Intro to Nitro
Cedar Park: Logan Anderson and Emily Nash
These two totally rocked it during backstroke week. It’s always exciting as a coach to see things start to ‘click’ for a swimmer, and that has happened with both Logan and Emily lately. Logan has only been with Intro for a couple of months, but his swimming is getting better and better every week (with some awesome underwater streamlines!). More than that, Logan is an awesome kid to coach—always listening and ready to try the next thing. Emily did a great job this week of rotating her shoulders during our backstroke drill. She has also improved across the board in the past few weeks—swimming, paying attention, everything! I’m glad to see her smiling face back on a regular basis. Congratulations, you two—proud of y’all! —Coach Lindsay
Bee Cave: Copper Gibbs
This week was particular hard to pick a Swimmer of the Week; working on freestyle, all the Intro swimmers took their swimmers to another level. Copper, however, has REALLY stood out to me over the last couple of weeks. He’s only been swimming with Intro for a month and I could not be more pleased with the spunk he has brought to the group. He is not a typical rambunctious five-year-old boy, but he is EXCITED about swimming. This week Cooper wowed me with this tall bodyline and low breathing. He is quickly becoming a strong kicker and picking up on “sink, streamline, push”. Cooper really lit-up when he learned we were working on dives the week before. Cooper is just an all-around great kiddo; he is an attentive listener and asks when he’s not quite sure. His work ethic is hard to match but he doesn’t let it compromise his ability to have fun. Keep it up Cooper! —Coach Raven
Technique and Fitness
Cedar Park: Tejachandana Meka and Aamar Choilawala
Awesome job this past week on your butterfly with all the kicking, head position, core strength, finger tips up, early breathing, timing, two hand touches, underwater streamlines, not to mention the beginning kick set, the review of open turns and flip turns…phew…it was a lot and you two mastered it. In addition to that Aamar recently returned after many weeks off due to a broken leg and he is killing it in the pool! Great job you two this past week and thanks for being a part of the Nitro family and we’ll see you at the pool. —Coach Stephen
Bee Cave: Conrad Denton
Conrad always comes to practice with a positive and respectful attitude. His manners are through the roof! His swimming ability is no different. He tries his best at all times, and it shows! His breaststroke is now starting from the top instead of the bottom; his butterfly is powerful and long; and, he’ll always flip-turn with a tight streamline OFF EVERY WALL. He doesn’t have to be told over and over again. That shows integrity. Love this kid – want more of him! Nitro is better because of Conrad. —Coach Jonny
Bronze
Cedar Park: Misha Anand
Misha has been absolutely flying in the water, and quite literally! We worked on butterfly all last week and Misha spread her wings by showing Coach Adam and I her true strengths. We noticed that she has huge stretched out arms on her butterfly with no bendy elbows! This allows her to catch all of that water and propel herself forward through her stroke. We see great things in Misha not only in the water but out of the water too! She has an incredible attitude, takes our coaching advice seriously, and of course always with a smile! We see great things in her future with Nitro. We are proud of you, Misha! Way to go and keep it up, girl! —Coach Adam and Coach Makaylee
Bee Cave: Dylan Carnahan
This was the first meet I’ve had a chance to see Dylan race, WOW! Did he put on a little show for the Bronze groups! Right out of the gate he makes a B time in the 50 free, 35.74, then comes right back with a 1:30.27 and jumps to the front on our Top times list for all Bee Cave Bronze swimmers, later on he narrowly misses another B time in the 50 back by .15! When you watch Dylan train you can see the potential, his kick is very strong, the length of stroke is improving, his turn are tighter, and every day you see him improve. This young man loves to swim but more impressive is how he attacks any challenge you put in front of him, if I ask for a 200 free for time Dylan would be the first in line! I can’t wait to see him in the long course pool! Great Job Young Man! —Coach Chuck
Silver
Cedar Park: Sienna Seaton
She had recently rocketed onto the scene, posting some very impressive times in Butterfly both in practice and at the meet. Sienna has a beautiful stroke in Butterfly that she is working very hard get technically correct. Another thing I am also excited about seeing how quickly she has stepped up to be a listener and leader since moving up from Bronze. I look forward to seeing her every day getting down to business after asking “What are we doing, Coach?!” Great things ahead for you, Miss Sienna. Keep it up! —Coach Paige
Bee Cave: Jacob Mudry
With the closing ceremonies happening with the winter Olympics, I found myself intently following the recapped stories that had transpired over these past few weeks. Some, played out like storybooks – riddled with struggles, and ultimately found redemption through victory. Others, came with great expectations, and fell just short. As they celebrated the events, I listened to the analysts discuss the “moments of greatness”, and found myself even nodding along. It’s true, in a way, these special moments highlight everything competition and sports are about… The Stakes. The Battle. The Triumph. The romance and the pageantry, all mix together to paint this picture of glory. Yet, even as a fan, one who enjoys a good story, I found myself wondering.. Is it the ending… that truly makes it ALL worth it? Is it simply, the outcome that matters? Is greatness, just a result? Were those other stories, the tragedies… did they mean nothing?
When I think of these questions as a coach, I start the search on the other end of greatness.. With not how we can set bait to catch it… but what steps we can take, in producing it. After all, what you control, seems to be our only hope in generating it. From here, it’s clear that greatness exists, not as some symbolic metaphor, but precisely in who you are, and what you’re willing to do on a daily basis.
When I think of a swimmer who portrays greatness, it takes almost .000241 seconds to say – JACOB MUDRY. Simply put.. for the past few weeks.. Jacob has outworked everyone at Nitro. Period. The coaching staff. The front desk. David our pool operator. EVERYONE. myself included. He’s been the first one in. Last one out. Laser Focused. Tremendous EFFORT. Determined. Every set. Every wall. Every Push off. Every stroke. Everything he can give. And Frankly, he’s been turning on boosters, that I didn’t know were even there! In fact, he’s not only pushed the bar of “hard work” to its limit, but he has risen it to an entirely new level. I am on the phone with Websters dictionary right now to see if we are going to have to make some adjustments to the word “work”. So stay posted on that.
Of course, in dealing with the essence of greatness, you are going to get some memorable moments, bursting from the seams. And one, just so happened to slip out this week.. It was just another set.. until.. It happened… Jacob… Flips and pushes off the wall… his goggles instantly get blasted off, and they attempt to enter “necklace mode”… thankfully, they just end up getting stuck around his mouth… Yet.. Jacob doesn’t Stop… He keeps swimming. He keeps pushing.. In fact.. He almost finishes the entire lap, before he finally reaches to pull them back up! So he finishes the set – goggles full of water.. and face full of Smile.. All I could do, was laugh and clap. Not out of humor, but admiration. It’s that kind of fight, that is able to cut through all the noise, and make you listen. It’s that effort, that can’t just be given. You can’t buy it. Can’t present it in a trophy. To others, you step into the symbol, and for a moment, live on its behalf. But really, You become it, because you are it
I would say these moments don’t directly define greatness, but serve as proof to what is already there. Jacob Mudry, has every bit, embodied greatness. And he’s done so consistently. In fact.. he’s done it so much these past few weeks, I’m starting to get a bit suspicious. Now, I don’t want to be THAT coach, going around preaching conspiracy theories, (I mean our cloning technology probably isn’t even ready to roll out yet), but I believe there is MORE THAN ONE JACOB. 3 or 4 perhaps. And that they each come in and swim for a day, ALL OUT, while the others get to rest. I mean, it would explain his ability to juggle so many sports. I’m not saying it’s true, it’s just highly possible. If anyone has any information on this. Please see me.
Anyways…
…. “Jacob’s” new found fight, has not only caught my attention, but has pushed all those around him. A trend, I have no doubt, he’ll continue. His drive, now only rivaled by his calm and friendly spirit. That’s right, this young man, ALSO has a great attitude. And no matter the challenge, no matter the situation, he’ll always end practice with a smile, and a hi-five. Just couldn’t ask more of a swimmer. Or should I say… swimmerS?!?
Great Job Jacob! I know this is only the beginning. —Coach Nick
Advanced Silver
Bee Cave: Ava Malcolm
Ava has a natural feel for the water coupled with a strong desire to do her best in every set. We did a version of the infamous “Minute Man” set with fins where you start at the minute and each 50 is on a descending interval: 59, 58, 57, 56. While the group crushed it overall in their first attempt ever, it was Ava who swam above and beyond doing 3 more 50s than anyone else, finishing on the 34! Looking forward to long course season and getting after it. Keep grinding, Ava. —Coach Bobby
Gold I & II
CP Gold I: Dillon Shadowen
I could not be more proud of how Dillon swam this whole season. He managed to fight through a pretty bad foot injury in January to be ready to swim fast through the month of February. Dillon’s great backstroke and freestyle earned him STAGS cuts and places on the relays, and he didn’t disappoint. Finals in both his backstroke events, and crazy fast relay splits. The future, and the summer, are looking very bright for this guy, watch out! Keep it up Dillon! —Coach Adam
CP Gold II: Lyla Lusk
Congrats to all Gold II STAGS swimmers! In many different ways, each and every single meet athlete found themselves impressing the coaches with their swims this past weekend. That being said, I have to point out one very special performance from one Miss Lyla Lusk. Lyla’s 100 fly seed time was 1:21.36 – certainly not a bad time for such a young kiddo. She swam this on Sunday morning and dropped an incredible 7.8 seconds, earning yet another TAGS cut… but she wasn’t done yet. Lyla came back at finals and dropped another 5.4 seconds to hit a 1:08.12! Every coach on deck had to pick their jaws up off the floor because young 9-year-olds are almost never that fast! We all knew we just saw something incredibly special and to make it a point to remember this day.
…and then it happened again.
Lyla’s last swim was the 50 free which resulted in a 27.7 – a mere .4 seconds away from the Nitro Girl’s 10&U 50 Free Record – and she still has three seasons to go in her age group! Every one of her swims was amazing, but those two events were simply unbelievable if you hadn’t seen it with your own eyes. Keep believing never stop smiling, Lyla! —Coach Alex
Bee Cave: Caitlyn Vandermeer
This weekend Caitlyn qualified for her first STAGS swim meet. While it was all super new and exciting, she was able to experience the next level. I was able to watch pure excitement on her face this weekend which left me with the biggest smile. During her 500 Free she was in the final heat, the put some fun music and the announcer came on… “And in lane 1, from Nitro, Caitlyn Vandermeer!!!” She looked around waved and had the biggest smile ever! Gave me chills, but that pure excitement is what sports are for. Thanks for reminding me about the true happiness in the sport. —Coach Allison