High school football player in Arizona -- dead.

From CNN:

Other links

• http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/10/23/arizona-high-school-football-player-death/790604001/
• https://www.gofundme.com/cs33strong
• 
  

Divorce of a sports coop

Posted to Facebook about the looming discussions of sports team in Pittsburgh Public Schools with students from U-Prep, Sci-Tech and Obama. 

This (above) does not need to be the case. It is an option. The students, parents and community can make another, better demand.

Sci-Tech could field its own sports teams too. 

CAPA does have X-Country and Track as a HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS. 

Sci-Tech could do the same and pick and choose what sports to support -- and then other sports could be left for students to join with their neighborhood schools.

I think it is POSSIBLE that Sci-Tech could have the #1 boys and girls varsity swim teams in the city -- and a team that could climb in the ranks to the top 10 in the state.

Sci-Tech does have a swim pool. It would need to swim its HOME meets elsewhere, but there are plenty of options. Most of the other schools in the WPIAL would be happy to always host swim meets if against Sci-Tech. Or, some of the meets could be squeezed into other suitable pools within PPS, such as at Obama, Perry, Oliver, PCA, and even Dice. Tri-meets (with 3 teams) are also possible and would be encouraged.

As for other sports, it would be GREAT to have Sci-Tech kids join with other city kids to play WATER POLO with Obama as well. That is a fall sport and it leads into winter swimming.

Furthermore, the Sci-Tech middle school swim team should move its season to the SPRING, and not the winter. In the winter, the Sci-Tech MS kids are in the way of the HS kids. And, in the spring, with swimming, the Sci-Tech kids could compete against the other MS programs around the WPIAL, such as at Montour, WA, Carlynton.

Furthermore, it would not be out of the question to have the Sci-Tech kids KEEP the sports Co-Op with other individual sports teams. For example, Sci-Tech boys and girls could play BASKETBALL with U-Prep. I imagine the U-Prep gym is not suited for varsity games. Go figure. So, the practices and games could be at Sci-Tech, with its better gym. The issue is then where to put the MS hoops teams at Sci-Tech? Perhaps one of the squads should practice before school?

On a sport by sport basis, facility by facility, -- this needs to be examined by an athletic sports reform task force from PPS, in a district-wide effort as was done in the past. We made great strides in some areas with the PPS Sports Reform Task Force in the end of the Roosevelt era. Linda Lane killed it. Now it is time for it to resurface. And, if needed, I'd be happy to serve as the chair, without any consultant fees.

Divorce of a sports coop among U-Prep, Sci-Tech and Obama gets chatter at PPS public comment

Parent of two PPS students, and one attends Sci-Tech presently

A student's voice

Blogger and Coach reactions:

First, I have called for the renewal of the PPS Athletic Reform Task Force. I'll even volunteer to chair such a group as well. We had one back in the day, established by then superintendent Mark Roosevelt. I was put on that task force. We got some good work accomplished and had plenty of additional tasks ahead.

When Lind Lane took over the reigns of the district, the task force died. She was not fond of sports, in my humble opinion.

It is time to renew the task force, hold serious discussions among a wide-reaching audience and plan, plan, plan.

I also spoke at the meeting, and I didn't video tape my own talk. I'm looking for the audio and can't find it, just yet.

If there is a divorce of the coop among U-Prep, Sci-Tech and Obama, the outcomes may not be as described in the public comment so far. Sci-Tech could choose to field some of its own sports teams. It would be great if Sci-Tech had varsity swimming teams for boys and girls. It would be fine if Sci-Tech had varsity soccer team too, but that is more of a stretch. Perhaps Sci-Tech and U-Prep can form their own co-op.

Sports co-ops can be made on a sport-by-sport basis. It does not need to be the same marriage with every sport.

Likewise, in soccer, Obama might choose to still be in a co-op with Sci-Tech and U-Prep, but get out of the co-op for basketball. Then U-Prep can have its own team for basketball. Same too for Sci-Tech basketball.

There are plenty of moving pieces, and a few principals can't be trusted in crafting the best outcomes -- and everyone else just sitting in the back seat in reaction mode. Let's be proactive.

