OSI News Archive - December, 2006

The All Star Team that will compete in Vancouver BC January 20 and 21 has been chosen.

Female 11-12
Suzanne Foster - BEND
Caitlin McMahon - CWY
Elise Miner - ECSC
Rachel Murphy - RST
Sarah Reierson - SSS
Julia Sanders - CRST
Nicole Schalk - TDPS
Erika Twenge - CAT

Female 13-14
Lauren Allen - CAT
Hali Barkdoll - CAT
Kaylin Bing - RST
Nikki Cannon - VSC
Kori Carpenter - MAC
Jessie James - BEND
Jessica Patterson - KWSC
Samantha Smith - CB

Male 11-12
Matthew Cook - LGSC
Cole Hurwitz - TDPS
Jordan Hurwitz - TDPS
Luke Marshall - LOSC
Cameron Stitt - TDPS

Male 13-14
Jesse Archambault - RST
Jonathan Beamer - CAT
Matthew Chauvin - MSC
Anthony Nguyen - DDSC
Logan Parker -CAT
Jacob Pebley - CAT
Luke Pebley - CAT
Jeff Sloss - BEND

Coaching Staff
Jill Black - CWY
Amy Meyer - HEAT
Cindy VonWeller - MAC
Greg Amorelli - SSS
Erick Smith - BEND
Jeanine Serrano - TTSC
Greg Bostrom - CAT
Congratulations and good luck in Vancouver.

The inaugral CAT Senior Open was a very fast meet. For many events, winners had to swim a Junior National or National time. In addition to the many quality swims, one new OSI record was established at the meet.

Morgon Henderson-Kunz of THSC established a new OSI record in the 15-16 100 freestyle with a time of 46.17. His swim bettered the old record of 46.24 set back in 1989 by Bryan Addleman.

Morgan Scroggy of THSC had two very close calls with her swims in the 200 backstroke and 100 freesytle. In the 200 backstroke, Morgan's time of 1:58.22 was just off the 17-18 and open records of 1:58.14 set in 1993 by Tammy Shannon. In the 100 freestyle, her time of 50.30 just missed the 17-18 OSI record of 50.13 set back in 1981 by Susan Habernigg.

Liam Wong of the Eugene YMCA just missed a new 11-12 200 breaststroke record. His time of 2:25.46 just missed Corey Williams' 2:25.30 set in 2004.

Great job to all the competitors this weekend.

Swimming World Magazine has published an interview with Oregon State University swim coach Larry Lebowitz discussing his program at the OSU. Click here for the article

This past September, the 2006 House of Delegates adopted legislation to require background screening as a condition for coach membership and approved implementation of this requirement for the 2007 membership year. After completion of a successful pilot program during the month of October, USA Swimming is ready to launch the national rollout of the new Background Screening Program. In order to successfully accommodate the 10,000 individuals that must be screened over the next few months, each LSC has been given a specific deadline by which to complete its Background Screening Process. Each LSC has been assigned a specific time period and deadline. In order to maintain their USA Swimming coach membership in good standing, all coaches are required to initiate the USA Swimming Background Screening process on or before the deadline assigned to the LSC in which they are registered.

On Monday, December 4, USA Swimming will hold a three-week open period during which members from all LSCs may initiate their background screens. Starting in January, there will be five specific periods to which LSCs have been assigned. In addition to these assigned periods, there will be one more open period.

Members are asked to adhere to the schedule and initiate their background screen only during the period assigned to their LSC or during one of the two open periods. All members subject to the requirement must initiate a screening on or before their LSC deadline.

As of Monday, December 4, all members subject to the new screening requirement can take advantage of an initial three-week open period to complete a background screen. Starting in January, there will be five specific periods to which LSCs have been assigned. In addition to these assigned periods, there will also be one additional open period during which all members may initiate a background screen. Members are asked to adhere to the schedule and initiate their background screen only during the period assigned to their LSC or during one of the two open periods. All members subject to the requirement must initiate a screening on or before their LSC deadline.

The dates for each scheduled period are as follows. Click here to view the rollout schedule. Oregon will be subject to the screening requirement during period 5.

• Open Period: December 4 - 22, 2006
• LSC-Specific Period 1: January 8 - January 19, 2007
• LSC-Specific Period 2: January 29 - February 9, 2007
• Open Period: February 19 - March 23, 2007
• LSC-Specific Period 3: April 2 -13, 2007
• LSC-Specific Period 4: April 23 - May 4, 2007
• LSC-Specific Period 5: May 14 -25, 2007

The following USA Swimming members are required to undergo regular background screening. Cost for the 2007 swim year is $20. This fee will be paid to TC logiQ, Inc., our third-party screening provider, by the applicant at the time that he/she goes online to initiate a background screen.

