Level 2

News from the Pool- Week of December 15

Marisa Cozort

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, December 16- last day to RSVP for 1/17-18 Zone Champs (all swimmers)

Tuesday, December 16- last day to RSVP for 2/7-8 VS Age Group Meet (all swimmers)

Saturday, December 20- all practices held at Crossgates

Saturday, December 20- Candy Cane Classic (12&up only)

Wed-Sat, December 24-27- no Gold, JV, JV+, Prep, Varsity or Senior practices

Mon-Sat, Dec 29-Jan 3- special practice schedule

(no Race Team 12/22-1/3)

Tuesday, January 6- last day to RSVP for the 2/14-16  SCSC Sr. 2 P&F (qualifiers only)

Tuesday, January 6- last day to RSVP for the 2/28-3/1 BAY hosted Age Group Meet (all swimmers)

Tuesday, January 6- last day to RSVP for the 3/7-8 Z1S Senior 2 P&F Meet (qualifiers only)

Sat-Sun, January 17-18- Zone Champs (all swimmers)

Monday, January 19- holiday (no practice)

 

*see more for next season here: 2025-2026 season events list with links

 

CROSSGATES (XG) PRACTICE SCHEDULE

 

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Sat

MW High School Prep

6-7pm

  

6-7pm 

  

5-6pm

9-10am

TTh High School Prep

  

6-7pm 

  

6-7pm 

5-6pm

9-10am

JV+

4:45-6pm

4:45-6pm 

4:45-6pm 

4:45-6pm 

4-6pm at WGH

9-10am at XG

JV

4:45-6pm

4:45-6pm 

4:45-6pm 

4:45-6pm 

  

9-10am

MW Gold

4-4:45pm 

  

4-4:45pm 

  

4-5pm

8-9am

TTh Gold

  

4-4:45pm 

  

4-4:45pm 

4-5pm

8-9am

MW Race Team

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30pm

  

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30pm

      

TTh Race Team

  

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30, 5:30-6:15, 6:15-7pm

  

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30, 5:30-6:15, 6:15-7pm

    

 

WGHS PRACTICE SCHEDULE

 

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Sat

Senior

4-6:30pm 

No AM+ 4-6pm 

4-6:30pm 

No AM+ 4-6pm

4-6pm

No practice

Varsity

4-6:30pm 

4-6pm 

4-6:30pm 

4-6pm

4-6pm

No practice

High School Prep

6-7pm

  

6-7pm 

  

5-6pm

9-10am at XG

JV+

4-5:15pm or 6-7pm 

  

4-5:15pm or 6-7pm

  

4-6pm

9-10am at XG

JV

4-5:15pm or 6-7pm

  

4-5:15pm or 6-7pm 

  

5-6pm

9-10am at XG

Gold

5:15-6pm 

  

5:15-6pm 

  

4-5pm

8-9am at XG

MW Race Team

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30, 5:30-6:15pm

  

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30, 5:30-6:15pm

      

TTh Race Team

  

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30, 5:30-6:15pm

  

4:00-4:45, 4:45-5:30, 5:30-6:15pm

    

 

SATURDAY PRACTICE: All WG Gold, JV, JV+ and Prep swimmers will be swimming at Crossgates this Saturday. Varsity and Senior practice is cancelled. Since we have so many swimmers attending the meet at Stanford, we are combining groups for the day. If you ARE attending the meet, you should NOT attend practice and focus on the meet that afternoon.

 

ARIZONA RECAP: Team travel is an important part of the team experience, getting comfortable being uncomfortable and can energize performance in new and different ways. The Holiday Swim Festival was held at the Arizona State University pool in Tempe, Arizona. This highly competitive meet featured 1,200 swimmers from across the western United States. The venue’s scoreboard displayed names of current record holders and Olympians like Léon Marchand, Ilya Kharun, and Hubert Kós, setting an inspiring backdrop for the three-day event.

The boys' team delivered many memorable swims and best times:

  • Maxim set a personal best of 1:05.25 in his 100 Backstroke leading off the 4 x 100 Medley Relay.

  • Three swimmers—Abhi, Seongjun, and Seongwon—each broke the one-minute mark in the 100 Butterfly.

    • Seongwon edged out his younger brother, Seongjun, by just 0.02 seconds.

  • Keon and Maxim raced head-to-head in the 100 Free, with both achieving best times and Keon winning the dual.

  • Patrick anchored the 200 Medley Relay with a swift split of 24.67.

