FUAC News & Notes

2008 United States Olympic Swim Team
Men:

Nathan Adrian
Ricky Berens
Ian Crocker
Mark Gangloff
Matt Grevers
Brendan Hansen
Larsen Jensen
Cullen Jones
Klete Keller
Ryan Lochte
Jason Lezak
Michael Phelps
Aaron Peirsol
Scott Spann
Eric Shanteau
Gil Stovall
Peter Vanderkaay
Erik Vendt
David Walters
Mark Warkentin
Garrett Weber-Gale
Ben Wildman-Tobriner

Men's Head Coach: Eddie Reese

Men's Assistant Coach: Bob Bowman, Gregg Troy, Frank Busch

Women:

Amanda Beard
Elizabeth Beisel
Caroline Burckle
Elaine Breeden
Natalie Coughlin
Jessica Hardy
Kathleen Hersey
Margaret Hoelzer
Katie Hoff
Megan Jendrick
Kara Lynn Joyce
Christine Magnuson
Christine Marshall
Lacey Nymeyer
Allison Schmitt
Emily Silver
Julia Smit
Rebecca Soni
Chloe Sutton
Dara Torres
Kim Vandenberg
Kate Ziegler

The average ages of this year's Olympic team:

Men - 23.72
Women - 21.90

Oldest Female - Dara Torres - 41
Youngest Female - Elizabeth Beisel 15 Saunderstown, R.I.

Oldest Male - Jason Lezak 32 Irvine, Calif.
Youngest Male - Nathan Adrian 19 Bremerton, Wash.

The world record in the women's 100m backstroke fell twice in prelims Monday at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming. Hayley McGregory first broke the record with a time of 59.15. Then Natalie Coughlin broke McGregory's record with a time of 59.03 in the very next heat. The record before Monday's prelims was held by Coughlin and stood at 59.21.

Here's a preview of what to watch for in tonight's semifinals and finals:

Women's 100m Back: Semifinal
The world record in the 100m back fell twice in prelims Monday. Hayley McGregory broke it first in 59.15. Natalie Coughlin then broke McGregory's record in the next heat in 59.03. The record before prelims was held by Coughlin and stood at 59.21.

Men's 200m Free: SemifinalThe day after their epic battle in the 400m IM, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte are seeded 1-2 after the prelims of the 200m free. Larsen Jensen, Peter Vanderkaay, Klete Keller and Erik Vendt, all of whom swam in the 400m free Sunday, are also in the mix.

Women's 100m Fly: FINAL
Christine Magnuson set the Trials record in last night's semifinals in 57.50. She is seeded more than half a second ahead of the rest of the field, which includes 2004 100m fly qualifier Rachel Komisarz.

Men's 100m Breast: FINAL
Brendan Hansen was just 11-hundredths off his world record in last night's semifinals, turning in a meet-record time of 59.24. Mark Gangloff, who also qualified for this event in 2004, is seeded second.

Women's 100m Breast: Semifinal
The top three qualifiers in this event - Jessica Hardy (1:06.85), Rebecca Soni (1:06.90) and Megan Jendrick (1:07.06) - were under the former Trials record of 1:07.12, set by Jendrick in 2000.

Men's 100m Back: Semifinal
Randall Bal broke the Trials meet record in prelims, touching in 53.28. The previous meet record was held by Olympian Aaron Peirsol at 53.64. Peirsol, the world record-holder in this event, qualified for tonight's semifinals as the sixth seed. Ryan Lochte is the fourth seed. Peirsol and Lochte finished 1-2 in this event at last year's World Championships.

Women's 400m Free: FINAL
Three swimmers - Katie Hoff (4:05.61), Allison Schmitt (4:05.72) and Kate Ziegler (4:06.04) - swam faster than the 20-year-old meet record of 4:06.43 in prelims. The meet record was formerly held by Janet Evans.

