekend! Wow! (See the Congratulations Photo sent from California!)
 
This Week VERY IMPORTANT:
1. The Applications for 2010-2011 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Team for 10/11/12th graders is due by August 1. Time standards must be met by June 30. Click below to apply on-line or download info:
 http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1582&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en
 Only students or parents can do this---the coaches cannot apply, so you must apply if you are eligible (grades plus time standards).
 
2. If you are planning to use a room that Keith has set aside at the Senior Meet at Kenyon College, please e-mail Cindy ASAP. She needs to send a rooming list to the hotel next week. So far we have the following swimmers staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Mt Vernon: Peeps, Lankard, Birkemeier, Biggs. We have 6 rooms still available.
 
3. If you are planning to attend Sectionals in Cleveland, please e-mail Cindy ASAP. Note that you will be responsible for obtaining your own housing (her apologies for sending out different information earlier---there are so many hotels in Cleveland that parents indicated that they would prefer to choose their preferred hotel), but you must let us know if your swimmer in planning to attend.
 
4. No Practice July 4, except for Senior Elite group.
 
Thank you GTAC parents for your continued support, and congrats to GTAC swimmers for an awesome weekend! Keep up the hard work!

GTAC News, June 18, 2011
 
This Week:
June 24, 25, 26: Pre-Senior Elite and Age-Group Elite Swimmers: No Practice due to Meet in Cincinnati
All other groups: Practice as usual. Please refer to practice schedule attached.
 
Please pick up your swimmers ON-TIME from practice. Coaches must wait until you pick up your swimmer so that they are safe, and they have other jobs to go to. Thanks!
 
 
Championship Meet Sign-up
Please sign up ON-LINE for all Championship Meets (Regionals, JO's) by Monday evening. Elite team members with cuts will AUTOMATICALLY be signed up for JO's and are required to attend.
If you are planning to go to Zones, you must contact Ohio Swimming directly to be part of the Team Ohio Zone Team. See http://www.daytonraiders.com/zone_team/2011/home.htm
 
Sectional, Nationals sign-ups
Please e-mail Coach Kennedy ASAP at kkjrswim@yahoo.com if you are planning to attend Sectionals at Cleveland State, Junior Nationals or Senior Nationals.
 
Elite Team Order Pick-up
The Elite Team Orders have been sorted and can be picked up at St Francis in the outer office beginning on Sunday during swim lessons (2-6pm). If you wish to place an additional order, you may do so directly at Always Promoting, W Wayne Street, Maumee OH. They have our design and logo. Contact Cindy with any questions.
 
Good luck to our swimmers in California this week competing at the Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet of Champions in MIssion Viejo! Rowan Williams, Kyle Hopkins, Matt Zimmerman, Dan DiSalle and Zhada Fields! This is our 10th year atMission Viejo!
 
Great job, swimmers and parents, at our Holy Toledo Meet last weekend! Everything went smoothly and GTAC parents did an awesome job. Thank you!

GTAC News, June 10, 2011
 
Holy Toledo Meet Staffing and Schedule
Saturday, June 11    
 The building will open at 7:50
Session 1: warm-ups will be 8:00 - 8:55 and the meet will start at 9:00.
Session 2: warm-ups will be 10:45 - 11:30 and the session will start at 11:35.
 
Sunday, June 12      
 The building will open at 7:50
 Session 3: warm-ups will be 8:00 - 8:55 and the meet will start at 9:00.
 Session 4: warm-ups will be 10:00 - 10:45 and start of 10:50.
 Session 5: warm-ups will be 12:00 - 12:30 and 12:35. (If you are timing for Session 4, we ask that you stay on, if possible, for Session 5. If you cannot, let Cindy know when you begin Session 4.)
 
The warm up and warm down pool will be open during the meet.
The staffing list is attached above. Please arrive in time for warm-ups for each session that you are staffing. Cindy will be there each morning to check people in. Cindy will NOT be there for Session 2; please report to Jeannette Grzeszczak on deck. Cindy will be there for Session 4 and 5.
 
Admission is $2 per day; Heat sheets will be sold for $5. Attached please find a copy of the heat sheet for our GTAC families (we only have it in PDF).
 
All of your volunteer credits will be credited after this meet.
 
Cedar Point Information
Cedar Point Day with the coaches!
 With a group of OVER 50 already signed up it looks like its going to be a great day at the park.
 If you ordered tickets they will be available to pickup by one of the coaches right outside the main gates at the GROUP Sales sign.The coaches will pick up the tickets and will pass them out when you give them the money.  Checks payable to GTAC.The tickets can be picked up from 9:30 am-10:00 am. We will take a group picture at 10 am.
 
Each swimmer will need to find a ride. We do not have a bus. We are leaving directly from the pool to go to Cedar Point. If you have extra seats in your car, can you let Shaila Fernandes know? Her e-mail is spfernandes@bex.net  Thank you!
 
Breakfast Monday after practice. We need parents to bring in breakfast to the swimmers on Monday so that they can leave practice on a full stomach on the way to Cedar Point.  Please bring something to share at your swimmer's location. You can coordinate by e-mailing Cindy. Just include what location you are at and what you are bringing for her to post to everyone.
 
If you did not purchase tickets with us, that is fine. MANY of you have gotten them at AAA or on your own. That is a great option if you didn't order them and still want to go.
Our order has been placed so please do not email us for tickets.
 
Outside food is allowed in the picnic area on the left side of the front gates and GTAC will have a cooler during the day with drinks and light food.  Look for the GTAC signs to find the group. If you have a cooler you can share, please bring it as well.  PLEASE remember to get your hand stamped when leaving the park to go to this area to get back into the park again.
 
University of Notre Dame: Hayley Scott presentation at Inverness Club
On June 29, former ND swimmer Hayley Scott will be presenting her unique story at the Inverness Club. Hosted by former GTAC swimmer Katie Carroll. Check out the flier attached.
 
Keep up your hard work! Go GTAC!

GTAC News, June 5, 2011
Welcome new GTAC swimmers Olivia Mancy (senior), Ellie Struble (senior) and Rachael Dzierzak (senior). We are delighted to have you at GTAC!
 
Holy Toledo Staffing
Attached please find the most current roster of volunteers for next weekend's meet. Please e-mail Cindy if there are changes or corrections. There will be a detailed e-mail sent out a few days before the meet with timelines and responsibilities.
 
Cedar Point Trip
The deadline for reserving tickets for next Monday's Cedar Point trip is this Wednesday. PLEASE go to your on-line account and click on Banquet reservations, and follow the directions. If you have questions, e-mail Cindy. You will pay when you pick up your tickets.
 
Why we need three things for your swimmer's registration
Some of you have gotten e-mails from Cindy; this is why she keeps bugging you.
1. We must have you register on-line at www.gtacswim.com by clicking on Log-In in the upper right hand corner and following the directions. You need to activate your account for each season. This permits us to register your swimmer electronically with USA Swimming, enter your swimmer in National meets, gives us up-to-date emergency contact information which can be accessed instantly by the coaches, helps us to keep track of group size more easily and to communicate with you!
2. We must have you fill out the paperwork and sign it. For our insurance liability coverage with USA Swimming, we have to have a parent or guardian signature on this form. That is why we will keep your swimmer out of the water if we don't have that.
3. Your payment in full, OR, if you are making payments over the course of the season, post-dated checks payable for the amount in full by July 1. We have coaches and bills to pay, just as you do. Under our new accounting system, you will be billed for meets.
Let Cindy know if you have any questions.
 
Save the Date for our Team Banquet!
Tuesday, July 19, 6-9pm at Olander Park.
 
Remember, your hard work always pays off! Keep it up! Go GTAC!

GTAC News, Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Kudos to Senior Mike DiSalle who was selected as the St Francis de Sales Athlete of the Year by his peers this past weekend. Congratulations Mike! Good luck to Jacy Dyer who will be attending USA Swimming's National Open Water Camp. Jacy was selected with other swimmers nationwide based upon their top ten times in distance events nationally.
 
This Week: Senior Elite Group will have lifiting from 6:45-7:45am every Tuesday and Thursday with our new weight-training coach at St Francis. More information about him and continued updates about weight-training will follow.
 
New Schedules
Thank you for making the adjustment to each schedule and for assisting us especially at Laurel Hill. Attached is the next schedule which will start on Monday, June 13. Our schedule changes in the summer months to accomodate school ending, schedules at these pools for their summer patrons and, most importantly, the needs of our swimmers. Thank you for being understanding.
 
Workers for Holy Toledo Meet, June 11-12
Attached please find the volunteer assigments so far for the Holy Toledo Meet. As you can see, we still need help. Please note that volunteer credits that were earned at the Ohio Open will be posted this month. Even though you may have already earned your credits for the summer through the Ohio Open, we would ask your assistance for at least one session at Holy Toledo.
If there are any corrections to the existing assignments, please e-mail Cindy. Thank you!
 
Cedar Point Trip, June 13
Immediately following the Holy Toledo Meet, we will be taking a team trip to Cedar Point. The team will depart AFTER the a.m. workouts and there will be no p.m. practices that day. The cost is $30 for students, $32 for adults and $18 for children under 48" and seniors over age 62. The cost to park is $10/car. Coach Keith is looking into a charter bus. In order to reserve your ticket, you must log on to our On-line website and register where indicated. (It is where you registered previously for the banquet.) Swimmers from other teams who are attending our Holy Toledo Meet will be taking advantage of these discounts and visiting Cedar Point as well with us.
 
