July 2016 Coaches Corner Coach John Payne, TAC TITANS Associate Head Coach INSIDE THIS ISSUE TITANS Swimmers and Families, Coaches Corner TLC Tidings The long course season is fun, fast and short. It always feels as if the beginning TAC TITANS Hire New Head Coach is actually the middle and championship season hits right after school is out. Fortunately for our athletes we have ample opportunity to train in 50 meter Annual TITANS Awards Banquet water and will be well prepared when called upon. Community Service News Service Credit Summary The Cinco de Mayo Meet was a great success as we swam well across the Get to know Libby Moore and Calvin breadth and depth of the program. As a staff we reviewed where we were last Sonntag year at this time and with a few exceptions, our swimmers are ahead of where they were last year at this time. Seeing good year-over-year progress is a good Short topics sign for things to come. TAC Installs New Video Board Ana Pozder provided a highlight swim on the first night qualifying for the 2016 COACHING STAFF USA Olympic Trials in the 800 free. She received a lot of • John Payne support from not only the TITANS • Dennis Davis coaches and swimmers, but also • Rob Norman the YOTA staff and athletes when • Blake Addison they realized that she was making • Ronna Reedstrom • Sandy Canfield a qualifying attempt. It was a ton • Kevin Maksinchuk of fun seeing everyone come • Graham Williams together to cheer her effort and • Lee Addison success. Ana competed on • Chris Sjogren July 1st in Omaha! • Brandy Plewniak Our Junior and Teen TITANS hosted local teams on May 22nd for a short course meet. I saw lots of enthusiastic swimmers and coaches working to perfect their CONTACT skills and racing for best times. That event was a lot of fun for everyone.

• Phone: 919-459-4045 We had the NC Open Water Championships and • email: [email protected] TYR Triangle Classic in June. Open Water provides a unique opportunity for us to experience a growing area of our sport, as well as showcase some of our athletes who are already accomplished open water swimmers. The TYR Triangle Classic was competitive and offered the next chance for us to get feedback before making our run in July.

Thank you for your support of our program! The Starting Block 2

Coaches Corner continued I will leave you with the following thoughts about questions A good friend of mine has an exercise he does with his clients. and answers. He asks them what question they are trying to answer with their lives. It is a very powerful exercise. I have gone through it In the movie, The Matrix, the characters Trinity and Neo have with him and a couple of other folks as a way of moving from the following conversation: idea to action.

If you honestly define your question and then place the actions of your life in the context of the question, you begin to see if you are spending your time, your life, as an attempt to answer it.

Rainer Maria Rilke wrote the following to a young poet, “I want to beg you as much as I can to be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. The point is to live everything—live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

The changes your question demands of you may be difficult to Trinity: Please just listen. I know why you’re here, Neo. I know accept, but be patient and “live the questions.” what you’ve been doing. I know why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night you sit at your computer. Ask your questions, honestly. Be open to answers as they You’re looking for him. I know, because I was once looking for present themselves. You may find yourself. If you want to. the same thing. And when he found me, he told me I wasn’t “Thus I urge you to go on to your greatness if you believe it is in really looking for him. I was looking for an answer. It’s the you. Think deeply and separate what you wish from what you question that drives us mad. It’s the question that brought are prepared to do.” Percy Wells Cerutty you here. You know the question just as I did. Coach John Payne Neo: What is the Matrix?

Trinity: The answer is out there, Neo. It’s looking for you. And it will find you, if you want it to. The Starting Block 3

TLC Tidings As the end of our long course season approaches, the TITANS Leadership Council would like to thank our families for their dedication and volunteerism during all the meets and events we have hosted. This is in addition to their support of our swimmers, coaches and team! It has been great seeing so many new faces on deck helping out at meets! Our swimmers have excelled this season and we know part of their success is due to the support they feel on deck at every meet.

