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Hampton Oaks HURRICANES Swim Team News

02-11-05

2005 Season Kickoff and Registration set for April 06, 2005

The Hampton Oaks HURRICANES Swim Team (HOST) will launch the 2005 swim season with its annual Season Kickoff meeting at the Hampton Oaks Elementary School gymnasium from 7:00pm to 8:15pm on Wednesday, April 06, 2005.  This meeting is highly encouraged for all swimmers and at least one parent of all swimmers as there are a number of topics to be covered and few opportunities to communicate this information once the season begins.  For those parents that want to get an early jump on the season, HURRICANE Registration for swimmers and parent-volunteers will be conducted before and after the meeting (see Events 00 and 13 in the agenda below).   

The 2005 season will be the seventh for the HOST.  We anticipate the most exciting and enjoyable season ever with over 200 swimmers expected.  The evening’s agenda is as follows: 

Parents and swimmers will have an opportunity to register early and place orders for the new line of HURRICANE spirit wear.  The new HURRICANE Swimsuit will be on display but measurements and orders will not be taken until the following week (see Swim Suit Measurements article in this edition).  However, you will get to see the new swim suit and cap “modeled” by two of our very own swimmers.  Short presentations are also planned by all of our HOST Board of Directors and you’ll get a chance to meet our new head coach.  Most importantly, HOST parents will learn the things necessary to make the 2005 season a huge success.  Primary among these is the parent volunteer requirements for each meet and your signed contract with the team that indicates an understanding of, and an agreement to fulfill, volunteer requirements.  Additionally, the HOST BOD has worked hard during the off-season collecting the lessons learned from previous years and incorporated a number of changes in to team policies and general operating procedures to continuously improve team operations for both parents and swimmers.  All parents must be familiar with these changes in order for the 2005 HOST team, and the season in general, to run smoothly. 

We most strongly encourage all HOST parents and swimmers to join us for the 2005 HOST Season Kickoff and Registration on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 at the Hampton Oaks Elementary School gymnasium.  Please consult the HURRICANE website at www.hohurricanes.org for additional information beginning in early March 2005.  See you at the 2005 Season Kickoff and GO HURRICANES!

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HURRICANE Swimsuit Measurements and Registration Scheduled for April 12^th and 14^th at the HOCC.

Swimsuit measurements, orders and additional registration will be conducted at the Hampton Oaks Community Center on Tuesday, April 12^th and Thursday, April 14^th between the hours of 6:00pm and 9:00pm.

Every two years the Hampton Oaks HURRICANE Swim Team (HOST) purchases new swimsuits and caps.  The 2005 season is a new swimsuit year and we are very excited about the look of our new HURRICANE swimsuit for the 2005/2006 seasons.  All HURRICANE swimmers are highly encouraged to purchase the new team swim suit if practical.  We fully recognize that the combined cost of registration, swimsuits, caps and goggles can become unaffordable for some families; especially those families with multiple swimmers.  Also, for some swimmers the new suits simply do not fit properly.  While the new swimsuit is not a requirement for our team, the RSL does require that those swimmers that wear a cap during competition must wear a HURRICANE team cap or a “neutral” cap (i.e. no visible markings of any kind).  All HURRRICANE swimmers are strongly encouraged to wear the new team swim cap this season to show our team unity, community spirit…and to help our coaches tell our kids from the others!  We would prefer that those swimmers that do not purchase the new swimsuit / cap wear a HURRICANE suit / cap from a previous season or wear a dark blue suit / cap.  We appreciate all parents and swimmers supporting these goals when practical for your family.  GO HURRICANES!

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HURRICANE Coaching Staff Hired for 2005 Season

Andy Bertolet Heads All-Star Staff

The Hampton Oaks Swim Team (HOST) Board of Directors (BOD) recently completed our coaching selection process.  We are very excited to announce the new 2005 HURRICANE coaching staff. 

Head Coach - Andy Bertolet 

Lead Assistant - Tommy Cregan

Assistant - Christine Wishmyer

Assistant - Ambur Humphrey

The HOST BOD believes strongly that this staff will prove to be the best ever assembled to coach our young swimmers. 

Head Coach. 

Coach Bertolet recently moved to Fredericksburg from Jenkintown, PA with his new bride Kate.  He currently serves as an Assistant Coach with the Quantico Sharks. 