Fork Union Military Academy has long been an Authorized Provider for the American Red Cross. Every year several cadets become certified as Professional Lifeguards and get extensive training in CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) essentials. This year marks the largest group of cadets to successfully undergo these ARC training courses in FUMA's history! 22 cadets took part in the course offering, with training spread over a six week span. In addition to the 22 cadets certified, 11 individuals from the community underwent the training. This was the first time FUMA opened its Red Cross training to outside community participants.

Congratulations to the following cadets:

R. Aboulhousn
J. Gencavage
G. Brooks
M. Chapman
M. Felton
S. Floyd
D. Gudeman
C. Grandfield
D. Hatch
K. Housh
M. Jewell
C. Long
N. Montgomery
R. Phillips
S. Reisenfeld
I. Sellers
M. Smiley
D. Smith
M. Soucy
O. Volovyk
T. Weeks
H. Yonce

Congratulations to the following community participants:
M. Arroyo
K. Hartman
J. Hartman
J. Hineman
K. Layman
K. McIver
L. Neelley
K. Purnell
E. Rothenberg
J. Winstead
R. Yellets

The United States Olympic Committee announced today the television broadcast schedule for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming. Below is the list of times the Olympic Trials will be televised.

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Sunday, June 29 8:00-9:00 pm ET NBC

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Monday, June 30 8:00-9:00 pm ET NBC

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Tuesday, July 1 8:00-9:00 pm ET NBC

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Wednesday, July 2 8:00-9:00 pm ET NBC

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Thursday, July 3 8:00-9:00 pm ET NBC

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Friday, July 4 8:00-9:00 pm ET NBC

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Saturday, July 5 8:00 -9:00 pm ET NBC

U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Swimming Sunday, July 6 8:00 -9:00 pm ET NBC

Congratulations to Katie Wilson who was recently accepted into the prestigious Governor's School! Katie will join fellow Blue Devil Katie McIver in this intensive college preparatory program. One of 15 Fluvanna County students accepted, the rigorous application/selection process involves a lengthy review a school transcripts, test scores, personal statements and applications. We are extremely proud of her.

Governor's Schools give gifted students academic and visual and performing arts opportunities beyond those normally available in the students' home schools. Students are able to focus on a specific area of intellectual or artistic strength and interest and to study in a way that best suits the gifted learner's needs. Each program stresses non-traditional teaching and learning techniques. For example, small-group instruction, hands-on-experiences, research, field studies, or realistic or artistic productions are major elements in the instructional design at all schools. Students become scientists, writers, artists, and performers as they work with professional mentors and instructors.

Five Blue Devils named to the High School All-State Team! Brook Reynard, Mike Jewell, Kurt Housh, Sherif Ibrahim and Tom Calhoun have been named to the All-State Team based on outstanding performances at the State Championship. Congratulations men!

32 Blue Devils ventured up to JMU for the final meet of the short course season. Our swimmers dominated the competition with an amazing 58 lifetime best swims, and 19 first place finishes! According to Coach Bocci,

We kept our focus after the championship meets, continued to hit the training and technique work hard, and it paid big dividends this past weekend. I am very pleased with how they performed and supported each other.

Big swims on the girls side came from Kasey Hartman who registered wins (and PB times) in the 50 free and 200 Back, Michelle Caron who came out of nowhere to win the 100 fly (PB time) and placed second in the 200 back and IM events, Stephanie Nardone in winning the 9-10 50 free (PB time), Lindsay Price who just aged up and won the 9-10 100 breast, Morgan Reynard who dominated the 13-14 breast events with two wins, and Lydia Reynard (not to be outdone by her sister) won the 9-10 200 IM. Also, it was a perfect meet for Mariah Dulaney, Stephanie Nardone and Laura Neelley, all of which set new personal best times in every event they swam! Following close behind were Jordan Benson with four PB times (and a new "B" time in the 50 free), Alyssa McIver with four PB times, Alana Casto with three PB times, and Katie McIver with three PB times (on her way to compiling an outstanding 66 team points).

