Monday, March 25, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
The more sins you confess, the more books you will sell.


Anne "Ninon" de l'Enclos

Sunday, March 24, 2024

ISU's Josh Christensen

 
Listen to our chat with ISU Women's Swimming Head Coach Josh Christensen here 
 
00:00 – Disclaimer & banter

01:53 – ASCA plug

02:21 – Introducing ISU’s Josh Christensen

02:40 – Sycamore roundball

04:25 – Josh’s start in the sport

06:33 – Any adjustments from D-II to D-I?

07:48 – Missouri Valley Conference

09:38 – Where does ISU recruit?

11:22 – Facilities

13:05 – Will the men’s program return?

14:01 – Fundraising & NIL

14:56 – Local high schools & clubs

16:17 – Rose-Hulman brainiacs

16:46 – Pros & Cons of men/women

20:07 – Early season

20:51 – Super Sport Systems (3S)

26:00 – Building the roster

29:33 – ISU & academics

30:50 – Supporting the program

34:30 – Wrapping it up

 

Quote of the Day

They say a little knowledge is dangerous, but
it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.
 

Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett
 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy.
The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.


William Hazlitt

Friday, March 22, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Collecting facts is important.  Knowledge is important.
But if you don't have an imagination to use the
knowledge, civilization is nowhere.


Ray Douglas Bradbury

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Long Overdue Jobs Post

 

Job postings over the last month (or so):


Dripping Springs HS assistant swim, Mike Hoskovec

The Woodlands Swim Team (TWST) assistant age group

McKinney North HS assistant swim/dive, Kendall Brewer

Cypress Lakes HS assistant swim, Tyrone Carter

Montgomery Aquatic Race Club (MARC) assistant

Central HS assistant swim, Rodney Chant

Medina Valley HS assistant swim/water polo, Douglass Bull

Elkins HS assistant swim/water polo, Jesse Hu

Alamo Area Aquatics Association (AAAA) assistant

Iowa Colony assistant swim/dive/water polo, Caitlin Cunningham

Ridge Point HS assistant swim/water polo, Adam Miles

Austin HS (Ft. Bend ISD) assistant water polo, Sean Brogan

A&M Consolidated HS natatorium director/head swim/dive, Brandon Schmidt

Dawson HS head swim/dive/water polo, Collin Gray

Northwest ISD head dive, Joel Johnson - 817-698-1011

Langham Creek HS head swim/water polo, Jonathan Mayer

Westlake HS head girls swim/dive, Callan Nokes

Cypress Park HS head water polo, Greg Rogers

Kempner HS head & assistant water polo, Troy Degar

Fort Bend ISD head dive, Katie Anselmo

Magnolia Aquatic Club (MAC) national team

Blue Tide Aquatics (BTA) lead group

Prosper Aquatic Club (PAC) lead group

Power For Life (PFL) head coach

YMCA of North Austin community rec center aquatics director

Aggie Swim Camp assistant coaches Shannon Clark


Quote of the Day

 
Censorship is advertising paid by the government.


Federico Fellini

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

2024 D-I W Championships

 

NCAA landing page for 2024 D-I women's champs is here

Quote of the Day

 
If you cannot mould yourself as you would wish, how can
you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?


Thomas à Kempis

Monday, March 18, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Can anything be sadder than work left
unfinished?  Yes, work never begun.


Christina Georgina Rossetti

Thursday, March 14, 2024

National Invitational Championships

 
Landing page for CSCAA's 2024 NIC is here

Site has links to psych sheet, schedule, standards, live stream, results, etc.

Quote of the Day

 
To be old can be glorious if one
has not unlearned how to begin.
 

Martin Buber
 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
It's not tyranny we desire;  it's a
just, limited, federal government.
 

