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Ensworth Tops Excel in First-Ever Dual Meet
Congratulations swimmers! The results are in and after three days of racing Ensworth Aquatics came out on top over Excel in the first-ever, in-season meet between our two teams! MTSC brought a smaller team to compete, though it was not the first time we had competed with them in-season. The total combined score for the meet was:
Ensworth Aquatics 1,553 Points
Excel Aquatics 1,455 Points
MTSC 474 Points
Winning the meet is thrilling for our kids, but the biggest win was having the meet in the first place. There is plenty of great competition in our immediate area, and plenty of great pools to compete in. Now both of our teams have shown we can not only compete in a very positive way, but that our swimmers - who are our only true concern in all of this - benefit immensely from the opportunity to compete against kids who might go to their school or swim on their summer league team, but just swim for a different USA Swimming Club.
It is important to recognize and applaud the great sportsmanship of all of the athletes in the meet, ours, Excels’, and MTSCs’.
We did not win the meet because of numbers; we won through great swimming. Athletes across all age groups showed that despite all of the uncertainty, limitations, and general interruptions of this pandemic, kids are able to come to practice, get better, and prove it at swim meets!
Only the top six finishers in each event were able to score points. However, as anyone who has been involved in sports knows, those top six don’t do nearly as well if the rest of the team is performing poorly. To be successful when you have a lot of people racing, any team needs to have a lot of people swimming their best. Your kids did just that, whether they were in Heat 1 or Heat 6.
With so many great swims we are going to highlight only the event winners. However, every single athlete on the team deserves to feel a part of this big win!
Event Winners
15 & Over
- Lindy Hunter: 100 Breast
- Hannah Jyawook: 500 Free, 200 IM, 100 Back, 200 Fl
- Jake Mason: 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 Free, 200 Fly
- Rob McCall: 100 Back, 200 Back
- Christian McIntire: 500 Free, 200 Breast
- Oliver Pilkinton: 100 Fly, 100 Free, 50 Free
- Ophelia Pilkinton: 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Free
- Ally Solomon: 400 IM
- Lexi Stewart: 200 Breast
13 - 14
- Gray Attmore: 200 IM, 200 Breast, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 200 Back
- Julia Mason: 400 IM, 200 IM, 100 Back
- Matthew Hughes: 400 IM, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 Fly
- Lilly Roberston: 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Free, 200 Back
11 - 12
- Elliot Emch: 100 Fly
- Emma Emch: 50 Fly
- Shelby Kolton: 200 IM
- Mina Sanford: 50 Breast
9-10
- Anderson Attmore: 50 Breast, 100 Breast
- Lucas Greenwalt: 25 Back, 25 Breast
- Sloane Kolton: 100 IM, 50 Free, 100 Breast, 50 Back
- Carson Neumann: 50 Breast
- Alice Perkins: 25 Back, 25 Fly, 25 Free,
- Bain Schimmel: 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Back, 100 Fly
- Maya Woods: 500 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Free, 200 IM, 100 Fly, 100 Free
8 & Under
- Eleanor Cornwall: 25 Breast
- Maggie Hundley: 100 IM, 50 Fly, 25 Back
- Baron McKinney: 50 Breast
- Stella Moseng: 50 Free, 25 Free, 50 Back, 25 Fly
- Lizzie Sanford: 100 Free
- Thomas Ward: 25 Breast, 25 Back, 25 Free
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COVID Protocols - Who is a "Close Contact" at Practice
Many of us know someone, perhaps even in our own family, who has been told they have been determined to be a close contact. So far this school year we have had three instances where an athlete on the team has tested positive for Covid and teammates have been considered close contacts. But how do we make this determination at practice?
We developed a protocol through working with the Ensworth School’s main coordinator for Covid related issues pertaining specifically to students. We developed this protocol keeping in mind Nashville’s guidance on pool operations and doing what we can to maintain social distancing to the best extent possible.
Our protocol when someone tests positive is to:
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| - Interview that athlete and/or their parent (depending on age)
- Identify the 48-hour window preceding either the onset of symptoms or the day someone got tested (for asymptomatic people)
- Identify whether that person was at practice or a swim meet during that 48-hour window
- If they attended practice, identify who they shared a lane with and who swam in the lanes immediately bordering their lane
- Utilize Ensworth’s security camera footage to confirm the athlete’s account and/or determine if anyone else was swimming either in their lane or the lane next to them
- Identify the person in their lane, and those swimming in the lanes immediately next to them, as close contacts and relay that information to the parent
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The CDC considers a close contact anyone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes in the 48-hour window preceding the onset of symptoms or the collection of a specimen for asymptomatic people. While we take great pains to split our athletes up on two sides of the pool with no more than 2 per lane, it is still likely that the person sharing the lane and the people in the lanes on either side of the lane of a person who was positive did spend a total of 15 or more minutes within 6 feet of that person.