with the Miracle League of the Triangle. The Miracle League provides children with special needs the opportunity to play baseball. Our swimmers did an outstanding job helping out at their assigned games. They had just as much fun as the players! Some of our older swimmers, were able to volunteer to help with Special Olympics. They were able to time and cheer on these amazing athletes! Thank you to all those that helped to make our Annual Awards Ceremony and our Senior Recognition such a success! As the long course season comes to an end, we are also in Swimmers from all the process of planning for our upcoming Championship TITANS groups were meets. Those qualified swimmers will enjoy a pasta dinner to treated to a great get them pumped up for their meets. As short course quickly slideshow as well as approaches, we have already begun to plan for the coming the opportunity to year. Our Team Spirit Committee is working hard on some new hear from our very designs for team shirts. Please make sure you update your own “Coach”, Dennis swimmers t-shirt size if it has changed. Our Social Committee Davis. After the is beginning to plan ceremony, the for our kick-off swimmers were event! We are also treated to refreshments. Also at the Annual looking forward to Awards Ceremony, new members were welcoming our new voted into the TITANS Leadership Council. head coach, Bruce The following new members were added: Marchionda, at Matt Hook -TLC President, Dina Goembel the beginning - Social Chair, Heather Whelehan - Co- of August. Volunteer Coordinator, and Karin Grotjohn Thank you for all - Dues Reduction Chair. you all do to make The TITANS this team a success! Let us know if you have any questions have been busy in the or concerns. community. All of our Sincerely, swimmers helped make and deliver over 200 lunches for Your TITANS Leadership Council (TLC): Matt Hook, Nicky the Brown Bag Ministry. Our Dunlap, Ann Payne, Meredith Nance, Dina Goembel, Heather older swimmers have been Whelehan, and Karin Grotjohn giving back to our community outside of the pool. They were given the chance to volunteer The Starting Block 4

TAC TITANS Hire New Head Coach The TAC TITANS are proud to announce Bruce Marchionda Both Marchionda and Payne have a great deal of experience as Head coach of the TAC TITANS swim team. Bruce will join and tremendous success developing age group swimmers Associate Head Coach John Payne (“JP”) along with five all the way through Gold Medal Olympians in the full-time and six part-time coaches to make up one of the 2012 London Olympics. most experienced and successful age-group coaching teams in the country. “Bruce is not only a great person, but a great coach Bruce was hired to lead an experienced, accomplished that developed me from being a good swimmer to team of coaches to help each of our swimmers optimize an Olympian,” said Gold Medal Olympian . their performance and develop the TITANS into a perennial state, region and nationally recognized club. Bruce is currently Raleigh native and Gold Medal Olympian Charlie Houchin coaching the High-Performance post-graduate and stated that, professional swim team at South Florida Aquatic Club where he has qualified two swimmers for the 2016 Olympic Games “John Payne’s coaching style that focuses on the individual in Rio. Bruce holds the highest ASCA 5 level coaching needs of each swimmer allowed me to perform at my status and has 30 years of experience coaching at the collegiate, prep school and age group level including nine highest level.” years at Clemson University and 13 years at Western Kentucky University. Bruce’s planned starting date is Monday, August 1st. It is with full anticipation that the current coaching assignments and Western Kentucky Athletic Director, Todd Stewart stated practice schedules will remain the same for the 2016-2017 SCY season. Bruce will be leading and coaching the National/ “Bruce Marchionda is an excellent swim coach and was Sectional group along with JP & Coach Dennis, as well as always great to work with. The swimmers under his overseeing and helping with all other Challenge, Elite, and Jr tutelage consistently improved their times. He is very TITANS groups. dedicated to his profession, and I feel he will do an Bruce is very excited about his new position as Head Coach outstanding job with the TAC TITANS Swim Team.” and stated “The Triangle Aquatic Center is a place where I can put my skills and experience to work in an area directly related to student-athlete development. With an individual approach to training, I look forward to leading an experienced and talented team of coaches to develop each athlete to their greatest individual potential.”

