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Season’s Greetings

The A.S.A.J wishes one and all a very happy holiday season. We sincerely hope that despite the effects of hurricane Ivan, you all had a wonderful year. We certainly hope that 2005 will bring us all prosperity and that we will all work together to make swimming the number one sport in Jamaica.

The SWIMJAMAICA pilot program has been a great success. The students who have participated have enjoyed the classes and have learned a lot. We will be having our level 1 exams on Monday December 13 2004 and thus hope to be graduating our first SWIMJAMAICA class this month.

Official Launch of the Program

The ASAJ will be officially launching SWIMJAMAICA in January of 2005. We now

have 4 schools signed on to the program and hope to have 72 persons in our learn to swim program in January.

Inner City Program

We are very proud to announce that of those 72, 16 will be from the inner city. Our first inner city group will be from the The Joy Town Learning Center in Trench Town and will be sponsored by the ASAJ.

ADULT LEARN TO SWIM

We will also be conducting an adult learn to swim class and we are looking for 8 eager parents to join this class so that you too can swim as well as your children.

MEET RESULTS

AB SHORCOURSE & WALTER LOWI SHORT COURSE SWIM MEET RECOUNT

Due to errors in the computation of the results a recount of all events (excluding the masters) in both swim meets is being done. The final results will be published as soon as they are available. We apologize for the undue delay.

Masters Results for Walter Lowi are confirmed as follows

Y Speedos 236

Tornadoes 201

Dolphins 41

Electric Eel 28

SCHOOL MEETS

Congratulations to the following schools who placed in the top three at the Issa High Schools/University Swim Meet and the ASAJ Prep/Primary Schools Meet.

ISSA- MALE

Campion College 332

St Georges College 256

Ardenne High 247

ISSA- FEMALE

ICHS 421.50

St Andrew High 240.

Wolmers Girls School 158

U.W.I placed first in both the male and female categories for Tertiary Level Institutions with a total score of 281.

ASAJ PREP & PRIMARY MALE

Mona 178

Hillel 161

St Peter & Paul 157

ASAJ PREP & PRIMARY FEMALE

Immaculate Prep 339

Vaz Prep 147

Hillel 123

Ocho Rios Cross the Harbour

Response towards the Ocho Rios Cross the Harbour has been extremely positive. We now have confirmed sponsorship from PEPSI. Cooyah and Catherine”s Peak have also advised us that they want to take part in this event.

The J.D.F has advised that they will perform a sea rescue.

We are currently negotiating with Marguaritaville to open their doors early so that we can get access to their slide pool and other facilities.

Water Polo has built and tested a goal made from P.V.C that can float in the sea.

Synchronized Swimming will have its greatest challenge as they will have to perform routines in waves and without the benefit of walls to mark their direction, not to mention that in saltwater visibility is very poor .

Despite these difficulties Coach Kathy will attempt to overcome these obstacles and create a spectacular show.

Many of the hotels and local businesses in Ocho Rios have indicated their willingness to come on board.

With all these positive developments we have decided to postpone the event until January 23 2005.

 
ALIA ATKINSON- BROWARD SWIMMER OF the YEAR. 
The following is an extract from an article that appeared in the Sun Sentinel in Florida, December 7 2004
 
Broward girls' swimmer of the year: Alia Atkinson
By Sharon Robb
Staff Writer
 
 
PEMBROKE PINES · At 15, Alia Atkinson already has accomplished more than 
most swimmers do in a lifetime.
 
The Flanagan senior from Jamaica competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. She came home with a renewed enthusiasm to work even harder over the next four years. "The first time you go to the Olympics, especially as young as I am, you go for the experience," Atkinson said. "The second time is much different."
 
Atkinson, who plans to enroll at Broward Community College and take some early college courses until she becomes old enough to swim at a Division I school, was just as motivated to compete in high school meets as she was 
in Athens.
 
