Orinda AquaticsOrinda AquaticsOrinda AquaticsOrinda Aquatics

2020 Awards BanquetJuly 26,2020July 26,2020July 26,2020July 26,2020

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE

WELCOME TO ALL NEW SWIMMERS

AGENDA

• Overview (D&R)

• Team Captains (Ronnie)

• Swimmers-of-the-Year (Ronnie)

• 2020 Graduates (Donnie)

• Junior Group (Matt, Donnie)

• Senior Group (Dom, Marc, Ronnie)

• Special Awards (Donnie)

• Kati Video (teaser)

PRESENTATIONS• Introductory letter – a recap of our history

• Memory Book (Catja McDonald) - emailed link

• Banquet PowerPoint

• Slide Show (Tay Thomas with photos from Fred Stambaugh and all

photographers) - emailed link

• Alumni video – reflections from beyond Orinda Aquatics

• Senior Gift - delivered

PREFACE• Zoom Meeting – should not take away anything from the

accomplishments of the team, the 2020 graduates, and our history

• Please be attentive through the presentation (be a good teammate)

• This is the only time that we meet (parents and swimmers) over

an entire year

• Kids commit up to 40 hours a week for 11 months, which must be

summarized into 15 seconds

• Please embrace all swimmers (your/our team)

• Appreciate the impact and values of the team

So rather than a long So rather than a long So rather than a long So rather than a long

“meeting”, consider this “meeting”, consider this “meeting”, consider this “meeting”, consider this

a a a a briefbriefbriefbrief introduction and introduction and introduction and introduction and

overview of overview of overview of overview of YOUR teamYOUR teamYOUR teamYOUR team....

THANK YOU (PLEASE SEE MEMORY BOOK)

• Our Board of Directors – Vince, Jean, Trent, Jane, Pete,

Jennifer, Cristina, Marc

• Our Partners – USA Swimming, Pacific Swimming, Speedo,

ASCA, Soda Center

• Our Coaches – Matt, Marc, Kati, Dom; Fall Swimming – John

Studebaker, Tony Ravnik, Murray Hannan

• Parent support in critical positions: Host Meet, Social,

Officials, Outreach, See’s, etc.

• Parent support throughout the year – social and host-meet

• Our athletes

• Our alumni (swimmers and parents)

ALUMNI

• The “bridge-builders” of:

• Culture

• Leadership

• National performance

• Academic focus

• Collegiate success

MORE THANKS

• Dr. Lisa Blackwell – For her extraordinary work

in supporting the opening of pools, and for the

safety of our athletes

• Maddie Blackwell - Petition

• Athlete Reps – Lily Struempf, Tay Thomas, Elsa

Hartley

• Tony Ravnik – for helping with current Camps

• Wendy Smith – for her generous support of this

event and our graduates

• George Flanders – data support

• Sophie Kessler – for her kind support of our

senior class

A BRIEF HISTORY

• Polar Bears – 1985 (the “PB” in OAPB)

• Program grew from 25 Meadow

swimmers to 400+ County wide

• Orinda Aquatics – 1995

• 20 rec swimmers

• Sleepy Hollow

• The Soda Center – 2000

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS ++

VISION

• To be the best small club in USA Swimming

• To create the best culture in youth sports

• To create a travel model based in integrity

To “change the dialogue” in youth sports

PROCESS

• Build a foundational base of technique

• Controlled/efficient training

• Plan development for long-term success and

passion

• Create a leadership pursuit from a young age

(and a perpetual leadership model)

• Have every aspect of program driven by

character, integrity, humility, respect

• Develop powerful coach-swimmer

relationships (and partnership) – based on

trust and mutual respect

UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS (TEAM OF 125 – AVERAGE AGE OF ENTRY IS 13)

• 27 Olympic Trial qualifiers

• 200 + National-Level swimmers with another 100+ All Americans

• Won Junior Nationals (within five years), Far Westerns, Sectionals, WZ Senior Championships

• One of the top scoring teams in the nation (USA Swimming VCC) under 200 swimmers (over

2,500)

• Annually develop

• ~ 8-12 national level swimmers

• ~ 40 Sectional qualifiers/50-60 Far Western Qualifiers

• Campolindo - #1 Public High School in the nation (OA centered)

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

• Senior GPA near 4.0 (75 swimmers)

• One of the highest percent of swimmers

competing in college (among the very best

academic institutions in the country) – all want to

• Average 40+ annually

• 46 collegiate team captains

See OA College History on the website

CULTURE

• Recognized by USA Swimming, NISCA (high school), The

Positive Coaching Alliance, The American Swimming

Coaches Association, and college coaches nationally

• “Wrote the book” on character and culture in swimming

• Speak nationally and internationally on culture and age-

group development

• Travel model for youth sports (ASCA presentation) – not

based on rules or a “trip” but developed every day through

integrity and relationships

OR…

“Integrity has no

need of rules.”Albert Camus

Integrity – the key to moral courage

CULTURE OBJECTIVE

• To have integrity drive not only an athletic career but a

young life

• To support kids to choose role mode over social mode,

compassion over ego, service or selfish, and on and on – to

literally change motivation in the world of youth sports,

including coach-athlete dynamics, and even the lens

through which parents observe, support and influence their

children/athletes

• To view their athletic career and their life as a script

written or a self-portrait painted with a sense of creating a

powerful and positive masterpiece. It is possible – for all.