Please join us in a warm TITANS welcome to Coach Bruce when you see him on deck starting Aug. 1st. As a reminder, registration for the 2016-2017 season is open. We look forward to seeing everyone back next season! The Starting Block 5

Annual TITANS Awards Banquet On Sunday, April 17th, TAC TITANS swimmers, parents, coaches, and staff gathered at the Cary High Auditorium to celebrate a successful short course season. After an inspiring speech by Coach Dennis, MVP and Coach’s Awards were distributed. Emily Stringfellow, recipient of the TITANS Leadership Award, received a scholarship to her future university and recognition on a plague hanging in the lobby at TAC. The TITANS Family also honored our senior swimmers leaving to pursue future aspirations. Each swimmer shared his or her experiences while saying goodbye. Our Seniors will be missed! In addition, all of our volunteers were thanked for their countless hours of service, and the new TITANS Leadership Committee (TLC) members were nominated and approved to serve for the up and coming year. The program concluded with all enjoying cupcakes and fellowship in the lobby. We look forward to celebrating yet another exciting and accomplished season next April!

2015 -2016 Teen TITANS and Jr. TITANS Team Spirit Award Winner Award Recipients • Josh Paroly

Coach’s Award Winners 2015-2016 Elite Track Award Recipients • Teen TITANS—Nicole Byron and Eloy Parrilla Coach’s Award Winners • Jr. TITANS 11/12—Katelyn Sheets and Omar Yebka • National/Sectional Group—Ana Pozder and • Jr. TITANS 10 and Under—Libby Boyle and Mason Dean Matthew Jaynes Most Outstanding Award Winners • Tag 1—Ema Pozder and Connor Chignell • Teen TITANS—Kristen Gregory and Aaron Sugarman • Tag 2—Taylor Morris and Thor Dyke

• Jr. TITANS 11/12—Riley Dunford and Jason Cobb • Tag 3—Molly Curran and Brian Farrell

• Jr. TITANS 10 and Under—Swastika Dey and Most Outstanding Award Winners Thomas Gilbert • National/Sectional Group—Julia Poole and John Healy 2015-2016 Challenge Track Award Recipients • Tag 1—Sarah Pilecki and Alex Tomlinson Coach’s Award Winners • Tag 2—Charlotte Hook and Braeden Haughey • Senior—Madison Temple and Jonah Mehrer • Tag 3—Keelan Cotter and Max Marrujo

• Gold—Madeline Johnson and Jacob Crater Team Spirit Award Winner: • Silver Advanced—Ava Dean and Jason Strout • Samantha (Sammy) Tjandra • Silver—Kristen Schroeter and Alexander Naskov

• Bronze—Grace Boughton and Austin Marchand

• Copper—Liliya Mitchell and Eddie Testa

Most Outstanding Award Winners • Senior—Emily Stringfellow and Christian Ziller

• Gold—Abigail Hook and Jed Tan

• Silver Advanced—Ava Kohlrausch and Josh Paroly

• Silver—Elizabeth Pierce and Glen Gimpl

• Bronze—Meredith Whelehan and Christian Marrujo

• Copper—Tia Ormondroyd and Cole Tangeman The Starting Block 6

Community Service News TITANS of all ages came together to package and deliver wonderful demonstration of compassion and leadership. A 200 lunches for the Brown Bag Ministry on Saturday, April huge thank you to all who donated items for this project, and 30th. This was a huge undertaking for us, but thanks to the also to those parents who were able to help manage the generosity of our families, and the enthusiasm of our production lines! Many hands made this a success! swimmers, it was a huge success. Groups rotated through the production line before and after practice, beginning with In May, twenty TITANS decorating a bag, and then filling it with snacks and a drink. volunteered as Buddies for Our last groups to rotate through made 200 sandwiches to children with special needs add to each bag and then packed everything up for delivery. playing baseball in the A small group was able to deliver the lunches to the Moore Miracle League of the Square area of Raleigh with Coach JP. We are so proud of Triangle. There were smiles the kindness they showed to those that they served. They all around as the Buddies represented the TITANS, and their families, very well. What a played catch, ran the bases, and gave high-fives!

In June, our TITANS volunteers served as timers for the Special Olympics Summer Games held at TAC. They always had a smile and positive attitude during the long timing session.

