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The 2011 IHSA Swimming & Diving State Championship meet was an exciting event for all in attendance.  Held in Winnetka, Illinois, the meet was one of the fastest Illinois high school state meets in recent memory.  The Academy Bullets had 16 swimmers compete in the event, representing 7 different schools.  Special congratulations go out to our state championship performances.  Mimi Schneider won the 100 Butterfly and was a member of 3 state championship relay teams (200 MR, 200 FR, 400 FR) for Fenwick High School.  Pauline Kaminski won the 100 Breaststroke and was a member of 2 state championship relay teams (200 FR, 400 FR).  The 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay for Fenwick broke the IHSA State records.  Way to go girls!.  Below is a list of finalists from the meet.

• Becca Bogle - 200 Medley Relay (8th)
• Michelle Law - 200 Medley Relay (8th)
• Jen Law - 200 Medley Relay (8th), 200 IM (9th), 100 Fly (6th)
• Rachel Prorok - 200 Medley Relay (8th), 100 Breast (6th)
• Amanda Moran - 100 Back (5th)
• Sloane McDermott - 100 Back (7th)
• Rachel Burke - 200 Free (7th), 100 Free (4th), 200 Free Relay (5th), 400 Free Relay (7th)
• Molly Coonce - 200 Medley Relay (4th), 100 Fly (7th), 100 Breast (5th), 400 Free Relay (7th)
• Pauline Kaminski - 200 IM (7th), 200 Free Relay (1st), 100 Breast (1st), 400 Free Relay (1st)
• Mimi Schneider - 200 Medley Relay (1st), 100 Fly (1st), 200 Free Relay (1st), 400 Free Relay (1st)

The annual Illinois Swimming Awards Banquet took place on Sunday, October 8th.  Many Bullets swimmers were recognized for their outstanding achievements during the past 12 months.  To be invited to this event, swimmers must finish as one of the fastest 3 performances in an individual event.  Bullets recognized at this year's event were: 

Nicholas Bessler, Kate Canfield, Molly Coonce, Grant Fritz, Annie Gosselin, Pauline Kaminski, William Kamps, Emerson King, Sammie Laurich, Sean Lehane, Michael Milinovich, Mimi Schneider, Ryan Sego, Camryn Streid, & Sydney VanOvermeiren.

Mimi Schneider was also recognized as the Female Breakthrough Swimmer of the Year.  This award is given to the swimmer who has made the largest leap towards National level swimming.  Congrats Mimi!

Coaches Todd Capen and Mike Laurich were each awarded the Age Group Coach of the Year for the performances of the Academy Bullets swimmers during the past 12 months.  Congratulations to both of them on this honor. 

Six Bullets swimmers traveled to Palo Alto, CA in August to compete in the Speedo Junior National Championships.  This is regarded as the fastest 18&U long course event in the country.  This year's group was relatively new to the event, with only 1 swimmer having previously attended the meet.  Despite our youth in the meet, the Bullets had tremendous results during the 5 day event. 

The Bullets achieved 4 Olympic Trial qualifying times and will be swimming in Omaha in June!  Mimi Schneider qualified in the 50 Free, 100 Free, and 100 Fly.  Sean Lehane qualified in the 200 Back.  These are the first of hopefully many more qualifiers that we will have over the next 10 months. 

We had 2 new state record performance at the meet.  Mimi Schneider broke the Illinois Swimming State Record in the 15/16 Women's 100 Freestyle (56.50).  Sean Lehane broke the state record in the 15/16 Men's 200 Backstroke (2:04.97).

It was another great Age Group State Championships for our Academy Bullets Swim Club, both in and out of the pool.

"Best JO's ever!"  "Awesome meet."  "Bullets parents were very helpful and kind."  "You guys ran a great meet."  "Difficult meet, and you guys pulled it off."

This is a short list of the compliments we received from parents and coaches from around the state.  This is the first time the JO meet was held over four days and the Bullets did an amazing job making it the best JO's that anyone can remember!  The reason the meet went so well was because of the tremendous amount of work by our parents who came to Pleasant Prairie to work the meet.  Our volunteers were professional, helpful and cheerful in performing your duties. As coaches, we were definitely fired up to come to the meet each day and work with such a great group of people!

The Bullets were outstanding in the pool, finishing 2nd overall to a very tough St. Charles Swim Team.  

We had 4 state championship performances....3 individual victories and12 medley relay event champion. 2011 Illinois Long Course Age Group State Champions are: 

• Annie Gosselin (13/14 Girls 200 Back)
• Pauline Kaminski (13/14 Girls 100 Breast)
• Sydney VanOvermeiren (10&U 200 IM)
• 13/14 Girls 400 Medley Relay - A. Gosselin, P. Kaminski, N. McGovern, K. Canfield

• Sydney VanOvermeiren - 10&U 100 Free (8th), 200 Free (6th), 400 Free (8th), 100 Breast (2nd), 100 Fly (2nd)
• Sammie Laurich - 11/12 100 Breast (5th), 200 Breast (5th)
• Alexis Yager - 11/12 100 Breast (6th)
• Annie Gosselin - 13/14 100 Back (2nd), 200 Breast (5th), 100 Fly (8th), 200 IM (2nd), 400 IM (3rd)
• Kate Canfield - 13/14 100 Back (5th)
• Pauline Kaminski - 13/14 50 Free (7th), 100 Free (3rd), 200 Breast (3rd), 100 Fly (2nd), 200 IM (3rd), 400 IM (5th)
• Matthew Felber - 10&U 50 Fly (7th), 100 Fly (8th)
• Cody Heckendorf - 11/12 50 Breast (6th), 100 Breast (5th), 200 Breast (7th)
• Josh Lantow - 11/12 200 Fly (7th)
• Grant Fritz - 13/14 200 Fly (3rd), 400 IM (5th)