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Promising Start to Long Course Season

National Development Group
Provincial 1 Group

May/June 2008

Mental Toughness - The Essential Component

In the realm of swimming there is nothing more gratifying for a coach than watching a young hard-working, enthusiastic swimmer evolve into a confident, immensely capable and resilient competitor. Pause a moment to observe and you can almost see the transition take place. Entry through this daunting door into the swimmer's future has finally been obtained, and in they walk, confident in the certainty that their future encompasses personal accomplishment and fulfillment. Of course, there are slumps and hard times, but the puzzling aspect for the observer: How did this self-assurance emerge? In my view, it is the product of the trust that a swimmer develops in the daily routine - a conviction that all the practices, all of the hard work, the impossible sets, the insane split times, will result in the ultimate reward. Mental toughness, the essential component needed to handle the daily rigours of a challenging practice schedule, is not a "sometimes" thing. It is a constant - something that is not achieved without forbearance and perseverance, and is only perfected through daily, and yes, exhausting workouts. You have learned to push on when you feel you cannot and the realization that you can confront these barriers, everyday, is a comforting truth. It means that your success, and more important your disappointments can be handled. You are traveling a long road of self-discovery and personal learning. You are a true swimmer - self-motivated, independent, competitive and always ready to go. Everyday in the pool, you are moving closer to this ideal, closer to the dreams and aspirations.

Fine Leadoff towards Championship Season

The start of the long course season saw our National Development and Provincial 1 swimmers training hard and, despite the resulting fatigue, performing well and swimming fast in their first competition in Ottawa - Team Champs on April 19-21. In the May Performance meet at the University of Toronto, excellent performances were achieved as well as confidence instilled from strong swims in the midst of a challenging training schedule. NYAC qualified two swimmers (Nathaniel Hu and Alex Mierzynski) for the Eastern Canada Tri-Meet and training camp in May and this unique opportunity proved to be a positive experience for both young men. When competing with the best swimmers in Eastern Canada, the messages you send and receive are significant and really define you as an important swimmer in Canada's future. The NYAC time trial provided another opportunity for our swimmers to perform under difficult conditions with some very impressive results. This past weekend saw some of our swimmers competing at both AGI and Mayors Cup - both these meets were our final tune-up before championship season which includes Central Regions, Provincials and finally Age Group Nationals.

The results listed below are a real reflection of the dedication and hard work of each of our National Development and Provincial 1 swimmers.

Congratulations on a job well done!

Some Highlights

-new provincial cut for Tessa Henley in 13 year girls 100 free at Grootveld
-new nyac record for Nathaniel Hu in the boys 11/12 100 fly at team champs
-Casey Gallagher, Radu Vezeanu, Connie Yang and Caitlin Hodge all top 8
finishes at Team Champs
-medallists at Team Champs included Caitlin Hodge, Nathaniel Hu, Alex Mierzynski and Clement Cheng
-new provincial cuts for Katie Martin in the 200, 400, 800 free along with Radu Vezeanu in the 100 fly at team champs
-Alex Mierzynski earning high point scorer among 12 year boys for Team Ontario at the Eastern Canadian Tri-Meet including an outstanding 1500 free almost breaking 18:00
-new provincial cut for Lev Oumanski in the 13 year old boys 100 free at May Performance
-new Central Region qualifiers at the time trial included Gavin Lifman, Jocelyn Langballe and Ozgu Topuz
-top 16 swims at AGI included Casey Gallagher, Connie Yang, Katie Martin, Roland Drews, Sarah Spitz, Alex Mierzynski and Nathaniel Hu
-new age group national cut for Jeffrey Turnock in 13 year old boys 1500 free
-Alex Hamilton placing 3rd in high point scoring among 12 year old boys at AGI, including wins in the 400 and 1500 free

Swimmers of the month for May/June….

National Development - Female
Katie Martin

-new provincial qualifier in 13 year old girls 200, 400, 800 free at Team Champs
-new age group national qualifier in 13 year old girls 1500 free at the May Time Trial
-had 3 top 16 swims at AGI

National Development/Provincial 1 - Male
Lev "the lion" Oumanski

-new provincial qualifier in 13 year old males 100 free at May Performance Meet
-helped earn the 11/12 year old boys relays two medals at Team Champs

Off deck with Lev "the lion" Oumanski:

1) If you had to choose only one specific food to eat for the rest of your life, without any negative effects, what would you choose? A cheeseburger

2) If you were to be reincarnated as an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
A cheetah

3) If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be? to have laser eyes

4) If you were stranded on a desert island and could have with you only one object you currently own, what would you take? A boat

National Development- Male
Alex "big al" Mierzynski

-was Team Ontario's 12 year old boys high point scorer at the recent Eastern Canadian Tri-Meet
-earned 5 top 16 finishes at AGI

Provincial 1 - Female
Jocelyn Langballe

-2 top 8 finishes at May Performance Meet
-earned 2 Central Region qualifying times at the recent NYAC Time Trial

Off Deck with Jocelyn Langballe

1) If you could choose a living celebrity for the movie of your life, who would you want to portray you? Cameron Diaz

2) If you could be a contestant on any game show, which would you like to be on?
Deal or no deal

3) If you could choose one musical group to play for you at your next birthday party, which group would you choose? Pink floyd

4) If you had to choose only one specific food to eat for the rest of your life, without any negative effects, what would you choose? spaghetti

5) If you were to be reincarnated as an animal, what kind of animal would you be? a dog

6) If you could be any sports figure alive, who would you want to be? Sidney Crosby

7) If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be? the ability to read people's minds

8) If you were stranded on a desert island and could have with you only one object you currently own, what would you take? ipod