Thank you to all our swimmers for making a difference in the community! The Starting Block 7

Service Credit Summary During the 2015-2016 season, the TAC TITANS piloted a service credit program with the goal of improving volunteerism at TITANS hosted swim meets. This service credit program pilot was partially successful. Although the percentage of our parents who volunteered improved, at the end of short course, only 52% of challenge and elite families were on track to meet the 10 credits laid out in the service credit program. As a result, we still struggled to fill critical volunteer positions at meets.

The TAC TITANS rely on member families to facilitate TITANS meets in order to provide a positive experience for swimmers and spectators. As the leading nonprofit aquatic facility in North Carolina, we strive to keep our pricing competitive. Unlike many swim clubs we do not have a capital campaign, swimmer contribution fee or minimum fundraising requirement. In order for us to effectively balance competitive pricing and keep travel costs at a minimum for our families, we regularly host swim meets in our world-class facility. As a result, we need sufficient coverage at swim meets and team events by our TITANS member families.

In order to meet the need of volunteers at TAC TITANS hosted swim meets, we will be implementing a Service Credit Program for the 2016-2017 season. Below are the highlights of the program. For complete details, visit the website at https://www.teamunify.com/SubTabGeneric.jsp?team=nctac&_stabid_=147819.

1. Each TITANS family (based on account and not the additional credits will roll forward to the February—July number of athletes in a family) in the Challenge or Elite billing period. The July invoice will have the remaining $300 program is expected to earn at least 10 Service Credits Service Credit semi-annual charge. The Service Credits per Competition Year (September—July). There will be 5 earned between February and June will offset this charge. If required in the fall (September—January) and 5 required in a balance is due, it will need to be paid with the July invoice. the spring (February—July). Families earn Service Credits If Service Credits are met during the month of July, your by working at TAC TITANS hosted swim meets and other account will be credited accordingly. sponsored events requiring assistance. 5. Jr. TITANS and Teen TITANS families are also expected 2. A Service Credit is equivalent to $60 or a total of $600 for to assist at swim meets to support the team but their the entire season. Service Credits are not tracked at this time. This may be 3. Tracking of Service Credits will be handled through the revisited in the future based on seasonal program Team Unify system. In order to earn a Service Credit, the utilization data and growth. person signed up must check-in at the appropriate time 6. Service Credit funds received from the semi-annual charges and work the entire duration of the job. will be used to offset the cost of additional meet staff hired 4. The February invoice will have a $300 Service Credit to fill vacant roles. At the end of each swim season, 80% of semi-annual charge. The Service Credits earned between the net surplus received will be given to the TAC TITANS September and January will offset this charge. If a balance Booster Club to disburse for team purchases. is due, it will need to be paid with the February invoice. We welcome your comments and suggestions on how to best Although we encourage families to distribute service credits provide support for the TAC TITANS in the future. If you have throughout the season, if credits earned during the any suggestions regarding this program, please contact the September—January billing period exceed 5 credits, any TITANS administration at [email protected]. The Starting Block 8

Get to know Libby Moore and Calvin Sonntag Δ Name—Libby Moore Δ Name—Calvin Sonntag

Δ Age—10 Δ Age—10

Δ Swim Group—Bronze Δ Swim Group—Bronze

Δ When did you start swimming? Δ When did you start swimming? I have been swimming since I was I began swimming at 6 months 3 or 4. I have been swimming old and officially joined swim team competitively since I joined the at 6 years old. neighborhood swim team, when I was 5. Δ What is your favorite stroke? Backstroke Δ What is your favorite stroke? Breaststroke Δ What do you like best about being a Titan? I get to be Δ What do you like best about being a Titan? All of the with my friends. people are so kind. Every day I can come to the pool, challenge myself in practice, and get better each time. Δ What do you like to do in your free time? I like to play Minecraft, read, build with Legos and ride the RipStik. Δ What do you like to do in your free time? I like playing with my siblings, swimming, and reading. Δ Favorite Song? My House by Flo Rida

Δ Favorite Song? Never Forget You by Zara Larsson Δ Favorite Movie? Star Wars

Δ Favorite Movie? The Princess Bride Δ Favorite Food? BBQ Baby Back Ribs with lots of sauce!

