Check out the hype video!!
https://youtu.be/fLxdYFDHelk

Hello,

This week is our first Saturday meet against Donaldson Run as we open up our NVSL Division 1 dual meet season. After a great showing and lots of swimming at time trials, the coaches had many hard decisions to make about who would swim in the meet, and which events we would put them in. As is the case in every sport and even the professional world, sometimes you have to ask your athletes (or employees) to step out of their areas of strength and comfort for the benefit of the group. We are evaluating match ups and potential for improvement, spreading our talent while giving us new data to consider for future meets. We cannot look past one opponent to be successful, while still being mindful of needing to go through this process four more times. I can assure you every last detail has been considered and I believe we are putting the best possible product in the water on a weekly basis. Plain and simple, this team will not be outworked. We had a tremendous week of training as we switched to morning workouts. Getting athletes fresh in the morning, when they are not wound up from a day of school and activities provides opportunities to teach new things while focusing incessantly on the same details (streamlines, starts, turns, finishes, not to breathe, keeping our head down, etc). I believe we are going to see major improvement across the board both tomorrow and on Monday. Our coaches are crushing it with lots of energy and attention to detail, holding every athlete accountable to the 'Tuckahoe Standard' for how to swim competitively and how not to. I will step back occasionally and look across the pool and see our army of athletes and coaches, parents and friends, and be amazed at the capacity for accomplishment when so many people are working towards the same end! I truly look forward to our potluck and meets over the next few days. A group that works this hard should have some fun, and the communal events help us to appreciate everything that has been done. New parents, veteran swimmers, die hard supporters, tiny 6y/os, enthusiastic coaches, and everyone in between all gather as one Tuckahoe - we are in this together and care about the same things - our kids having the best summer swim experience possible. I make knowing every kid by name and things about them a priority whenever I coach a team, and I hope to meet many parents on a personal level as well. If we have not met yet, I hope to share a first of many conversations with you this weekend! The first meet of the year is often not the most challenging meet of the entire season in terms of team result. I never like to look past an opponent and will not overlook the talent of a team in division 1. Tomorrow will be a very good meet against Donaldson Run - we have too many close races especially in areas where we are very strong and simply put this meet is not a guaranteed win. The best way to win in division 1 is to get momentum early in a meet and ride it to the end. In competitive team swimming, that means having a large number of people wearing black and gold (and swimmers dressed in their togas like greek gods and goddesses this week) surrounding the pool, and supporting the whole team in and out of the water regardless of whether you are competing. There is nothing like stepping up to the block before your race and hearing your name chanted by your teammates, and touching the wall at the finish and looking over to see everyone cheering for you. Furthermore, when it is not your day to swim, the inclusivity of being on the side with the older and younger kids, doing goofy cheers and having fun are some of the most memorable moments of your entire life. With 330+ kids on this team, I hope we have over 200 kids there tomorrow and 400+ parents and fans - we want everyone to come to every meet. My dad spent 14 years going to Overlee meets, being heavily involved with the team as a referee among other things, even for years after I graduated in 2012 - he will be on the hill in yellow tomorrow and cannot wait to be a part of the passion, sportsmanship, and excitement that Tuckahoe is known throughout the league for! The Ortmayers are home at Tuckahoe, and I have been waiting for this day since 8/1/2019! Its a great day to be a Tiger - Go Tuckahoe! (Clap) Torey