WHY CAN’T KIDS DREAM…WHY CAN’T KIDS DREAM…WHY CAN’T KIDS DREAM…WHY CAN’T KIDS DREAM…

• Of being a leader

and role model,

• As well as an

Olympian

THE CORONAVIRUS

• Critical athlete’s response

• Resilience – the baseline for any

serious athlete

• Team – the life concept of “greater

good” and personal sacrifice, for family,

community, and beyond

THIS EVENING

• Swimmer introduction by group from group coach

• Swimmers-of-the-year, Graduating Seniors, Junior 1-2, Junior 3, Senior 2, Senior 3,

Senior 4, Special Awards

• Swimmers receive:

• A team towel (given at pool)

• A certificate of achievement (given at pool)

• Graduating Senior gift (delivered)

• Memory Book

• Slide Show

RONNIE

TEAM & THE BIG PICTURE• Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you –––– parents, swimmers, coachesparents, swimmers, coachesparents, swimmers, coachesparents, swimmers, coaches

• Senior GroupSenior GroupSenior GroupSenior Group

• We are so proud of your swimming and, more importantly, your character

• Summarize important qualities of the senior group:

• Integrity … in our current relationships and for the rest of your life – example

• Maturity … which includes character, communication, unselfishness

• Responsibility … for your training, your life, your success – example

• coach question … “I get anxious because there are so many things that are out of my control.”

• Junior GroupJunior GroupJunior GroupJunior Group

• Key to OA’s success … Not leaders in the making, leaders.

• How important is it … a conversation with coach looking for guidance

• Big PictureBig PictureBig PictureBig Picture (it goes by different names: 20 years from now ..., the forest/trees (aka the OA forest)

1. Be clear on the objective - always consider “To What End”

2. How do we get there … on a daily basis.

• live by the Slippery Slope philosophy (example: if your technique is bad you could end up in jail), article Don’t Widen The Plate

• question all actions by remembering the simple quote “do the right thing”.

• What this program stands for is described in the Swimming World article …

SWIMMING WORLD ARTICLESWIMMING WORLD ARTICLESWIMMING WORLD ARTICLESWIMMING WORLD ARTICLE share excerpts

• “What the coaches are most proud of is what happens when the kids leave Orinda.”

• “The team seeks to instill in their young swimmers not only good stroke technique, but also the skills

that will help them make the right choices in life.

• “Ron & Don are intense about swimming, but they’re more concerned about building character.”

• coach Don, says “If you focus on developing the best person, as a by-product you’ll get the best

athlete. ”

• from a team captain, “They’re about teaching us good values and focusing on the Big Picture.”

• from a senior, “The coaches helped me grow emotionally.”

• from a team captain, “Orinda Aquatics is a true family. The friendships I have developed will last a

lifetime. ”

Swimming World Article Swimming World Article Swimming World Article Swimming World Article

fromfromfromfrom 2001200120012001

<- Hint – the coaches on the

ends are Ronnie & Donnie

TEAM CAPTAINS

• 9 captains – 4 women/5 men -probably 40 were qualified

• best group of captains and best

leadership in OA history

• Qualities of character, humility,

discipline, caring and being

great teammates

• daily responsibility in the locker

room, in the pool and at dryland

• balance - respected vs being

liked/loved

• perfect of example of

student/athlete/leader

Captains’ Zoom Calls were outstanding…

• Maggie BuckleyMaggie BuckleyMaggie BuckleyMaggie Buckley – will do a talk in August • Tay ThomasTay ThomasTay ThomasTay Thomas – unselfish leadership and service to the team• Margaux McDonaldMargaux McDonaldMargaux McDonaldMargaux McDonald – self discipline, time management, training• Maddie SmithMaddie SmithMaddie SmithMaddie Smith – training post warm up sets & off strokes • Isaac KimIsaac KimIsaac KimIsaac Kim – focusing on technique and distance per stroke• Vincent CastilloVincent CastilloVincent CastilloVincent Castillo – leadership all the time, everywhere• Zach LeZach LeZach LeZach Le----NguyenNguyenNguyenNguyen – meet prep, race prep underwater development• Ryan Ryan Ryan Ryan LenahanLenahanLenahanLenahan – focusing on technique and embracing the “big picture” • Aidan Aidan Aidan Aidan VollmarVollmarVollmarVollmar – being a late bloomer & dealing with injury positively

Shared talks with other coaches, even a college coach.

