Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Keep up the good work
From the Register-Mail in Galesburg
Notre Dame sinks Streaks
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
GALESBURG - The Galesburg High School girls swimming and diving team ran into one of the best teams in this part of the state - Peoria Notre Dame - and lost 128-58 in a dual meet Tuesday.
The Silver Streaks' only first-place finish was by senior Hannah LaFollette, who celebrated Senior Night with a lifetime best of 210.80 in diving.
Otherwise, Galesburg mustered only two second-place finishes - in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay.
"We had a solid meet tonight against a better team," said GHS coach Ray VanHootegem. "Every swimmer had at least one season best, which is great at this point in the season."
LaFollette, senior Katy Robinson (four season bests) and Jonna John (three season bests) were named by VanHootegem as swimmers of the meet.
The loss was Galesburg's second straight in dual meets. The Streaks' dual record fell to 3-2.
Peoria Notre Dame 128, Galesburg 58
JV Meet
Peoria Notre Dame 117, Galesburg 47
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
PND vs. Pekin - What is a "win?"
I have been meaning to post this article for a long time. I can honestly say that this was an impressive display of force. This is probably the most dominating victory over Pekin that I have ever seen.
Alas, at the time I am writing this post, PND can no longer claim this meet as a victory on their permanent record. This fact brings up some interesting thoughts about what the definition of "winning" really is.
Little hash marks below a W or L column may well be carried on our permanent record, but can those hash marks really measure our victorys and losses. At its most basic level, swimming is a sport where the fastest swimmers are the winners. In its most twisted manifestation, the victors are those who dance to the tune of logo sizes, eligibility requirements, policies, and those little hash marks.
I have always wished that I had enough hash marks in my W column to represent the speed, quickness, intensity, and committment of my athletes over the years. I believe that I have traded quite a few of those hash marks for a constant flow of swimmers who come to realize that the greatest victory is the achievement of their dreams.