Team,

Long overdue, but here is our annual “meets from here on out” update.

Two things have happened to make us adjust some our original thoughts on the end of the year meets: (1) No other bigger Teams are supporting our Sectional Meet (Raleigh, NC), and (2) we were excellent short-course in December. The calendar has been pushing towards a long-course focus for the past couple of years, and we have as well, but more-so now. It has taken some time to line up appropriate meets, so here we are.

Here is the layout of meets:

· February 12 (High School State Meet) Most are swimming, and under certain circumstances could be an end of year meed, as there is one athlete who will use this as an end of season shave meet.

· February 18-21 (Missouri Grand Prix-all Long Course) Our athletes are encouraged to go, it is a level of meet that we need to be comfortable competitively as an in-season meet. All are encouraged to go, particularly if have nothing more to prove yards. This will be a Team trip, travel information out by mid-day tomorrow. You get two bonus events for qualifying for 1 to 3 events, none if you make 4 cuts.

· February 25-27 (AG State Meet) we have a couple who can do this meet, and we need all hands on deck this year to be successful. Non-shave performance meet.

· March 3-6 (Eastern Section of the Southern Zone Sectionals) Same meet as two years ago, at the Triangle Aquatic Center. All Short-Course Yards, and juniors and/or seniors with more to prove SC are encouraged to attend. As much as I wish that colleges interpret LC performances well, it is not always the case, particularly once you get out of the top 25 NCAA Schools. Will be opportunities for second swims, and I don’t expect the meet to be slow, just not deep.

· March 18-20 (Metro Divisional Meet-at Dynamo) A short-course Championship format meet (P/F) normally reserved for those below sectional level, but could prove useful for those looking for a SC opportunity without travel.

· March 24-27 (Indianapolis Long-Course Sectional) We have requested (and received)an invitation to the Central Sectional Meet at the IUPUI Pool in Indy. Our original intention was to go to the Texas A&M sectional, as Palo Alto Stanford is attending that one, but were denied due to numbers. SwimMac is attending the Indianapolis one, and the meet is all long-course. This gives us a chance to swim at a competitive meet in a different than normal environment. This will again be a Team trip. We will get trip information out by weeks end hopefully.

· April 3-5(Michigan Grand Prix Meet) we will not attend, exchanging for the Indy Sectional.

This should allow us to turn the page to LC quickly and seamlessly. I would encourage athletes to think of attending two of the following three (and others as necessary):

1. Missouri Grand Prix (LC)

2. Raleigh Sectionals (SC)

3. Indy Central Sectionals (LC)

Meet Information and qualifying times have been posted on the Team website under each meet.

I understand that cost, and spring break affect these choices. I will talk to the athletes and try to recommend what I would like to see them do, and then see what we come up with.

Thanks,

JT