`

Vallejo Aquatic Club

P.O. Box 5846
Vallejo, CA 94591
(707) 553-swim
www.vallejoaquatics.org

December 2009 –
Shark Attack
March 2010 The Official Newsletter of the Vallejo Aquatic Club

2009 - 2010 VJO Board
Angelynne Yee, President
Brian Rodinsky, Vice President
Dove Butler, Treasurer
Kathy Lau-Nelson, Secretary
Diane Powell, Membership
Debbi Tucker, Officials
Debbie Rodinsky, Meet Director
Debbie Cameron, Newsletter
Presidential Proclamation
We’ve had a pretty
exciting few months since
December. Between our
Christmas Party, Zone 3
Championship, Movie Night,
our home meet in February,
All-Star meet and Spaghetti
Night, VJO has been very
busy. I would like to thank
everyone who attended these
events, as well as those who
volunteered to make them
happen.
Our February meet,
although it was small one,
was quite successful. As I’ve
mentioned in the last Our second biggest
newsletter, our home meets fundraiser is the annual Swim-
are our biggest fundraisers, so a-thon and it is fast
we ask that all VJO parents approaching. We are in
come and help out, even if search for a volunteer to chair
your child is not competing. this fundraiser. Please contact
Our next swim meet is on me if you are interested.
April 30 - May 2nd and we are
expecting this meet to be a
big one. We are looking for GO VALLEJO!
someone to take the lead in
the snack bar. If you are
interested, please contact Angelynne Yee
Debbie Cameron or Debbie
Rodinsky.

Coaches
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU
Coach Tuffy Williams to all of the parents who
Coach Aaron Jon Toch contributed to and worked
Coach Lesley Ruszel
Hot Cocoa Nights this
winter! What Fun!

Kelley Henderson Breaks Team Record

It was the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs and the ball was on
the 1 yard line…Kelley steps up to the blocks…on your
mark…beep…she’s off. Well that wasn’t exactly how it happened,
but what DID happen was that Kelley had the best 200 back of
her swimming career…the best 200 back of any VJO Shark’s
career. It all happened at the Zone 3 SC Winter Championships
in January and Kelley was able to swim 200 yards of backstroke
in only 2:19.72. Congratulations Kelley, for a job well done.
Page 2
Coach Tuffy
NOTES FROM THE TUFFGUY
Coach Aaron Jon
Hello Sharks!!
As the Senior Group works its way
through the high school
swimming season, I’m reminded
how important it is to be
consistent with one’s endeavors.
There’s always a “reason,” i.e.
excuse, to miss a day at the pool.
I have too much homework, I
have a quiz tomorrow, I’m not
feeling 100%, I’m too tired--these
are a few that get thrown around
Reflections from the Deck
Summer is just around the corner. The
days are longer and WARMER.
All of you who have been staying home
because of the cold...fret no more.
Get to the pool and start working on your
conditioning and strokes. Several
swimmers have made good progress with
their strokes and improved their dives.
Our next meet is April 30th, May 1st &
2nd at Cunningham Pool. This meet will
be the first Long Course meet of the year
for us and many swimmers in Zone III.
often. But the dedicated swimmer, who
values the journey of swimming (not just
the end results), will instead find excuses
to make it to the pool.
One important life skill that can be learned
from swimming is effective time
management. The end of the school year
is always a busy time. Teachers tend to
assign a lot of last minute work (projects,
projects, and more projects) and there are
always finals to prepare for. But if you
map out a schedule, for your daily routine
as well as the upcoming few weeks, you
will find that there is indeed time to
accomplish everything you’d like. Be
proactive! An important aspect is to
include your swim practice as an
unmovable block everyday—don’t think of
it as optional or a luxury. It’s amazing how
much more time one can find when a
routine is set and maintained over a
period of time.
These same ideas are also important for
summer swimming. Everyone wants to
Shark Attack
Shorter (one practice per night) Friday's
will come to a close and starting April 9th
we will be back to two practices every day
during the week (M-F)..
I am in the process of setting up a couple
of dual meets at our pool with the help
of Debbie Tucker. Keep your eyes open
for the announcement along with
our team bowling social event this month.
If you are having fun with swimming
please invite your friends to try out.
Thanks for coming to practice and please
thank your parents for all they do for you
and the team.
Tuffy
swim fast at the end of the summer,
whether it’s at Sectionals, Far Westerns,
or R.E.A.L.s. But in order to accomplish
that goal, you must be consistent with
your practice attendance over June and
July. But it’s not only attendance—it’s also
consistency with your intensity and focus
during practice. There will be days that
this task will be far more challenging than
others, but remember:
“The brick walls are there for a reason.
The brick walls are not there to keep us
out. The brick walls are there to give us a
chance to show how badly we want
something."
Go SHARKS!!
Coach Aaron Jon
Shark Attack Page 3