ORINDA AQUATICS

SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR

SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR

Maggie Buckley

• First Jr Nat cut - 200 mtr Back at Western Zones 2:19.6 – won event from

lane 8 - swim of the year

• Pleasanton Sr Circuit – 200 Back 1:59.6 to win the event

• Jr Nationals Dec 2019 - 400 IM made B Final 4:19.9

• impressive SCY swims: 200 IM 2:04.1, 800 Free Relay split 1:53.0

• impressive LCM swims: 200 IM 2:24.4 , 400 IM 5:04.0

SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR

Channing Hanley

• Jr National LC qualifier 100 Breast

• Pleasanton Sr Circuit - 200 Breast 2:16.6, 100 Breast 1:02. 8

• Jr Nationals Dec 2019 – swam Breast on both top Medley Relays - 200

split 28.6 & 400 split 1:02.7

• impressive SCY swims: 200 IM 2:05.2, 200 Fly 2:08

SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR

Margaux McDonald

• Jr National LC cut 100 mtr Back at Western Zones 1:03.9

• Jr Nationals Dec 2019 – swam Back on both top 8 200 & 400 Medley Relays

• impressive SCY swims: 200 Back 1:59.9, 200 Fly 2:02.9, 200 IM 2:02.2, 400 IM 4:22.4

• impressive LCM swims: 200 mtr IM 2:21.4, 400 IM 5:02.1, 200 Back 2:20.5, 200 Fly

2:20.6

SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR

Maddie Smith

• Jr Nat SC cuts 100 Fly, 200 IM, 200 Breast

• Jr Nationals Dec 2019 – C Final 200 IM; swam Fly on both top 8 200 &

400 Medley Relays

• Spring Sectionals - best times 100 Fly 54.6, 200 Breast 2:17.1

• impressive SCY swims: 200 IM 2:01.5, 500 Free 4:59.5, 200 Free 1:50.7,

200 Fly 2:03.4

SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR

Zach Le-Nguyen

• Jr National LC 100 mtr Back 58.3

• Jr Nationals Dec 2019 - B Final 100 Back best time 48.7, other great swims

and best times - 200 Back 1:48.0, 100 Fly 49.3, 200 Fly 1:51.0, 200 Free

split (800 FR) 1:39.5

• impressive LCM swims: 100 Free 52.4, 200 Free, 1:55.7

CLASS OF 2020Congratulations and thank you.

Thank you for your letters.

Thank you for your commitment and

dedication to the sport, to the team, to

our mission, to being student-athletes

at the highest level, and to being great

role models.

We love you and wish you the best!

TO THE PARENTS

• These extraordinary opportunities and successes

would not be possible without your love, support,

and sacrifice.

• You are the silent hero’s in this process, and the

“we” in “we did it”

GRADUATES

1. Margaux McDonald – Sleepy Hollow/Miramonte/Princeton – Swimming

2. Maddie Smith – OPP/Campolindo/UCLA – Swimming

3. Ryan Lenahan – Moraga Ranch/Campolindo/Boston College – Swimming

4. Aidan Vollmar – OPP/Campolindo/University of the Pacific – Swimming

5. Tay Thomas – Pleasant Hill Dolphins/Pepperdine University - Swimming

6. Emmie Appl – Sleepy Hollow/College Prep/Pomona College – Swimming

7. Alex Oh – San Ramon/Middlebury College - Swimming

8. Carla Leone – Great Britain/Campolindo/University of Edinburgh – Swimming

9. Emilia Vollmar – OPP/Campolindo/Chapman University – Swimming

10. Sky Griffin – Montclair/Campolindo/Diablo Valley College - Swimming

11. Daylan Schnayer – Meadow/Campolindo/Whitman College (gap year) – Swimming

12. Luke VandenBerghe – Las Trampas/University of Colorado-Boulder – Water Polo

13. Valeria Reggi – Springbrook/Acalanes - Gap Year

JUNIOR 1-2

JUNIOR 3

SENIOR 2

SENIOR 3

SENIOR 4

STEVE ARNOLD SERVICE AWARD

JANE HEALY & LAUREL PUREWALCRISTINA BENSADOUN

REAGAN PERRY INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

RYAN LENAHAN, AIDAN VOLLMAR, ZACH LE-NGUYEN

VIRGINIA HALL INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

MADDIE SMITH, MARGAUX MCDONALD, TAY THOMAS, MAGGIE BUCKLEY

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH