TWISTERS NEWSLETTER

MAY 2010

I know I just sent a letter one month ago, but I have several new topics for you to consider. 

            First of all, our team congratulates Alberta and Hannah on their trip to Nationals in Minnesota.  I am very proud of their accomplishments.  We also welcome Brandon Moss back, and our new diver Sammie Patten from Kearney. 

            The trip to Nationals was an eye opener for me.  We have always been able to compete with teams who have up to twice the practice time we have in the pool, but this trip I realized the national level divers have 3-4 times the number of hours in their work out regimen.  They are able to spend 50% of their time in strengthening and dry land programs because they have an additional 10-12 hours a week on the boards.  I still believe in our program and our coaches.  I believe we get the most out of our divers in a short period of time, and generally in a relaxed environment.  Mary and I are considering adding another work out on late Mon or Wed nights.  I hope to discuss this with WJC soon.  Please let me know if any of you are interested in one more night of practice.  Also, my husband’s business is moving which may allow us the use of his empty warehouse.  There is a chance we can set up a dry land facility with a spotting belt in the warehouse.  If this falls into place we could start a Mon or Wed night practice in June.  Please let me know if you have an interest for an additional practice time & facility.  I would hate to schedule coaches and facilities if no one plans to use the extra time for practice.  It is still very important that high school and elite divers continue to work out on their own.  Older divers should be lifting weights, and all elite divers should be doing drills and conditioning on their own.  I will be happy to design a program for you if you need some help.

            I have realized that I have not had our divers fill out goal sheets since the fall of 2008.  I have attached a copy of the contract I wrote in ‘08, and a diver goal sheet.  Please review the contract and have the divers complete the goal sheet and return it to me at practice.  We will keep it at the pool to refer to throughout the season.  High school divers should include the list of their dives they hope to compete during their season.  I know this might be difficult for our new divers and our young divers to finish the form but please write down dives that interests you.

            The MOKAN dive season is upon us.  I have included the schedule.  There is one skills meet, 3 regular meets, and one championship meet.  I hope as many of you as possible will dive in this league.  The meets are relatively short and the competition is fun.  Our divers usually do very well and it is usually a great confidence boost for them.  It really is a great place to show off our hard work during the past year.  The cost to dive in the league is $75 payable to Clayview Country Club.  We will dive with their team at the meets.  Kathryn will be our coach at the meets.  I can fill out your sheets if you want me to do so.  Kathryn and I are running the entire MOKAN league together, so we hope that our Clayview/Twisters team does well this summer.  Please pay by May 15 if you want to dive this summer.  If you decide to join after May 15 the fee will be $90.  The fee is still very reasonable considering you will be in a potential 5 meets with both 1 & 3 meter events.  Also, I believe that competition is the BEST way to improve your diving experience to prepare you for the really big meets.  And, this is a great way to compete without a lot of pressure.

            The MU meet is May 8-9.  Mary will be your coach and the date to avoid a late fee is May 1.  You can sign up on divemeets.com.  So far I think Hannah, Alberta, Emma, Toby, Zach, and Ali are going.  Please let me know soon if you plan on going and we will review your list.  If you are not going to the meet, please remember that there is NO practice on Saturday.

            The WJC Mabee Center is closed the entire weekend of May 15 for graduation.  I hope to have a tramp practice and bar-b-q at my house on Sat.  I will keep you posted on the schedule. 

            There is an AAU meet (MV Championships) at Homestead this summer July 17.  I believe Bob will be coaching and I hope many of you will make it to the meet.  I have also sent information for the MU camp June 12-16, and the KU camps June 4-8 & July 12-16.  The summer Regional meet is June 18-19 at the Rec Plex in St Peters.  Mary will probably be coaching at this meet.  If you qualify for zones the meet is July 1-4 at Minneapolis.  I am not sure who will be coaching this meet.

            If you have not already done so please make your payment for April & May ASAP.  Also, several of you who went to Regionals have not yet paid the $32 for the meet.  That is a very low fee considering I did not even charge for my time.  Please remit soon.  I will send an email to each of you who owe money within the next 1-2 days.  Please let me know soon if you schedule changes for the summer.  Some of you have changed your commitment in the middle of a session which makes it very difficult for me to guess on the number of divers at practice and how best to schedule coaches.  I don’t want too many divers for one coach, nor do I want too few divers for 2 coaches.  I appreciate your help.    

            Thanks again for a great winter and spring diving season, I am looking forward to a wonderful summer of competition. Please call if you have questions. 

            Divingly yours,

            Mitzi