Team Banquet
Mark Your Calendar: Tuesday, July 19 at Olander Park.
 
Weather Reminder
To find out if practice has been cancelled, called 419-531-2800 and listen for a message. If there is no change to the usual greeting, there is practice as usual.
 
Keep Working Hard and GO GTAC!

GTAC News, May 16, 2011
Welcome new GTAC swimmer Jamie Akenberger who joins us from BGSU. Welcome to the Hurricanes, Jamie!
 
This Week:
Just a reminder (you received a practice change notice from Chris last week) that we have a Middle School swim meet on Wednesday evening at 7pm. Practices have been adjusted accordingly.
 
Next Week:
Remember, our schedule changes next week, beginning May 23. We will remind you again on Sunday.
 
Accounting: gtacbilling@bex.net
Thank you to all parents for registering on-line and signing up for meets on time. This helps Chris enormously. You will be billed for all future meets at least one week ahead so that you can pay exactly what you owe. From now on, if you have any questions about billing, please e-mail gtacbilling@bex.net . This will get you direct service with our Business Manager who handles the Hy-tech accounts. Thank you so much!
 
Volunteer Credits:
Volunteer credits from the Ohio Open will be posted with the Business Manager next week. We will also have volunteer sign-ups for the Holy Toledo Meet next week. This will be a fun meet with teams from all over Ohio and Michigan attending, including the Cincinnati Marlins. There is a MudHens game that weekend, and we plan to invite our guests to go to Cedar Point with us the day after the meet. More information to follow, but mark you calendar now for June 11 & 12 at BGSU's Natatorium.
 
Swim Lesson at SFS:
We will be starting weekday, small group lessons at SFS beginning in June. Attached is the schedule. These are very popular lesson which fill up quickly. Remember, all students must be 4 years old.
 
For Sale:
Kenzie Wolfe has grown out of her orange flippers without even wearing them! They were purchased and not used due to an injury, and now she needs a larger size. If anyone would like to purchase the smallest girls' size flippers, e-mail Jean Wolfe at tjkwolfe@yahoo.com
 
We plan to have our annual swim swap at the end of this season where you can trade various pieces of equipment. We will keep you posted.
 
Kudos to Alexa Francis for setting a new GTAC record in the 8 & under Girls 100 meter breaststroke with a time of 1:57.98. There were multiple Top 10 times set as well by many of our swimmers up at Eastern Michigan last weekend. We will make sure that the results are sent to Swim Connection when they are posted. Congrats Alexa!
 
Keep up the hard work! Go GTAC!

GTAC News, May 1, 2011
Kudos to SFS Senior and 200 Free State Champion Mike DiSalle. He has signed a letter of intent to swim with the Ohio State University next year. Congrats to Nick Carmony, who has signed a letter of intent to play water polo at Mercyhurst College. This brings to six the number of GTAC seniors to sign with a collegiate aquatic program this year. DiSalle joins teammate Rowan Williams at Ohio State. Dan Miller will be competing at the University of Michigan with GTAC/SFS alum Roman Willets, under the training of Olympic coach Mike Bottoms, Haley Roberts will be swimming for Bowling Green State University and Kyle Crawford will be competing for Mount Union College. Congratulations! Since 2000, GTAC swimmers have earned over $2 million in collegiate swimming scholarships. All formal signings for SFS seniors wil take place this week at the school.
 
Long Course Update: Please download the attached Practice Schedule, Fees Schedule and Meet Information. These are all the correct and most current (for meets) versions. There are also copies at the SFS pool. Please note that because there are NO swim lessons tomorrow and the pool will NOT be open, parents may bring the Long Course registration to the pool on Monday and place it in the black box in order to get the discount. Thank you! (All previous short course fees must be paid also in order to register for Long Course.)
 
Andersons Vouchers: The deadline for turning them in is this Wednesday. Thank you.
 
Thank you and GO GTAC!
 

GTAC News, April 27, 2011
Welcome Gabrielle Summers (non-competitive), Aidan and Paige Stephens (non-competitive and children of former GTAC swimmer Jeff Stephens--welcome back!), Hannah Best (non-competitive), Alex Peseckis (non-competitive), Piper Howard (Bronze) and Kyle Hopkins (Senior). We are delighted to have you with us at GTAC!
 
Kudos! Congratulations to Rowan Williams for signing with Ohio State and to Dan Miller for signing with the University of Michigan! Congratulations to Jacy Dyer on being selected for the US National Open Water Team! Congratulations to Head Coach Keith Kennedy for being selected as the US Paralympic Team Coach for the Paralympic Swimming Open in Rio de Janiero, Brazil this October, and the Swim Clinician at the US Olympic Committee Military Summit for Wounded Vets this fall!
 
Welcome Assistant UT Coach Mark Howard to the GTAC deck! We are delighted to welcome you on board. See more info about Coach "Howie" at
http://www.utrockets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=94510&SPID=10697&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=18000&ATCLID=205042028&Q_SEASON=2010
 
Long Course 2011
Attached please find the Registration Form and the First Practice Schedule.
Please Note:
1. You must have ALL previous season fees paid in full by May 1 in order to be eligible for the discounted fee and in order for your swimmer to get in the water for practice.
2. If you wish to make payments, you must include a deposit check for 1/3 of the total amount, payable by May 1, and all post-dated checks which must be payable by or before July 1, for the total amount. That is the only way in which you can make a payment plan. E-mail Cindy if you have questions.
3. There is a $50/child discount for additional swimmers from the same family.
 
Meet Sign-up
We have changed the process to give you more control and make it simpler. The Meets are on-line. Click the On-lineTools tab on our website at www.gtacswim.com to make sure your swimmer is registered on line.
1. You sign up for ALL the meets you wish to enter by May 8. AFTER THAT DATE, there is no sign up (with the exception of Ohio Championship Meets, e.g., if your swimmer makes a state cut, there is time to sign up). The meets will close early and we will not be able to get you in. There are no more meet deposits required for Long Course, and any previous meet credits still on your account will kept on your account as a credit. All accounts are currently up to date and have been sent to you.
2. One week prior to the meet, you will be billed for the exact amount you owe for that meet  based upon the entry fees.
3. You must pay that amount prior to the meet IN ORDER FOR YOUR SWIMMER TO COMPETE. Simply place a check for the exact amount in the black box prior to the meet.
4. If your swimmer fails to compete, you will still be required to pay the entry fees because GTAC has already paid them in advance.
 
Questions? E-mail Cindy by reply e-mail. Thank you for your patience and support as we strive to make our registration and meet sign-up process more streamlined. Thank you to Dave Eisenstein for installing the new Hy-Tech business system and making it work for us!
 
Questions about training and Elite team requirements? Contact Coach Chris for Pre-senior and Age-group elite. Contact Coach Keith for Senior and National Elite.
 
Fundraising Opportunity
We have forms at the St Francis pool for Anderson's vouchers. You can purchase flats of annuals, geraniums, hanging baskets and mulch at the regular Anderson's price. 20% of the cost is returned to GTAC and will be credited to your account. You must turn in your forms and payment by May 8.
 
Happy 40th Birthday to GTAC! As we begin our 40th season, we are looking forward to 2012 and another Olympic Trials! Go GTAC!
 

GTAC News, Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Welcome to our newest GTAC members: Chloe Dipman, Isabell Tucker, Piper Howard, and welcome back to all of our UT Rocket Swimmers who will be training from now through Senior Nationals this summer.
 
This Week: Thursday, April 14: Final Day to sign up for the PCC Meet.
The Final Practice before Easter Break is Thursday, April 14. Practice resumes on Monday, April 25. There also are NO swim lessons and NO non-competitive training during this time.
 
Important Message from our Head Coach
 As I have often stated, we have a great staff and are very lucky to have such outstanding people at GTAC. With that being said, we at some point will lose them. Please be patient while we welcome new staff members and do our best for our swimmers. We will be making some changes in the future depending upon whom we have coaching on deck.
 
With very mixed feelings, we announce that Coach Dave Eisenstein will not be coaching this summer. With a new position at his firm, he has more responsibility and would like to take a break. We hope to see him return to us in the fall but are not sure if that will happen. We cannot thank Coach Dave enough for all that he has contributed to GTAC and our swimmers. Thank you, Coach Dave, and we hope to see you in the fall. This Thursday will be his last day.
 
Coach Alissa is also leaving as she completes her studies at UT and moves on. We have been very fortunate to have such a great coach for our younger swimmers. Thank you, Coach Alissa, for all that you have done for our team. We will miss have you on deck. May 6th will be her last day. Please join me in thanking both of these great GTAC coaches.
 
Elite Team Membership
As in summers past, Elite membership is basically a matter of commitment:
1. The swimmer must commit to a stringent practice schedule;
2. The swimmer must commit to required meet attendance, including the Plymouth Canton Cruisers  (PCC) Meet in Saline MI,  May 14-15 (Note that Senior Elite Swimmers must only attend the Saturday session).
 
Elite team and Long Course information will be sent out shortly. Please note, however, that all entries for the PCC Meet are due by April 14. So if your swimmer is considering the Elite team, deposit your Meet Entry fee ($30) in the black box by Thursday night so Cindy can give you a credit and you can sign up on-line. (Cindy will be out of town and not accessible by e-mail from April 15-April 25, so no more meet credits will be added during that time.)
 
If your family will have vacations during the summer, or your swimmer will have other commitments, we strongly recommend that you not choose the Elite team. Your swimmer will receive the same great GTAC training, but will not have the attendance or meet requirements that the Elite team will have.
 