She was the most dominant female swimmer in Broward County this season, earning South Florida Sun-Sentinel Girls Swimmer of the Year honors. She is the first Jamaican-born swimmer to be selected for the award.
 
At the State 3A meet, she was the county's only double winner, sweeping state titles in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke in the 
county's fastest times. She won every meet, including district and region. She said she is just scratching the surface of her potential.
 
Atkinson started competing at age 11 and has made remarkable progress under the tutelage of her coach, Chris Anderson, of Comets Swim Team in Pembroke Pines. The two came up with a training plan and stuck with it.
 
"I know I have the ability to swim faster," Atkinson said. "It's up to me how hard I work”.
 
"Competing in the Olympics was a great experience and so was high school. My goals are to work hard and get faster. It's nice that when I got back from the Olympics people knew who I was. But I wanted to make a name for myself by swimming fast and doing well for Jamaica. I know they are expecting big things of me. I am, too." 
 
Copyright © 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Parents Responsibility Guide

Encourage your child to swim

2.   Understand what your child wants from swimming and provide supportive atmosphere for these goals.  

3.   Do not pressure your child because another child is advancing faster

4. Keep “winning” in perspective and help your child do the same.

5.   Help your child set attainable goals in performance, rather than focusing on winning all the time.

6.   Help your child to understand the valuable lessons that swimming can teach. If you tell your child to respect others and you don’t, then the message is lost. Lead by example, not by word. Help your child meet the responsibilities of the team and it’s coaches.

8.   Discipline your child when necessary.

9.   Turn your child over to the coaches at practices and meets -- DO NOT INTERFERE OR COACH FROM THE BALCONY OR DECK. Supply your child’s coach with information on allergies or special health conditions your child may have. Make sure that your child brings any necessary medications to practices and meets.

11. Supply your child with healthy snacks and an energy drink

The ASAJ NEEDS YOU-

We are repeating this article, as we are nowhere near getting the amount of volunteers we need.

PLEASE VOLUNTEER

Hazel Nangle 429-7533 of the Blue Seals Swim Club is heading the drive to recruit volunteers. Please contact her and sign up today to help with

• Time Keeping

• Stroke Judging

• Starters

• Meet Referees

• Meet Directors

• Concession

• Gate

• Fund Raising

MONTEGO BAY ALL STARS

Welcome to the Montego Bay All Stars who have traveled all the way to Montego Bay with 9 swimmers ( all female) to participate in this meet.

We wish you the best of luck and hope to see you at more meets.

YMCA SPEEDOS

Contributed by Maureen Williams

Congratulations are due to the following Speedos swimmers who successfully completed the GSAT exams and are now high ‘schoolers’.

Christina Hart - Immaculate

Paul Henry - Ardenne

Chanel Hill – Meadowbrook

Simone Hunter – Immaculate

Ashani Montgomery – Campion

D’Nard Robinson – Ardenne

Tashna Smith-Edwards – Immaculate

Philip Simon – St. Georges

Karl Todd – Campion

Raheem Vaughan - Wolmers

Matthew Williams – Campion

We hope they will continue to perform well in and out of the water.

SARASOTA

Rohan Johnson, Ramon Walton and Victoria Ho, competed in the Tom Herrington YMCA Meet in Sarasota Florida in November. All three swimmers won medals in at least 1 event and turned in some impressive best times. Thanks to the Tornadoes Swim Club for facilitating the participation of the swimmers.

Walter Lowi Sprint Meet

The Y Speedos Swim Club retained the Trophy in the age group section by a narrow margin and also won in the master’s category. Congrats to the Coaches and swimmers

Panama

A group of 14 swimmers accompanied by Coach Michael and parents, will be taking part in the

Barracudas Meet from December 16 – 19. We wish them a successful trip and know they will do us proud. Traveling with the Speedos to Panama will be three Marlins Swimmers and a parent. We wish them luck in the meet.

