<p> FCA Swimmers of the Month (November 2017)</p><p>Novice</p><p>November was quite a month for our Novice swimmers. We had some tough practices, and the 8 & Under crowd had their first meet of the season! This month’s SOM handled it all with a smile and came away with some impressive swims at the FCA Mini Meet. Our SOM finished in the “Top 10” in three events and dropped over a second and a half in both the 25 Free and the 25 Backstroke events. These types of results don’t come easy, and this swimmer sure proves that with impressive practice attendance, a positive attitude, and eagerness to improve, sweet dividends are always around the corner. We have witnessed significant improvement in a very short period of time, whether it is her dives, turns, or tenacious main sets, and we are excited to watch how this youngster will evolve in the months to come. Congratulations Gwendolyn Burris, you are the November SOM!</p><p>Coaches: Ford, Gillison, Tedesco, Cassidy</p><p>Practice Kudos: Chase Rose – 15 Norah Abbas, Simeon Kohler, Kate Simpkins – 14</p><p>Junior</p><p>Watch out everyone! From what we’ve seen so far, this swimmer is going to have an amazing season. Our Junior SOM is in it to win it, and if you didn’t see his performance in Virginia then you missed out. He finished in the “Top 5” in seven different events and dropped time in every one of those swims. Additionally, he is on the precipice of qualifying for Junior Olympics in a majority of these events. WOW, WOW and WOW! All of these accomplishments are well deserved--he puts in the work: great attendance, always a lane leader, and always motivated to improve. This is what it’s all about. Congratulations and good luck with the rest of the season, Oliver Stein. You are the Junior Swimmer of the Month. </p><p>Coaches: Ford, Sherin-Porter, Ford, Gillison,</p><p>Practice Kudos: Junior Gold: Clara Behling, Chloe English – 21 Andrea Melendez, Ethan Murray, Megan Murray, Claire Pillar - 19</p><p>Junior: Felix Kohler – 20 Olivia Stankiewicz-Goldsmith - 19 Jamie Oswald – 18 Senior</p><p>Our Senior SOM certainly made quite a splash at the first meet of the year--throwing down best times in every single one of his events. Most impressively, he dropped nearly a combined minute in two events alone, the 400 IM and 500 Free, drawing ever closer to those JO cuts in the process. He also racked up some more impressive swims at his first Middle School season, where he nearly broke the team record in the 200 Free--dropping another 7 seconds in the process. Knowing that no success is achieved overnight, it is no surprise to the coaches that he was also near the top of the list for practice kudos for the month. Needless to say, the entire FCA staff is looking forward to what he will do this weekend at FCA Holiday ABC Meet. Please join us in celebrating Spencer Thorne as the Senior November SOM!</p><p>Coaches: Anderson, Ford, Gillison, McClain, Tedesco</p><p>Practice Kudos: Octavio Melendez – 25 Boris Kohler, Annika Naveen, Spencer Thorne - 22</p>