Bluefins Splash

Volume 1, Issue 1 Spring 2008

From the desk of Coach Weeks….. David Weeks Bluefins Head Coach March was a big month for the Bluefins and I would like to congratulate all of our swimmers who qualified for the Sectionals Meets. It is a big accomplishment just to reach that level. Also, I would like to congratulate our collegiate swimmers. Anna Rodgers completed her collegiate eligibility at Duke University with a good ACC Championship. Ms. April Dickerson finished her first year at Georgia Tech with going to the ACC Championship Meet. Kent Lawrence finished his first year at Darton College and finished 2^nd runner-up in the 200 yard Butterfly at the NJCAA Championship at Indian River. CONGRATS TO ALL!! The team had one big meet in Lagrange over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. We took 35 swimmers to compete and finished 2^nd place overall. We had 10 swimmers come home with All-Star Trophies. I look forward to a great winter Championship meet on April 11^th & 12^th. Good Times and Fast Times Await!! See you at the Pool!!! Coach Weeks

Inside This Issue
2	How you can help – a parents guide
2	Paying your dues online
3	Bluefins Summer Meets
4	From the desk of our President
5	Get to know a swimmer
Continued on page 3

Bluefins Summer Meets Calendar of Events Stingray Invite (long Course) Marietta, Georgia April 26^th – 27th This is our first long course meet and you need to ask your coach to see if you should attend Olympic Festival Meet (yards) Jonesboro, Georgia May 3^rd Details will come soon. Swim Macon (Long Course) Macon, Georgia May 17^th – 18th Troup County Meet (yards) Lagrange, Georgia May 31st Betsy Dunbar (Long Course) Atlanta, Georgia (Georgia Tech) May 31st – June 1st Carrollton Invite (Yards) Carrollton, Georgia June 6^th – 7^th Swim with Dad (Long Course) Jonesboro, Georgia June 13^th – 15^th Douglasville Sprint (Yards) Douglasville, Georgia June 14^th Coaches Invite (Long Course) Marietta, Georgia June 20^th – 22^nd More meet information at www.carrolltonbluefins.com

The Back Stitch Embroidery & Apparel is the embroiderer for the Bluefins. The Back Stitch is owned and operated by one of our Bluefins’ parents, Susan Back. She is always at the pool when you need something done. Her son, Cameron Back has been with the Bluefins for six years. The Back Stitch sells seasonally at the pool but you can call her to order anytime. You can order everything needed or bring in your items to have done (like your swim backpacks.) Susan can be reached at 770-456-2595 or by email to thebackstitch@msn.com. You can also visit her website at www.thebackstitch.com to see samples. She can do other embroidery needs … just ask!
	Message from Our Team President Debra Pierce – President and mother of Adria, Hailey, and Connor chapierce@bellsouth.net I want to welcome all new swimmers to the Bluefins!!! You are now a part of an elite group of athletes. I have been part of the Bluefin family for Nine years now, and I have seen this team grow and evolve into a very top notch team. Let me explain. Nine years ago, the natatorium as we know it was simply an outdoor pool with bleachers. During the winter we had to practice at the college, and we were slaves to their schedule, so practice in the winter was not always convenient. We now have a full facility with a roof that opens and closes, and as you know, we practice year round at our own pool. We had one full time coach, Coach Weeks, and several part time coaches. We now have two full time coaches, and a few part time coaches, which gives us much more coaching stability. Nine years ago, the weight room consisted of a few dumbells. Now we have a completely furnished weight room, with a variety of machines and equipment for the older swimmers to train with. We have always been USA Swimming sanctioned; however, we have recently received USA Level 1 certification, based on the quality and standards that have been proven to USA Swimming. We are currently in the process of becoming Level 2 certified. 9 years ago, we cheered for our kids and encouraged them to swim well, and we gave them high fives when they did well. Now we have an official incentive program, where

25. Fiber, Vitamin B
26. Eggs – Protein, Vitamin K, Choline, Leutin
27. Beef – Protein, Iron, Zinc, Vitamin B12
28. Salmon – Protein, Omega-3 fats
29. Shrimp – Protein, Selenium, Vitamin D, B12
30. Chicken – Protein, Selenium, Niacin

Those are 30 foods that have healthy meaning to a swimmer before, during, and after a swim meet or practice. For more information on nutrition visit www.usda.gov or www.usaswimming.orgv

being able to work in her church nursery got her thinking about whether she wanted to possibly be a teacher when she got older. She personally was always pretty well rounded; always finding something exciting in almost everything she did, and laughing all the way. She continued with the Carrollton Bluefins Swim team, practicing 8 hours a week. She really enjoyed doing what she had a passion for all year-round, and she never complained about how hard the practices were, or how she never had much time to spend with friends. All she wanted to do was swim. No matter how hard life became sometimes, she knew she could do it with the support from her parents and swim coaches. The thing she absolutely loved about being on the Bluefins team was how much the coaches encouraged her to give everything she had; in AND out of the water.

By the time she turned thirteen, Katie decided that she really didn’t see the point in doing school. “It’s so boring!” She’d say. Even at a much younger age, she had a very hard time sitting still for anything that wasn’t fun to her. She would have much rather been at swim practice, rollerblading outside, or creating something on the sewing machine instead of having to sit still and do school six hours every day. Because of this, her parents were greatly concerned that she wasn’t gaining the education that a homeschool student of her age should have. By the time she turned fourteen, Katie’s Mom sat her down and told her that “If you don’t get your act together and buckle down with your school work, you’ll never make it in high school, let alone college.” Having such a competitive mind, her mother’s words lit a fire underneath her. This time, she wasn’t playing games; it was serious. She wanted to prove to her parents that she really could be the student that she needed to be. She made up her mind that she was going to try harder than ever to focus on school and make her parents SO proud of her academically; and she did it! Katie’s eighth grade year was the best she had ever had through out her entire life of homeschooling. Needless to say, not only were her parents proud of her, but she was proud of herself.

August 17^th, 2004, Katie started high school at the Koinonia Center for Independent Study (also known as