Storm Families,

Our first hosted meet, Champions Classic, will be held this weekend. Thank you to all our volunteers that will be helping at the meet!! Team gear will not be in for the meets this weekend. Swimmers should wear any practice suit or their team suit from last year. Plain caps with no other logos on them are fine.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Saturday, Oct. 22 - NO PRACTICE/DRYLAND for the following groups:

• All 13&Over groups (Jr/Sr)
• Lightning North

Sunday, Oct. 23 - NO PRACTICE/DRYLAND for the following groups:

• All 13&Over groups (Jr/Sr)
• Waves North/South
• Thunder 1, 2, North
• Lightning 1, 2, North

Sunday, Oct. 23 - PRACTICE ONLY/NO DRYLAND for the following groups:

• Thunder 3 at BY 3:00-4:15 pm
• Lightning 3 at BY 3:00-4:30 pm

Thank you,

Coach Mary

• Doors will open 20 minutes before the start of warmups for each session. We are required to ensure all swimmers and spectators exit the YMCA before letting in swimmers and spectators for the following session.
• All meet information is posted on our website: https://www.teamunify.com/team/njgscy/page/hosted-meets/champions-classic
• No chairs or coolers are allowed in the gym.
• Please make sure the swimmers do not hang on or from the nets in the gym; they are not to be used as hammocks.
• No parents are allowed in the gym with the exception of 2-3 volunteers from each team to chaperone the swimmers and help with marshalling.
• Swimmers are not allowed up in the viewing gallery.
  

• October 22-23: Westfield Devilfish (Waves S/N, Thunder 2)
• October 22-23: GSCY Champions Classic (Thunder 1/N, Lightning 1/2/N, Junior 1/2/3, Senior 1/2/3/4); optional for Thunder 3, Lightning 3 if unable to attend GMNY Harvest Haunt
• November 12: Splash November Meet (Splash 1/2)
• November 12-13: Fall Shootout (Senior 2/3)
• November 12-13: JW Thanksgiving Meet (Senior 1, Junior 1)
• November 13: First Frost (Waves S/N, Thunder 1/2/3/N, Lightning 1/2/3N)
• November 18-20: HCY Autumn Challenge (Thunder 1/2/3/N, Lightning 1/2/3/N, Junior 2/3, Senior 4)

To all of our swimmers, good luck and swim fast!

More Information: please visit the Events Page of our website.

Questions: please contact your practice group lead coach.

PRACTICE UPDATES

• Please see Coach Mary's message above for important updates.

MEET REGISTRATIONS

• October 21st: GMNY December Classic registration deadline for Senior 2/3
• October 26th: EEX Holiday Classic registration deadline (groups TBD)
• October 30th: Fall Shootout registration deadline for Senior 2/3
• November 1st: OCY Winter Classic registration deadline (groups TBD)
• November 9th: MAY Ice Cube registration deadline (12/U groups TBD)

HOTEL BLOCK BOOKING

• November 6th: deadline to book a hotel room at discounted rates for Winter Jr. Nationals

Dates and deadlines may be subject to change. Please refer to communications from your practice group lead coach for the latest information.

Congratulations to the following GSCY swimmers who were recently named to USA Swimming’s 2021-2022 Scholastic All-American Team:

Rob Alexy (1st year)

Kenny Barnicle (1st year)

Charlotte Holliday (1st year)

Anna Moesch (1st year)

Emily Thompson (2nd year)

The Scholastic All-American Team recognizes swimmers who demonstrate excellence both in the pool and in the classroom. To qualify for the team, 9th to 12th grade students must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better for the 2021-2022 school year and achieve required time standards.

This selection is a tremendous achievement for our scholar-athletes. Please join us in congratulating Rob, Kenny, Charlotte, Anna and Emily for their efforts!

To view the full roster, please click here.

If you have individual or group photos from meets, practice group events or practices, we might be able to feature you in the future on our website and Instagram/Facebook team accounts!

Please keep in mind the following guidelines:

• We'd love to see photos featuring GSCY gear.
• We love action-packed photos, but those showing the lighter side of our swimmers is great too!
• Please do not send photos with non-GSCY swimmers or families.

Please send your photos to gscystormconnect@gmail.com with a short description of the photos and the names of those featured in the photos.

The Competitive Swim Team Parent Committee is looking for your help! Please send an email to gscychair@gmail.com if you are interested in fulfilling any of the positions below.

Invitational Meet Volunteer Coordinator Co-Chair

The Co-Chair will work in coordination with the current Invitational Meet Volunteer Coordinator to manage timing assignments.

National Team Fundraising Chair

The National Team is looking for a parent to help facilitate fundraisers for the National Team. Fundraisers include running the Annual Father's Day Meet and running concessions at other GSCY Hosted Meets. Must be a parent of a National Team member.

Questions: please contact Lauren Barnicle at gscychair@gmail.com.

Bring your gloves, rakes and enthusiasm to assist a local senior resident in leaf raking his or her yard this fall. Connect with others and work together to make a difference in the community. If you wish to bring a leaf blower or tarp, please do so. This event is hosted by Somerville & Bridgewater YMCA’s Togetherhood Program, a volunteer-led service program addressing community needs.

Please sign up by October 31st by clicking on the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040444abaf2da2f85-togetherhood4

More Information: please visit the Events Page of our website.

Questions: please contact Chris Hayevy at hayevy@yahoo.com

From time to time, we will be featuring Frequently Asked Questions as part of our newsletter. If you are a new or returning family and have general questions about our program, meets, or anything else that might benefit other parents, please send your questions to gscystormconnect@gmail.com and we might feature your question for future newsletters!

HOW MANY POINTS DO I NEED TO EARN TO MEET MY VOLUNTEERING REQUIREMENT?

For the 2022-2023 short course season, one swimmer families will be required to earn a minimum of 6 points at hosted meets. Families with 2 or more swimmers will be required to earn a minimum of 8 points at hosted meets. Click here to view additional information about our Volunteering Policy.

WHAT IS EHLS?

EHLS is a simple way that your swimmer can keep track of his/her events on meet day! Use a Sharpie marker to write your swimmer's events (this can usually be found on Meet Mobile) on their wrist or lower arm using the EHLS chart. EHLS stands for: Event, Heat, Lane, Stroke. If your swimmer is in a relay, you will also want to include their relay position (i.e., Position #2 is Breaststroke in a Medley Relay).