Δ Favorite Food? Sushi! Δ Favorite Sports Team? New England Patriots

Δ Favorite Sports Team? NC State Δ Favorite Subject in School? Math/Science

Δ Favorite Subject in School? Social Studies Δ What do you want to be when you grow up? Electrical Engineer Δ What do you want to be when you grow up? A Nurse Δ Who is your favorite swimmer? Δ Who is your favorite swimmer? Michael Phelps Δ What is your best swimming memory? Winning the OC Δ What is your best swimming memory? When I won my Junior Lifeguards Vitamin Challenge in Southern California. first heat when I swam for my neighborhood summer team.

YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR SWIM TEAM by shopping at Amazon Smile

• It’s simple...go to https://smile.amazon.com/

• Sign-in to your amazon account

• Search for the charity “Triangle Aquatic Center”

• Click select and then start shopping!!

Thank you for supporting the TAC TITANS:) The Starting Block 9

Short topics Titans Tuesdays Registration for the Show your support of the 2016-2017 Season is TAC Titans by wearing your Now Open Titans gear every Tuesday! Registration for all returning

Athletic Lab science-based, field-proven Athletic Lab continues to sport performance training work with Senior 1, 2 and 3, methods. TAG 1, 2 and Gold. The athletes are getting a lot out Community Service of this program! Athletic Organizations In Need Lab is the premier sport of Service Credits Check your swimmer’s swimmers opened on science research and athletic and/or Fundraising t-shirt size online! Wednesday, June 15th. To development facility located Opportunities Parents, please remember to register, please visit www. in North Carolina. They The TITANS are looking to update your swimmer’s shirt tactitans.com and click on the provide sport specific training partner with local community size in Team Unify as they “2016-2017 Registration Now for athletes as well as CrossFit organizations to help staff our grow throughout the year. Open” button. Please be sure training for adults looking largest swim meets. If you are The size you enter during to update your swimmer’s to get in the best shape of part of an organization that is registration is the size we use t-shirt size and all other their life. looking for fundraising to order shirts throughout the pertinent information when opportunities for trips or season (for special meets, registering. Registration special service projects, etc). You can do this by opens to the general public Athletic Lab works with please contact Scott logging into Team Unify and on Wednesday, July 6th. athletes from middle school Dameron at sdameron@ clicking on “my account” on to the elite professional using triangleaquatics.org the left side. Click on “my Ana Pozder Qualifies for account” again and then on Olympic Trials your swimmer’s name and Congratulations to our very change the shirt size. Be sure own Ana Pozder. She is to click on “save changes” headed to the Olympic Trials toward the bottom when in Omaha, Nebraska to swim you are done! the 800 Free. To celebrate this amazing achievement, a breakfast was held in her honor on June 27th. Good luck Ana! The Starting Block 10

TAC Installs New Video Board The TAC administration and coaching staff is proud to announce to our TITANS membership the purchase of a new LED Video Board! The board was provided to us by ViviLED and features the following:

• 29 ft (W) x 9.5 ft (H) LED widescreen

• Ability to stream video (ESPN, Olympic Games, highlights, etc)

• Multiple formatting options during meets to scroll times, records, sponsors, etc

The video board was installed the week of June 12th and was operational for the TYR Triangle Classic Meet. ViviLED was on TITANS Swim-A-THON and individual giving goes a long way site during the meet to help train TAC staff on controlling the in providing the financial support needed to help fund these board. The board replaced the two Daktronics matrix boards special projects. TAC wanted to give back to the swimmers and was installed in the same area. and parents who support TAC and hopefully this new video board will be viewed upon as a benefit for swimmers, parents TAC is the largest nonprofit public aquatic facility ever built in and staff to all enjoy. the country without one dollar of tax funding or subsidies. Your generous participation in fundraising events such as the

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