Accounting
All bills will be sent out by Thursday, and must be paid in full prior to registering for Long Course (May 1). We apologize for the delay in getting all of the entry fee information from Sectionals and the Mini-Meet.
 
Meet Sign-Up Deadlines
Meet sign up deadlines will be strictly enforced this summer. Chris will not be able to get anyone into a meet late. If you miss the deadline, your are not in the meet.
 
The next GTAC Weekly e-mail will be sent out on Tuesday, April 26.
Have a nice holiday!
 
Go GTAC!
 

GTAC News, March 20, 2011
Kudos for end of season continued.....
---to Jacy Dyer and Laura Lindsay for representing UT at NCAA Championships; Laura scored 15th in the 100 breast, and both scored in the top 20 all of their events....
---to our Speedo Sectional Team in Ft Lauderdale: The men came in 6th place overall, and all swimmers did well as they competed in Long Course (50 meters) for the first time this year. Well done, swimmers!
 
This Week
Tuesday, March 22: NO PRACTICE at any pool due to GTAC Banquet.
Wednesday, March 23: 7pm @ SFS Northwest Ohio Middle School Swim League Informational Meeting. Come to the pool foyer and you will be directed to the meeting room. Any parents of swimmers in grades 6, 7, 8 are welcome to attend.
 
Banquet
(Attendee List is attached: If your child's name is not on this list, then your family is not registered to attend. Everyone had to register on-line by March 14 and make payment via the black box.) This Tuesday evening, beginning at 6pm in the SFS cafeteria, is our banquet for the Short Course Season. We have so much to celebrate, from the successes of our youngest mini-minnows to our best JO finish ever, our outstanding high school/senior swimmers and our collegiate athletes. Our team is larger than its ever been, and our swimmers have won more honors than ever before. Our head coach won coach of the year (2nd year in a row) and our age group coaches were honored at JO's as well. If you want to show appreciation to your swimmer's coach, this is the perfect place to do it. We are so VERY proud of our swimmers, our parents and our team. Thank you!
 
Long Course
Our Long Course season begins May 9 and information will be posted shortly.
 
TYR Swim Meet of Champions
Information about the TYR Swim Meet of Champions, now named the Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet of Champions, in Mission Viejo is attached here. This is an outstanding meet for all who qualify, and because the Nadadores host our swimmers, the cost is relatively low. We train each morning at UCLA and compete in a great meet right by the ocean. GTAC has been attending this meet for 10 years now, and we encourage all swimmers who have the cut times to attend. Teams from Japan, Australian, New Zealand as well as swimmers from all along the west coast attend.
E-mail us with any questions.
 
Congratulations Hurricanes! Your hard work paid off indeed!
GO GTAC!

GTAC News, March 13, 2011
Kudos deserve to go first today!
Congratulations to our Age-Group Team on GTAC's best performance ever: 5th place Team; 1st place 10 & under girls; State Record, 200 Medley Relay for 10 & under Girls (Bohm, Kight, Kreger, Fields); High-Point Winner and Female Swimmer of the Meet Catherine Kight; and OHIO AGE-GROUP COACH OF THE YEAR: COACH CHRIS PIERSON! This follows are enormous win at Regionals again this year by all of our age-group swimmers and an outstanding showing at Mini-Meet by our youngest Hurricanes.
 
Congratulations to our Senior Team on take 2nd place Men's and 4th place Combined; 800 Free Relay Meet Record (Miller, Williams, Zimmerman, DiSalle). Next Stop: Southern Zone Sectionals, Fort Lauderdale!
 
This week
Monday, March 14: Deadline for your on-line reservation AND payment for the Swim Banquet. $9/children and $12/ages 13 & up. The Banquet takes place on March 22 @ 6pm at SFS.
 
Accounts
After your final meet, your account will be e-mailed to you for final payment. If you have any questions, please e-mail Cindy.
 
Northwest Ohio Middle School Swim League
Informational Meeting will be Wednesday, March 23@ 7pm. Download information from our website and get your 6th, 7th or 8th grader involved in this fun, low-key league. We want more kids to choose swimming as their high school sport!
 
Way to go, GTAC!

GTAC News, March 6, 2011
Welcome to our newest GTAC members: Allison Sheehan (Senior), Matthew McNeeley (Senior), Maggie McNeeley (Senior), Melissa Hrovat (Senior). We are delighted to have you with us at GTAC!
 
This Week
The Season II Schedule is now in force at the SFS pool as well as at the Northview Pool. Attached are copies of those schedules.
*Swimmers who are tapering for JO's will have a different schedule. Coach Chris has e-mailed you about that. Please talk with him if you have any questions. After JO's, if you are registered for Season II, you will follow your respective Season II schedule.
 
Next Week
March 14: Your deadline for signing up for the Team Banquet which takes place on Tuesday, March 22. Children 12 & under are $9/13 & up are $12. You must register on-line and put money in the black box by March 14. Thank you!
 
JO Excused Absence Letter
Visit www.swimohio.com to download an excused absence letter for your swimmer's school if he/she is competing at JO's this Friday.
 
Florida Sectionals Excused Absence Letter
Attached please find an excused absence letter for those swimmers attending the Southern Zone Sectionals in Ft Lauderdale this month.
 
Accounting
Cindy is sorry for the delay, but she wanted to include as many meet entry charges as possible so that you have a better idea of your current account. You will receive this week your current account with all meets EXCEPT Senior Meet, Mini-Meet, JO's and Sectionals. Thank you for your patience!
 
Kudos to
--all of our Mini-Meet swimmers who did an OUTSTANDING job in Worthington this weekend. Results should be posted shortly at www.worthingtonswimclub.org and at www.swimconnection.com/oh
--our Senior Meet swimmers who competed at Miami University. The men came in 2nd in the State while the combined team scored 4th overall. There were many outstanding swims and wins by GTAC, but noteworthy was the record-breaking 800 free relay of Rowan Williams, Dan Miller, Matt Zimmerman and Mike DiSalle. They broke the record set by Ohio State University in 2000 with their Jr. National cut time of 6:48.13. See full results at http://swimmakos.com/realtime/index.htm
 
Go GTAC!
 
 
 
 
 

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2011 Season II Practice Schedule @ Northview.pdf
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GTAC News, February 27, 2011
Welcome new GTAC swimmers Eric Zhu (Gold) and Phoebe Zhu (Bronze)! We are delighted to welcome you to GTAC!
 
 
This Week
The Schedule for the final week of Season I, from February 28-March 6 @ SFS pool is the same as the usual schedule (Mini-Minnows and Minnow are at the UT Health Ed pool on Monday per usual) with the following exception: Pre-Senior and Senior will practice from 3:15-5:30, Monday - Friday with no Saturday or Sunday practice due to Senior Meet. If you are a new swimmer who will be beginning Season II at Sylvania Northview, that practice schedule is attached.
 
Season II Practice Schedule for SFS begins Monday, March 7. That schedule is attached also.
 
Season I Banquet Registration
Our team banquet will take place on Tuesday, March 22 @ 6pm at the SFS cafeteria. Cost is $10 for children 12 and under; $12 for those aged 13 and older. Please register on-line through our website on-line registration system (where you registered your swimmers) and place a check in the black box. Deadline for registration is Monday, March 14. It is imperative that you register in advance so that coaches can prepare awards for each swimmer. Thank you!
 
Accounting
All accounts are currently being updated with billing from Regionals and other winter meets. All families will receive an updated accounting by e-mail this week. Note regarding Season II: Unless you have been specifically contacted about an outstanding debt due on your account, you are permitted to go ahead and register for Season II. The final date for registration at the discounted rate is tomorrow, February 28. Please e-mail Cindy with any questions.
 
Swimmin' 4 Women
Lap Swim and Swim Lessons for Women only begins for the Spring season next Saturday, March 5 from 4-6pm. Cost is $10/visit or $85 for a card worth 10 visits. Swimming is the best sport for total body exercise without any damage to bones or tendons. E-mail Cindy for more information. A registration form (on the same form as SFS Spring Summer swim lessons) is attached.
 
TYR Swim Meet of Champions Meet Packet attached; Travel Information to Mission Viejo in June
The TYR Swim Meet of Champions, which GTAC has been attending for the past ten years, has been re-named in memory of Fran Crippen, Olympic open water champion, who trained for many seasons in California. The meet packet is attached. Any swimmer who wishes to make this popular training trip must contact Coach Keith ASAP. He will also make arrangements for your flight, billeting with host families in Mission Viejo, and training at UCLA with our team. E-mail Cindy with questions.
 
Kudos to
....all of our swimmers who helped GTAC to win, once again, the Northern Ohio Regional Championships inFremont.
....to GTAC/St Francis de Sales swimmers who were Ohio High School Division I State Champions in the 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 freestyle (Mike DiSalle) and 500 freestyle (Rowan Williams) and took the Team Runners-up trophy.
....to all GTAC high school swimmers who successfully competed at Districts and the State meet.
....to our GTAC/UT Rockets Women Swim Team who set multiple pool and team records, earned several NCAA consideration times and were MAC runners-up at the Mid-American Championships this past weekend.
....to GTAC/University of Michigan swimmer Roman Willets upon UM winning its 35th Big Ten Championship this past weekend.
....our GTAC 53 member Ohio JO Team, our largest ever, as they prepare to compete at Ohio JO Championships in two weeks.
....Head Coach Keith Kennedy, for being selected, for the 3rd time, as Northwest Ohio District Men's Coach of the Year.
 