Coach Bertolet was a four-year, Pennsylvania High School, All-American and State Champion in the State 500 meter Freestyle.  He qualified for US Senior Nationals in five Events (1650 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 400 IM, 200 Butterfly, and 200 Breaststroke).  Coach Bertolet’s numerous coaching positions include: 

2001 - 2004:  Head Coach, Brandywine Country Club

1998 - 1999:  Assistant Coach, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

1996 - 2000:  Head Coach, Manorlu Swim Club

1996 - 1997:  Head Coach, Upper Dublin High School

1996 - 1998:  Head Coach, Upper Dublin Aquatic Club

1995 - 1997:  Assistant Coach, Upper Dublin Aquatic Club

Additional training and experience include: 

- Attended US Swimming Coach’s Clinic at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs

- Attended Eastern States Coach’s Clinic

- Director of Indiana University of Pennsylvania Summer Age Group Camps

Coach Bertolet’s on-going coaching objective is to “help create quality athletes and citizens through the sport of swimming.”  Those who have seen Coach Bertolet in action with the Sharks know him to be a highly competent, confident and enthusiastic coach who always maintains a swimmer-first perspective.  Coach Bertolet is a natural leader who will be actively engaged in teaching our swimmers proper stroke technique and training his staff how to consistently apply his coaching philosophy to the entire team.  He is dedicated to ensuring our swimmers have a lot of fun while striving for technical improvement in their strokes.  Coach Bertolet is also a dedicated team builder and will create a positive environment that will encourage our swimmers to return to the sport each year.  The swimming and coaching experience, and technical expertise Coach Bertolet brings to the HURRICANES, are most welcomed.  We look forward to the 2005 summer swim season with great expectations. 

Assistant Coaches. 

Lead Assistant – Tommy Cregan.  Coach Cregan was the Aquia Harbor Head Coach for the past two seasons, competing in the Battlefield Division; the most competitive in the RSL.  He is currently a senior at East Carolina University.  Coach Cregan lettered on the ECU Swim Team all four years.  Coach Cregan will graduate from ECU this May and begin his career as an Elementary School Teacher after 2005 summer swim season.

Assistant – Christine Wishmyer.  Coach Wishmyer returns to the HURRICANES for her fifth consecutive year as an assistant coach and her seventh consecutive year as a swimmer or coach for the Hurricanes.  Coach Wishmyer began competitive swimming at the age of seven in 1991 with a summer swim team, the Dunn Loring Dolphins of the NVSL (Northern Virginia Swim League), and continued every summer up through 2003.  She competed on various year-round teams from age nine until 18.  Coach Wishmyer participated in numerous stroke clinics with Potomac Marlins and lettered all four years on the North Stafford High School Swim Team, serving as Captain her senior year.  She is currently a Junior at James Madison University and continues to swim as a member of the JMU Club Swimming Team. 

Assistant – Ambur Humphrey.  Coach Humphrey also returns to the Hurricanes for her second consecutive year as an assistant coach.  She did double duty as a HURRICANE swimmer/coach last season and swam for North Stafford High School her senior year.  Coach Humphrey brings incredible dedication and enthusiasm to the staff.  She began coaching at a very young age in Texas and has been successful everywhere she has coached.    

The members of your 2005 HURRICANE Coaching Staff are all outstanding swimmers, experienced and successful coaches and dedicated to the proper instruction of our young swimmers.  They are all extraordinary citizens and true All-Stars coaches.  We look forward to the 2005 swim season and watching our swimmers grow and improve under the leadership of Coach Bertolet and the entire HURRICANE Coaching Staff.  GO HURRICANES!     

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Volunteer Coordinator Needed for 2005 Season

The Hampton Oaks Hurricane Swim Team (HOST) needs a parent volunteer to serve on the Board of Directors (BOD) as the Volunteer Coordinator.  This is a very important job and is essential for ensuring smooth meet operations and other special functions.  HOST BOD members are in a unique position to make decisions that affect the team.  As an incentive, HOST BOD members are entitled to one free swimmer and are exempt from swim meet volunteer duty.  If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in filling this Board position, please contact the HOST President, Mark Whittle at 540-657-8833 or mark.whittle@adelphia.net.  GO HURICANES!         

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HURRICANE Parent – Swimmer Roster Needs Your Help

The Hampton Oaks HURRICANES Swim Team (HOST) primary communication tool is the HOST website at www.hohurricanes.org.  Calling over 200 swimmers’ parents is simply not a practical way to spread the word.  E-mail serves as our best method to provide short notice updates to HURRICANE activities.  This is particularly true for updates to practice times and meet schedules. 

If you have a child that you think might be swimming with the HOST during the 2005 season, we need you to contact our Secretary, Andrea Adams, via E-mail at andreawadams@adelphia.net and verify that the 2005 HOST Roster information we have on you and your swimmers (including phone numbers, emergency contact numbers, home address and E-mail address) is correct.  We really need your E-mail address by March 15^th in order to ensure we can get the latest HOST information out to our swimmers and parents as rapidly as possible throughout the season.  Also, please start checking the HURRICANE website at www.hohurricanes.org beginning in early march for HURRICANE updates.