October 1, 2000

Dear Carmel Swim Club Swimmers, Parents & Friends,

Welcome to the 2000-2001 Short Course Season!  I can't begin to describe to you how excited I am to be the new Head Coach of Carmel Swim Club and the Carmel High School's Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving programs.  My wife, Becky, and I feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to live in such a wonderful city and community to raise our two sons, Noah (2 years) and Jacob (5 months).  There's truly something special to be said about "Midwestern Values" and this place is what it's all about. 

As a competing coach with the Cincinnati Marlins in Cincinnati, Ohio, I've always admired Carmel Swim Club as a great program with a very rich and proud tradition.  Not only is it personally very humbling, but also it's a tremendous honor for me to be able to have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some of the outstanding Carmel Swim Club Head Coaches of the past such as Tony Young, Tom Avischious and Ray Lawrence.  After starting here in late August, I have acquired an even greater respect and appreciation for the super job that Tony did as the Head Coach of both the high school and swim club.  Both the swim club and the high school program were very fortunate to have a man of such high values and integrity as their leader for so many years.   

In my first month, I must say the experience of coaching at Carmel has been very encouraging and inspiring to me.  The swimmers have trained with a great deal of heart, determination and team spirit.  Our parents have been extremely cooperative and supportive and I'm fortunate enough to be able work with a dedicated coaching staff that has individuals who are not only great leaders of young people, but tremendous role models.
 
I'm extremely proud and very touched to be a part of the Carmel Swim Club.  Thanks to people like you, this is indeed a very special and unique organization. 

Thank you for making my family feel so welcome.  I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and having a wonderful season.  Best wishes and please keep in touch!

Sincerely,


Ken Stopkotte
Head Coach
Carmel Swim Club

Stingray News

It's an exciting time of the year for swimmers around the globe.  I hope everyone tuned in to watch the Olympic Games in Sydney.  USA Swimming definitely overshadowed other sports that were shown on NBC, too bad there was some lag time between the actual event and the broadcast.  I couldn't resist checking the results out on the web before I watched the evening show. 

Here at home in Indiana the Stingrays have been at it for four weeks now.  We have 14 new Stingrays who moved into the group this month so the dynamics of the group have been altered a bit.  Congratulations to the new Stingray members and welcome back to the old.  Newcomers to the Stingray group include
Katie Alonso, Kim DeMeester, Christie Gomez, Jamie Gomez, Lauren Hardesty,  Lindsey Kinker, Christina Liwski, Isabella Lledos, Lisa Moore, Michelle Sarin, Bill Scheidler, Sara Sharp, Ali Stauder, and Taylor Stauffer.

We have a couple of kids in the group who have stepped up to some challenges outside of the pool.  Bill Scheidler and Michelle Sarin have become members of a leadership group called K.A.R.E, Kids About Reaching Everyone.  Students were selected by their 7th grade teachers on the basis of their leadership potential, citizenship, and dedication as students.  Great job to these two student/athletes. 

On a fun note, three other Stingrays have shown some leadership skills by setting up group functions for the Stingrays.  Lizzy Wermer and Tyler Davis took initiative in planning  a trip to Block Party giving the Stingrays a chance to get to know one another on a different level and Taylor Baughman set up the Stingrays annual Nerd Olympics over the summer. (If you didn't get a chance to watch the Nerd Olympics you missed out on some great skits!!)  Thank you to all three athletes for taking the extra steps to help bring the group together.

I hope everyone is enjoying the start of a new or another great year with Carmel Swim Club.  Take care and I'll see you on the deck.                             -Jill


OOPS...I MISSED THE PARENTS MEETING!

If you missed your child's group meeting for the parents all of the coaches have notes to give you.  Just give us a call at the office to let us know we need to slide the information into your file.  If, after receiving the notes you have questions give us a call and we can set up a meeting to discuss the information with you

UPDATES ON CARMELS NOVEMBER FALL FRENZY

The Meet Directors and their Committee Chairs have been working the past weeks to organize the Fall Frenzy Meet.  Hosted by CSC at IUPUI Natatorium on Nov. 10-12, 2000, we are trying some new methods of organization in hopes of improving our efficiency.  Everyone's time is valuable.  With enrollment not quite up to last year's numbers, each family from the TS, BA, ST and SE groups is required to work four sessions.  HHB families must work two sessions.  Any HHW and HHR families, who would like to work, so that they can be on deck with their swimmers, may also sign up.  If our response at sign-up is good, maybe we can cut back on the number of shifts.  Our goal is to be busy while we are there and work fewer shifts.

Sign-up sheets will be posted at the High School, on our bulletin board in the pool lobby, during swim practice from Oct. 11 - Oct. 27.  Please read the new sign-up instruction sheet prior to signing up.  Job descriptions will also be posted nearby.  Cheryl Koch will contact all families who fail to sign up for their allotted sessions.  Reminder sheets will be put in the swimmers' folders one week prior to the meet.  Hopefully signing up later will help parents avoid conflicts in their schedules, avoiding last minute changes.

Our swimmers are not the only members of the Carmel Swim Club.  There could be no CSC without parents.  We are the volunteers that make our meets successful.  The meets are the primary source of income for the club. In order to keep our swimming fees from increasing, we need to reduce our meet expenses.  One way is for all families to donate food for Hospitality.  We are asking each family to donate two 2-liter bottles of soda, and at least two dozen cookies, brownies or cakes.  Once again, we will only be feeding coaches, officials, and those volunteers working back to back shifts.  Your cooperation on this would be appreciated.

For all of the hours our swimmers put into their practices each week, let us make them proud of us by spending a few hours to make the Fall Frenzy a great meet.

UPCOMING EVENTS
FALL 2000


OCTOBER 13-15 HAMILTON S.E. MEET
OCTOBER 19-22 CARMEL FALL BREAK
OCTOBER 20-22 LAKESIDE CLASSIC
OCTOBER 23 PRACTICE SCHEDUL CHANGES
NOVEMBER 1/2  HAMMERHEAD EVALUATIONS
NOVEMBER 10-12 CARMEL FALL FRENZY
NOVEMBER 11 GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL KICKOFF