Dear Piranha Families,
I am Kirk Jackson, your new head-coach. Many of you know me as a former Piranha swimmer and assistant coach. I swam as a Piranha from age 6 to 18, was a member of RMSC during high school, a Poolesville High Falcon swimmer all four years of high school and went on to swim for the University of Maryland, College Park, as a freshman and first-semester sophomore. I have recently retired from swimming due to differences in beliefs about training with the new staff at UMD. As a Terp, I participated in teaching swim clinics every week, including sessions with the Special Olympics and Paralympics. I was a part-time coach for Sunday swim clinics at Germantown my junior and senior year in high school. I have been lucky to work along-side and mentored by our former coaches, Tim and Gretchen Auer, as well as our Poolesville High School coach, Jon Leong.
We have a few new additions to the PST coaching staff this year. First off, former Piranha and Falcon swimmer, Matt Weber, will be Head assistant coach. Matt has been giving lessons and lifeguarding at the pool since high school. He just finished swim clinic coaching at Virginia Tech where he is a rising junior. His natural ability to analyze stroke technique will be a great asset to the team this year. Joining the staff also is former Piranha swimmer Ursa Remondi. Ursa also swam for Poolesville High and RMSC. Now she swims Club at Delaware where she is a rising sophomore. She has been coaching clinics for a couple years now. Ursa has great knowledge of the sport, and her experience as a swimmer makes her a great addition. Returning this year, we have another Piranha alum Katie Stamm who just finished up her freshman year swimming for Salisbury. We look forward to her sharing all the knowledge she gained there with the team.
This season PST will be competing in the ‘D’Division of MCSL for the ‘A’ meets. This should make for a very fun and exciting season. These meets will be held on Saturday mornings during the season. As in the past on Wednesday nights we will be competing in ‘B’ meets against local teams such as Quince Orchard, Westleigh, and Germantown, to name a few. Each person on the team will find the right level that will challenge them to always do their best, no matter if they are swimming in the ‘A’ meet, ‘B’ meet, or perhaps even some weeks, swimming in both. I am very excited to get this season going and working with all the new and returning swimmers.
In order to create the perfect atmosphere for fast swimming there are a few things that the coaching staff must ask everyone. Nothing new here, just as in the past we ask that:
Swimmers:
Respect: You must treat all of your teammates with respect. Any differences you may have had in previous experiences with one of your teammates must be put aside. You are teammates; you must learn to work together. If this cannot be done, speak to one of the coaches and they will help you handle the situation. Always ask the coaches for help, no matter what, we are there to help you.
Come to practice on time and work hard everyday. If you do this I assure you that swim team will be a much more enjoyable experience for you.
Parents:
Please do not come onto the deck during practice, or into the team area at meets. Practice and meets can be a hectic and stressful time for swimmers, coaches, and even parents. Please do your child and the coaches a favor by not disturbing them at practice or at meets. I am available to answer questions before and after practice. I can also be contacted by phone, email or with notes in my box.
This is probably the most important rule of them all, volunteer to help at every meet! If it weren’t for the help of Piranha parents, like you, the team would be impossible to run. The only people that get paid are my assistant coaches and myself. The team reps and officials do a tremendous amount of work, and it’s all for your child, not for them. Please make the effort to volunteer at every single meet, and please do so on your own, the reps or heads of the committees have enough on their plates to worry about needing to recruit extra help the day before a swim meet. No matter where you choose to volunteer, you will not miss any of your children’s events and even come to find that volunteering can in fact be an enjoyable experience.
Thanks, and welcome to the 2009 PST Season. If you have
any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
Let’s Go PST!
Kirk Jackson
Head Coach PST
301-452-7464