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, Sunday, February 20, 2011
 
This Week
Monday, February 21: All practices canceled except for Gold, Pre-Senior and Senior who are not at Regionals, but preparing for a different meet: 4:30-6:30pm @ SFS
Wednesday, February 23: Last Chance Time Trial (See information below)
Friday, February 25: Gold, Pre-Senior and Senior has practice from 3-5:30pm.
Sunday, February 27: NO PRACTICE due to Funarama at St Francis.
 
Next Week
Schedule for Season I from February 28-March 6 @ St Francis pool
Mini and Minnows - same (Monday at UT Health Ed pool as usual)
Blue- same
Bronze- same
Silver- same
Gold- same
Pre and Senior- 3:15-5:30 only M- F (No Saturday or Sunday due to Senior Meet)
 
Season II Registration Forms and Schedules
Forms and Schedules are attached. Deadline for discount registration at SFS is February 28. These are available at the SFS pool outer office if you cannot download it from this e-mail. Please note that these are all available through our website, along with our swim lesson registration forms through the summer.
 
Last Chance Time Trial
This Wednesday, we are hosting a small Time Trial meet for swimmers who are within .5 seconds of their JO cut or another nationally recognized cut, or have the permission of their coach. You pay right at the check-in for your swimmer to compete.
Check-in begins at 6pm on deck; Warm-ups are at 6:30pm and the time trials begin at 7pm. We will be using 4 lanes so practices will go on as usual.
 
Regional Results
Our swimmers are in the midst of competing at Regionals and WOW! What awesome times they are achieving. Check all the results at http://www.sandotterswimming.com/
Congratulations to all of our swimmers competing at Regionals! We will have an update on our website at the end of the meet.
 
State High School Results
Congratulations to all of our swimmers who competed at the NW Ohio District Meet and are going on to compete at the Ohio State Championships. You can see all of the results at www.swimmeet.com . Good luck in Canton this weekend, and congratulations to Head Coach Keith Kennedy for being selected as the NW Ohio Division I Coach of the Year for the second year in a row!
 
MAC Championship Results
Our UT Rockets, who compete year round with GTAC, are going for their 2nd Mid-American Conference Championship next weekend at Ohio University, Athens. Follow the live results at http://www.mac-sports.com/ (Click on women's swimming and then click the graphic for MAC Championships.) Swim fast, ladies!
 
Kudos to our swimmers who are now seeing the fruits of all of their hard work!
Go GTAC!
 
 
5 attachments — Download all attachments  
2011 Season II Practice Schedule @ Northview.pdf
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2011 Season II Practice Schedule @ SFS.pdf
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2011 Season II Registration @ SFS.pdf
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2011 Season II Registration @ Sylvania Northview.pdf
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2011 Sylvania Northview Spring Stroke Clinic.pdf
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GTAC News, February 13, 2011
Welcome back Aaron Borgman! We are glad to have you back in the pool at GTAC!
 
This Week
NO PRACTICE February 18, 19, 20 due to High School Districts and Ohio Swimming Regional Championships!
 
Accounting
Updated accounts will be e-mailed personally to each family this week.
 
Season II
Season II is a unique program only offered by the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club in our area. Most swim teams take a multiple-week break right after state championships and then start right into Long Course in late April or early May. Our coaches decided that this was the perfect time to have a mini-season in which swimmers can review stroke technique, work on fine points and maintain their progress in the water. It is also the perfect time for summer league swimmers to get back into the water, work on stroke technique and build up some endurance before the warm weather comes. Our Season II concept has become so popular that we are now offering it at TWO locations: St Francis and Sylvania Northview. Read the information below, download the forms above, and if you have any questions, please e-mail Cindy.
 
Season II at St Francis....
This is our standard Season II for our swimmers who have been in the water with us all through Season I. It starts in March. Attached please find the Registration Form and Practice Schedule for Season II at SFS. Note that the Senior B practice will be held at Sylvania Northview with Coach Rich so please register on the Northview form (see next blurb which follows) if you want are registering for Senior B. You can compare and contrast the practice demands for the respective Pre-Senior and Senior.Senior B groups at both places.
 
......and Season II at Northview.....
Due to popular request, we are also offering our Season II practices at Sylvania Northview. Note that there are no Minnows or regular Senior group at Northview, so if you plan to register for those groups, you must register at SFS (above).  Season II at Northview is primarily intended for new swimmers to GTAC, especially those in the Sylvania area, but if you wish to take your training there for Season II, you are free to do so. As you can see, the practice times are later, and for the pre-Senior group, not as frequent. In addition to these two Season II programs, we are also offering....
 
.....Saturday Stroke Clinics at Northview
For the summer league swimmer who is busy with other sports or the swim lesson student who needs more, this is a great chance for 6 hour-long stroke lessons with our GTAC instructors. See that form attached above and, again, if you have any questions, please e-mail Cindy. Please note that ALL of our lesson, registration and practice forms for the spring will be on our website by tomorrow evening.
 
Long Course Meet Packet
Attached also is our meet information for Long Course for your planning purposes. We will keep updating information about Long Course as we have it. Thank you!
 
Kudos to all of our GTAC swimmers who will be competing at Regionals in Fremont and our high school swimmers who will be competing at HS Districts in Bowling Green. Swim fast and swim to win!!!  Now is your time!!!
 
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, February 4, 2011
Welcome to Janet Stengle who joins our competitive team as a senior swimmer. We are delighted to have you competing with us.
 
This Week (and the reason why this e-mail is early!)
1. Pre-Senior & Senior: Beginning Monday, IF YOU ARE RESTING FOR REGIONALS, your practices will be as follows: Monday through Friday from 4:15-5:30 through February 11 and Monday through Thursday, 4:15-5:15 from February 14-17. Those pre-senior swimmers who are resting for Regionals are: Megan Burnard, Warren Lee, Maggie and Katie Hsieh, Fabien Sanchez. Ketan Fernandex and Allie Kemp. All other pre-seniors will attend at the usual practice time, BUT ALL PRACTICES WILL BE AT SFS. There is no more practice at UT for this season. Seniors: Keith will let you know if you are resting for Regionals or tapering for a later meet. If you are resting for Regionals, following the resting schedule above.
2. NO PRACTICE next Saturday, February 12 due to High School Sectionals.
3. Note that your swimmers will be getting out of practice earlier as taper time arrives. Their coaches will tell them and you.
 
Last Call for TYR Tracer Suit Order for Sectional/National swimmers
Please contact Cindy ASAP as she will be sending in the order on Sunday. She can send you a price list.
 
Season II Registration Information
Attached please find the registration form for Season II which begins Monday, March 7. Please note that if you are competing in Ft Lauderdale, you are required to register for Season II to continue to train. The practice schedule will be posted next week.
 
Northwest Ohio Middle School Swim League Information
A flier and registration forms are attached. Please note that there are some changes from last year. There will be a team for every school district. This is a great opportunity to introduce your 6th, 7th or 8th grader to High School swimming. Please note the information meeting date is Wednesday, March 23, 7pm @ SFS for all interested parents and coaches.
 
GTAC Banquet, Tuesday, March 22 @ 6pm
Save the Date!
 
Kudos to all of our Ohio high school swimmers as they begin their championship season! Swim fast!

GTAC News, Sunday, January 31, 2011
Welcome new GTAC swimmer Bella Iorio (Blue)! We are delighted to have you with us!
 
This Week
Thursday, February 3: NO PRACTICE due to High School Meet @ SFS EXCEPT Gold, Pre-Senior and Senior: 3:15-5:30pm
(NOTE: We never cancel practice due to weather, even if schools are closed. If you feel it is unsafe to drive, please don't. But we will be there ready to coach.)
 
Season II, March 7- May 6
Information about Season II will be e-mailed with the next Team E-mail to all GTAC swimmers. Note that if your swimmer is planning to compete at Ft Lauderdale, he or she MUST register for Season II.
 
New Non-Competitive and Lesson Registration forms
Please see the attached forms for Non-competitive at UT and swim lessons at UT, SFS and Sylvania Northview. E-mail Cindy with any questions. Note that non-competitive participants may not be older than 12, and lessons students must be age 4 or older.
 
Ft Lauderdale Meet Reminder
If you are planning to compete at the Southern Zone Sectional in Fort Lauderdale, you MUST purchase a meet credit and sign up on-line by March 1. If you need a TYR tracer suit, you MUST e-mail Cindy to order one by Feb 4. (We have some in stock, but not all sizes. We do not have any shortjohns for women, only racers.) Coach Dave has a list of all swimmers who have cuts. It is strongly recommended that you purchase your flights as soon as possible and reserve your room by Feb 14.
The cost for TYR Tracer Light suits: Women's aeroback: $102  Women's shortjohn: $132  Men's Racer: $48  Men's Jammer: $84
 
Kudos to Jacy Dyer and Laura Lindsay, our UT swimmers who achieved NCAA cut times last week, and Roman Willets, our sophomore UM swimmer who is now on the A relays for Michigan with the 3rd fastest 50 and 100 free times on the team. Way to go, Jacy, Laura and Roman!!
 
Kudos to our GTAC parents and swimmers on an outstanding Ohio Open. In our second year, we have grown and will continue to grow as this is the only prelims/finals mid-winter meet in NW Ohio. Thank you GTAC parents for your gracious help this weekend.
 
Go GTAC!!

