Guest Blogger - Sarah Sorensen (Trials from the Stands)

Trials From the Stands

Last week, I had the privilege to travel up to Omaha with my mom to watch every session of the Olympic Trials. The nine days I spent there were probably some of the most exciting days I have ever had. Even though the next trials are four years away, my mom and I have already decided that we will be going back, whether I swim or not. In the stands, you can feel the energy and excitement that people always talk about, which is something you just can't appreciate by watching on TV. Other than getting to watch the races first hand, my favorite thing to see was the medal ceremony after each race, where the winner was given their medal and a bouquet of flowers as they were announced as an Olympian. Getting to watch their emotions on the stage gave you a look into their personality, which made me even more excited to see how the swimmers will perform in Rio. I have been to meets with well-known swimmers before, but trials is so much different because literally everyone one of these well-known swimmers that hope to make it to Rio has to be at their best for this meet. It was so cool to see all the swimmers that we hear about and look up to in the same place.

We didn't have any family ties to the swimmers, but some events were still hard for us to watch. Since this year's Olympic Trials had so much young and new talent, it was exciting and very motivational to watch college swimmers, not much older than me, beat the professional athletes that have already had Olympic experience. At the same time, I wanted the older athletes like Missy Franklin and Matt Grevers to make the team again, since I had taken so much inspiration from them and looked up to them growing up. In my opinion, we saw this the most in the 100 back finals where the middle six lanes were younger college athletes that had not yet made an Olympic team, and in lanes one and eight were the two backstrokers that we all grew up watching, Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin. This just shows how USA swimming is just constantly improving, which makes me proud to be part of it. Another thing I took away from this was how Missy Franklin didn't seem to mentally give up after failing to make the team in her signature event, but kept moving forward and managed to make the team in three other events by the end of the week.

The most notable difference between trials and the other meets I've been to, besides the caliber of the swimmers, was how genuinely interested everyone was. Each time a heat dove in, all 15,000 people in the stands were dead silent, as in I could hear someone speak from the opposite side of the arena. In every finals race that I can remember, the entire crowd was on their feet screaming by the last 50 meters, except during the Phelps/Lochte showdown in the 200 IM and all of Katie Ledecky's distance races (people were on their feet cheering the whole time). Overall, my first Olympic Trials experience completely surpassed my expectations going in. USA Swimming definitely puts on an amazing show in Omaha, and I left trials with more motivation to improve and a week of incredible memories that I will cherish until I can hopefully get to experience it again in 2020.

Last Blog From Trials 2016 (maybe:))

Well its been a little hectic since I last wrote, for which I apologize, as I know you missed my opinions and thoughts. Too wrap things up I first want to give a shout out to all the RAYS swimmers that represented us here. I am very proud of all of them and how much they and their families, have given to our team.

Today (Friday) we had Tyler start us off with the 50 Fr. T swam a respectable 23.50. Link to Race. Then Jimmy 100 Fly was 54.7. Both swims were 2 tenths off their bests. Link to Race. Then we had Melissa Postoll, or Po as her college teammates call her. Melissa had an outstanding 200 Bk and dropped 2 seconds to a 2:11.6 and a 9th place finish. That leads her into the semi finals tonight. Link to Race . Last time we had a semi finalist was Bryan Lundquist in 2008 in the 50 Fr. Bryan ended up in the finals, so we hope that's a good omen for Melissa.

My top 10  thoughts from this meet.

1. The 2016 trials only had 60+ more athletes than 2012, so the time standards were fair. 

2. The quality of swims is far greater, i.e. much faster to make semi finals etc.

3. The older professional athletes have gotten a wake up call. A turning of the guard maybe.

4. If you make a trials cut you are in the top 1-2% of the USA swimmers in the country.

5. Only 19% of women do a best time at this meet.

6. Only 26% of Men do a best time.

7. Both these two averages get worse as the meet goes along.

8. Talking with many coaches, there is definitely a wide variation of training/coaching philosophies that work. The Art of coaching comes into what one fits what athlete.

9. The ONLY way to get to 2020 TRIALS is to have a process, love the process, believe in the process and work the process - EVERYDAY, in and out of the water.

