Here’s our first weekly update for the 2012 season.  This one is early; normally, I will be sending these on Monday evening or first thing Tuesday morning, so if you’d like for me to include any news, please send it to me by 5 o’clock on Monday afternoon.

First of all, we have moved from A Division to B.  The season calendar can be found on the third tab at the top of the webpage.  The calendar is subject to change but the A meet schedule is pretty much set.   Swimmers’ meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 29 and practice begins on Wednesday…see calendar for times.

Our coaching staff this year:

Terry Kominski  Head Coach

Reed Brown (2010 Dolphins graduate and past 15-18 Boys’ champion) Assistant Coach

Lilan Miller (past Swimmer of the Year) Lead Developmental Coach

Nick Wesley (past Swimmer of the Year) Developmental Coach

Collin Dobbins (2-time Swimathon champion) Developmental Coach

All of our coaches have many years of experience in competitive swimming, in addition to their experience lifeguarding and teaching private swim lessons.  We look forward to an amazing season led by such a talented and highly qualified coaching staff!

Thanks to those who have responded to our call for volunteers.  If you haven’t responded yet, and you don’t have an assigned responsibility, please think about what you’d like to do to help this season.  We need 100% parent participation to make the season a success.   We’re especially in need of qualified Stroke and Turn officials.  If you’ve never worked on deck at a meet, consider training to be an official.   Officials and timers are the only people allowed on deck during meets, so as an official, you get to see the races up close!   See below for upcoming training dates/times.  Please contact A Meet Manager Renee Yockelson (yocks@verizon.net) if you’re planning to attend any of these sessions…she needs to ensure that she has your certification on hand, and she can also let you know if someone else is going so you can carpool.

Sunday, June 3, Olney Swim Center 8:00AM
Monday, June 4, Hanley Center Multipurpose Room, Georgetown Prep, 6:00PM (park in Blue Lot behind the Hanley Center and enter through the main doors, do not enter through the pool)
Sunday, June 10, Olney Swim Center, 8:00AM

Tuesday, June 19, Germantown Indoor Swim Center at 7:00PM–S&T only clinic (No Referee/Starter Training)

The above-listed dates are all for clinics sponsored by the MCSL.  PMSL will accept MCSL training, but you must let the trainer or coordinator know that you’re attending from a PMSL team.

PMSL training will take place on Saturday, June 9 at 5:30 PM at the University of Maryland Armory.

We have a new team suit this year and due to the manufacturer’s practice of keeping inventory low, we need to get our orders in EARLY this year.  Megan Virga is submitting the order immediately after Memorial Day so she needs your orders and payments no later than Memorial Day.  The upside is that the suit (manufactured by Dolfin) is $15-$20 less expensive than similar options from TYR or Speedo.  If you don’t get your order in by Memorial Day, you’ll need to order directly from SwimPro, which will result in additional shipping charges.  Please contact Megan with questions or to see a picture of this year’s suit.  Orders can be dropped off at the Virgas house between now and Memorial Day (2608 Belle Crest Lane) or handed to Megan, Renee Yockelson, or me this weekend at the pool.  We’ll be around at varying times, and we will have try-on suits available.  Payment and completed order forms must accompany all orders.  Let us know if you have questions. 2012 SBP Swimsuit Order Form

Every week there will be an update sent by email and posted on the website. You can also find the team calendar, practice schedules, Swimmer of the Week announcements, links to the PMSL website and Reach for the Wall, directions to away meets and more.   You can save it as a favorite or subscribe to the RSS feed for notifications of updates, and if you’d like to add content (pictures are especially welcome),  Webmaster Sam Keating can set you up as an author.  Please email Sam (sam.keating@gmail.com) or Dan Keating (dtkeats@gmail.com) if you’d like to be set up as a team blogger.