News and Announcements

Dear Parents and Swimmers,

It was a very important weekend for BBD!

Ethan Schwab attended the East Speedo Junior Championships in Greensboro NC. He was one of three qualifiers from BBD, the others being Samantha Clifford and Angus MacDonald, who opted not to attend. Ethan swam three events: the 200 IM, the 100 and 200 breast and set new BBD team records in all three. On Friday and Saturday nights, Ethan swam in the finals of the men’s 100 and 200 breaststroke events. Coach Peter was on deck with him and the rest of the coaches were watching as the events were streamed. Ethan finished 5th and 6th respectively, in extremely close and inspiring races.

I am so proud of Ethan, and grateful that Peter was able to accompany him to such a major meet. While we have had swimmers in the past attend we weren’t always able to send a coach. The team’s reputation certainly is enhanced when we have swimmers at these national meets. Congratulations!

We have added a few US Meets to our schedule. The latest is the USSC meet. This is being offered to swimmers who are not going to the Indy meet. Please do not enter if you are signed up for Indianapolis.

Our holiday schedule will be available soon.

Have a great week!

Kevin

Dear Swimmers and Parents,

In spite of all the illnesses that are coursing through the team, those swimmers who made it to this weekend’s meet did extremely well.

We had first places from a lot of our relay teams and these individuals…

Kelly Hassett (15/18 1000 free)
Allie Schwartz (12 and under 200 IM)
Will Schwab (12-14 400 IM)
Demetra Bicos (15 and over 400 IM)
Gus MacDonald (15 and over 400 IM)

Jake Brown (8 and under 100 free)
Beckham Leith (9/10 50 back)
Sully Jackson (11/12 50 back, 100 free, 100 back)
Jack Bassett (8 and under 25 free)
Jack Palmer (8 and under 50 breast, 25 fly, 100 IM, 25 back, 50 fly)
Mary Bailey (9/10 50 breast, 50 free)
Tyler Bassett ((9/10 50 breast)
Catie Samouelian (8 and under 25 fly, 25 back)
Michael Bailey (11/12 100 fly, 50 fly)
Catherine Howe (11/12 100 free)
Quinn O’Neill (13/14 100 free, 100 back, 100 fly)
Scott Hassett (15/18 100 free)
Malin Murphey (11/12 50 back, 100 fly)
Avery Anderson (15/18 100 back)
David Marc Beatty (15/18 100 back)
Lila Solomon (11/12 50 breast)
Jack McCuiston (11 and over 200 breast, 500 free)
Sam Clifford (15/18 100 fly)
Claire Tomasek (10 and under 200 free)
Colton Ruks (9-10 100 IM)
Eric Dunn (9/10 100 back)
Isla Ley (9/10 100 breast)
Charlie McCuiston (11 and over 200 IM, 50 free)
Avery Tack (13/14 200 free, 100 breast)
Victor Malinski (13/14 200 free)
Jordan Bouchillon (11 and over 200 back)
Taylor Robinson (13/14 50 free)
Charlie Michael (13/14 100 breast)
Kate Stempien (11/12 50 fly)
Lyla Collins (11/12 100 IM

I hope I didn’t miss anyone!

I am particularly pleased to see our swimmers trying new events (and succeeding!!) Several eight and unders swam the 50 back for the first time and managed their flip turns expertly. Many other swimmers chose longer and tougher events. We are making a lot of progress!

Thank you to our parents who volunteered to officiate and time at the meet. I certainly appreciate your efforts and I know the Farmington team does as well.

This upcoming week we will be sending Coach Peter and Ethan Schwab to the Speedo Winter Junior National Meet in Greensboro. This is a very high-level meet for swimmers across the nation. Angus MacDonald and Sam Clifford also qualified for this meet, but opted not to attend.

As you are making your holiday plans, if you are traveling please try to get swimmers into a pool. Clubs across the nation are pleased to welcome guests…we always do! Our lead coaches will be glad to give you workouts. We don’t want to impede our momentum.

Have a great week!

Kevin​

Dear Parents and Swimmers,

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving.

Over the break we welcomed several of our alums back to practice….

Madison Helmick (University of Illinois-Chicago)
Timmy Page (Williams)
Jimmy Violassi (Wayne State)
Marin Dalziel (John Carroll)
Patrick Branch (John Carroll)
Jerome Wiater (Colby)
Hannah Deighan (University of Maine)

It was so good to see them and hear that they are thriving!

Each year at the holidays we give the swimmers a bag tag that lists all relevant time standards for major meets. We have begun distributing them. See your lead coach if you haven’t gotten one yet. They are not merely for decoration on swim bags. PLEASE FILL THEM OUT including the emergency phone number. We hope we never need to call, but it is an important safeguard.

For the meet this weekend, remember to be punctual and have event numbers on the hands of the younger swimmers. Remind swimmers to pick up their awards. Almost the entire team is swimming, so we have canceled practices on Saturday and Sunday and 9/10s and 11/12s are combined at Cranbrook on Friday night. A separate email will be sent with further practice changes for this week.