10. Omaha is the best place to host this meet, they put on a great show.

Tomorrow, Saturday, I will coach Samantha Bosma one last time.  I first met Sam at her Summer League pool, when I did a swim clinic. Later, when she joined the RAYS, she won a free lesson from me, so I videoed taped her swimming butterfly in the diving well at CAC. Wow, she has really done some amazing things with her swimming since that day. Every coach that knows Sam, speaks the highest praises about her. Even today at Trials I had a NC coach come up to me and said what a nice young lady she is. This young lady exemplifies what it is to be a Stingray.. Samantha, plus many that have come before her, make what I and the staff do, the greatest career in the world.

Third at the Olympics gets you a medal. 

Third at Trials gets you heartache

Last night at trials I didn't sit in the stadium, because I wanted to get a different perspective. I stood where the athletes go to assemble before finals.  They call it the ready room and that's where I watched how they all prepared before the race of their lives. Its like being at the horse track, watching how the horses parade in the paddock. The tension was very tight for some, some tried to fake it and a few exuberated confidence. Funny thing, it was the same for the coaches too. It made me think, what would I be like in that situation? I hope to find out one day, so I better prepare for it now.

Last nights finals had some really great swims. UGA looks really good and are placing swimmers on the team every night. I expect UGA Head Coach Jack Bauerle to be named to the coaching staff. Most of my predictions came true. A little off in some. I sure hope Missy makes the team tonight in the 200 Fr. I expect she will, but not as a #1 or #2 finish.

Today the RAYS are off, no swims. So I'm going to relax and enjoy Omaha and the head to the zoo. Hope they let me out when I'm done.

Tonight at finals they will decide the Women's 200 Fr (Ledecky, Schmidt or Smith). Men's 200 Fly (Phelps, UGA's Pace Clark or Tom Shields) and the Women's 200 IM (UGA's Margalis and Dirado)

Day Two Finals (just call me Carnac)

My predictions from last night were pretty good, if I say so myself. The only one I messed up was that Natalie Coughlin was 8th. Good for her.

Women's Final 100 Fly - Dana Vollmer & Kelsi Worrell

Men's semi finals 200 Fr - Local favorite to make Top 8 - Gunner Bentz Dynamo/UGA

Women's semi finals 100 BR - Local favorite to make Top 8 - Melanie Margalis UGA

Men's Final 100 BR - Cody Miller & Kevin Cordes (surprise upset could be Josh Prenot)

Women's Final 400 Fr - SURPRISE - Katie Ledecky & Leah Smith (possible World Record)

Men's semi finals 100 Bk - Local favorite Michael Taylor Dynamo

Women's semi finals 100 Bk - Missy Franklin will be not be in the top 3 "tonight" and Natalie Coughlin not in top 8

The best swim of the night by far was Leah Smith's second place finish in the Women's 400 Fr. She went 4:00's which is by her best time, but the way she finished, by out splitting Miss Ledecky on the last 100. I actually coached Leah at a National Junior Team Camp and was very impressed with her work ethic and inner drive. Can't wait to see what she can do in RIO. Ryan Murphy looked like he deliberately slowed up the last 20 meters of the race. His 1st 50 was under WR pace, which I believe he will break tonight. Missy Franklin, just doesn't look right, I sure hope she can make the team. The girl must be under such tremendous pressure and I'm pulling for her to do it, but I don't think the 100 Bk will be the event.

RAYS Day Three Swims

This morning we had two swims. Jimmy 200 Fly was a respectable 2:01 and Melissa, "don't stop me now", equaled her best time and won her heat, for the 3rd time in the 200 IM.

Tonight's Predictions

Women's 200 Fr semi finals - Vreeland-Schmitt-Smith-Franklin-Ledecky-Margalis-Flickinger-Runge

Men's 200 Fr Finals - Top 6 make Olympic Team - Pulling for Gunnar Bentz here to do it. I believe he two to make finish 1st & 2nd will be Townley Haas and Clark Smith. Lochte will be top 6.

Women's 100 Bk Final - Smoliga (UGA) & Baker (Franklin 4-5th)

Men's 100 Bk Final - Murphy (New World Record) 2nd Pebley or the old man Greavers. Pulling for Dynamo's Michael Taylor

Women's 100 BR Final - Lily King & Jessica Hardy

Men's 200 Fly semi finals - Uhh Michael Phelps will lead the way. Look for UGA Pace Clark to make top 8 as well.

Women's 200 IM semi finals - Dirado & Margalis 1-2 for finals seeding tomorrow

First Night of Finals was full of Fireworks

What a great way to start the 2016 Olympic trials with the crowd singing the National Anthem, because the microphone went out on the singer. Even I knew the lyrics. 

