2016 Big Kids Champ Results Available

The results from last night's Big Kids Champs are available: Meet Results

Noah Witt set a new 13-18 Boys Backstroke Record!

Great swimming, everyone! Good luck 10 & Unders at Little Kid Champs on Thursday!

Six Important Updates for the FINAL WEEK of Swim Team

This is the last swim team week, and we have six important updates for everyone on the team. Here's a view of the week ahead:

1. CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEK - 

• Please sign-up to volunteer for Champs. These meets require additional help as we use more timers and seeders:
• Big Champs at Lewistown (Tues)
• Little Champs at Welch (Thurs)
• Concessions for Little Champs at Welch (Thurs) - The entire team benefits from concessions at Champs. This a great fundraiser, so please help make this a success!
• Big Champs Details (swimmer entry list)
• Tuesday, July 26th at Lewistown - about 35 mins from State College
• Arrive at 5:30pm
• Warm-ups at 5:45pm
• Meet starts at 6:00pm
• Little Champs Details (swimmer entry list)
• Thursday, July 28th at Welch
• Arrive at 4:45pm
• Warm-ups at 5:00pm
• Meet starts at 6:00pm

• Champ Shirts - Pre-ordered shirts may be picked up at practice on Monday from 8:30-9:45am and also at Champs. Additional shirts will also be available on a first-come basis at Champs.

2. COACHES' GIFT DONATION

Each family is asked to donate $10 toward an end-of-season gift for our coaches. Donations should be placed in the team dropbox during practice and are due by Tuesday, July 26th. This is the only donation being collected by the team this year!

3. MODIFIED PRACTICE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

There are several changes to this week's practice schedule (shown on the calendar above):

• Monday & Tuesday - Regular Practice Schedule
• Wednesday & Thursday - No 11 and up practice. 10 & under practice at regular times.
• Friday - No practice

4. TEAM AWARDS BRUNCH

We will be hosting an end-of-season team brunch at Welch on Saturday, July 30th from 9:00am-noon. This is a fun time to celebrate, enjoy some food, and congratulate the team for a great season!

• Fun swim at 9:00am. Brunch at 10:00am. Swimmer awards after brunch.
• Families are asked to bring a dish to share. RSVP and details available on the Sign-up Genius page.
• Please sign up by Wednesday July 27th so we know how many people to plan for! Thank you! Can't wait to see you all there! 

5. LATE NIGHT SWIM - Friday, August 19th from 8-10pm

Mark your calendars to come out and join the team for another get together before school starts! This is a fun evening for the entire family! The team slideshow will be shown. Of course, there will also be time for some Sharks & Minnows!

6. WELCH CAR MAGNETS AVAILABLE

New car magnets are available as a fundraiser for the team! They are $5/each. Proceeds help support our swimmers and our team activities. Magnets are available for purchase at practice.

Looking forward to our final week!

Meet Results - Welch at SPRA (07.21.2016)

Results from the SPRA meet are available: Meet Results

We were missing a lot of swimmers and families, but we had some good times and and some great races! Every race matters!

On to Champs...

Important Updates for the Week of July 18th

We've got another big meet this week (SPRA) and we are getting ready for Champs and the end of season brunch. Please read through the important updates below.

• Sign-up for Thursday's SPRA Meet - The sign-up boards will be available Monday through Wednesday during practice for Thursday's away meet against SPRA. The sign-up deadline is Wednesday at the end of practice (9:45am).
• Arrive at 5:15pm for warm-ups. Directions available on blog.
• Please signup to volunteer.
• CHAMPIONSHIP SIGN-UPS DUE THIS WEEK - Championships are an opportunity for all swimmers from the league to compete together. They are for everyone! Each swimmer will be placed in heats with other swimmers who are at a similar ability. Big Champs (11 and up) are Tuesday, July 26th at Lewistown. Little Champs (10 and under) are Thursday, July 28th at Welch.
• Each swimmer must sign-up for Champs
• An index card has been created for each swimmer and is available in the family folders.
• Swimmers must write their top five preferred events on their card and return it to the black box at practice. Each swimmer is allowed to swim up to four events -- coaches will determine relays.
• The deadline to sign-up is Thursday, July 21st. The list of swimmers who have signed up will be kept in the black box at practice.
• If you cannot sign-up in person or if you know that you cannot attend Champs, please send an email to our coaches: welchcoaches@gmail.com -- We want to make sure everyone gets a chance to swim at Champs!
• Please sign-up to volunteer and help with concessions at Champs
• Team Awards Brunch - We will be hosting an end-of-season team brunch at Welch on Saturday, July 30th from 9:00am-noon. This is a fun time to celebrate, enjoy some food, and congratulate the team for a great season!
• Please REGISTER if you plan to attend
• Fun swim at 9:00am. Brunch at 10:00am. Awards after brunch.
• Families are asked to bring a dish to share. Details available on the Sign-up Genius page.
• Check Family Folders at Welch - Please check your family folders during practice this week. There are several important announcements in each folder along with the Champs sign-up forms for each of your swimmers.
• Welch Car Magnets Available - New car magnets are available as a fundraiser for the team! They are $5/each. Proceeds help support our swimmers and our team activities.
• Mary will be selling magnets at practice on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7:45-9:00am
• Magnets can also be purchased at the meet on Thursday

