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Another Short Course season has come and gone for Connecticut Swimming and I believe our LSC Championship was a great way for it to end. The new format went very well in my humble opinion. It appeared from the reaction of the swimmers, coaches, and spectators that the children either had fun and/or swam well. The nine lane course was a highlight for me and hope it was for all the swimmers who had a chance to swim in the championship style course either Friday or Saturday morning. As is customary each year, I must thank a whole lot of people who make this event happen. Well, the weekend went by quickly and I forgot everything I wanted to say.
First, to all the swimmers who I had the chance to meet and talk to. Each year I know a little more swimmers and the accomplishments being made. Deb, my goal is to have you swimming at the Long Course LSC Championship meet. To all the volunteers who actually filled their team assignments. 498 positions needed to be filled from timers to marshals. Without all of you, the meet would not be able to run (as noted by my announcing timers every morning and night.) To the CAT parents who helped run the office every day. Linda, you came through for us again, I cant thank you enough. To all the other CAT workers, thanks a bunch. Next year you all will have name tags so I can thank you personally. To Mary Beth McCarthy, if I can improve on just one of those three items we discussed, I’ll be a much happier person next year. Hope the girls liked the gifts. To all the people at the computer table. Larry and Mark, each year I don’t know what to say except for my gratitude and thanks that we have such a talented and dedicated two gentlemen that do what they do with complete efficiency and professionalism. To all the others up on the table, thanks for giving them the support and assistance they needed during scratch entries and finals. To all the announcers who had to push the reset button over a zillion times, thanks. To the parents of NES who do a great job with labels. To Barbara and Kathy who copied all the finals programs and sold them upstairs, you saved me a valuable amount of time. Thanks to all the officials who have the task of keeping the competition fair for all. Ed D and Ed D, thanks for the great job in the morning being our deck refs. Mike H, same goes for the afternoon. Dwight, I bet you never expected the Administrative Referee has so much to do. You did a great job! To all the officials who sacrificed ten pounds of body weight wearing your suit and tie on Friday evening, that was a remarkable feat. And to all the other officials in white and blue (except Ben) that I had the pleasure of seeing again, thanks and hope to see you all for the Long Course Season. To WAC, for providing the refreshments in hospitality. For all the work they did with only one or two swimmers, it was remarkable. I can’t thank the two women who were in there most of time, again, I wished I could remember your names. Thanks for the Ridgefield Aquatic Club for doing concessions at the last minute. The stand had great food and the ladies were always greeting customers with a smile. Lou and Deb, thanks again for setting up the Metro Swim Shop. I know you saved a few panicked swimmers who lost their suit or broke their goggles. Bonnie, Larry, and Joanne, thanks for all the help upstairs at the Zone table. This year promises to be an exciting meet for Connecticut Swimming.
Kate and Richard from Wesleyan, your facility was in great shape, thanks for all your help. Mike D. at the Colorado for being there all 10 sessions. Have a great time on your vacation. How about our two swimmers who sang the national anthem; Yvette Landwehr from Westport and Casey Quake from ARAC. Thanks LEHY, for providing the extra timing system for the weekend. I’m not sure whom to thank for bringing the system in early but it was appreciated. Thanks to the CAT team and coaches who in a bit of a panic, managed to bring in six extra lap counters with three minutes to spare. Nan Cooper, it goes without saying how this meet would function without all office management that you do. I hope you didn’t mind getting at least one or two phone calls and emails a day for the past month. And finally to my good friend and meet referee Clark Cooper. Your professionalism on the deck, the knowledge that you carry, and the way you handle the coaches and swimmers goes without saying. Each meet has its issues but somehow they get resolved and we move on. The short time we can get off the deck is well spent and I appreciate the support.
The future holds many more meets and friendships are gained at each one. I wish everyone good luck at Zones, Y-Nationals, or whatever meets is in calendar.
Ken Block
Meet Director