Splitting the co-op makes sense in some settings, but might be worse in others. 

South Side Pops hits The Mon River for an evening of water skiing

Some athletic highlights from Scott and Randy.

Scott

Part 1, only 14 seconds

Part 2

Randy

Part 3

Part 4 

Extra photos

Go to the wiki to see some extra photos.

Pitt Women's Hoops -- an invite for its GAME DAY in a School Day

Hello Teachers and Administrators –

I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are excited about a new school year.

On behalf of Head Coach Suzie McConnell-Serio and the women’s basketball program here at the University of Pittsburgh, I want to invite you and your students to Pitt’s campus for the ninth annual women’s basketball “School Day” game. Pitt will face Cornell at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 13 in the Petersen Events Center.

Last season, the Panthers played in front of a School Day record crowd of nearly 10,000 fans when they defeated Youngstown State, making it the highest attended women’s basketball educational field trip in the country. You can visit www.PittsburghPanthers.com/schoolday to see pictures and videos from last year’s field trip.
 
SCHEDULE OF THE DAY

·        9:30 a.m. – Doors open, students complete educational workbooks, watch warmups, watch educational videos

·        11 a.m. – Tipoff, enjoy educational and fun in-game videos, t-shirt toss, music

·        Noon – Halftime: Speakers from our Life Skills Department and student-athletes

o   Lunch: Guests can visit the concession stands (School Day specials will be available including a $3 hot dog & soda combo or a $3 popcorn & soda combo) or pack their own lunches.

·        1 p.m. – Game concludes, schools depart

In order to support education beyond the School Day event, each school in attendance will be sent free game vouchers following School Day, which may be used to reward students throughout the school year for academic excellence. Students may redeem these vouchers at a women's basketball home game this season for free admission for themselves and up to three guests.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

All tickets are only $1. Visit www.PittsburghPanthers.com/schoolday to find the order form, flyer, and more information.To purchase tickets, contact Angela Hunter at tickets@athletics.pitt.edu or by calling 412-648-8270.

We look forward to setting another nation-wide attendance record with you! Please let me know if you have any questions.J

All the best,

	Tricia Adamczyk MARKETING COORDINATOR Petersen Events Center | 3719 Terrace St., Room 2098 Pittsburgh, PA 15261 | tadamczyk@athletics.pitt.edu office: (412) 624-5038 | cell: (412) xxx-xxxx | fax: (412) 648-8248
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY INCLUDE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION SUBJECT TO PROTECTION UNDER FEDERAL LAW. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. RE-DISCLOSURE OF THIS INFORMATION IS PROHIBITED ABSENT SPECIFIC WRITTEN CONSENT OR AS OTHERWISE PERMITTED BY LAW OR REGULATION.

Thanks for speaking to the PPS Board - from Anthony Hamlet

Conflict of Interest with City Employees and City Schools -- even as a coach

This is from the Pittsburgh's City Charter:

---

707. Multiple Employment

Prohibited

No person shall hold more than one compensated position in City government and no compensated city employee shall hold a compensated position in any other government except as follows:

a. Officer or member of the Pennsylvania National Guard or federal reserve:

b. The controller may also serve as controller for the city school district; and the deputy controller may also serve as deputy controller for the city school district.

c. A treasurer, or person serving in that capacity, may also serve as treasurer for the city school district.

d. Member or employee of any sinking fund commission or pension board.

e. Pittsburgh public school employees between the months of May and September of each year.

---

Problem: City workers can not be part-time coaches on athletic teams in the city.

Curling Trivia in Pittsburgh

Creating Literate Olympians Here!

Back in the day, I helped to start the Pittsburgh Curling Club. I wasn't around for long, but I was there at the outset. We should be curling on the South Side. 

In curling, the team that wins the game / match buys the first round of adult beverages. 

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Heather Lyke

http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/12094743-74/report-pitt-to-hire-lyke-as-athletic-director

New Pitt AD.

