Hello GHSC Family,

Exciting news... your kids may have told you... tomorrow will be my last dual meet as the GHSC head coach.  I apologize for my lack of announcing earlier, but I intended to during our parent meeting and forgot (all those questions threw me for a loop).  I have loved every minute of being a part of this program.  I came to it 13 seasons ago when the program needed a coach AND my kids were involved.  Today, there are more seasoned coaches around town, as well as a small potential army of youthful coaches, than we can hire.  As well as the fact that my kids no longer swim with the program (they do grow fast).  So I am hoping to enjoy more conversations and meals with my kids, allow a young coach that may well be around for a very long time (always great for a program) to take over, and have as much fun as I can for 15 more days.  Looking forward to seeing you all at West Ottawa tomorrow.  The kids are making great strides (or is that strokes) and it should be fun.  Again, I apologize for not making my intentions known earlier.  Also, since it's my last go-'round, a photographer would be wildly appreciated.  I would voluntold my wife, but she is out of town with my daughter having a great time watching water polo.

Please remember to arrive prior to 7:45, hopefully with your events already neatly written on your hand (we'll add lanes and heats after warm up).  The warm up begins at 8 and events at 9.  Everyone is expected to participate... I only have 4 RSVP's in the negative.

I will do my best to get the B and A meet information out this weekend so we can all do our planning.  Again, please RSVP to those meets any regrets you may have.  Otherwise I will expect everyone's participation.

Thanks for letting me be a part of this great program,

Coach Hamm

The entries to our meet Saturday have been posted on the meet page.  Please check to be sure your athlete is in the meet or not depending upon your plans.  Thanks.  Looks like the weather is on our side this weekend!  Go GHSC!
Bill

Thanks to all those that helped with timing last night, and/or coaching.

We had  some fantastic time trials.  Roughly 40% of the swims were Personal Records (PRs- my main goal), tough to do in Time Trials.  Go kids Go!!  Imagine if we only had a swim meet!

Speaking of swim meets.  Due to an error on my part, there was a location error in our schedule.  This Saturday's meet is NOT at home.  It is at the Holland Aquatic Center, vs. MLA.   My notes said the meet was to be at home and I never bothered to check the WMSL website, where it appears someone entered the location poorly and now MLA has been scheduled to host and is doing so.  So, the choice is don't swim, or do it there... so there we go.  My apologies, and please remember to RSVP any and all regrets for Saturday by Wednesday evening.

We practice all 5 days this week.  We will be running time trials daily until our athletes have swum all the events in their age group plus a few others.  Attendance is really important, especially with all the missed meets and the distinct possibility that Mother Nature will rear her ugly head again limiting our swim opportunities.

So, Saturday, 8 am warm up and 9 am meet at the Holland aquatic center.  Be dressed and on deck by 7:45 (hopefully with your events already written on the back of your hand).

Thanks and have a great week!

Bill

Hi. 

Well, we cancelled/missed a meet BUT... finding the silver lining, we didn't have a single car accident!  We try again this Saturday at Zeeland.  I have only 4 kids telling me via RSVP that they can't be there.  Remember, we are a team and are aiming for the Championship meets, and you can only swim in that meet (as well as give your coaching staff a fair opportunity to judge both your athlete and their effectiveness) if you have participated in league meets.  And with winter's unpredictability, every opportunity to attend a meet is precious.

This week we have NO practice Tuesday and Thursday due to varsity meets.  Practice as usual Wednesday and Friday.

Saturday's meet is away at Zeeland.  8 am warm up, 9 am events.  No fees, just RSVP regrets before Wednesday evening.  I will polish the lineup after practice Wednesday and changes after that are problematic.

Below is a link to a clinic being hosted at Northview HS in April.  They have held these before and some members of our team have attended.  The reviews were all positive.  It is during our off-season, but you could think of it as the start of your spring season.

High Performance Clinic at Northview High

Finally, as we approach the end of our season, it's time to focus on the Championship meet and whether or not your athlete has qualified for the 'A' meet.  All 12&Under swimmers must achieve a qualifying time to participate in the individual events at the A meet, otherwise they participate individually in the 'B' meet.  This next link is a spreadsheet I use.  Please review it (and see if you can decipher it) and let me know of any errors or omissions you are aware of.  It will show you if your athlete has an 'A' time.

Best Times spread sheet