Alexander Hamilton
 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Episode 44: Captain Darrell Fick

 
Listen to our visit with Longhorn Captain Darrell Fick here
 
via TLSN

00:00 – Disclaimer & limited banter

01:48 – Eddie Reese Audiobook excerpts

02:38 – New Chuck Warner Books Offer

04:04 – Introducing Darrell Fick

04:22 – Darrell’s start in swimming

05:52 – Texas years & new pool

07:56 – Coaching start in Alief

09:00 – First Colony

10:50 – Love of the sport

11:55 – Texas Senior Circuit

14:50 – NIL & Texas One Fund

19:59 – Agent involvement

22:48 – NIL in high school

26:34 – Coaching Deals

27:23 – Athlete Deals

28:10 – Swim Center bulkhead

29:23 –Texas One Fund & rule changes

31:22 – Branding & Open Doors

33:30 – Swimnerd pace clocks

34:23 – HOKA shoes

36:26 – Katy Tigers & summer leagues

37:31 – Eddie’s successor?

38:20 – Working around schedules

39:25 – NIL compliance

40:42 – Moving to the SEC

42:32 – Conference meet emphasis

44:44 – NCAA Portal & free agency

46:22 – RIP NCAA?

48:55 – Getting the 400 IM home

50:51 – Wrapping it up

51:19 – Support your school’s fund

 

Quote of the Day

 
Every time I sign a ball, and there have been thousands,
I thank my luck that I wasn't born (Stan) Coveleski
or (Bill) Wambsganss or (Roger) Peckinpaugh.
 
Mel Ott

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained.


Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Tuesday, March 05, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
The happiness of most people is not ruined by great
catastrophes or fatal errors, but by the repetition
of slowly destructive little things.

via Blog de Chrisnord

Ernest Dimnet

Saturday, March 02, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
The role of the Director is to create a space where actors
can be more than they have ever dreamed of being.


Robert Bernard Altman

Friday, March 01, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Progress in science is often built on wrong theories that are
later corrected.  It is better to be wrong than to be vague.


Freeman John Dyson

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Don't let winning make you soft.
Don't let losing make you quit.
Don't let your teammates
down in any situation.


Larry Joe Bird

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Comment Highlights

 
We've seen more comments in the past month than we've had in a long time.  Catch up below:


January 30 - Quote of the Day

February 20 - Follerin' Up



ASCA CEO Jennifer LaMont on SwimTalk A2B



Latest podcast now available!  Listen HERE

00:00 - Disclaimer , The Jay Cafe, & banter
01:40 - Eddie Reese Audiobook
02:10 - Introducing ASCA CEO Jennifer LaMont
02:34 - Jennifer Johnston's start in the sport
04:22 - Cincinnati Pepsi Marlin teammates
05:04 - Distance swimming at USC
06:05 - Basketball career(s)
07:25 - Should Dave announce swim meets?
08:13 - Training with Denny Pursley
10:08 - U.S. Olympic Trials:  Then & Now
12:04 - Prep for ASCA leadership
13:38 - Fall clinic in Texas?
15:10 - Serving all coaches
17:15 - ASCA Publications & Blog
18:52 - Yearbooks & Transcription
22:05 - The Triad
24:29 - Russell Mark's video analysis
26:42 - ASCA Coaches' Hub at '24 Trials
28:48 - ISHOF
30:39 - Membership & World Clinic attendance
33:15 - Coach protection
34:16 - Consistency & dedication
36:21 - 20 x 500's (LCM)
38:00 - Mary T. Meagher
38:50 - Important coach & athlete qualities
42:18 - Well-Rounded vs. Specialization
44:17 - Peggy Fleming & loving your sport
45:10 - Wrapping it up


Quote of the Day

 
No artist is ahead of his time.  He is in his time;
it is just that others are behind the times.


Martha Graham

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Victory has a thousand fathers,
but defeat is an orphan.


John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Follerin' Up



Last year we visited w/Andrews HS head coach Mike Waldmann.  He told us the story of the "antiques" he discovered and what they mean to his state meet squad.

Catch up here

His boys' 200 medley relay showed up and showed off at this year's state meet.





Quote of the Day

 
The curious paradox is that when I accept
myself just as I am, then I can change.


