We are pleased to announce the recent addition of Lisa K. Baumann to LIAC’s full-time professional coaching staff as our new Head Age Group Coach. Ms. Baumann ~ who many of you might know as the owner and head coach of the AquaFit Masters program at the Aquatic Center ~ comes to us with an exercise physiology education and more than three decades of coaching, teaching, administration and event management experience in diverse areas from developmental and learn-to-swim to the junior, junior elite, high school and collegiate levels. Her strong background in teaching proper stroke technique and developing individual medley capabilities with a solid distance foundation in young athletes as they aspire to the national level will be a tremendous benefit for the LIAC age group program.

Coach Ferris remarks: “I’m excited to have her onboard. Lisa brings maturity, and national level understanding of where the age group program needs to go, along with how to get there. Her experience will bring continuity and balance to the Age Group Program.”

With a passion for swimming and a commitment to fostering individual potential while contributing to team excellence, Ms. Baumann eagerly looks forward to the upcoming 2007-2008 season, and to meeting and working with everyone.

Long Island Aquatic Club, Long Island Express.  They sound similar, they train less than a mile apart, and they both have some talented age group swimmers.  LIAC’s National Team believes that’s where the similarities end.  LIAC’s national team went into the LI Express Winterfest meet this past weekend.  Tired from an eight day period where LIAC swimmers competed against the best teams in the east at Rutgers and a strong week of mid season training the coaches outlined LIAC’s three competitive objectives during the week.  The team responded well continuing to train while competing impressively in all their events. 

LIAC entered 20 events over two sessions and completely dominated those sessions winning 16 golds along with 11 one-two finishes.  While impressive, LIAC’s depth was the real story often having 5,6, and even 7 of the top eight finishes in the open events.    “We saw a lot of aggressive, determined racing and that was one of our goals coming in.” said Coach Ferris. 

Erica Derlath lead the way with 4 wins, (200 IM, 400IM, 200Bk, 500FR), Jack Wagner was right behind with 3 gold, (100FR, 500FR, 400IM).  Bobby Smith, Roger Dent, Emily Kelly and Patrick Yang each won two events.  Julia Festa shocked everyone winning the 13-14 400IM.  “The girl has skills”.

Overall the group swam very well.  The results were not unexpected as the group has been training very hard.  It wasn’t so long ago that as age groupers the same Express swimmers we raced this weekend were comparatively as fast or faster.  It is your LIAC commitment to excellence and your work ethic that makes the difference.  Keep up the good work.

Sixty-seven LIAC swimmers traveled to Buffalo for our annual Holiday Meet and walked away with a 468 point WIN (3935 to 3467) over the 11 time defending champs, the Jersey Wahoos.  While the Wahoos had an overwhelming 111 swimmers, LIAC put together one of the great championship efforts in our 20 year history of attending the meet.  LIAC swimmers took home 39 first places, which was about a third of the 124 events contested, six meet records, five Metropolitan Records, and nine Team Records.

The first night of a 4 day team championship meet is always filled with nervous anticipation by both the athletes and the coaches.  However, Rachel Cho (11) and Patrick Yang (12) eased everyone’s minds as they walked away with 1st place for both the women and men’s 12 & under 500 freestyle.  In addition, Julia Festa and Erica Derlath added to the excitement as they swam an outstanding one-two finish in the 1650 freestyle, both qualifying for a summer national cut!  The tone was now set for the weekend - confidence, excitement, and determination replaced the butterflies amongst everyone!

LIAC cruised through the rest of the weekend with fantastic swims. 

Fourteen year old Jack Wagner demonstrated why he is one of the top swimmers in the nation with impressive performances in the 50, 100, 200, 500 freestyles, 100, 200 backstrokes and the 400 IM.  Jack’s times in the 50fr, 21.41, 100fr, 46.55, 200fr, 1:40.24, 100bk, 51.89 and 400IM, 4:04.14, all are new Team, and Metro records along with being ranked number one in the country in the 13 – 14 age group.  A number of Jack’s swims achieved the elusive 900 power point swim level.

Fourteen year old Julia Festa was the lead swimmer of the LIAC one, two finish in the Open Women’s 1650 with a summer national qualifying time of 16:40.06.  She added wins in the 13-14 girls 500 free, 4:58.27 and the 1000 free 10:11.44.  Finishing 2nd in the Women’s 1650 and also qualifing for summer nationals was Erica Derlath.  Erica went on to win titles in the 500 free, 4:53.44 and the 1000 free 10:06.45 in the Open division. 

Twelve year old Patrick Yang dominated his 11 & 12 age group winning all 10 events he swam.  In winning the High Point Trophy with a perfect 200 point score, he set two Meet records, 50 fly (25.93) and 100 fly, (58.00), and three team record, 50, 100 flys and the 200 free (1:53.70).  With four swims currently ranking him in the top five in the nation, the question becomes when will Patrick hit a 900 power point swim. 

Another 11&12 closing in on 900 power point swims is Rachel Cho.  Eleven year old Rachel won both the 50 back and the 500 free with outstanding swims.

Two ten and unders, Stephanie Lehner and Nicholas Mu scored in the top 3 for High Point placing top 4 in all of their events, along with Brandon Koo. Jonathon Li, one of our athletes who came up from our Stroke Clinic Program last April, impressed the crowds as he won the 10&under 50 breast.

The meet was a great team win, with wonderful individual and relay performances.  Our goal of “competing well at any level” has been accomplished again this meet.  We continue to look forward to the challenges ahead as we compete against the best in the USA with the best swimmers from Long Island.

LIAC Buffalo Individual Champions

Rachael Cho                11& 12            50 back, 500 free
Erica Derlath               Open               500, 1000 free
Julia Festa                   13-14, Open    500, 1000, 1650 free
Jonathon Li                 10& under       50 breast
Tom O’Neill                Open               1000 free
Bobby Smith               Open               200 back
Jack Wagner                13-14              50, 100, 200, 500 free, 100, 200 back, 400 IM
Patrick Yang               11& 12            50, 100, 200, 500 free, 50, 100 back, 50, 100 fly,                
                                                            100, 200 IM

More to come soon...