That is why we have determined that anyone in that lane or on either side will be considered a close contact and is not permitted to come back to practice for two weeks. This also follows Ensworth’s policy with its own students. Many parents ask if they can have their child (close contact) take a test and, if it is negative, bring them back to practice. The answer is no. While being labeled a close contact is certainly inconvenient, it is important that we stick to the protocols.
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Parking Lot Safety
There is nothing more important to all of us (parents and coaches) than the safety of the swimmers. Now that it is dark very early in the evening, we are going to amend our plan for Stingrays and Dolphins exiting practice.
All Stingray and Dolphin parents are encouraged to come inside to the upstairs balcony during the last 10 minutes of practice, which will allow parents to see their children exiting the pool.
Stingrays will now be taken through the Meet Management office into the main lobby. Parents, who are on the balcony level, will be able to meet their children in that space and escort them to the car. All other children will be brought downstairs to the main natatorium entrance, where parents will have to physically meet their children and escort them to the car. Stingrays will always be coming downstairs between 6:25 and 6:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly. The Stingrays will not be allowed to navigate the parking area on their own. Please park in parking spaces and not along the curb.
Dolphins will continue to use the exit stairwell. Parents who observe the end of practice will be able to meet their children by going down that same stairwell as their child exits the pool deck area. We ask that all Dolphin parents park in the new parking area behind the pool. This way Dolphins need only walk across the grassy area to meet their parents and not through the parking lot.
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December Competitions
Ensworth plans to host the Holiday Classic on December 4 - 6. It is imperative that parents commit their children to either attend or decline this meet. The goal is to have all athletes participate, but we must get an accurate headcount for our team as soon as possible.
Outside teams will be coming to the Holiday Classic, but Ensworth will not permit more than 140 athletes in one session due to seating and Covid restrictions. It is important to know how many of our own team members will participate so we can let outside teams know how many they can bring - commit your athlete.
Last weekend, we purposefully created a separate warm-up time for our team and separate seating for our team to do everything we could to mitigate potential mingling between athletes on the other teams. We will follow the same protocols as we organize the Holiday Classic.
The Holiday Classic is a prelim / final meet for our 13 & Over swimmers, although Friday’s events will be Timed Final only. The 13 & Over swimmers will compete in the morning on both Saturday and Sunday, while the 12 & Under swimmers will compete between prelims and finals.
Right now, we plan to limit our 9 & 10-year-old swimmers to racing either in the Holiday Classic or the Marshmallow Mini Meet on December 12. Please speak with your child’s group coach if you are not sure which meet your child should attend. More spots may be opened to 9-10-year-olds in the Marshmallow Mini after we confirm the number of children in our Stingrays and Team Prep groups who plan to commit to the meet.
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New Faces: Coach Cissy Fleet
Coach Cissy Fleet is not exactly a "new face" around the pool, but she does have a new role as Team Administrator. We are so excited to have Coach Cissy step into this role as she has been involved with swimming at nearly every level for many years. Coach Cissy held similar Team Administrator positions with Cottonwood Swim Team and EXCEL Aquatics; she was also President of Williamson County Swim League and WCSL Championship Meet Director.
Beyond team management, Cissy has coached swimming for over 20 years, and her experience includes working with swimmers from almost every level: USA Swimming programs, high-school, middle-school, homeschool, and summer league for the Cottonwood Pirates.
Coach Cissy is delighted to have the opportunity to work our Ensworth Aquatics Stingrays and help our littlest swimmers learn good training habits, emphasizing technique with the belief that that speed is the result of proper execution. But it's not all work and no play! Coach Cissy enjoys infusing practices with fun while working hard.
Coach Cissy is married to David and is the proud mother to Alice, Nash, and Tim - all former swimmers! So you can add "swim mom" to her qualification! She is also a mother-in-law to 2 non-swimmers, who have acclimated well to the swimming culture of the family.
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All-American Swim Sale
Due to COVID, All-American Swim will be extending their Black Friday sale into a Black November Sale, which will include every business day from Wednesday, November 18th through Monday, November 30th!
Black November Sale is an in-store event only. Everything will be 40% off the MSRP, which includes goggles, all swimsuits (both Grab Bag and regular price), training gear, backpacks, caps, accessories, and Techincal Suits! Yes, you read that correctly: 40% OFF ALL TECH SUITS!
Be aware that this sale is ONLY for currently in-stock items. The sale does not apply to orders, restocks, custom items (parkas, backpacks, etc.), or team suits.
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| All-American Swim - Shop Hours
Mondays: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (excluding Thanksgiving)
Closed Friday
Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
All American Swim - Address
5006 Thoroughbred Lane, Suite A5
Brentwood, TN
(615) 309-7636
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New Parent Zoom Meeting - Dolphins & Stingrays
In a normal season, parents new to the team have numerous opportunities to connect with other Ensworth Aquatics members to find out what they need to know about practices, meets, and everything else. Right now, we must limit those interactions, which may be leaving some families confused and uninformed. Our coaching staff and parent reps want to help.
