DAYTON RAIDERS
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET SUMMARY
Short Course Season (September through March)
PREVIEW
Below is a summary for Ohio Championship meets the Dayton Raiders will compete
in during the winter season. These meets are in addition to regular meets held
throughout the season called “Invitationals”. Dayton Raider swimmers compete at
a championship meet specific to their age and ability. Participating in a
championship meet is one of the best ways swimmers can see the value of hard
work in practice all season. Please review the following meet summaries before
signing up for the appropriate championship meet. Time standards for each
championship meet are posted on the bulletin board and posted on the team
website. The website will be updated regularly with information, dates, and
results from each championship meet in Ohio. Do not miss deadlines for these
meets. In some cases, Ohio Swimming, Inc imposes a $25 fee for swimmers
attempting to enter a meet after the deadline.
NOTE: In many cases, swimmers may qualify for multiple Championship meets. Although some swimmers have competed at each tier of championship meets he/she has qualified for in the past, swimmers and parents may become overburdened at the back-to-back-to-back weekly competitions. It is not necessary for swimmers to do this. The rule of thumb is to compete at the highest level meet where the swimmer has achieved an adequate number of time standards. Also, consider the "Last Chance" Qualifier Meet in March as an option (this is a non-championship event where swimmers can attempt to obtain a time standards; see the summary below). In all cases, you should consult your group coach regarding which championships to compete in.
WTRC WINTER INVITE
first weekend in December
Washington TWP Recreation Center, Centerville (OH)
This meet is for all swimmers who are under the age of 12 and who do not meet
the time standards for the MAKOS "HOLIDAY SPIRIT" INVITATIONAL on the following
weekend. This meet is an excellent choice for new swimmers and swimmers in the
Mini, White, Red, and Blue groups. Also, swimmers who have joined the Dayton
Raiders as "session" swimmers may choose this meet to compete in as an
"end-of-season" meet.
MAKOS "HOLIDAY SPIRIT"
INVITATIONAL
second weekend in December
Miami University on Oxford (OH)
This meet is a prelim/finals championship meet for all Dayton Raider swimmers
who meet the qualifying time standards. The meet is conveniently scheduled for
the second weekend in December, so that high school swimmers can get a
championship meet in prior to being released to their high school programs.
This is a great meet at one of the nicest and fastest pool in the country.
ALL-STAR QUADRANGLULAR
CHAMPIONSHIPS
second weekend in January
IUPUI in Indianapolis
This is an All-Star meet by selection only. Generally, you must apply for the
Ohio “All-Star” QUAD team sometime in December – and the deadline is very
strict. Parents are responsible for submitting applications by the deadline.
Any swimmer with a National “A” may apply. The Ohio Coordinator from the Lake
Erie area will collect all applications and notify the top 4 swimmers in every
event they have made the team. Then, swimmers must reply with confirmation or
decline. The meet pits Ohio verses Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois a four-state
showdown. Since the Ohio H.S. season has begun at this point of the season,
many high school swimmers choose not to participate in this meet. This is good
news for the other teams because if Ohio included its high school swimmers, we
would win this meet every year.
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This section is reserved for high school championship meet summaries, which
are not USA-Swimming competitions. Swimmers are released from their club
team (e.g. Dayton Raiders) and available to represent their respective high
schools after the MAKOS "Holiday Spirit" Invitational in December. Swimmers
continue to practice with the Dayton Raiders during the high school season,
but they represent their high schools at competitions from December through
February. Please contact Head Coach Kevin Weldon if you have any questions
about high school swimming.
HIGH SCHOOL SW CLASSIC -
PRELIM/FINALS FORMAT HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
HIGH SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENT
- SECTIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
HIGH SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENT
- DISTRICT
CHAMPIONSHIPS HIGH SCHOOL STATE
TOURNAMENT - STATE
CHAMPIONSHIPS |
OHIO REGIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
February
Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo
There are six (6) Ohio REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP meets in Ohio: Dayton, 2xColumbus,
2xCincinnati, and Toledo. The Dayton Raiders are assigned to the Dayton-area
commission. This meet is for swimmers in the 10-under, 11-12, and 13-14
age groups. All 14-under swimmers who do not have an Ohio 'JUNIOR OLYMPIC' time standard
in a individual event compete at the REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in those events.
Since the youngest age group is "10-under", younger swimmers ages 6, 7, and 8
may feel more appropriate competing at an alternate championship meet such as
the "Mary Lou Mini Champs" or the "Barbara Kay Mini Champs" in Columbus
(although any swimmer under the age of 10 may compete at Regionals). These
"mini" champs are geared for 8-Unders and are a great alternative to the
Regional Champs. Look at the winter meet schedule for these alternate
championship meets. The Regional Championship meet is a prelim/final format,
which means everyone swims their events in the morning. Then, the top 16
swimmers in each even return to swim finals at night. Medals are given to
1-8 place and ribbons are awarded to 9-16 place. Awards are only given to
swimmers in finals. Swimmers who achieve an Ohio ‘JUNIOR OLYMPIC’ time standard at
the REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, regardless of where they place or when they swam the
event (prelims or finals) automatically qualify for the OHIO JUNIOR OLYMPIC STATE
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
MINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
March
Erlanger
(KY) or Worthington (OH)
There are two "Mini" Championships, designed specifically for the 8-under
swimmers. These meets are some of the biggest "MINI" meets in the USA!