Our high school boys will begin their seasons at their schools this week. We will miss you. Remember, you are always welcome at our practices during your season.

Have a great week!

Kevin

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Note From Coach Kevin - Nov 21st

Posted by Birmingham Blue Dolphins at Nov 21, 2022 10:34AM PST

Dear Parents and Swimmers,

We are so proud of the performance of our BBD swimmers at the three high school state meets this past weekend. I apologize if I miss anyone….I’m taking the results off Meet Mobile.

Sam Clifford and Kelly Hassett led Seaholm with individual state championships at the D2 meet—Sam, with a team record performance in the 200 free and second place in the 100. Kelly won the 500 and was fifth in the 200. Avery Anderson was ninth in the 100 back, Skyler Jansen was 10th in the 500. Sam Memmer, Lindsay Louwers, Lucy and Molly Truesdell were also qualifiers for the D2 Meet.

At the D1 Meet Demetra Bicos was 13th in the 200 IM and 11th in the 500, Caroline Lee was 13th in the 500. Elena Garza was a state qualifier as well.

At D3, our own Coach Greg Palmer led Cranbrook to a seventh-place finish. Marian won the meet and Mariana Becharas was 8th in the 200 IM and 12th in the 100 breast. Marin Norlander, representing Country Day finished 11th in the 100 free and back. Sarah Michael and Tori Devine were also state qualifiers.

Well done, ladies. We will see you back at our practices after Thanksgiving. No longer breaks than that!

Speaking of Thanksgiving…..we don’t need a holiday to count our blessings. We have been reminded this fall not to take anything (or anyone) for granted. I am particularly grateful for our board. They put on a great fall invitational and are deep into plans to host the YMCA State Meet at Saginaw Valley in addition to their other duties. I am thankful for our coaching staff who always put our swimmers first–whether they are praising or admonishing, their guidance and devotion is essential. I appreciate the support of our Y personnel, led by our new executive director at Birmingham, Kelly Stubbe, and Helene Weir, the CEO of Metro Detroit YMCAs. And of course, I am especially proud of our swimmers—-from our newest to our most seasoned—who always make us proud—-not only of their achievement, but of their spirit. It is delightful to lead a team that enjoys each other’s company as much as ours does! Enjoy the holiday!

Kevin

Dear Swimmers and Parents,

Our team went west and struck gold this past weekend. Led by Team McCuiston: Charlie, Jack, Brody and Reid, the team notched many first places. They included most relays and…

- Reid McCuiston 8 and under 100 IM, 8 and under 50 free, 8 and under 25 fly, 8 and under 25 back, 8 and under 25 free
- Brody McCuiston 9/10 100 IM. 9/10 100 free, 9/10 100 back, 9/10 200 free, 9/10 50 back, 9/10 50 free
- Allie Page 11-12 100 IM
- Jack McCuiston 11-12 100 IM. 11/12 100 free, 11/12 50 fly, 11/12 50 back, 11/12 100 breast, 11/12 50 free
- Malin Murphey 11/12 100 free/ 11/12 50 fly, 11/12 100 back, 11/12 100 fly, 11/12 50 free
- William Quarrier 9/10 50 breast, 9/10 100 breast
- Catherine Howe 11/12 50 breast
- Michael Bailey 11/12 50 breast
- Turner Worth 13/14 200 IM, 13/14 100 back
- Ethan Schwab 15/17 200 IM, 100 breast
- Avery Tack 13/14 100 free
- Charlie McCuiston 13/14 100 free, 13-14 100 breast, 13-14 50 free, 13-14 200 free, 13/14 100 fly, 13/14 200 breast
- Kassidy Collins 13/14 50 free
- Teddy Howe 8 and under 100 free
- Sully Jackson 11/12 200 free
- Ozan Saraydar 9/10 100 fly
- Will Schwab 11/12 100 fly
- Mary Bailey 9/10 100 breast

That was quite a meet! Remember to fill out goal sheets and bring them to the coaches for review.

Thank you to coaches Jeannie, Charlotte, Mike B. and Chris for escorting the swimmers to Zeeland!!​

Kevin

Other Updates and Reminders:

- New Practice Change this Week:

Thursday, November 18th
9-10s – canceled
13-14 – 6:45 to 8:30 @ BCS
15&Up – 5:30 to 7:00 @ BCS

- Please see the practice grid for Thanksgiving week practice changes.

- With Girls Middle School swim season beginning this week, and the Boys High School starting soon, there will be more frequent practice changes. Please be sure to read emails and check the website regularly.​

- Remember that the deadline to order BBD Spirit Wear from The Varsity Shop is Sunday, November 20th. The Varsity Shop will not be able to accept late orders. “Click here to access the store.”: https://bbdwinter22.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

- Finally, a friendly reminder to please pick up any unclaimed orders from the previous store at The Varsity Shop in addition to your swimmer’s 2022-23 team t-shirt if you did not receive it at the Fall Festival meet.

THANK YOU!