Coach Erin Pryles and Stingray Parent Representative, Linsey Sanford, will host a New Parent Zoom Meeting on Wednesday, December 2 at 5:00 p.m. The link to the Zoom Meeting will be sent out through GroupMe and Team Unify.
Should you have questions about the meeting or have specific questions you would like answered, please reach out to Coach Erin at epryles@gmail.com
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Stingrays
From Coach Erin
We were extremely proud of how our Stingrays swam in the November Tri-Meet. Many swimmers tried new events, and we had a ton of best times. Overall, it was a huge learning experience for everyone involved. In the coming months, we will continue to fine-tune stroke technique as we work on building their endurance in the water.
Looking ahead, we will host The Marshmallow Mini on December 12. Traditionally, this is a fun and festive afternoon of racing, which serves as the capstone for our 10-under swimmers. We’d love to have every Stingray attend. Please mark your calendars.
As we move into the Holiday Season, it’s a good time to reflect on the past year and take a moment to count our blessings. It has been quite a year for everyone, and the one thing that stands out in my mind (as a coach and a parent) is just how lucky we all are to have Ensworth Aquatics offering programming that keeps our children active, maintains a daily routine, and challenges them in safe ways. A big thank you to all of our families who support Ensworth Aquatics by allowing the coaching staff to work with your children, volunteering on weekends to help run meets, and by adhering to the safety protocols that are put in place to run our program in an efficient and safe manner. We are truly thankful for you!
We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families. Stay Safe.
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Official Training
As we anticipate our competition opportunities, it is a wonderful time for parents to get involved and start the online training to become an official.
While we have hosted one sanctioned meet since June 1, we know we will likely need to host many, if not all, meets we compete in for the rest of the year. We also know that WE NEED OFFICIALS! One benefit to becoming an official this year is that, if our meets are limited to just our team for a while to come, the sessions you will be required to train during will be SHORTER than most normal meets! And with the limitations in place on parents / visitors during competitions, you will be one of the few to be on deck (hopefully this changes soon because we want our cheering parents back!).
If you have ever considered becoming an official, now is the perfect time to take the first steps. The future is certainly uncertain, but your kids will race! It may truly be up to you whether we have the ability to provide the sanctioned racing opportunities your kids will be training for.
Please check out what it takes to become an official by clicking on this link.
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Birthday Shout Outs
Big shout out to our Ensworth Aquatics teammates with November birthdays. We wish each of these fantastic athletes the Happiest of Birthdays.
November Birthdays
November 1, Virginia Frutel
November 1, Brinkley Kolton
November 2, Kees Jones
November 2, Emma Rehse
November 4, Anslee Ferragina
November 6, Patrick France
November 7, Harrison Cook
November 10, Majesty Ford
November 14, Zoey Rushing
November 15, Eleanor Cornwall
November 16, Matthew Hughes
November 18, Oliver Pilkinton
November 18, Sophie Summitt
November 19, Hunter Haney
November 24, Alexis Vaughn
November 25, Gordon Fruetel
November 27, Sarah Melton
November 29, Charles Sloane
November 30, Chethan Babu
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GroupMe App
If you have not already joined your swimmers' GroupMe, please consider doing so. Parents, coaches, and staff use GroupMe to communicate last-minute updates, traffic issues, practice changes, lost and found, carpooling, and much more. Each practice group has its own group text, and we believe if you ask any returning team members, they will confirm that GroupMe is an invaluable communication tool as it enables them to ask specific questions and plan activities particular to their practice group. Use this link to download the GroupMe app.
Click on the links below to connect with your swimmer's practice group and parent reps:
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Parent Reps
We want to introduce our team to their training group parent representatives. Thank you to the wonderful moms for volunteering for this position.
Stingrays: Lindsay Sanford and Jessica Dye
Dolphins: Moe Kolton and Jessica Horne
Sharks: Fran Spurrier
Junior: Susan Emrhein
Marlins: Please contact Coach Glenn if interested.
Senior 1 & Senior: Claire McCall and Margaret Mason
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Team Website & OnDeck
We are confident that everyone on our team has visited our team website by now, but beyond registration, it serves as the primary information tool for our team. Through our website, parents and athletes will commit to competitions, enter events, sign up to volunteer, access newsletters, review practice schedules, much more. Be sure to "Sign In" to the website to view all content. Go ahead and visit www.ensworthaquatics.com and bookmark it!
OnDeck is TeamUnify's supporting app that allows our staff to communicate through our website directly to team members' mobile devices. OnDeck also presents our website content to users with improved mobile device usability. What this means is you can enter into swim meets and signup to volunteer more easily on your mobile devices. Use this link to download OnDeck.
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Social Media
Ensworth Aquatics is on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Use the icons below to connect with the team on social media.
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