Meet Results - Welch and PV at Lewistown (07.14.2016)

Congratulations on another win! Results have been posted for the joint meet between Penns Valley and Lewistown: Meet Results

One more dual meet to go (SPRA), then Champs! Please sign-up for the SPRA meet and Champs at practice.

See you at the Day of Joy Relays!

Go Sharks!

Important Updates for the Week of July 11th

We're halfway through our season. It's time to start planning for Champs and ending strong!

• Sign-up for Thursday's Lewistown Meet - The sign-up boards will be available Monday through Wednesday during practice for Thursday's away meet against Lewistown. The sign-up deadline is Wednesday at the end of practice (9:45am).
• Arrive at 5:15pm for warm-ups. Allow 35 minutes for travel from State College. Directions available on blog.
• Please signup to volunteer.
• Late Night Pool Party on Tuesday - We will be hosting a pool party from 7:00-9:30pm at Welch Pool on Tuesday, July 12. Please bring a dessert (finger-food only) to share. No sign-up required.
• 7:00-8:00pm - General Swim
• 8:00pm - Dessert time!
• 8:10-9:00pm - Fun Swim in Both Pools
• 9:00-9:30pm - Sharks and Minnows
• 11 & 12 Swimmers Invited to Evening Practice - The age 11 & 12 swimmers are invited to join our 13+ swimmers at Monday and Wednesday evening practice this week. Practice is from 8:00-9:00pm on Monday and Wednesday at Welch Pool.
• Relay Meet: "Day of Joy" on Saturday - Join all of the league teams for a morning of fun relays for all ages. No sign-up required. A headcount will be taken on Tuesday at practice.
• WHAT: A morning full of fun relays
• WHEN: Saturday, July 16th from 8:00am to noon
• WHERE: Park Forest Pool
• Additional details available in the display case at Welch
• Championships Sign-ups are Available - Championships are an opportunity for all swimmers from the league to compete together. They are for everyone! Each swimmer will be placed in heats with other swimmers who are at a similar ability. Big Champs (11 and up) are Tuesday, July 26th at Lewistown. Little Champs (10 and under) are Thursday, July 28th at Welch.
• Each swimmer must sign-up for Champs
• An index card has been created for each swimmer and is available in the family folders.
• Swimmers must write their top five preferred events on their card and return it to the black box at practice. Each swimmer is allowed to swim up to four events -- coaches will determine relays.
• The deadline to sign-up is Thursday, July 21st. The list of swimmers who have signed up will be kept in the black box at practice.
• If you cannot sign-up in person or if you know that you cannot attend Champs, please send an email to our coaches: welchcoaches@gmail.com -- We want to make sure everyone gets a chance to swim at Champs!
• Personal Note - Some of you have asked, so we wanted to let you know that Coach Marion's baby is doing well and keeping up with the busy season! Although, the baby was disappointed that the Park Forest meet ended early because they were looking forward to participating in the coaches' relay!

Meet Results - Park Forest (07.07.2016)

Results have been posted for tonight's meet at Park Forest: Meet Results

Great job swimmers! We were extremely disappointed that we were not allowed to finish out the meet. It was very close, and we had a good chance to gain some big points in the final events.

Every race matters, and we are so proud of our Welch swimmers! We had a lot of new personal bests and dropped times. Results will be posted at practice along with personal improvements.

Go Sharks!