GTAC News, January 23, 2011

Welcome new GTAC swimmers Katie (minnow) and Alex (bronze) Harms! We are delighted to have you with us at GTAC. 

This week: NO PRACTICE Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30 due to the Ohio Open.

Ohio Open Volunteer List: Please see the attached and sign up now for a slot. Our tentative start time is 8am warm-ups, 9am start each morning, ending by noon; 4pm warm-up, 5pm start each evening, ending by 7:30pm. We will send you the exact timeline shortly. This is a prelims/finals meet, so all swimmers compete in the morning, and the top 16 return in the evening. Remember that you can "bank" these for your Long Course requirements since the Holy Toledo meet, which we are hosting in June, will not have enough slots for everyone to earn their four Long Course volunteer credits. E-mail Cindy with any questions. Thank you GTAC parents for helping us to provide teams with a challenging prelims/finals meet in the mid-season. This is great training for future meets.

2011 Spring/Summer Meet Schedule & Hotel Information: Attached please find our most up-to-date information for this summer's meets. Please mark your calendar accordingly. Scroll down to see hotel information. For the meet in Cincinnati, GTAC traditionally does not reserve a bloc of rooms as families like to choose their own hotels and there are so many options. We will have information about the Cleveland State hotel for Sectionals this week to confirm with those attending that meet. We apologize for the problem with the hotel for the Barbara Kay Mini-meet. Evidently the employee with whom we contracted for a bloc of rooms is no longer employed with the hotel and failed to "lock our bloc." Fortunately, there are many hotels in the Worthington/Northern Columbus area from which to choose. For national meets, check with Coach Keith. 

Southern Zone Sectional in Ft. Lauderdale March 17-20: Attached please find the meet book with events and time standards. If your swimmer is going, please let Cindy know ASAP so that she can order a t-shirt for your swimmer. Please reserve your room before February 15. Please make your travel plans (the earlier the cheaper) so that your swimmer is on deck on Thursday, March 17 by 6pm, OR, if swimming the 800/1500, by that warm-up time. Please talk with Keith if you don't have individual cut times but are interested in swimming relays. Thank you!

Season II Information: Information about our Season II program, March 7- May 6, will be sent out next week. GTAC is the leader in providing year round swim training (48 weeks per year!) and this is a great mini-season for stroke work and technique training. 

Northwest Ohio Middle School Swim League: We are now in our 4th year! NOMSSL will begin on Tuesday, April 26, with meets on May 11, 18 and 25. We will be posting information shortly, but plan now to organize your school's middle school team! All 6th, 7th and 8th graders can participate for a nominal registration fee. 

Updated Swim Lesson & Non-competitive training Information: Attached please find the new schedule for swim lessons on Sundays at SFS. (Forms are also available in the outer office at the pool.) Next week, we will be providing you with updated information for swim lessons at Sylvania Northview and the UT Health Ed pool, as well as the non-competitive training program at UT Health Ed pool. Note that the non-competitive training is only open to swimmers ages 12 and younger, and all swim lesson students must be at least 4 years old.These forms will also be posted on our website.

Taper time: In the next month, your swimmers will be gradually ending practice earlier as they begin to taper for championship meets. Coaches will remind swimmers of these times, so be prepared. Swimmers should focus on getting lots of sleep, drinking lots of liquids, and continuing to work hard in practice. Practice like a champion and you will race like a champion!

Go GTAC!

GTAC News, Sunday, January 16, 2011
With coaches in Fremont, Carmel and Ann Arbor (high school meet), our swim team and staff were spread all over this weekend, but with fantastic results! 6th place at Carmel with over 1000 points, amazing time drops and several firsts by our 8 & un boys at Puppymania, and multiple new pool records at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School (which the entire University of Michigan men's swim team attended to watch our boys), it was a great weekend for GTAC swimmers!
(Thank you for understanding why we had to cancel practice!)
 
This Week
No changes to Practice Schedule
 
Ohio Open
GTAC's Ohio Open Meet takes place the last weekend of January. Attached please find the volunteer form to sign up.
Thank you!
 
Save the Date!
GTAC Short Course Season Team Banquet: Tuesday, March 22 @ 6pm. More information to follow.
 
GTAC's Summer Meet Schedule Update
Please see the attached tentative Summer Meet Schedule with additions and some changes.
 
Important Information re: Southern Zone Sectionals at Fort Lauderdale
IF you are planning to compete in Southern Zone Sectional in Fort Lauderdale, you must:
1. Have or purchase a TYR tracer light by February 1 from us in order to get the suit on time;
2. Reserve your hotel room by February 16 (e-mail Cindy if you need more information);
3. Purchase a meet credit and sign up for the meet via your on-line account by March 1;
4. Have 2 individual cuts or permission of Coach Kennedy;
5. Be on deck at the pool by 6pm, March 17 or by warm-ups if you are swimming the 800/1500 that day.
 
Kudos to Zhada Fields for being named one of the top ten swimmers in the US in her age-group! USA Swimming honored Zhada with National Age-Group Awards for achieving the 8th fastest time in the 50 yard free, 7th fastest time in the 100 meter free, and 3rd fastest time in the US in the 50 meter backstroke (31.43). Congratulations, Zhada!
 
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, Sunday, January 9, 2011
Reminder from Last Week: NO Sunday practice today for Silver, Gold, Pre-Senior or Senior
 
This Week
NEW: NO Practice this Thursday, July 13 for Blue, Bronze or Gold (other than those going to Carmel per Coach Chris' e-mail).
1. Minnows/Mini-Minnows practice will resume at the UT Health Ed pool on Mondays from 4:45-5:45pm beginning tomorrow.
2. Pre-Senior practice will resume at the UT Student Rec pool on Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:45-8:30pm beginning tomorrow.
3. Practice Change for Gold, Pre-Senior and Senior (due to SFS exams): Friday, January 14: 3:30-5:30pm @ SFS
4. NO Practice, Next Sunday, January 16 for Silver, Gold, Pre-Senior and Senior.
 
Carmel Meet Hotel Update
Coach Keith was able to Priceline the Embassy Suites for $38! There is a Cheerleading Convention in town, but there are still plenty of rooms available, expecially around the interstates outside of town. Many hotels have great rates at the last minute!
 
Final Call for Personalized Car Cling Orders!
We want to order your personalized GTAC car clings this week. Please place any last minute orders in the box by tomorrow, January 10. Cost: $10 for 2 clings. Up to three first names can be put on one cling.
 
Who needs Mesh bags? Who need ID tags for Mesh Bags?
Please reply to Cindy if your swimmer needs a GTAC Mesh bag or the personalized ID tag for the bag. The coaches want all swimmers to have their own GTAC bag on deck for all of their gear. Cindy can get those to you this week. She is at the pool every Monday through Thursday if you need caps, goggles or anything else.
 
Ohio Open Volunteer Selection
The sign-up sheet for the Ohio Open, January 28-30 @ BGSU will be sent out to all GTAC families next week. This is a prelims/finals meet, so all swimmers will compete in the morning and the top 16 will return in the evening. We will not be staffing concessions, so all hands will be on deck or working the entryways. This is an excellent opportunity to complete all of your volunteer requirements.
 
Reminder! Meet Hotel Reservation Deadlines
February 3: Cut-off for Oxford, Ohio, Baymont Inn for Ohio Senior Meet. Rooms are reserved for Mar 3-5. 513-523-2722.
February 4: Cut-off for Courtyard Columbus Worthingon for Barbara-Kay Mini-Meet.  Rooms reserved for Mar 4-5. 614-436-7070.
February 15: Cut-off for Marriott Courtyard, Ft. Lauderdale Beach for Sectionals. Rooms reserved for Mar 16-20. 954-524-8733.
                          See www.flaswim.com for Meet Information.
 
High School Meet this Week
Thursday, Jan 13, 7pm. St Ursula Academy v. Notre Dame Academy @ SFS. Admission charged.
 
Tentative Spring and Summer Meets
(Based upon info we have as of today and subject to change; we will let you know if there are any changes ASAP)
April 8-10: Eric Namesnik Memorial Grand Prix, Canham Natatorium, University of Michigan (cuts)
May 21-22: 8th Annual GTAC Disability Open, Keating Aquatic Center, University of Cincinnati (paralympic)
June 11-12: HOLY TOLEDO! Meet hosted by GTAC @ BGSU
June 23-26: TYR Swim Meet of Champions, Mission Viejo, CA (cuts)
June 29: Ohio Open Water Championships (cuts)
July 7-10: Ohio Senior Meet (site tbd)
July 11: GTAC Last Chance Meet @ SFS
July 14-17: Ohio LC JO Championships @ Miami University (cuts)
        Hotel Reservations open Jan 15: July 14 @ Holiday Inn Elms, $109-$139, 513-524-2002. Code: TAC  Cut-off: June 14
                                                                       July 15,16 @ Marcum Center Inn, $119-$129/night. 513-529-6911    Cut-off: June 15
July 21-25: Speedo Sectionals @ Cleveland State (cuts). Hotel Information to follow.
August 2-6: US Junior Nationals @ Stanford University (cuts). Hotel Information to follow.
August 5-7: Central Zone Championships for 14 & un @ IUPUI (cuts). See Ohio Swimming website for information.
August 8-12: US Senior Nationals @ Stanford University (cuts). Hotel Information to follow.
 
Kudos to all swimmers who completed their first 500 and 1000 at the GTAC Specialty Meet in November! Your photo certificate has been posted on the glass of the trophy case! Please feel free to take it and get it framed with your other swimming awards. Thanks to the Fields family for organizing the photos and certificates!
 