Well fireworks were set off and the place rocked. First race Men's 400 IM. It came down to the last 50 and Dynamo's/UGA Jay Litherland,  out touched Ryan Lochte to punch his ticket to RIO. Jay split a 28.5 to Ryan's 30.3. Chase Kalisz won, who also swam for UGA a year ago.

Women's 100 Fly is really a two swimmer race, as both Dana Vollmer and Kelsi Worrell look to go one two at finals, based on their semi final performances. 

The men's 400 Fr was an awesome tactical race. The first 200, the boys from Texas went after it pretty solid, but the guy from Michigan, Connor Jaeger out split everyone on the last 100 to be first in an excellent 3:43.7. The other Conor with one "n" was second. I believe Connor two "n's" will not only win the 1500, but will break the American Record later in the week. He looks that good.

The women's 400 IM was a solid race between the two favorites and it turned out like I predicted, with Maya and Beisel getting 1-2. I talked to Coach Chuck, Elizabeth's coach, after the race and apparently she has been sick and they are just glade she gets a chance to swim FASTER at the games.

Finally the Men's 100 BR and our first American Record from Kevin Cordes, 58.94.

Day two RAYS Swims

Alec swam the 200 Fr today and just couldn't get going. I really feel for him, as this was his last swim ever. Although I think he might come back one more time. Hey Phelps did.
Well Melissa keeps getting better and better every race she does. She dropped another second in the 100 Bk this morning, going a 1:02. Northwestern has done and outstanding job with her. Its great to see her smile after each race. I believe she could give a great talk on the "process" of getting better throughout your swimming career. In 2012 when I bought Melissa here, she was scared and not prepared. 4 years later, night & day. So proud of this young lady.

Finals night two predictions

Women's Final 100 Fly - Dana Vollmer & Kelsi Worrell

Men's semi finals 200 Fr - Local favorite to make Top 8 - Gunner Bentz Dynamo/UGA

Women's semi finals 100 BR - Local favorite to make Top 8 - Melanie Margalis UGA

Men's Final 100 BR - Cody Miller & Kevin Cordes (surprise upset could be Josh Prenot)

Women's Final 400 Fr - SURPRISE - Katie Ledecky & Leah Smith (possible World Record)

Men's semi finals 100 Bk - Local favorite Michael Taylor Dynamo

Women's semi finals 100 Bk - Missy Franklin will be not be in the top 3 "tonight" and Natalie Coughlin not in top 8

First Morning of 2016 Trials

Our first day started good and went to FANTASTIC!

We had two swims this morning Alec Cohen in the 400 Fr started the first 200 to slooooo (2:00.), but rocked the second 200 in under 2 mins. Alec finished 4th in his heat out of 10, but did not execute the way he planned. He will bounce back tomorrow in his 200, if I know Alec.

Now Melissa Postoll in her 400 IM, smoked her heat and dropped 4 seconds to go under 4:50 in the event. You can tell by her smile how she felt. Congrats Melissa, great job. #RAYSNation.

The heats this morning were very competitive, especially in the Men's 100 BR, with 4-5 swimmers under the 1min. The women's 100 Fly looks like a two swimmer race, with Kelsi Worrell of Louisville, KY and the reigning Olympic Champion and American Record holder Dana Volmer, who is a 28 year old mother.

Tonight we will decide 6 swimmers that will make the Olympic team and be forever known as an Olympian. My predictions are: Men's 400 IM Chase Kalisz & Ryan Lochte, but I'm pulling for Georgia's Jay Litherland & Gunner Bentz.  Men's 400 Fr Zane Grothe & Connor Jaeger. Women's 400 IM Elizabeth Beisel & Maya  Dirado, but I'm pulling for Sarah Henry.

Anticipation for Trials 2016

Today I entered our 5 athletes into the Olympic Trials. It always gives me a sense of pride at what our swim team can do. It's one of the pinnacles a swimmer can reach and one that has a tremendous process to follow.

Less than 1% of all registered USA Swimming Athletes ever make it to this spectacle. The meet takes place every 4 years and we are one of the top 25 teams that continually get athletes to that pinnacle.

During the week of the competition, I'll write my experiences. I'll also try and FB live some video. I hope I can excite our athletes to get to this meet in 2020.

Ian