  • Joey, the youngest member of the travel team, had a strong showing. He secured a spot on the A 200 Medley Relay, posting a fast 32.09 in his 50 Breaststroke.

  • Sebastian overcame adversity after losing his swim bag (borrowing a suit, cap, and goggles). He still posted best times, including two 50 Fly races where he clocked in at 29 seconds each time.

The girls' side saw personal bests, finals appearances, and important learning moments:

  • Hannah had an excellent meet, making finals in all three Butterfly events (50, 100, and 200).

    • She achieved season bests in the 100 and 200 and a lifetime best of 26.65 in the 50 Fly.

    • A testament to nutrition: she ate a sandwich with double meat and double bacon to fuel her 50 Fly best time.

  • Ava had a crucial lesson in race finishing:

    • She beat Aviv (28.68) in the 50 Free, but her official time was 30.05 due to failing to properly hit the touch pad.

    • She corrected this in her final swim, the 50 Backstroke, executing a flawless race with a 2-second personal best.

  • Aviv had many great swims and focused on strategy. Reflecting on her 100 races, she noted the need to "go out harder in the first 50" and commit to racing the first two laps, understanding that "the third lap is always going to hurt." She also emphasized the importance of practicing that race intensity. You may want to ask her about her 50 Breast. 

  • Aly showed incredible fortitude. Despite being sick and unable to practice all week, she attended the meet and performed for her teammates.

    • On the first night, she led off the 200 Free Relay with a fantastic split of 24.77, overcoming the fact that she "couldn’t do more than 4 laps in a row" during warm-ups due to illness. We wish her a speedy recovery.

A huge thank you to Kelley Cutforth and Jen Soliz for chaperoning the trip. Their support in feeding and caring for the team was invaluable. Their efforts made the trip a success!

 

TESTIMONIALS NEEDED:  We are in data gathering mode to help us better our team and can use all the help we can get.  If you would like to participate in a brief survey, we’d be grateful!  All participants will be entered in a monthly raffle to win a $50 credit on your team account.  Winners announced January 5. Parents AND swimmers are welcome to participate: https://forms.gle/hGfnDKKNDx3GfSL46.

 

CORPORATE GIVING: ‘Tis the season for end of year giving!  If your company matches your donations, we’d love to be considered in your end of year charitable contributions.  We are a 501c3 organization that relies on donations to help subsidize team scholarships (we never turn down a family in need), rising pool rental costs (prices have almost tripled since the pandemic) and pool equipment (kickboards, backstroke flags, lanelines, etc.) We are registered on Benevity, but can also complete forms through the platform your business uses.  Checks are also welcome and we can provide a receipt. 

 

SWIM BINGO: Keep checking those boxes! Once they get their first “bingo” (five in a row), they can show their coach (either their shirt or the printout) and pick a prize from the box.  Just one prize for their first bingo. If they earn a “blackout” (complete all 25 squares), then can fill out the form to get some team swag (be sure to read the rules at the top of the form.)  Swimmers can write directly on their shirts or use this printable to keep track of their BINGO throughout the season.  We will be ordering the blackout team swag every few months so there is plenty of time for all to earn it!

 

DECEMBER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: 

  • Mon, Dec 22- 8-9am Gold, 9-10am JV/Prep, 8-10am JV+/Varsity/Senior (all at WG)

  • Tues, Dec 23- 8-9am Gold, 9-10am JV/Prep, 8-10am JV+/Varsity/Senior (all at WG)

  • Wed, Dec 24-Sat, Dec 27- no practice

  • Mon, Dec 29- 8-9am Gold, 9-10am JV/Prep, 8-10am JV+/Varsity/Senior (all at WG)

  • Tues, Dec 30- 8-9am Gold, 9-10am JV/Prep, 8-10am JV+/Varsity/Senior (all at WG)

  • Wed, Dec 31- 8-9am Gold, 9-10am JV/Prep, 8-10am JV+/Varsity/Senior (all at WG)

  • Thur, Jan 1- no practice

  • Fri, Jan 2- 8-9am Gold, 9-10am JV/Prep, 8-10am JV+/Varsity/Senior (all at WG)

  • Sat, Jan 3- 8-9am Gold, 9-10am JV/Prep, 8-10am JV+/Varsity/Senior (all at WG)

 

LINKS:

2025-2026 season events list

I joined the team, now what?

ACH for billing

Signup for SMS notifications

Team store (password: BAY) *

Swim Outlet Store *

Team suit orders *

*these are outside vendors and not affiliated with Swim South Bay