Please wear a hat and coat when you come into and leave the pool! Stay healthy so you can swim fast!
Go GTAC!
 

GTAC News, January 2, 2011
Welcome to our newest assistant coach, Kristen Latscha. Kristen was an outstanding age-group and senior swimmer with GTAC, earning multiple JO and Zone cuts, especially in distance events. She was one of the top swimmers at Anthony Wayne High School for all four years. She is now a student at UT, and we are delighted to have her assisting Coach Chris and working with the younger swimmer. Welcome Coach Kristen!
 
This Week:
Now that school is back in session, we switch back to our normal practice schedule, with the following exceptions:
Monday, Jan 3 and Friday, Jan 7: Gold, Pre-Senior and Senior groups have practice from 3:15-5:30pm @ SFS on those two days.
Sunday, Jan 9: NO PRACTICE
 
Summer JO Hotels:
We have hotels, but we must give them another week to process our bloc before you call in. For your information:
Long Course JO's will take place July 15, 16, 17 @ Miami University, Oxford. Here are the hotels we have for GTAC swimmers:
1. For Thursday night only, July 14: Holiday Inn Elms, 22 rooms.
2. For Friday &Saturday nights, July 15 &16: Marcum Conference Center Inn, 29 rooms.
We will forward you the phone numbers and information as soon as we receive confirmation from these two hotels. Both of these hotels are within walking distance to the pool and downtown restaurants.
 
Accounts:
Thank you to all you made their payments. All checks will be deposited tomorrow unless other arrangements have been made.
 
Ohio Open:
Volunteer slots will be opened in the next team e-mail for the Ohio Open, January 28-30 @ BGSU. Thank you to all of our parents who volunteer their time so generously.
 
Upcoming High School Meets:
Saturday, Jan 8, 11am @ SFS: SFS/SUA v Findlay
 
Thank you to Diane Schorsch who organized the Christmas stockings for our team! She helped to add lots of holiday spirit to our walls!
 
Go GTAC!
 

GTAC News, Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Normally our weekly e-mail comes out on Sunday, but since Sunday is the final day for payment for this season, we wanted to get this out a few days early.
 
Accounts
Thank you to all who contacted Cindy or have made payment. All checks will be deposited next week. Remember, you must make payment in full, or make payment arrangements, by this Sunday, January 2. Families who do not make payment or arrangements by January 2 will not be able to continue practicing. Thank you. Cindy will be out of town from tomorrow (Wednesday) through Saturday, but will return Saturday evening and empty the box on Sunday evening. Feel free to e-mail her at any time with questions, but please save any requests for swim caps, goggles, or t-shirts until Cindy returns. Thanks!
 
Personalized GTAC Car Clings
The cost is $10 for two identical car clings. You may put up to 3 names on a car cling. They are white with the GTAC logo, and list only the first name(s) of the swimmer(s). Please submit your order and payment by January 10 so that we can place our order promptly.
 
Lapathon
Julie Shook sent out an e-mail letting everyone know that the deadline for lapathon submissions is here. You may place your summary and check in the black box so you can get 50/50 credit. Also, Jillian Shook lost a special sweatshirt at the pool. Please check your swimmer's bag regularly for any strange bits of clothing and turn them in to the pool. Kids tend to pick up items in the locker room which is not theirs. Thank you.
 
Hotels
It is your responsibility to make reservations. We cannot guarantee that rooms will be available after the cut-off. All rooms are held under the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club.
-Ohio Senior Meet, March 4-6, Miami University, Oxford, OH; Rooms reserved for March 3-5; Baymont Inn, $75/Thursday night; $99/Friday & Saturday night; 513-523-2722; 30 rooms are available; Cut off: February 3.
-Barbara Kay Mini-Meet, March 5-6, Thomas Worthington HS; Rooms reserved for March 4-5; Courtyard Columbus Worthington, 614-436-7070, 25 rooms; Cut-off: February 4.
-Southern Zones Speedo Sectional, March 17-20, Ft Lauderdale Aquatic Center; Rooms reserved for March 16-20, with check-out on the 21st; Marriott Courtyard Ft Lauderdale Beach; 954-524-8733; 20 rooms; $174/night; Cut off: February 15.
-GTAC Disability Open, May 21-22, University of Cincinnati; Rooms reserved for May 19, 20, 21, with check-out on the 22nd; Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center Hotel, 513-487-3800; 80 rooms; $119/night; Cut-off: April 19.
-Summer JO's @ Miami University: We will be announcing rooms shortly (hotels won't reserve too far ahead).
 
Kudos to all of our swimmers who competed at the Team Pitt Christmas Invitational. It was a very challenging meet, and we were the only Ohio Team there, competing against fast teams from all over the east coast. It was a great opportunity to step outside of one's comfort zone and all of our swimmers did very well! Way to go, Hurricanes!

GTAC News, Sunday, December 26, 2010
 
This Week:
Tuesday, December 28 @ 1pm, SFS vs. Cincinnati St Xavier, Cleveland University School and Saline (MI) High School.
All families are invited, and 6th, 7th & 8th grade boys get free admission. They can meet with the SFS team and eat with them after the meet. The meet should run from 1-3:30pm at the SFS pool. SFS is currently ranked as one of the top teams in Ohio and is working hard to achieve their best finish ever at states.
 
Accounting:
All accounts must be paid in full by January 2 or swimmers will not be permitted to continue practicing on January 3. Cindy will check the Black Box on Sunday evening, January 2, in case you want to make a drop-off between 5-8:30pm during practice.
Contact Cindy if you have questions or need to make payment arrangments.
 
Happy New Year!

GTAC News, Sunday, December 19, 2010
 
This Week:
Please Check Your Practice Schedule! If you do not have a copy, it is on our website under Competitive Team.
1. Mini-Minnows and Minnows will not have Monday practice at the UT pool until January 10, 2010 due to UT closure for the holidays. They will instead have practice at SFS on Mondays until then.
2. Please note all of the practice changes (which are too numerous to mention here) for each group over the Holiday season. It is important that you check your swimmer's group each week for changes through the New Year.
3. Practice is not cancelled due to snow. If you feel it is too risky to drive your swimmer, then feel free to stay home. GTAC does not cancel practice unless there is a problem with the pool itself, and then we would e-mail you.
 
Carruth
If you have not picked up your Carruth order, please do so ASAP at the SFS pool.
 
Lapathon
If you have not already done so, please turn in your collection for lapathon and all paperwork to Julie Shook. You may contact her at julieshook@bex.net
 
Meet Credits
Meet credits will be updated on Monday evening, December 20.
 
Kudos to Angeline LeVasseur on her excellent swims at the Can-Am Paralympic Championship in Toronto last weekend. Keep up the great work, Angeline!
 
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, Sunday, December 12, 2010
This Week:
Practice Change per schedule
Friday, December 17: For Minnow, Blue, Bronze and Silver: NO Practice
                                       For Gold, Pre-Senior, Senior: Changed to 3:15-5:30pm @ SFS
Sunday, December 19: NO Practice
 
Hotel Information
Hotel reservation information will be e-mailed out after the 1st of the year for the Barbara Kay Mini-Meet, Ohio Senior Meet and Ft Lauderdale Speedo Sectional, all taking place in March. Note that there are no team rooms reserved for the January Carmel Invitational at IUPUI in Indianapolis, as families have chosen to stay at a variety of hotels of their own choice located nearby. So each family is responsible for finding their own room in Indy, but there are many to choose from that are not far from the pool. Go to the Carmel Swim Club website for meet and hotel information: www.carmelswimclub.org  After Coach Chris sends out the meet entry info to all, you can organize seating, car pools and team meals together while you are in Indy. This is a great prelims/final meet at one of the best, fastest pools in the nation.
 
Swimming Tired
At this time of the season, all of our swimmers are working very hard, swimming additional yardage and having tough practices. This is when our older swimmers have their most difficult work-outs and our youngest swimmers are challenged too, so that they can swim fastest when championships roll around in February and March. Please help them to eat well, drink lots of water and sleep at least 8 hours each night so that they can stay healthy and strong.
And remember: The best is yet to come!
 
Kudos to GTAC swimmers at the BG Meet! We took a close second to Upper Arlington, set four new meet records (Catherine Kight in the 100 back, 100 breast and 200 IM; Zhada Fields in the 200 free), achieved dozens of personal best times, and earned many new JO cuts. Congratulations GTAC swimmers as you continue to work hard and swim tired.
Kudos to our Junior and Senior National swimmers at Georgia Tech (Short Course Juniors) and OSU (Seniors) who achieved personal best in-season times and came in 29th place (out of over 100 teams) for the Men's teams.
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, Sunday, December 12, 2010
This Week:
Practice Change per schedule
Friday, December 17: For Minnow, Blue, Bronze and Silver: NO Practice
                                       For Gold, Pre-Senior, Senior: Changed to 3:15-5:30pm @ SFS
Sunday, December 19: NO Practice
 
Hotel Information
Hotel reservation information will be e-mailed out after the 1st of the year for the Barbara Kay Mini-Meet, Ohio Senior Meet and Ft Lauderdale Speedo Sectional, all taking place in March. Note that there are no team rooms reserved for the January Carmel Invitational at IUPUI in Indianapolis, as families have chosen to stay at a variety of hotels of their own choice located nearby. So each family is responsible for finding their own room in Indy, but there are many to choose from that are not far from the pool. Go to the Carmel Swim Club website for meet and hotel information: www.carmelswimclub.org  After Coach Chris sends out the meet entry info to all, you can organize seating, car pools and team meals together while you are in Indy. This is a great prelims/final meet at one of the best, fastest pools in the nation.
 
