Update -- January 12, 2009

Dear Divers, Parents, and Supporters,  

First off -- Apologies!  My apologies to those who came to workout on Sunday to find that I did not show.  I thought I had left Sunday as a "call me to confirm" workout, when I just called it a "soft time."  I am sorry I was so irresponsible, and I beg your pardon.

Second -- Good News!  Life on the one hand will settle down -- we have word that our foster son, will move into our home on Sunday, January 18!  Of course, our being new parents and having a new member of the household will probably cause life to "un-settle" in other ways as we adjust to being a bigger family.

Third -- for those who want the schedule to just go back to normal, it will, starting mid February -- just hang on a little longer, high school season ends February 14! 

OK, on to current stuffs:

OIA RELAYS (PLUS GUESTS) 

Six team members, Kai, Beau, Cristin, Maria, Madison, and Ashley took part in the OIA Relays/Tropic Lightning Mock Partner Event on Friday.  These events were held simultaneously to afford the boys some competition and some breathing room between dives.  All six divers performed full lists, but paired up (Kae-Bo, Maristin, and Ashlison, as I dubbed them  hehe), with one diver of each pair being responsible for 5 dives and the other responsible for 6, making a complete competitive list.

Kai built on his base from last week, breaking the magical 400 barrier for the first time.  He really wowed the judges with his 103B for 7.5s, and did significantly better on several dives than he had at Kalani (301B for 7s, 5231D for 6.5s, 303C for 6-6.5s).  His most improved dive was his 105C, which went from 4s at Kalani to 6.5s this time out.  He also tried a newly learned dive, a 5225D, which should prove a valuable addition to his list.

Beau also had a solid list, earning his second state qualifying score in two meets.  He debuted his 403B and threw his 5221D and 301A for the first time this season. He nailed his 302C for 6-6.5s after learning from a teammate's mistake on her 302C (and some taunting from the announcer).

Maria debuted her 5132D and threw some dives in new positions (301B, 401B) to gain some valuable experience that helped her perform well in the ILH meet the next day.

Cristin also debuted some new dives (5122D and 104C) to help prepare her for the ILH meet the next day, and did some outstanding dives in her list, most notably her 103B for 7s 

Madison started showing that she DOES have some hopes in her gams, and her top on her 104C was awesome.  She also did an incredibly beautiful job on her 5122D and her 5221D, and finally "dressed up" her entry on her 302C.

Ashley came back to the pool and, after only one workout in the two weeks since hitting her hand on the board on a 301B 3M, performed an entire 11-dive list, composed mostly of basics to help her feel more at ease as she transitions back into the swing of things again.  Amazingly, this event helped her feel ready to do almost her entire "regular" list of optionals at the ILH meet the next day!

Kae-bo earned the top score in the two competitions (their dominant DD helped, but they were pretty stellar), Maristin had the second highest total, and Ashlison the third.  Difficulty really did make a big difference, as it will at states -- so let's gear up for learning new dives with enough time to perfect them before states!

ILH Invite #2

Allia threw two new dives (5221D -- which had to be done because this week was "twsiter" week for the JV divers -- and 202A) and a two of her more dynamic spinning dives in her second ILH JV event.  She was up and down throughout the event, with a solid chance of winning, but a slight pull with her left shoulder upon completion of her 202A left her a bridesmaid.

Maria opened with a poor 103B, then followed with a great 104C for 6s, then a solid 401B and a so-so 403C, then her best-yet 5221D for 5-5.5s.  Her 201B and 301B were good for 6-6.5s, and her 203C among the best she's competed for 5.5-6s.  Her 302C begged to be a 303C (and it now is), and she did a great 5122D to set up for her 5132D, which needs only straight legs to help her be a real challenger for the state title!  She earned a PB of 335 and change.