SHARK PROFILES
December 2009 – March 2010

Jacob Bautista Age: 10

Favorite Strokes: Breaststroke & Freestyle
Favorite Meet Events: 50 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Free
Role Model: Michael Phelps & Jacob’s parents
Future Goal: To become an Olympic swimmer & to go to college
Hobbies: Basketball, swimming & track
Favorite Song: Down by Jay Sean
Favorite Movie: I Love You Beth Cooper
Favorite Book: The Lightning Thief
When Jacob grows up, he wants to be a chef!!!
COOKING RULES!!!!
If Jacob could change one thing it would be to do
breaststroke the whole practice.
Something interesting about Jacob that he would like to
share: He has a good memory and loves riding roller coasters.

Taylor Wilson Age: 11

Favorite Strokes: Breaststroke

Favorite Meet Events: 50 breast
Role Model: Alicia Keys
Future Goal: Graduate from Georgetown & become a lawyer
Hobbies: Swimming, basketball, music, watching TV
Favorite Song: Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart by Alicia Keys
Favorite Movie: High School Musical
Favorite Book: Junie B Jones & Captain Underpants
When Taylor grows up, she wants to be a lawyer.
Something interesting about Taylor that she would like to
share: People’s negative opinions about her don’t matter because
she is comfortable with herself and she is caring towards others.
Page 4 Shark Attack
SHARK PROFILES
December 2009 – March 2010

Jonelle Henry Age: 13

Favorite Strokes: Freestyle and breaststroke. Although
breaststroke is very difficult, it can be very relaxing!
Favorite Meet Events: All of them so far.
Role Model: Her older sister
Future Goal: To go to college
Hobbies: Swimming, singing, camping
Favorite Song: He Lives In You
Favorite Movie(s): My Sister’s Keeper, Up, Blind Side
Favorite Book: Push, Snitch, The Tale of Despereaux, The
Call of the Wild
When Jonelle grows up, she wants to be an engineer or a
genealogist.
If Jonelle could change one thing it would be to change
animal abusing to animal loving!
Something interesting about Jonelle that she would like
to share: She is an animal lover.

Melanie Chaewsky Age: 15

Favorite Strokes: Freestyle
Favorite Meet Events: 500 Free, 100 Free
Role Model: Gregory Gorgeous 
Future Goal: To go to college
Hobbies: Swimming, water polo, playing guitar & playing
piano
Favorite Song: If I Had You by Adam Lambert
Favorite Movie: Donnie Darko
Favorite Book: This Lullaby by Sarah Dressen & Pride &
Prejudice by Jane Austen
When Melanie grows up, she wants to be successful.
If Melanie could change one thing it would be the
economy so that people wouldn’t continue losing their jobs &
homes.
Shark Attack Page 5

Welcome (Back) to the Deck

New Swimmers: Returning Swimmers:

Nanki Sekhon Gabriel Viray

Skylar Tusting Arianna Curtis
Julius Thompson
 Page 6 Shark Attack

Tidbits from USA Swimming…

An Open Letter to USA Swimming Members from Chuck Wielgus & Jim Wood (4/2/2010)

Dear members of USA Swimming,

In the past couple of days, you have likely seen or read media coverage criticizing USA Swimming’s policies on child protection. The
story has made many headlines, but it lacks a great deal of truth.
We want to take this opportunity to speak openly to you, our swimming family.
First, and most importantly, sexual abuse – and any abuse of our athletes – is an issue that USA Swimming takes very, very
seriously, and always has. It breaks our hearts to see a child mistreated. It should simply never happen. We are a youth
organization first, and the safety of our kids is the absolute most important consideration in our business.

We have several safeguards in place to protect our members from the small number of people who would act inappropriately.

1) Background Screening: In 2006, USA Swimming implemented a Background Screening process required of all member
coaches. The process screens for both criminal convictions and for criminal charges involving felonies, illegal drugs and sexual
misconduct.
2) Code of Conduct: USA Swimming vigorously enforces its Code of Conduct, which specifically prohibits any form of abusive
behavior. We have expelled a number of coaches for violating this Code of Conduct.
3) Club & Coach Education: When considering coach hires, we encourage our clubs to conduct pre-employment screening,
beyond our criminal background screen. Coaches are required to have current certification in CPR, First Aid, and Safety Training for
Swim Coaches. Additionally, all coaches must take and pass the “Foundations of Coaching,” test, before registering for his/her
second year of coaching.
4) Reporting/Investigation/Board of Review: Sexual abuse is a criminal activity, and one that should be immediately reported
to the local police. As a secondary level of reporting, we have a process by which members can file complaints with our
organization. We employ both outside counsel and private investigators to investigate complaints of inappropriate behavior. Those
complaints may then go forward to our Board of Review, which has the authority to suspend or revoke membership when
appropriate.
We invest a great deal of resources in the above programs each year, because the issue of athlete safety is of paramount
importance to our organization. That said, we feel we can be doing more to protect our members – and for that reason, have been
considering several additions to our existing safety policies.
1) Emphasis on Reporting: We are working to further emphasize the responsibility of all members to report inappropriate
behavior to ensure that those who offend are not permitted to stay in the system.
2) Educational Elements: We realize there is reluctance in our society to report this type of abuse, so we are currently working
on ways to educate our athletes, coaches and clubs to identify and report inappropriate behavior.
3) Expert Opinion: We have sought and are continuing to seek information from other reputable child-focused organizations, to
help us analyze and add to the available programming and policies to best serve our membership.
We assure you that we are completely committed to doing right by our youth members. That includes our safety policies.
If you have ideas or input you’d like to share with me on this topic, we welcome you to email us with your questions, comments or
ideas. We are always open to talking about the issue, and certainly to discussing ideas that will beneficial to our sport.
Thank you for taking the time.
Sincerely,
Jim Wood
President