Swimming Tired
At this time of the season, all of our swimmers are working very hard, swimming additional yardage and having tough practices. This is when our older swimmers have their most difficult work-outs and our youngest swimmers are challenged too, so that they can swim fastest when championships roll around in February and March. Please help them to eat well, drink lots of water and sleep at least 8 hours each night so that they can stay healthy and strong.
And remember: The best is yet to come! 
Kudos to GTAC swimmers at the BG Meet! We took a close second to Upper Arlington, set four new meet records (Catherine Kight in the 100 back, 100 breast and 200 IM; Zhada Fields in the 200 free), achieved dozens of personal best times, and earned many new JO cuts. Congratulations GTAC swimmers as you continue to work hard and swim tired.
Kudos to our Junior and Senior National swimmers at Georgia Tech (Short Course Juniors) and OSU (Seniors) who achieved personal best in-season times and came in 29th place (out of over 100 teams) for the Men's teams.
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, December 5, 2010
 
This Week:
1. Monday, December 6: The Carruth WILL be at the pool! We are sorry that it was delayed and apologize for your inconvenience.
2. Sunday, December 12: Josh Project Fundraiser, A Soul Food Extravaganza, 1:30-4:30pm, Somerset Hall, 2458 Tremainsville Road; $20 for Adults; $15 for Children under 12 & Seniors over 60. Excellent food, music and special swim student recognition at 3pm. We are proud to be celebrating our 4th year with the Josh Project.
3. Please remember to turn in your Lapathon Money to Julie Shook in the next few weeks. Contact Julie at julieshook@bex.net
 
Pitt Meet Excused Absence Letter
Attached please find a letter from Coach Keith to submit to your swimmer's school so that he or she can be excused on Friday, December 17.
 
Car Cling Orders
Orders will be accepted anytime between now and January 3 for personalized car clings. Cost: $10 for two clings. Please write the name or names (first names only) you wish to have on these special Greater Toledo car clings, and put your check in the black box. Orders will be placed January 4.
 
Accounts
All Current Balance sheet were individually e-mailed this weekend to each competitive swim family. Payment in full is due by January 1. Thank you in advance for your payment.
 
Meet Credits
All Meet credits received as of Saturday, December 4, have been posted. Cindy will be out of town beginning December 8, so if you wish to have more meet credits, please place your check in the black box by this Tuesday evening.
 
Kudos to Rowan Williams and DJ MacDonald who competed at Short Course Nationals this week. Both of them achieved their fastest ever in-season times in the 200 back and 200 breast respectively. Good luck to them and Dan Miller, Mike DiSalle, Dan DiSalle and Phil Barone at Short Course Junior Nationals at Georgia Tech next weekend!
 
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, November 28, 2010
Welcome to our newest GTAC members: Kelsey Stark (Senior), Aaron He (Mini-Minnow), Emma Dukate, Charlie Mlcek, Chet Mlcek, Avery Siegel, Isaac Slater, Elizabeth Fineske and Nathan Aloi (all Non-Competitive team members). We are delighted to have you join our team!
 
This Week:
ASAP: Don't forget to sign up for your meets per Coach Chris's e-mails. All meet credits have been posted, so if you need more, deposit $30 per meet in the black box. (Note that between December 8 and 19, no meet credits will be posted.)
Friday: Carruth orders will be delivered to the SFS pool and available after 4pm in the foyer.
 
Swim Connections: The Place to Go for all Meet Results
All of our meet results are posted on-line at www.swimconnection.com/oh  You may become a member of Swim Connection by entering your swimmer's ID information. Your swimmer's USA Swimming ID is created as follows: Birthday (MMDDYY), first 3 letters of first name, middle initial, first 4 letters of last name. For example, swimmer Jane Marie Smith, born October 15, 2001 would have the following ID: 101501JANMSMIT     Swim Connections will keep track of your swimmer's best times and update times whevever there is a new meet added to the system. Best of all, relatives from anywhere in the world can go online and check meet results. It's a great tool to use, and all of our meet results are posted there within several days of completion.
 
Lost GTAC shirts
This happens whenever we have a big meet---swimmers pick up someone else's shirt and take it home. Please check your swimmer's bag this evening to see if he or she inadvertantly picked up another teammate's shirt. There should be names written on the tag. Thank you!
 
Last Call for Gifts for our Troops
The box will be out in the foyer each day this week, and then the last shipment will be mailed on Friday. Thank you for your donations and warm wishes to our men and women overseas.
 
Kudos to our parents for hosting a very successful 38th Annual GTAC Turkey Meet. Your hard work and extra special consideration was great appreciated by all. Thank you! Go GTAC!!

GTAC News, Sunday, November 21, 2010
 
This Week:
1. Wednesday, November 24: Practice Time Change for Gold, Pre-Senior, Senior groups to 3:15-5:30pm
2. No Practice, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to Thanksgiving Holiday and Turkey Meet.
 
Turkey Meet Staffing
Please see the spreadsheet attached and contact Cindy if there are changes or corrections. Please NOTE that the spots in RED still need to be filled, and most of those are in Concessions. Please consider doing one session there or if you have a high school student who need service hours, this would be a great opportunity. Thank you for your generous help!
 
Last Call for Anderson's Poinsettia Vouchers!
You can turn them in by Tuesday of this week and we will get them out to you during the first week of December. Make one check payable to GTAC. The forms are located in the outer office. You will receive a credit of 20% of your total sales.
 
Deadline for Donating to our Troops
In order to get the gifts to our guys and gals overseas, we must mail them by December 1. The box will be in the foyer on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. They appreciate everything we send, especially personal cards and gifts. Thank you!
 
Kudos to Rowan Williams, DJ MacDonald and Dan Miller who have been honored by USA Swimming as National Scholastic All-Americans. By maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA and achieving a national cut time in an individual event, these young men are among ony 620 males in 10th, 11th and 12th grade nationwide to earn such an honor, and among only 12 in Ohio. In fact, this group makes up the single largest number of Scholastic All-Americans on any one team in Ohio. Rowan and Dan are seniors at St Francis de Sales, and have been on the honor roll all four years; DJ is a junior at SFS also, and has also been on the honor roll during all of his time there. These young men have also helped the Knight swim team carry the best GPA of any athletic team at St Francis. Congratulations to them on their achievements in and out of the pool!
 
Happy Thanksgiving!

GTAC News, Monday, November 15, 2010
Attached please find the spreadsheet for the Turkey Meet. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis by e-mailing Cindy. (Some jobs requiring specialized knowledge have already been assigned.) The meet packet is also attached which will give you an idea of when your child is swimming and warm-up times, although some are yet to be announced. Thank you!
 
This Week:
1. Wednesday, November 17: Due to the UT/BG game at UT, the Pre-Senior practice has been moved to SFS at 6:15-8:30pm.
2. Thursday, November 18: HurricanaMania! Schedule is as follows: Senior and Pre-Senior will have normal practice from 3:15-5:30pm; Mini-Minnow to Silver should arrive at 5:15pm (15 minutes of stretching) and begin swimming at 5:30pm. Even if you do not obtain pledges, you will be swimming laps as part of your practice this day. Gold Practice will be help from 6:15-8:30pm and they will be swimming laps as well. (We cannot fit everyone in the pool at the same time.)
3. Saturday, November 20: Anderson's Poinsettia Voucher Order Forms due!
 
HurricanaMania!
Parents: We will need volunteers to count laps and bring drinks and snacks to share. The pizza will be provided for the kids to eat after they swim. Swimmers must turn in their pledge sheets and money to Julie Shook to get proper credit.
 
Andersons Poinsettia Voucher Order Forms: Due Saturday, November 20. Please make out one check to GTAC. Vouchers will be mailed directly to your home during Thanksgiving week.
 
Accounting:
After the Turkey Meet, you will be individually e-mailed your account spreadsheet with all three meets, all volunteer time, and all current credits and payments so that you know where you stand. All acounts must be paid in full by December 31.
 
 
Kudos to our terrific parents who volunteer so graciously! You make GTAC GREAT!!

GTAC News, November 7, 2010
Welcome new GTAC swimmer Liz Longthorne! We are delighted to have you at GTAC.
 
This week:
Tuesday, November 9: Team Photo @ 5:30pm. Please wear your new blue SWIM TOLEDO t-shirt for the team photo. No charge for a team picture. Individual/family photos can be taken any time after 4pm at the pool. Payment must be made at the time photo is taken. Thanks to Will & Erika Fields and Interstate Photo for these great professional photos. Let Cindy know if you do not yet have your blue shirt.
Saturday/Sunday, November 13-14: No practice Saturday morning for Blue, Bronze and Silver Groups (Gold, Pre-Senior & Senior WILL have practice); No Sunday practice all groups due to GTAC Hurricane Specialty Meet.
 
Next Week:
Thursday, November 18: Hurricane-Mania Lapathon! Pick up your pledge sheets at the pool if you wish to participate. Laps swum, pool fun, prizes won to help GTAC's programs and your swimmer's account! 5:30pm.
 
Hurricane Specialty Meet, November 13 & 14
The volunteer spreadsheet will be sent out later this week with times and reminders to all volunteers. Saturday warm-ups: 12:30pm; Start: 1:15pm. Sunday warm-ups: 9am; Start: 9:45. Coach Chris will be e-mail more information to swimmers later this week.
 
