Hello

Your Zone Application was received and I am happy to have you on the NE Zone team. We have 86 swimmers from NE attending Zones this year. It should be a great trip to State College, PA. I have attached many documents, so please become familiar with all the information. The meet entry is attached. Relays are tentative and most will be determined at the meet and will be based on the fastest times. Please review and be familiar with the Code of Conduct (attached).

A team practice has been scheduled for this Saturday at 10:00 am (until about noon) at Bentley College - directions are attached. We will meet, go over team conduct, make introductions, give out some team gear (which swimmers will need while on the trip), and practice. I will also try to run a parent meeting at that time to answer questions and review the itinerary. Swimmer who don't attend the team practice on Saturday will receive their team gear in PA on Tuesday.

Our practice time on Tuesday is 7-8 pm. 10 and Unders can meet us at the pool then and/or may see us at the hotel first. I will bring any team gear that has not been already given out at the team practice to the pool for 10 and unders.

Directions to the bus in Auburn are attached, and to the pool in PA (though you are encouraged to print out detailed directions if you are driving using the addresses of hotel and pool facilities, etc. and/or use your GPS). Please arrive in Auburn Tuesday before 8 am, as we will need to get bags on the bus and depart for PA at 8 am. My cell phone # is 413-575-8559. Please call me if you are running late or need to speak with me, another coach, or swimmer.

A bus list is attached. We will ride two buses and it is arranged so the 12 and Unders ride one bus with coaches and chaperones and the 13 and Over another bus with their coaches and chaperones.

Please note: the 12 and Under afternoon sessions of the meet have been moved to a 11:30 warm up and 12:30 start. This is one hour earlier than published in the meet announcement. Changes are included in the attached itinerary.

Coaches will all work with most swimmers; however, specific questions to swimming events, exciting news to mention at team meals during announcements, etc. can be directed to the following coaches in each age-group: 10 & Unders: Denise Foster and JJ Sabatino, 11 & 12: Chris Woolridge, Chris Sheppard, and Mike Ross; 13 & 14: Jamie Bloom, Alex Cronin, Tim Thompson, Ron Zuwallack, and Joey Sementelli. Swimmers and parents can come to me at any time, as well.

Chaperones will be Alice Jinn for 11-12 girls, Donna Brown for 11-12 boys, Stephanie Hosking for 13 & Over girls and Joey Sementelli for 13 and over boys with help from Mike Ross, and all coaches will help supervise, as well. We have a great group of experienced coaches and chaperones, many who have been on the trip before and we will all work together in the best interest of the swimmers to provide a safe, well-supervised trip.

I have received many notes, emails, etc. about swimmers leaving with parents at the end of the trip, which is fine as long as I am aware of it and you check-in with a coach or chaperone before leaving, so we know your swimmer is in your care.

I am still working out rooms with the hotel, room sizes, etc. I will try to accomodate some rooming requests, but all should know that swimmers are almost always assigned a room with swimmers in their own age-group and it is great for swimmers to meet other NE swimmers. One of the best things about the trip for the swimmers is meeting others from all over NE and forming lasting friendships. Team gear that is not distributed at the practice at Bentley will be distributed at the hotel in PA for 11 and Overs.

I have been doing lots of work trying to get athlete info organized, email addresses entered, etc. and I can certainly make an error or two while typing them in, so if you know others going on the trip, please mention the emails so if someone is missed or not entered correctly, I can get info to them. I will also try to get information posted on the NE website.

Please get ready for the trip by getting enough rest, some practicing, and eating well, as staying well-hydrated with plenty of water. I think I have covered everything. I look forward to seeing swimmers on Saturday and talking with parents then, or for those who can't make the practice, I look forward to seeing you Tuesday. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks.

Sherry Wingfield