1. All coach members and prospective coach members.
2. All non-athletes on national team staffs or working with USA Swimming sponsored camp programs.
3. All USA Swimming Board members.
4. All candidates for office at the Annual Convention.
5. All USA Swimming HQ staff. Requirement includes pre-employment and regular staff screening.

This communication includes three additional attachments that provide more information about the new program. The attachments are as follows:

• A general program announcement that summarizes all components of the program.
• Directions for initiating a background screen (includes link to TC logiQ website to start process).
• A FAQ document that answers the most frequently asked questions from the pilot program.

We hope that you will take a moment to review this information. It will answer many questions that you might have about the program. Once you review the attachments, go to http://www.usaswimming.org/bgpilot to initiate your background screen.

Please remember, that in order to maintain your 2007 USA Swimming coach membership in good standing, coaches are required to complete the new USA Swimming Background Screening process on or before the deadline assigned to their LSC. Please check the schedule published in the separate document titled "LSC Rollout Schedule" in order to find your LSC deadline.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation in implementing this new requirement which will ensure the ongoing quality and safety of our sport.

For more information, please visit USA Swimming's website.

Six Oregon swimmers were named to the Western Zone Select Camp. Nikki Cannon (VSC) qualified for her 100 backstroke performance. Karen Turner (LOSC) qualified in the 200 IM. Brendan Liu (THSC) qualified in the 200 backstroke. Taylor Scroggy (THSC), Austin Ringquist (HEAT) and Steven Ung (THSC) all qualified for their IMX performance.

Begun in the spring of 2006, USA Swimming now sponsors four Zone Select Camps. USA Swimming seeks to identify the emerging young athletes in each Zone, offering
them a unique motivational and educational experience. The Zone Select Camps are viewed as an integral step for athletes to move from the local and Zone level onto to the national scene.

28 male and 28 female athletes are selected in each of the four Zones. Selected girls must be age 12-13, selected boys must be age 13-14. Age at time of performance (May-August 2006) determines eligibility. The fastest swimmer in each Zone in each Olympic event (excluding the 50 free, including the 800 and 1500 for both sexes) is invited for a total of 13 male and 13 female athletes. An additional 15 athletes of each sex are selected based on IMX point scores according to the following:

• 8 girls age 12 and 8 boys age 13
• 7 girls age 13 and 7 boys age 14

The selection process seeks to identify the fastest swimmer in each event in each Zone as well as athletes who successfully compete in a full menu of events. Athlete selected based on IMX scores are those not already selected for an individual event.

Other criteria:

• Long course times only will be considered.
• Times must be achieved between May 1 and August 31.
• Athlete must be registered in an LSC within the Zone at the time of the qualifying
  swim.
• All athletes must be US citizens.
• Athletes who qualify for or are selected to National Select Camp, National Junior Team or any USA Swimming National Team are not eligible for Zone Select Camps. Athletes who have ever attended a National Select Camp or been a member of any USA Swimming National Team are not eligible for Zone Select Camps. Athletes can attend one Zone Select Camp. An athlete who turns down
  the opportunity would be eligible the following year if he/she still meets the age criteria. An athlete who accepts the invitation and does not attend is not eligible the following year unless an alternate was able to attend in his/her place.

This year's camp will be held May 17-20 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

The time line for the CAT Senior Open posted on the CAT web site is not correct. The corrected time line will be available as soon as possible.

Corvallis Aquatic Club, host of the upcoming CAT Senior Open, has posted the time line and a Psyche Sheet on their website.

Also, a message from Coach Greg Bostram:
Soroptimist International of Albany and the Department of Human Services has contacted me to help the children of Linn and Benton Counties. The past several years they have been collecting blankets, stuffed animals, toiletries and clothing for children who are abruptly taken from their homes. A high percentage of these children are put into protective custody because their parents are somehow involved with methamphetamine, either manufacture or use. Because of contamination issues, when these children are put into protective custody, they are not allowed to take any belongings with them. DHS makes up care bundles containing a blanket, or stuffed animal, toiletries and clothing.

This year we will have a collection bin at Osborn Aquatic Center. If you have any items that you would like to donate please have them here by Monday, Dec. 18, 2006.

Any swimmers attending the CAT Senior Open that would like to bring an item your donation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for a wonderful 2006 and may we all have a better 2007.

The December edition of the Oregon Swimming News has been posted in the news section. This is the first all electronic issue. Oregon Swimming has created a mailing list for anyone interested in receiving an email when the next edition is posted. To sign up click here.