Week #11 – JV Championship Meet Week!

Week #11 marks our first Championship Meet of the season! We wrapped up Week #10 with our Dual Championship Meet against Champlin Park. While we came up short against a tough opponent, we finished 2nd overall in the conference — an incredible accomplishment! I’m so proud of the effort, resilience, and dedication our girls have shown this season. They’ve battled through illness, tough meets, and long practices, and now it’s time for their hard work to shine.

Because our conference is so large, the JV Conference Championship Meet is split into two divisions to ensure all athletes can participate. The teams are balanced to make both meets as competitive as possible. We’ll compete at VandenBerge Middle School this Saturday for the JV Conference Swimming & Diving Championships.  For all JV Championship Athletes you last practice is Friday, and this Saturday will be their final meet of the season. The season has flown by! 

A Note on Tapering

Every swimmer responds differently to taper — especially at the start. We’ll talk with our JV Championship athletes tomorrow about what to expect and how to make the most of this important phase.

For parents, I’m including a repeat from last year that’s worth another read: [The Parent’s Survival Guide for Dealing with a Taper] from SwimSwam. It’s humorous but very true — after 17 years of watching my three girls go through taper, I can confirm it’s spot on!

Reminders for Taper Week

• Feelings can be misleading. Swimmers may feel “off” or tired during taper. Trust the process — fast swimming will come, no matter how they feel.
• Workload decreases, speed increases. Practices will focus more on sprinting and race pace. Encourage your athlete to conserve energy outside the pool (but yes, cleaning their room is still allowed!).
• Sleep and hydration matter. Aim for an extra hour of sleep per night — even 10 hours if possible — and plenty of water every day.
• Keep it light and positive. This weekend is about celebrating the season, having fun, and cheering on teammates.

Practice Schedule

• JV Championship Athletes: Shorter taper practices this week (listed as JV Practice).
• Divers: Follow your regular schedule unless Coach Tester notes otherwise.
• Section Athletes: Workouts will continue with high intensity and volume. You might feel a little jealous watching others taper — but your time is coming soon!

For those athletes moving on to the Section Meet, I am attaching a coupon code for 25% off a tech suit. These are not required, as they are very expensive, but may be used if an athlete wishes to purchase one. Please see Coach Odegard for details.

Weather Reminder

Please make sure your daughter is dressing for the weather. It may be warm when they arrive at practice, but chilly when they leave. Encourage them to bring a hat, jacket, and socks (yes, even with Crocs!) to stay healthy during this stretch of the season.

Here’s our schedule for the upcoming week.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Coach Odegard