Carl Ransom Rogers

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
The only way to make sense out of change is to
plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
Alan Wilson Watts
 

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Scott Hammond on A2B

 

Listen to Scott Hammond on SwimTalk A2B here

00:00 - Disclaimer & the usual banter
01:27 - The Jay Cafe in Needville, Texas
01:45 - Is this thing on?
02:26 - RIP John Pittington
02:42 - Introducing Scott Hammond
04:15 - How Scott got into our sport
06:35 - Any hope for Clemson reboot?
07:25 - From Clemson to Austin
09:27 - Orange/White Meets
11:25 - Then & Now
16:06 - RIP Don Easterling
17:58 - Braden Holloway
23:14 - Chuck Raburn, Richard Sybesma, & Beverly Ball
24:54 - Racquetball & more with Eddie Reese
28:11 - Impact of coaches
29:57 - Future of conferences
31:55 - Transfer Portal & NIL
34:47 - Recruiting, poaching, and foreign athletes
37:49 - Life as a Texas assistant coach
45:30 - H&L Swim Academy
47:17 - Glenn Patton
48:25 - RIP Sam Freas
49:47 - Katy's Sheila Reeves
51:30 - Coaching over the decades
54:00 - Sprint Championship
55:40 - Equipment builders
57:10 - What's in a name?
59:52 - Closing it out


Quote of the Day

 
You begin with the possibilities of the material.
Milton Ernest "Robert" Rauschenberg
 

Monday, February 12, 2024

2024 UIL State Meet Qualifiers

 
Lists of this year's qualifiers (automatic & call-up) for all classifications are here

Quote of the Day

Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.
Leonardo da Vinci
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, February 08, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin
again, this time more intelligently.


Henry Ford

Wednesday, February 07, 2024

UIL State Meet 2024

 

State meet info on the UIL site includes automatic qualifiers, call-ups, meet packet, & forms.  A live results link will be available as well.


Quote of the Day

 
Time moves in one direction, memory in another.
William Ford Gibson

Sunday, February 04, 2024

2024 4A Call-Ups

 
All four (4) of the UIL 4A region results are on MM.  Although they're not considered official results, you may be able to use the info to determine the likely call-up list for this year's 4A state meet in San Antonio.

Edited 7:11 p.m.:

Quote of the Day

 
In politics, the reaction to a controversy is very
often more enlightening and important than
the details of the allegations themselves.


Tammy K. Bruce

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
Most people don't want to be part of the process,
they just want to be part of the outcome.  But
the process is where you figure out who's
worth being part of the outcome.
via Hype
Alex Morton

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
When the people are being beaten with a stick, they
are not much happier if it is called the People's Stick.


Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin

Monday, January 29, 2024

So Bad, They're...

 
...Good Naw, they're really, really bad.


What?  No "You're the Reason Our Kids are Ugly" or "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me, Her Memory Will"?

Quote of the Day

 
If you don't see yourself as a winner,
then you cannot perform as a winner.


Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar

Friday, January 26, 2024

Clinic $$$

 
Since we didn't have a fall TISCA clinic* some of us used our district's clinic budget to attend the ASCA World Clinic in Dallas last September.

If you didn't use that money for ASCA, what are your options?  Check with your A.D.

Chances are, you could attend the:
  • UIL 4A state championships in San Antonio,
  • UIL 5A/6A state championships in Austin, or
  • April TISCA offering.



*Since re-titled as a "convention" and moved to April to accommodate polo.


Note to Swimming World:

 
You don't have to play their game!
 
Please, stop with the pronoun b.s.!
 
In their article about Will Thomas, Swimming World* uses pronouns like "she" and "her" when referring to the former Austin Westlake HS swimmer.

"...Thomas has been arguing her case to overturn that rule so she can compete in elite women's races."

...Thomas has been arguing his case to overturn that rule so he can compete in elite women's races.

Fixed it for you!!!

New to this "story"?  Catch up here


* View it here


Quote of the Day

 
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing.
If you can fake that, you've got it made.
 

 Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx
 

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Quote of the Day

 
A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong.



Tecumseh