Fundraising
GTAC continues to offer opportunities for you to pay your bill!
Anderson's Poinsettia vouchers can be ordered now through November 20. Order forms available in the outer office. 20% of the total is credited to your account. The vouchers are the same cost as the poinsettias purchased in the stores.
Entertainment Books are no longer available. We had hoped to receive more, and they are gone for the season. We apologize to those who wished to sell more.
Patron Drive ads can be purchased at any time throughout the season, and 50% goes to your account.
The Carruth order has been sent in and 45% of your order will be credited to your account this week.
 
Mesh bags
We have ordered more mesh bags for our new swimmers and we will notify you when the bags arrive. We are delighted to have you with us at GTAC!
 
Good luck to all of GTAC's Ohio high school swimmers as they begin their season!
Go GTAC!

GTAC News, October 31, 2010
Welcome new GTAC Swimmers Anjali and Ketan Fernandes! We are delighted to have you with us!
Reminder from last week: NO Practice this evening (Sunday, Oct 31) due to Halloween Trick-or-Treating (Be Safe!)
 
This Week:
1. Monday, November 1: All Carruth Orders Due in Black Box by 6:30pm. Please write out one check payable to GTAC for order.
2. Friday, November 5: NEW Practice Schedule takes affect. Please download the attached or pick up a copy at the pool.
3. Saturday/Sunday, November 6/7: Turn Back your Clock (Fall Back!) for Daylight Savings Time.
 
Coming Up:
1. Tuesday, November 9: Team Photo Day @ SFS pool. We ask that all team members be there at 5:30pm for the large Team Photo. If you desire individual photo shoots, you may come anytime between 4-5:30pm. Order forms will be available at the pool. Group photos of swimmers in same family are available. No charge for the team photo; all others must be paid in advance.
2. Hurricane-Mania! Thursday, November 18: Obtain pledges for swimming laps at our annual lapathon party. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of pool equipment, help with our outreach programs and 50% of whatever you raise goes back to your account. Help the team, help the community and help your swimmer with laps swum, prizes won and pool fun! Pledge forms available at the pool. Parents who wish to help with food, drink or counting laps, e-mail julieshook@bex.net 
 
GTAC Hurricane Specialty Meet, November 13-14
Attached please find the current volunteer list for this meet. More information will be given next week. There are only a few spots still open. E-mail Cindy if you are interested. Turkey Meet volunteer slots will be posted in the next e-mail.
 
GTAC Supports Our Troops
Beginning tomorrow, there will be a donation box for GTAC swimmers to donate items for our troops overseas, as we do every year. Welcomed items include hand-wipes, small containers of mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toiletries, hard candies (no chocolate or meltable sweets), puzzles, puzzle books, cards, handmade holiday decorations and most of all, handmade cards sending your prayers and love.
 
An Important Note from our Head Coach about our Winter Practice schedule
Now that high school water polo is done, and high school swimming as begun (we have two teams training out of the SFS pool--SFS and St Ursula), and with our fall sports swimmers coming back into the pool, I have made the final adjustments to our practice schedule. This is the heart of our short course program, where consistent, regular practice times are so important.
A big thank you to all parents for their understanding. We appreciate the fact that many of you have multiple swimmers on the team, and are trying to have a sane schedule after school. Our main purpose is to provide the best, most personalized training with maximum lane space for each swimmer in each group, and also keep you from traveling as little as possible. For these reasons, we are now having practice at three pools: SFS, the UT Health Ed pool (ROTC building) and the UT Rec Center. This is unprecedented, as GTAC expands in both number of swimmers and coaches. All three pools are within 1/4 mile of each other, so that you can easily drop off one child right after another, or arrange for a carpool, if you already don't have one, through our on-line map system. Those pre-senior swimmers who will be using the UT Rec pool on Mondays and Wednesdays will need to compete a form for UT. Coach Dave will pass these out at the pool. They will also need to keep all personal items in the locker room, so they should have a lock. There will be equipment at the pool that they can use, so they do not need kickboards, etc. Cindy has parking passes if you should wish to stay and watch from upstairs, or if you have a Minnow/Mini-Minnow at the UT Health Ed pool next door to the Rec pool.
 
Second, we want your child to have the opportunity to have fun with his/her GTAC teammates outside of the pool. Thank you to the parents who helped us to have another great Halloween party. As you will see, there will be more chances for good times coming up.
 
Third, we want to help you pay for your GTAC fees as much as possible. After the Carruth fundraiser, we will be having an Anderson's poinsettia fundraiser in which 20% of receipts go to your account. You do not have to participate, but we want to offer these opportunities to make GTAC as affordable as possible. More info will be coming out soon.
 
Thank you again, GTAC parents, for always being so supportive. My primary goal is to set the stage so that your swimmer can achieve his or her best, and to this end, all of our coaches pledge their very best to you and your swimmer. As always, if you have any training questions, please contact your child's coach directly (their e-mails are listed in the cc section of each weekly e-mail you receive). If you have any accounting or other non-training questions, e-mail Cindy Roberts at cynthiamillen@gmail.com
 
We are proud to be one of the finest USA Swim Clubs in the nation, thanks to your support. Go GTAC!

GTAC News, Thursday, October 21, 2010
Welcome new GTAC swimmers Junbo Chen and Ashley Houttiker! We are delighted to have you with us!
 
This Week:
We are sending out this e-mail early this week to remind you of events for this weekend and next week:
1. Friday, October 22: An extra practice for Pre-Senior and Senior groups from 3:15-5:30pm.
2. Sunday, October 24: The DiSalle Developmental Meet and Pentathlon. Warm-ups begin at 9am (GTAC swimmers should arrive by 8:45am) and meet starts at 9:45am.
3. Sunday, October 24: NO PRACTICE for Gold, Pre-Senior and Senior Groups.
4. October 25 - November 4: Note the Adjustments in the practice Schedules for Minnows through Senior Groups. The Practice Schedule is attached for your review.
 
DiSalle Developmental Meet Volunteers:
Set-up (Morgan): Please arrive by 8am. Check in with Keith.
Concessions and Admissions: Please arrive by 8:30am. Check in with Cindy Roberts and Janet Wawrzyniak.
Timers and other Deck Volunteers: Please arrive by 8:45am. Timers check in with Cindy; All other Deck Workers check in with Meet Director Jeannette Grzeszczak. Questions? E-mail Cindy. The meet will be done by 1:30pm at the very latest.
 
See you all this Sunday!
Go GTAC!
 

GTAC News, October 17, 2010
Welcome to new GTAC swimmers Kerrigan Togrul, Bradley Rhegness, Sarah Paull. We are delighted to have you with us!
 
This week:
1. Sunday (today), October 17, NO PRACTICE.
2. Friday, October 22: Extra Practice, Pre-Senior & Senior, 3:15-5:30pm.
 
Next week:
Sunday, October 24: DiSalle Developmental Meet and Pentathlon. Coach Chris will be sending out our warm-up timeline. Volunteer reminders will also be sent out later this week.
Thursday, October 28: Halloween Party! (See Halloween help sign-up below.)
Reminder: October 25-Nov 4: Check your practice schedule for revised practice times during the interim between SFS Water Polo and SFS Swimming Season. (We will remind you again in the next weekly e-mail.)
 
Halloween Party, Thursday, October 28:
All Minnows through Silver Groups: 5:15-5:30, Parade in costumes; 5:45-6:30, Pool Games run by the Coaches; 6:30-7pm, Food in the Foyer.
Gold through Senior Groups: 6:15-6:30, Costumes (if desired); 6:45-7:30, Pool Games; 7:30-8pm, Food in the Foyer.
Parents: We are asking that you provide healthy food and drinks to share---finger food is preferable---for our swimmers. Please e-mail Julie Biggs at ajb21@earthlink.net with the food you will be bringing. Our parent coordinators in the foyer will be Shari Crockett (early group), Janet Wawryzyniak (early group), and Lidia Uran (late group).
GTAC always has a fun Halloween party! Join us!
 
Carruth Deadline: November 1
Drop off your Carruth order with ONE check made payable to GTAC please by Monday, November 1. No orders can be accepted after that.
 
Entertainment Books
We have a fresh order of books in stock at the SFS pool. E-mail Cindy to pick up.
 
GTAC "Yet to be named Swim-a-thon" to be held November 18:
We are seeking ideas for the name of our swimathon! ("Hurricanamania?" "WaveRave?" Put your creative ideas to work!) Funds raised this year will go toward the purchase of new blocks and help with our outreach programs, and with 50% going to your own account as well. Swimmers will earn prizes and one lucky group will win a pizza party! More info to come----mark your calendar now! We will be asking parents to help count laps for our participants.
 
Thanksgiving: GTAC always remembers our troops
Each year, GTAC swimmers make cards and send needed items to our troops overseas. This year is no different. Beginning November 1, we will have a table and a drop-off box in the foyer for your handmade cards, holiday decorations, and gifts (travel size shampoo, toiletries, books, small puzzles, hard candies, handmade snowflakes and lots of love are suggested!).  Thank you!
 
Kudos to our St Francis Aqua-Knights (who are all GTAC swimmers as well) on winning the Northern Regional Water Polo Championships this past weekend, defeating Thomas Worthington and Columbus St Charles. They now go to the Ohio State Championships in Mason. Good luck and Go Knights!!