Both of these meets are excellent meets and all swimmers receive participation
trophies and excellent event awards. Whether its your first year, second,
or third year of swimming...no matter, this meet is for you!
OHIO AGE GROUP JUNIOR
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
March
Cincinnati, Ohio
There is one (1) OHIO AGE GROUP JUNIOR OLYMPIC CHAMPIONSHIP meet in Ohio. This meet is for
swimmers in the 10-under, 11-12, and 13-14 age groups. There is team scoring at
this meet. All swimmers who have achieved ‘JUNIOR OLYMPIC’ time standard at any time
during the season and who are members of ‘JUNIOR OLYMPIC’ relays are expected to compete
at the state meet. The Dayton Raiders generally place in the top 10, as well as
established several state meet records and state records at the JUNIOR OLYMPIC meet.
This meet is a prelim/final format. Medals are given to 1-8 place and ribbons
are awarded to 9-16 place at finals only. Also, an award is presented to the
Ohio Outstanding "Male" and "Female" Swimmer of the Meet Award to the swimmers
that earn the most highest overall score based on USA-Swimming IMX scoring
procedures
OHIO SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
March
usually held in Oxford (OH), Erlanger (KY), Athens (OH), or Bowling Green (OH)
There is one (1) Ohio SENIOR Championship meet in Ohio. This meet is for
swimmers who are 15-over, 14-unders high school swimmers, and 14-under swimmers
who have achieved a National ‘AAA’ time standard. The Dayton Raiders have won
the Ohio SENIOR Championship meet several times in the last 10 years, qualified
several swimmers to Sectional Championships & Junior Nationals, and established several meet records. The
Ohio SENIOR Championships is a prelim/finals format. The Head Coach will
discuss with all senior aged swimmers if they are to attend this meet, or one of
the other championships listed below.
USA SPEEDO SECTIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
March
locations TBD, generally located within a one state radius
The Sectional Championship Meet is for senior swimmers who meet strict
“SECTIONAL” qualification standards. (Visit the time standards section to see
the qualifications for this meet). There are several "sections" across the
country (we are in section 3). The format for this meet was established in 2000
by USA-Swimming and replaces the "old" Junior National meet format. Most
swimmers who qualify for the sectional meet are expected to compete at this meet
– the Head Coach will guide senior swimmers on the entries for this meet.
In 2005, the "Junior National Championship" meet will return in the USA and the
time standards to qualify will be more stringent than SECTIONALS. We are
unsure if the return of Junior Nationals will affect the SECTIONAL meet format
since it is still in its infancy. It is possible both meets will coexist
for a few years and additional formats will evolve from their coexistence.
USA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
March or April
locations TBD, recently held in FL, CA
Did you know the Dayton Raiders hosted the last USA-Swimming "Junior National
Championships" in 2000 at Miami University in Oxford (OH)? It was held on
the eve of the 2000 USA Olympic Trials and the meet generated 25 "Olympic Trial
cuts" by swimmers aged 19 & Under. The meet was axed after that year and
replaced with the multiple "USA-Sectional Championships" in various locations
throughout the country, but by popular demand from coaches across the nation,
"Juniors" official return is in 2005 (one meet will be during short course
winter and another during long course summer). In the years between 2000
and 2005, the Junior meet did run in warm climates places like Florida and
California by a group of independent coaches and clubs who did not want to see
the meet die. These meets ran very well and were very fast and included
large support by many of our nation's top swimming programs & coaches, although
the meet was not recognized by USA-Swimming in the same fashion as the
"official" Junior meets of the 70's, 80's, and 90's. We expect both
"Juniors" and "Sectionals" to coexist for awhile and then, after some time
together, maybe additional evolution will occur. The Head Coach will
consult swimmers on whether or not this meet is to be planned for each season.
"LAST CHANCE" CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER
MEET
Held at Keating Natatorium in Cincinnati, usually held on a Tuesday evening
prior to the REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS or just before the AGE GROUP STATE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
(swimmers may deck enter at the meet but they MUST bring their USA-Swimming card
to the meet to enter
This is a special Qualifier one-day session for swimmers who want to attempt to
achieve a time standard without attending one of the championship meets above.
Often times, a swimmer will miss a cut by a small margin (less than 1 second per
50 yards) and think "Hey, I can GET THAT CUT". This format allows a "last
chance" to do just that.
Swimmers any age may participate in this event. The criteria is that swimmers
must be close to the time standard he/she is attempting to achieve in order to
enter the event, such as "State Cut", "one cut", "Sectional cut", etc. If time permits, the order of events is swum twice. No awards
are given at a CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER MEET. Although we encourage swimmers to
compete at the traditional meet to enjoy the benefits of swimming prelims and
finals, as well as receiving awards, sometimes a swimmer is in need of one or
two time standards which would make the end-of-season championship season less
hectic. This Qualifier meet is an excellent option to consider – but you should
always get the opinions of your group coach