The boys registered equally impressive results. Sito Arroyo continued his dominating ways with two first place finishes and five personal best times. The Brumbaugh brothers (George and Mark) amassed an incredible eight first place finishes, and six PB times. Other first place finishes came from Sherif Ibrahim (two-50 free and 100 fly), and Kurt Housh (200 breast). Other outstanding performances came from Brook Reynard, PB times in the 100 fly and 200 free, and his younger brother Lucas Reynard who registered three PB times. This meet marked the first competition for seven year old Andrew Long, who competed in the 25 free, 50 breast, 25 back (fourth place), 25 breast, 50 back and 50 free (fourth place).

THE SWIM TEAM WILL BE ON BREAK FROM MONDAY, MARCH 31st THROUGH APRIL 13th. WE WILL BEGIN THE LONG COURSE SEASON ON MONDAY, APRIL 14th, WITH A TWO WEEK STROKE CAMP.

Fork Union Military Academy and Fork Union Aquatic Club invites local swimmers to join our USA-Swimming club team for a summer league tune-up this spring! Tune-up for the JSL summer league season this spring by joining Fork Union Aquatic Club's Summer Tune-Up: a spring stroke clinic and swim camp.

The camp runs from April 14th through the 26th. Fork Union's top certified coaching staff will conduct a stroke clinic and camp to get you ready for the summer swim season. There will be a focus on technique in all the four strokes of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, along with the critical starts and turns, which can determine the success of your race. We will teach fundamentals of flexibility, body awareness, and core body strength in swimming. Click on the continue reading link below for additional information, costs and registration information

Continue reading "FUAC FINISHES THE SHORT COURSE SEASON WITH A SUPERB TEAM EFFORT AT JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY" »

37 FUAC swimmers competed in championship meets in February and March (not including the high school championship meets)! Our Blue Devils registered an amazing 73 lifetime best swims, and shattered over 20 team records! First place finishers at the District Championship (held in Roanoke) included Lindsay Price, Sierra Durham, Luke Knisley and Miles Willard. Following close behind were second place finishers Kacie Grunau, Luke Knisley and Leanna Knisley. First place finishers at the Region Championship (held in Lynchburg) included Stephanie Nardone and George Brumbaugh. For the first time FUAC sent swimmers to Senior Champs at the University of Virginia, and Age-Group Champs at George Mason University. Senior/Age-Group Qualifiers included Stephanie Nardone, Michelle Caron, George Brumbaugh, Josh Brown, Tom Calhoun, Kurt Housh, Mike Jewell, Brook Reynard, and Sherif Ibrahim.

The Blue Devils finish the season with a meet at James Madison University, March 29th and 30th.

The Blue Devils sent 14 swimmers and divers to the 108th Eastern Prep Championship held at LaSalle University's Kirk Natatorium. Sherif Ibrahim continued his record setting ways, breaking his own school record in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:00.81. Other standout performances came from Josh Brown, who finished 7th in the 1-meter diving with a new school record of 322.15, the men's 400 freestyle relay (Jewell, Reynard, Warren, Calhoun) which registered a new school record of 3:28.11, and freshman Chris Covington in the 500 freestyle (best time).

For the first time in recent history our Fork Union Military Academy Blue Devils broke into the top 10 teams in the state final standings. Not only did we break into the top 10, we finished 4th overall!

We are especially proud of how our young men came together as a team to accomplish this leap in standings (from 12th place last year), as was evident by our fantastic relay swims. We started the meet as a huge underdog in the 200 medley relay with a group of virtually unknown swimmers seeded four seconds out of the top spot. It was going to be a struggle just to make the finals. When the smoke cleared they finished second overall with a time of 1:38.91 (K. Housh 26.59, S. Ibrahim 26.78, M. Jewell 23.69, T. Calhoun 21.85), in the process smashing our school record by over three seconds! For an encore our 200 free relay duplicated this same feat, again finishing second and destroying the school record with a time of 1:28.61 (M. Jewell 22.37, B. Reynard 22.65, S. Ibrahim 21.47, T. Calhoun 22.12). Finally, our 400 free relay, composed of all underclassmen, finished eighth in the championship final with a time of 3:28.90 (K. Housh, J. Warren, J. Caudill, B. Reynard). This marked the first time that FUMA placed all three relays in the championship final!

