From: Ohio Zone Team [mailto:bpeaden@woh.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 8:23 PM
Subject: Ohio Zone Team Wrap-up

Ohio Zone Team participants,

A few notes before we leave you until 2007:

• The 2007 Central Zone Championships will be in Cleveland (OH).  All TEAM OHIO information will be available soon and your e-mail will be kept on the current distribution list until a new list is created for the 2007 team.
• The official photographer in OKC will have podium shots, action shots, and team photos posted at the links below later this week, go to the link below and type in “Zones” in the search field http://www.brightroom.com/find.asp

• If you have a TEAM OHIO blue shirt that had a defective graphic after your first laundry, please contact Kastaway Swimwear by Monday 14-August.  It's possible that the screens on some of the Blue shirts may have been applied quickly due to the fast turnaround to delivery.   DO NOT THROW AWAY THE DEFECTIVE SHIRT unless Kastaway says so.  If your shirt made it through the first wash with only normal fading, ignore this note. Kastaway can be reached at 1-800-543-2763 then enter “2” at the recording.

• The nice gesture by our travel team athletes on Monday during the visit to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial was classic.  When a swimmer suggested we leave our trophies and the fence that leaves you in awe, how could we not?  Check out the pictures for yourself.  The moment really rounded out the weekend with a wonderful perspective on life in general.

• We can't end an event without a special thanks to our chaperones.  These individuals tirelessly and unselfishly put themselves in harms way to help promote the best trip for our kids. Keep in mind these chaperones pay for their own transportation and lodging, so that right there tells you how dedicated they are to our athletes.  Some highlights of their week include:  headcounts, food & snack runs, hauling 20 lb crates of Gatorade around, setting up activities, bearing the heat while chasing down swimmers all over OKC, and keeping the athletes safe.  The job is a tall-order, and these angels should not go unnoticed:

Karen Long, aka “The Sane Adult”

This was Karen's second time Chaperoning TEAM OHIO.  She loved the first time, she had to do it again.  Her specialty is planning ahead for food & rest, making sure all activities are suitable for the kids based on age and gender, and being available in the team area for general questions and support. She also took care of equipment inventory and sales. Karen not only was instrumental in guiding the rookie chaperones, but she also took care of the Coordinator by overnighting him his cell phone when it was left on a seat on the Toledo bus.

Celeste Mackenzie, aka “British Enforcer”

Celeste didn't know what to expect on her first Zone trip, but she knew it wasn't a trip to Cancun - instead, it was a trip to the Sahara Desert. Celeste helped with equipment inventory & sales, morning activities for the 12-unders, and her saintly duty attending the G-rated animated movie with the 10-unders on the final night of the trip. 

Scott Polter, aka “Captain Poltergeist”
Scott was the person that helped keep the coaches from having to do all the dirty work.  He won the award for the “Most-Travel-Team-Room-Checks” each night, beating out Coach Chris by 3 rooms on the final night.  Also, Mr. Polter provided the coaches with some much-needed downtime as he chased swimmers out of the hotel pool, off the banisters, and corralled swimmers in true OKC-rodeo fashion.  Scott - you did the work of 3 men and the team thanks you!

Dave Listerman, aka “Kenny ‘Blackberry’ Rogers”

What can we say about Dave?  He and his blackberry were solely responsible for a dozen meals and activities throughout the week.  If someone suggested a movie, he had a movie review within a minute.  When we needed to find a Party Store, Dave had numbers, directions, and a map within minutes.  Sometimes, Dave was already at the destination before it was even thought up.  Behind the scenes, Dave did something else that warmed over the locals - good tipping - and I don't mean tipping cows.  Dave reached deep for all of those hotel and restaurant staffers that went out of their way to make the OKC trip special for the Ohio kids. Dave - I don't know if Ohio Swimming can ever repay you, but everything you did had a direct impact on the happiness and well-being of our athletes.

Coaches Chris Millen and Julie Long

We cannot leave without mentioning that coaches Chris Millen from Napolean Aquatic Club and Julie Long from Delaware Swim Team were both in attendance.  These two both chipped in tons of help and support along the way, and the Ohio Team would not have had the success and organization without their involvement.  No nicknames for them, as we all work the deck together and the author will be unable to defend himself.

Happy Swimming!

Brent