Karl Dalhouse 2005

Just a reminder that this will be held as a one day sprint meet on Saturday January 29, 2005. See you all there for what will be yet another great meet !

The Y Speedos Swim Club would like to wish all a Peaceful, Holy and Merry Christmas, and every Good Wish for 2005.

Tornadoes Swim Club

Contributed by Faith Palmer

 
SARASOTA TRIP
 
 20 swimmers participated in the Tom Herrington Invitational Swim Meet and did very well. Most persons had two or more Best Times. The Toast of the group was Alexandra Beckford who won the High Point Trophy in the Girls 8 and Under Category. Brad Hamilton got the Runner Up trophy in the senior age group. 
 
The Club placed eighth overall out of 22 clubs in total who entered the meet.
 
TOTAL IMMERSION CLINIC
 
Members participated in a successfully run stroke clinic with Gary Fahley of the USA. Mr. Fahley also held a coaches' session which was attended by approximately 15 coaches. 
 
 
THE ASAJ has purchased a DVD which was shown at the Coaches Clinic. It is available for rental at the office.
 
ANNUAL CAROL SERVICE/SOCIAL/AWARDS – 
 
The Club will host this annual event on
Wednesday, December 22, 2004 at Up Park Camp.
 
4. Annual General Meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2005.
 

Blue Seals Swim Club

The Blue Seals will be hosting their annual Christmas Treat Next Week Saturday. For additional information please contact Hazel Nangle.

The Blue Seals Club is asking that all clubs who should have collected a trophy at the meet in May check with the ASAJ office as the trophies are there waiting to be collected by the Club Reps.

Electric Eel Swim Club

Contributed By Ann Marie Bucklansd

As the club approaches the Yuletide season and Coach Pedro puts his final touches to the swim team – which is now ready and raring to go, for the final meet of the year – we give three HOORAHS! for a year of changes and achievements.

The Electric Eel Swim Club, founded March 2004 with 21 members, has doubled its membership (42 members and counting). As the Club goes from strength to strength, we all look forward to bigger and better things in 2005.

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!

Well, we are in the news again, as three (3) members of the club’s senior team made the National Water Polo Team – Joseph and David Hernandez and Mikhail Lorne.

They will make their debut appearance on the international arena with the National Squad in Mexico in January/February 2005. Well guys, all we can say is do it like the true champions we are – catch the feel - “IT’S ELECTRIC!”.

Octivia Gray, does it again. Not just an avid swimmer, she has now copped the “Principal’s Awards for Academics” at St. Richard’s Primary School – again - IT’S ELECTRIC!

COACH PEDRO

We ask your support in prayers, as our beloved Coach undergoes surgery over the season (bad timing Coach ). We pray for success and God’s speed in his recovery.

BIRTHDAYS!

I guess if we had a choice in when to be born most of us would not choose Christmas, as we know persons with birthday too close to Christmas only get one gift.

Anyway, join us in saying HAPPY BITHDAY, CUMPLEANOS FELIZ, JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE! ILANGA ELIMNDANDI KUWE! to the following persons who celebrated/will be celebrating birthdays November and December.

Robyn-Kay Campbell - November 22

Dominic Campbell - November 28

Nkosi “Didan” Lorne - November 28

Gabrielle Mesquita - December 4

*Nicholas Brown - December 21

*A club fan – an aspiring “eel”

FROM ALL THE EELS, we take this opportunity to wish you all a Wonderful and Blessed Christmas and all that is good for 2005.

ONE LOVE!

MARLINS SWIM CLUB

Benton Bair, Kristen Jones, Nicolas Jones will all be accompanying the Y Speedos to participate in the Panama Meet. We wish them the best of Luck

Gongratulations to Ms Williams and her Lanamans Prep Swim team, who entered the school meet for the first time. Mikhaila Nathan from the school placed 3^rd in the 6 & under breasttroke.