Cristin had a  FAN-TAS-TIC meet.  She was on fire, with her 101B earning 6.5-7s, her 103B, 201B, and 301C similar scores, her 5221D being on the upper end of her average, her 202A SOLID for 6s, her 302C respectable for 5.5s, and her 5122D solid for 4.5-5s.  She hit a snag when a 401C was announced;  she thought she had clearly communicated that she wanted to change the position to "B" (allowable in HS rules), but no one on the deck heard her...she earned the maximum of 2 from each judge on that dive for performing in the wrong position.  She might have let it affect her a bit on her 403C, but came back strong on her 104C for 4.5-5.5s.  Regardless, she had a PB of 287, a BIG leap from her previous week's score of 261 and it was so enjoyable to see her get in that zone :)

Ashley continued her comeback, deciding to add approaches to her 301C and 302C, which had been performed standing, and spotted, in the previous day's mock-meet, and each of her gainers earned mostly 5.5s.  She also decided to go for her "real" optionals, and threw her 403C (for 6-6.5s!), her 104C for 5.5s, and her 203C (for 4.5s -- coach Jeff dropped a camera battery during her dive, which distracted her...but she nevah say nuttin'!  Divers, if something distracts you during a dive, talk to the ref right away!  You might get a second chance!).  It ended up being her runner-up PB, beating her last year's state championships score for a few points.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Madison has learned 5132D 3M and 1M, and 5231D 1M!  Alena is improving both her 403C 1M and her 5223D 1M, and learned 201C 5M.  Joanna has gotten her 5124D 1M and 404C 3M (not so hard, right? :).  Linnet is doing her 5122D better and better, and has the hang of the double-bouncing 104C 1M now...and has 403B-ish on 3M (B-ish doesnt require straight legs, while B does ;).  Tate's 201A 1M and 002A 3M are getting amazingly good, and she's doing 201C 1M with minimal spots and is nearly ready to try 102C 1M independently.  Kai has 5225D 1M and 303B 3M now, while Beau has 301A and 5221D 1M, as well as 101B, 103B, 401B, 403C and 403B 3M.  Emily is about ready for 201C independently, as well as 402C and 301C with spots.  Angelica had a great day of trampoline and a private workout in which she learned to hold handstands, to do pushing dives, and to do backbend bridges.  Keegan has gotten the hang of the front approach and started doing some 101Cs 1M, and has learned 201A in the belts.  Cristin learned 104C and 5122D, both 1M, and is starting to own them :)  Maria learned 5132D and re-learned 303C as she works toward a possible state crown as a freshman.  Allia learned her 202A and 5221D on the quick on Thursday, as she needed a twister in order to compete at the ILH meet this weekend.

JANUARY WORKOUT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Jan 13, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Wednesday, Jan 14, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Thursday, Jan 15, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Friday, Jan 16, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM (Includes OIA Champs Tune-Up)

Saturday, Jan 17, Schofield 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM; ILH Meet at Punahou (Practice at Noon, Meet at 1 PM)

Sunday, Jan 18 -- NO PRACTICE --  Coach Jeff at all-day Foster Parent Training Classes

Monday, Jan 19, Schofield, 11 AM - 1 PM

Tuesday, Jan 20, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Wednesday, Jan 21, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Thursday, Jan 22, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Friday, Jan 23, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM (Includes OIA East and West Champs)

Saturday, Jan. 24, Schofield  10 AM - noon; ILH Meet at Punahou (Practice at 1:30 PM, Meet at 2:30 PM)

Sunday, Jan. 25, NO PRACTICE --  Coach Jeff at all-day Foster Parent Training Classes

Monday, Jan 26, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Tuesday, Jan 27, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Wednesday, Jan 28, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Thursday, Jan 29, Kaiser 3:30-5:30 PM

Friday, Jan 30, ILH CHAMPIONSHIPS, Iolani School (Warmups at 3:30 PM, Meet at 5 PM)

Saturday, Jan. 30, Schofield  tentatively 10 AM - noon; OIA Championships at VMAC (during swimming break -- time not yet set)

ASL CORNER

Recently reinstated, as Coach Jeff's son and former and possibly future diver is deaf and will be a presence at many workouts and meets, this reference is here so you all can learn to communicate with our deaf community member: check out the ASL Corner,  do the lessons as you want to, ask me for help as you need.

Okies, That's all for now! 

Jeff