20 Feb 2008
The TJCC Stingrays are proud to welcome our new Head Coach for USA Swimming and aquatics director Amy Behm. She brings new energy and swimming experience to our pool. Please read on to find about the fantastic qualities and qualifications that she brings to the Stingrays.
Swimming Accomplishments: Throughout Amy’s age group, high school and college swimming career, she set several school, State, Regional (now referred -to as “Zones”) and one Junior National record. She consistently ranked in the top 25 of her age group in several events- including breaststrokes and IM’s. Beginning as a 6&Under, Amy’s first NM state record occurred in the 50m free (while swimming breaststroke) and continued thru her age group career. In 1978 at the AAU Junior National Short Course Championships held in Durham, NC, Amy set a Jr National record in the 200 IM. Because of her performance at this National meet, Amy was invited to train with the US Developmental Swim Team the following summer in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center. Here she met George McMillion who was instrumental in recruiting Amy to attend and swim for Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Amy swam for SMU for 2.5 years on a full swimming scholarship and set school records in the 200 IM, 100 breaststroke and 400 Medley Relay. She received All-American honors as well. Amy qualified for the 1980 Olympic Trials in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 and 200 meter breaststroke. Unfortunately, the United States boycotted this Olympics due to the US protest of the Russians invasion of Afghanistan. The following summer Amy swam for Schroeder YMCA out of Brown Deer, Wisconsin and finished 8th in the 400 IM at the USA Sr National Swimming Championships held in Brown Deer, WI.
From 1998-2007, Amy was Head Coach for St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, NM. She was named the “2007-2008 New Mexico High School Swim Coach of the Year” and was New Mexico’s National NISCA Representative. Under her leadership, this small private school’s team (750 total enrollment - 7th thru 12th grade) grew from 4 socially oriented swimmers to over 50 disciplined, dedicated, team-oriented swimmers. Numerous school records, three NMHS state records, two HS All-Americans, one NMHS Swimmer of the Year, and one NMHS Coach of the year honors were recorded while Amy was Head coach for a short 9 seasons. Overall team rankings achieved were 3rd place for boys and 5th place for girls in a state where all HS swim teams, regardless of size, competed in one State Championship meet (5A-A). While coaching at St. Michael’s, Amy was an assistant coach at Kirtland Aquatic Club at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM for two years.
06 May 2008
Our Southwest Classic Swimmers and coaches enjoyed a full weekend of sun, fun and FAST swimming- and believe me there was plenty of all of it (sun, fun and Fast swimming!). Numerous and huge drops were made from last years long course seasonal times to this years for all our swimmers and from the Spring Fling times to this weekend! But please don’t take my word for it! LOOK yourself! Far Western cut times were made! State Qualification times were made! “AA” and “A” times were made! We had a great meet! We also enjoyed a really nice time with eachother in the process! Coach Kiely, Coach Amy, the kids and parents had a nice time with eachother!
We are in the midst of creating a new Long Course Far Western Team of which should be very promising….. if all attend!! Summer is here and will go fast, so parents please plan accordingly for your childs success in this sport which THEY want to succeed in! Your kids work hard in practice, desire to achieve and are making goals to do so! They need your support to plan calanders that allow them opportunities to make advancements and goals as well as enjoy family activities that are of course important! Please make plans now to attend the “big” meets (far western, state, regionals, etc) that they earn the right to compete in! They have to make the times as well, so make plans to give them opportunities to make those cut times!
I am extremely happy with the progress the entire team is making! From our newbies in the “pre-swim team training group” all the way up to our Far Western Team which is forming fast!…. we are blessed! Let’s keep up the good work and if there is anything I can do for you…. please let me know!
See you at the pool.
Amy
16 Aug 2008
Wow… have you been watching those Olympic swim races? Just when you thought there was “no way”…. our swimmers were going to beat thier competitors… they do! What amaziing touches, turns, starts, strokes, and DETERMINATION to do the best they can when it counts!
Each one of the greatest athletes in the world must take one step at a time… one lap, one set, one practice, one week, one month, one season….. (you get it!)…. one step at a time is crucial to the building of a solid foundation in anything we desire to excell at. This includes school, relationships, athletics…. you name it!
Az State Short Course times
Az Regional Short course times
USA Swimming Motivational Times
Pacific LSC- Far Western Zone Qualification time
Now is the time for each of you young swimmers to look at the websites I have provided below for you. You will find qualification times for the least to the most skilled on our team. Those “newbies” or less experienced competitive swimmers you will need to make goals of technique, skill acquisition and confidence building- this will come with practice (so attendance is directly related to your success). More experienced swimmer will not only have our “newbie” goals…. but added to them, they will need to look at time standards for the Regional meet to aim for. Once you have obtained those standards, you need to begin looking at the Arizona State qualification standards and then the Far Western Standards. Along the way…. USA swimming has provide “motiviational” times which break down those “jumps” a little more and create motivation for the swimmers to achieve the qualification times they are heading for. Regardless which times you are hoping to achieve and improve to…. ALL our swimmers need to realize that what they do in practice is directly related to how they perform in the pool at thier event. Coaching staff is dedicated to each of you to give you feedback, instruction and constant encouragement to change bad habits, or make improvements in technique, execution, etc of skills/strokes. But the coaches don’t make the changes…. YOU DO! The sooner you make the proper adjustment, the sooner it becomes “natural” to you and the sooner you can let go of thinkinig so hard when you swim and just race!! When we race we want to be “instinctive”- so practice correct instincts in the pool DURING PRACTICE. ASK THE COACHING STAFF TO WATCH YOU AND GIVE YOU FEEDBACK IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED IT… OR HAVEN’T RECEIVED IT!
Again, please look these times over. Compare where you are and know where you are goinng and then determine within yourself how to get there! PARENTS! Help your swimmers with this please! You are a huge positive resource that your swimmers have on “thier side”- help them understand where they are, give them help in determining where they can go, and help them be responsible for thier part. This will develope your child in more positive ways than you can possibly imagine!
TEAM- Together Everyone Achieves More! That’s what we are TEAM!!
See you at the pool on Monday the 18th!
16 Aug 2008
Greetings Stingrays!
Short Course season is around the corner. Hope all are refreshed and settled into school by now. The following are reminders:
- training fees are due! Please take care of this prior to Mondays practice sesson. You can call the sports/fitness courtesy desk to make payment if necessary.
- ALL swimmers need to bring running shoes, socks, suits, goggles and Caps for practices.
- First two weeks of practice we will be heavily weighted in stroke acquistion and refinement in prepartion for the upcoming season. When in the water, drills, skill, explaination, etc will be emphasized. As always, throughout the season we will refer to these concepts to the general group as well as on an individual basis… but taking advantage of the first two weeks could prove very beneficial to the swimmers overall season performance! One practice builds upon the other just like academics!
- Training Schedule Times:
- white: 3:45-4:30
- blue: 3:45-4:45
- Silver: 3:45- 5:00
- Pre-Gold/Gold: 4:30-6:30
- New faces! We are getting numerous inquiries for tryouts… I anticipate many new kids joining our team as well as returnees… please make a point to welcome new kids (and returning kids for that matter!). Remember how you have felt when you entered into a group of kids and didn’t know anyone- how refreshing it was when a smiling face introduced themselves and helped you when you needed it! (i.e.offer assistance- get someone new a kick board, etc.). This applies to parents as well!!
On behalf of Kiely, Michael, Coleman and myself- we are looking forward to seeing all you back on Monday!!
Amy