I thought I would take this opportunity to look back on the last month and review for everyone how busy and really successful we were in January.

The Barracuda parents were very busy running 2 meets for the team where we some money for the kids. The first was Y Cities, where a lot more state cuts were made. Will Harrison broke the team record for the 11-12 boys' 200 IM. Congratulations Will!

A group of 20 swimmers traveled to College Park, Maryland and swam some really fast times. Will tied the boys' 11-12 50 butterfly team record. We also have quite a few seniors closing in on their goal of making Nationals.

We swam at Flushing in the Fran Schnarr meet which was a lot of fun and the older kids got to swim events that they don't usually swim anymore. We had 4 swimmers place in the top 3 overall in their age groups at this meet. Congratulations to Alexis Sarabia, Tara Mulligan, Will Harrison, and Kevin Lam. Kelly was 1st overall in the open age group at Fran Schnarr. Congratulations to Kelly! Congratulations also to those of you who made some more times to qualify for States.

Finally, we hosted MiniCities for the 8 & Unders which was a lot of fun. The older kids got to swim a 50 and were so helpful in running that meet. Eating pizza together after the meet was a lot of fun also.

In the beginning of the season, we spoke of how we might spend the money we made from the Invitational in December. To update you all on that, 2 Vasa Trainers have been ordered, which will be very helpful to the older swimmers in stroke technique as well as improving turns. An on-deck basketball hoop has also been ordered. I think the younger kids will really appreciate this. It was decided, along with Y management, that a timing system is just not a reasonable purchase, and the money should be spent on something the kids will truly benefit from.

Parents, please remember that when we travel to other pools for meets, we represent the Cross Island Y as do the kids. The stands are no place for confrontations with others. If problems do arise, please control your tempers, take a step back and remeber we are there for the kids and need to set a good example for them in everything we do. They see and understand a lot more than we give them credit for!

Thank you again to everyone who so generously donated time and refreshments. Your contributions are very much appreciated. We could not be so successful without you.

GO BARRACUDAS!