Get well wishes Ahamanie Heslop who broke his arm at the last swim meet.

Dolphins Swim Club

The club is very proud oone of their very small swimmers, Kevaughn Campbell who broke the 6 & Under breastroke record at the Water Lowi Sprint Meet in a time of 52.56. He improved his previous best time by 7 seconds.

Royals Swim Club

Coach Mathew is very impressed with the progress the swimmers in his club are making.

He wishes to thank every one for a great year and looks forward to an even better 2005.

SYNCHRO NEWS

Contributed by Faith Palmer & Kathy Lim Sang
 
CLINIC
 

Head Coach, Kathy Lim Sang attended a Synchro Clinic for High Performing Synchro Coaches in Brazil during November hosted by

Pan American Solidarity Organization ( PASO) . The main presenter was Leslie Sproule from Canada.

It was a very Enlightening Experience made complete with good camaraderie amongst 38 coaches from at least 327 different countries sharing ideas issues and achievements.

Breaking down Language and Cultural Barriers with one common interest and passion at heart.- Synchro and its regional development.

WORKSHOP
 
Two Assistant Coaches and 2 swimmers participated in a synchro workshop hosted by Mac Synchro Club in Portland, Oregon. The team gained from the experience and is ready to put into practice some of the things learnt.
 
TAKE AWAY BRUNCH –
 
A special fund raiser to be held on Sunday, December 19, 2004 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Cost of tickets - $300.00 each. A sumptuous meal awaits you!!!! 

Drinks and Dessert on sale.
 
SYNCHRO SHOW –
 
 Rescheduled to January 30, 2005. More details later. 

WATER POLO NEWS

Inter-Secondary Schools’ League

Starting on Saturday October 30, there was a Water Polo Inter-Schools’ Competition in the afternoons for 5 weekends, in two age groups 15 & over and 13-14. The participating schools were

Boys Girls

Hillel Immaculate

St George’s Campion

Wolmers Alpha

Ardenne Holy Childhood

Campion St Andrew

K.C

In the 13 & 14 boys category the results are as follows:

1, Wolmer’s Boys

2, Hillel Academy

3, St. Georges College

The surprise team of this category was Hillel who placed last in the Competition held in March, initially lost its first game against the Number 1 seed Wolmers then bit Wolmers 92 and St. Georges convincingly.

In the female category after a single round robin the standing was as follows:

1, Immaculate

2, Holy Childhood

3, Campion

4, St. Andrew High School

5, Alpha Academy

Then first placed Immaculate easily defeated the fourth placed St. Andrew High in the semi-final 16-0

while Holy Childhood could not hold its fantastic run and lost the semi against Campion 1-6.

The League Final took place during the Jamaica Invitational International Tournament on November 26, 2004 where Immaculate assured its first place again defeating Campion 10-1.

The gold medals and the League Trophy was handed over to captain Vanacia Johnson by Grammy Award winner Sean-Paul.

The Most Valuable Player certificate went to Sachelle Taylor (Holy Childhood). Best Goalkeeper was Jheanelle Johnson (Campion) and the most goals (33) were scored by Vanacia Johnson (Immaculate).

In the male category after a single round robin the standing was as follows:

1, St. George,s College.

2, Campion

3, Wolmers

4, K. C.

5, Ardenne

St. George’s advanced to the final without playing. However, the second and third placed Campion and Wolmers semi-final brought the spectators some exiting action resulting in an 8-6 victory by Campion.

The final took place on November 27, 2004 as a preliminary game of the Jamaica Invitational International Tournament. St. Georges easily won the match 15-3 and became the number one male water polo school team of 2004.

The medals and the trophy were handed over by Homer Bair President of Cooyah the main sponsor of this year’s League.

The Most Goals Scored certificate went to captain Jamie Smith (St. Georges), while the Best Goalkeeper title was awarded to Daniel Arscott and the Most Valuable Player became Zawdie Coke (Wolmers).

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