In addition to our incredible relay efforts, we had several great individual swims including M. Jewell (7th - 50 freestyle; 8th - 100 butterfly), K. Housh (8th - 200 IM; 10th - 100 breaststroke), S. Ibrahim (16th - 100 freestyle, 6th - 100 breaststroke), T. Calhoun (9th - 50 freestyle), B. Reynard (16th - 50 freestyle), and J. Brown (13th 100 breaststroke). This meet also marked the championship debut for freshman C. Covington (PB times in the 200 and 500 freestyle), Juniors J. Warren (PB time in the 200 freestyle) and J. Caudill (PB time 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly), and 8th grader Obi Okeyo (PB time in the 100 back). Other notable swims came from veteran Junior J. Gencavage (PB times in the 200 IM and 100 fly). In all the team broke six school records!

Next up the squad travels to Easterns which is sure to be a fast meet.

Continue reading "FUMA BLUE DEVILS FINISH FOURTH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!" »

The last weekend in January was a good one for FUAC. This may be an understatement based on what transpired over the weekend. The Blue Devils sent 24 swimmers down to an invitational at Radford University. When the waves settled the team walked away with an incredible nine meet records,12 first place finishes, an additional 61 top ten finishes, 24 team records and 77 personal best times!

According to Head Coach Jim Bocci, "This was a coming of age meet for FUAC. We love swimming at Radford University, and with over 400 swimmers competing in the meet, I knew it was going to be a great competition. They've worked so hard for this, and it's great to see them reach their goals as a team and individuals...it's the most rewarding part of being a coach."

Standouts for the Blue Devil girls included eight year old Lindsay Price (meet records in the 25 yard freestyle, 25 yard butterfly, 25 yard breaststroke, 50 yard breaststroke and 100 yard individual medley events), eight year old Lydia Reynard (2nd place in the 25 yard breaststroke), nine year old Stephanie Nardone (meet records in the 200 yard individual medley, 50 yard butterfly, 50 yard backstroke and 100 yard freestyle), 10 year old Harper Campbell (1st place finish in the 200 yard individual medley), 14 year old Morgan Reynard (7th place finish in the 100 yard breaststroke), 15 year old Kasey Hartman (4th place finish in the 200 yard backstroke, and two 6th place finishes in the 200 yard freestyle and 200 yard breaststroke events), 15 year old Michelle Caron (2nd place finish in the 200 yard freestyle), and 17 year old Laura Neelley (7th place finish in the 1000 yard freestyle distance event).

Standouts for the Blue Devil boys included eight year old Mark Brumbaugh (4th place finishes in the 50 yard freestyle and 50 yard backstroke events, and 5th place finishes in the 200 yard freestyle, 50 yard breaststroke, 25 yard freestyle and 25 yard butterfly events), 10 year old George Brumbaugh (2nd place finishes in the 200 yard individual medley, 200 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle events), 11 year old Lucas Reynard (7th place finishes in the 50 yard breaststroke and 100 yard freestyle events),12 year old Luke Knisley (4th place finish in the 50 yard freestyle), and 13 year old Sito Arroyo (4th place finishes in the 100 yard breaststroke and 200 yard butterfly events, and a 5th place finish in the 200 yard breaststroke).

Also, this past weekend 10 FUAC swimmers participated in the Jefferson District High School Championship held at FUMA. The results were equally impressive. The following swimmers qualified for the HS Region Champs to be held at FUMA, February 2nd: Maria Arroyo, Bailey Bingler, Michelle Caron*, Kasey Hartman*, Johnnie Hineman, and Laura Neelley. (*State Qualifier) Great job Blue Devils!

Next up FUAC will travel to Roanoke for the USA-Swimming District Championship on February 15th - 17th. "It will be another excellent opportunity to showcase the talent of our Fluvanna County swimmers", said Bocci.