Chuck Wielgus
Executive Director
Shark Attack
Life in the Fast Lane
The following swimmers achieved new time standards at the following meets:
THE “A” TEAM:
SRN "Swim Like the Dickens"
Last Chance Z3 Qualifier
Bobby Hilton: 50 Free, 100 Free, 50
Breast
STAS "Ice Breaker"
Keilholtz, Amalia: 25 Free
VJO February Meet
Mirelle Augst: 200 Free
Mary Falcon: 50 Free
Bobby Hilton: 200 I.M.
Jose Martin: 100 Free
Connor Rutledge: 50 Free
Colin VanDervoort: 100 Free, 200
Breast
Alexander Viray: 100 Free, 50 Back
Sabrina Yee: 50 Free, 50 Breast
Marshall Zia: 100 Free, 500 Free
Napa February Meet
Jalen Aquino: 100 Free, 100 Breast,
100 I.M.
Samantha Man: 50 Free
Tim Man: 50 Free
Rebecca Sabio: 50 Free
Alexander Viray: 100 Back
JOOOOOOOOO Times:
Pac Swimming 14 & Under
Championships
Alexander Viray: 50 Free
Zone 3 SC Winter
Championships
Rebecca Sabio: 50 Breast
VJO February Meet
Dylan Powell: 200 Free
Napa February Meet
Brandon Miguel: 400 I.M.
Alyssa Powell: 50 Free
Dylan Powell: 100 Free
Spring JOs
Evan Augst: 1,650 Free
Page 7
“B” TIMES: Far “Out” Western Times…
SRN "Swim Like the Dickens"
Zone 3 SC Winter
Last Chance Z3 Qualifier
Championships
Bobby Hilton: 50 Back
Jose Martin: 100 Fly Kelley Henderson: 200 Back
Alex Yee: 100 Free
Justin Yee: 50 Free VJO February Meet
Dylan Powell: 1,000 Free & 400 I.M.
STAS "Ice Breaker"
Amalia Keilholtz: 25 Breast Spring JOs
Alyssa Powell: 100 Fly
VJO February Meet Dylan Powell: 100 Fly
Evan Augst: 100 Fly
Gerica Butler: 100 Fly
Kingsley Kamau: 25 Free, 50 Free
Evan Sousa: 50 Free New PRT Times…
Alexandrea Yee: 100 I.M.
Sabrina Yee: 100 Back, 50 Fly Pac Swimming 14 & Under
Mitchell Zia: 50 Free Championships
Alyssa Powell: 50 Breast
Napa February Meet
Meigan Dutcher: 50 Free
Gabriel Hilton: 50 Free, 25 Back
Amália Keilholtz: 25 Fly
Mitchell Zia: 50 Back, 100 I.M.
SPECIAL CONGRATS to our swimmers who competed at Pacific
Swimming's 14&U Junior Olympics:
 Ares Elmore
 Kelley Henderson
 Brandon Miguel
 Alyssa Powell
 Dylan Powell
 Rebecca Sabio
 Alexander Viray
 Mary Welton
 Marshall Zia
 13-14 Boys 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay
Highlights included:
 Alyssa Powell [10&U Girls]: 1st place in the 100 Fly [Junior Olympic
Champion], 2nd place in the 50 Fly and 100 I.M., 4th place in the 200
I.M., 8th in the 100 Back, 9th in the 50 Breast and 100 Breast, 15th in the
100 Free, 3rd in overall points for her age group.
 Ares Elmore: 8th in the 1,000 Free, 14th in the 50 Free, 15th in the 200
Free, 16th in the 100 Free.
 Kelley Henderson: 11th in the 1,000 Free.
Page 8 Shark Attack

Volunteer Central
It Takes a Village to run a Meet – Make sure you don’t miss out on all the fun!
Sign Up Now!