Fwd: Worthwhile presentation

---------- Forwarded message

The Summer King: The Josh Gibson Story

Thursday, February 23rd

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Steel Valley High School Auditorium

3113 Main St, Munhall, PA 15120

The very first world premiere in Pittsburgh Opera's distinguished 78 year history hits close to home.  The Summer King tells the story of baseball legend Josh Gibson. Josh went from the sandlots of Pittsburgh's North Side to the pinnacle of greatness in the Negro Leagues, before ultimately being enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Join the The Josh Gibson Foundation, Pittsburgh Opera, The Battle of Homestead Foundation, and Steel Valley School District on Thursday, February 23, 2017, 7:00 PM, for a preview community event at the Steel Valley High School Auditorium featuring some of the cast, a few local pro athletes and a program about Homestead's role in fostering the Negro Leagues and stars like Hall of Famer Josh Gibson.

John

First Water Polo Game scheduled: Sunday October 23, 2016

Are you ready for some water polo? We'll go to North Allegheny on October 23, 2016.

Our teams of middle school water polo players are getting ready for the first real games. We've called our team, "Pittsburgh Combined" in the past. In 2016-17 we've got players from Manchester Academic Charter School, where we play two days a week for boys and another two days a week for girls. Plus, we have been playing at Pittsburgh Obama, co-ed, on Mondays and Fridays; Arsenal, co-ed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our Saturday Swim School can help with water polo practices. Kids from The Pittsburgh Project can join in too. Plus, we've got our 2016 Summer Dreamers who had 27 days of water polo in July and August as well.

If you want your kid to attend, email to Mark@Rauterkus.com, or call, 412-298-3432.

We want to car-pool from Pittsburgh with departing times at noon and arrival to North Allegheny Senior High School, on Rt. 19, at 12:45 pm on October 23, 2016.

Swimming Video from Niagra

Ten minutes long:



The video has a certain tone and perspective about competitive swimming that is sorta harsh and negative.

Swim & Water Polo practices are starting for kids on Tuesdays and Fridays

Invite for kids from Pittsburgh!

Join new Swim & Water Polo practices.

From: Mark Rauterkus, Swim & Water Polo Coach

Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation & Pittsburgh Public Schools' Summer Dreamers Academy

Obama Academy, Sci-Tech and U-Prep Varsity Swim Team

To: Students at U-Prep, Teachers, Parents, Guardians and any possible summer-time employees wishing for jobs as a lifeguard and/or swim instructor

Let's go to the swim pool for a new, city-wide water polo program.

Learning to swim and then getting a job in the summers as a lifeguard and swim instructor is a big deal and something to celebrate! We are calling for all swimmers and non-swimmers to consider joining us for practices for a new activity. Learn to swim or swim better, stay in shape, grow stronger. You're encourage to consider these opportunities to make continued progress, new friends and learn new skills in the weeks and months to come with me in some BRAND NEW AQUATIC PROGRAMS just being announced.

All the city's middle school and high-school students, boys and girls, are invited to Swim & Water Polo practices. We will swim, work a bit on fitness, strokes, and then play and introduce everyone to water games such as water polo and SKWIM. Rookies are welcome. Bring your friends.

Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 pm at PPS Obama Academy.

Corner of East Liberty Blvd and Highland Ave, in East Liberty / Highland Park

Fridays from 5:30 to 7:00 pm – Thelma Lovette YMCA.

2114 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 – YMCA phone = 412-315-0990

First practices in February, 2016. An adult needs to sign in the student on the first first practice with the coach and with the YMCA on your first visit there. No charge to join. Bring your suit, goggles if you have them, towel and enthusiasm.

We are also looking for students to sign up for Summer Dreamers in Swim & Water Polo for 2016. Plus, we like to engage junior captains and junior lifeguards for service jobs in the summer with these activities with the BGC.

Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432 = cell

Mark@Bloomfield-Garfield.org Mrauterkus@PghBoe.Net Mark@Rauterkus.com

Recap: Final Public Hearing for Pittsburgh Public Schools in its Hiring Quest for a New Superintendent.

Replacing the retiring Linda Lane can be an opportunity to recreate Pittsburgh recreation. We're a sports and river town and should use our swim pools.

From Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com, varsity swim coach at Obama Academy and leader of the PPS Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp with the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation


On Thursday night, January 28, 2016, right after our home swim meet at Pittsburgh Obama against South Fayette, I dashed over to U-Prep for the public hearing concerning the search for the new PPS superintendent of schools. We lost the swim meets, but game them a good scare. One new school record was set by Obama sophomore, Sead N, leading off the 400 free relay in a 49.

I was speaker 13 and took some notes as the others before me gave the school board their thoughts. It was wild to hear what the others would say as nearly everyone else had statements that resonated with my message too. What they want, and what I want, are identical in terms of values and vision.

Pittsburgh Public Schools needs to make an overhaul to its sports and after-school programs.

Two years ago, the wake of Doctor Linda Lane's state of the district speech when she said she wanted to cut a number of sports from the budget, I released a position paper. Thankfully, those cuts never occurred. Now that there are some new board members, it is prudent to re-introduce this document again to get them aware of these situations.

http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/Fewer_Sports_Alternatives

When Mark Roosevelt became superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, a few of us shared concerns with him. Mr. Roosevelt, a former tennis player, understood the value of sports. To his credit, he was in agreement but said sports reform and athletics were not a priority – yet. He had bigger problems: principal accountability, teacher evaluations and contracts, merit pay, and of course, right-sizing. Nothing changed for years. Then, finally, Mark Roosevelt sent me an email around New Years Day and he promised me that sports reform was coming off the back burner. Wow!

A study was done on Title IX, a consultant was hired with grant money. A committee was established and meetings were held. Real issues were talked about. Mark Roosevelt came to a meeting with about 35 people, VIPs in PPS in terms of coaching, sports, security, transportation, administration, principals, and said, “I'm sorry.” Roosevelt apologized for the terrible treatment and lack of support his administration had given throughout the years to sports and athletics. He had seen the light and now understood what was happening with PPS and how many of the pitfalls could be rectified through a more robust attention to these areas. Improvements in school spirit, attendance, grades, student health, graduation rates, discipline and scholarships are evident. I was so excited to hear of the new change in direction and within the month, Mark Roosevelt resigned and took a new job at a college in Ohio.

Linda Lane was hired by the board without interviewing anyone else so as to sustain the changes Mark Roosevelt was championing in PPS. But sadly, she failed and fumbled the whole sports reform movement. She was clueless. She pulled the plug and wouldn't do anything else in this regard except cut and starve.

When Dr. Lane gave her State of the District speech at CAPA in the fall of 2013, she talked about saving $600,000 from a budget by cutting some sports and all intramural programs and upgrading computers less frequently. That's some line item: Sports and technology upgrades for $600,000 savings. That move seemed to be a surprise to everyone, even within PPS, who had worked on sports reform. I pushed back with a position paper, “Fewer sports alternatives,” and the cuts to the budget never materialized, thankfully, due in great part by board members who knew better. Two years later in the fall of 2015, the PA auditor general and city controller told the newspapers of a PPS surplus of more than $120-million. Go figure.

The first suggestion in the position paper reads: PPS Superintendent, Doctor Linda Lane, should re-establish our Athletic Reform Task Force. Suggestion #1b: This position paper can fill the early agenda for task force meetings. Suggestion #1c: The next task force should include a research component. Examine student data along with Pittsburgh Promise data.

Some other of my favorite suggestions to PPS administrators include the establishment of PPS H2O for city-wide aquatics, an All-City Sports Camp from May to September and the formation of a private-public partnership, an Olympic Sports Division, to manage the scholastic sports of Swimming, X-Country, Track-and-Field, Tennis and intramural programs. After a three month wait, I finally did have one 30-minute meeting with Dara Ware Allen, PPS Administrator in charge of all student services (including athletics). She hadn't even read the position paper. No follow up since.

Linda Lane's Administration lacks leadership in terms of sports, after-school and community building – that's my top concern with PPS.

With the superintendent search, and new board members, it is time to double down. I want to re-visit the 2014 position paper and to insure the new PPS Board Members see it. But I am releasing a new document, a new vision. We can build upon our Summer Dreamers experiences with Swim & Water Polo and turn them into Year-Round Achievers. Let's train 250 new lifeguards in the next five years. You know, PPS has 14 indoor swim pools and there was a time a few years ago when every pool was closed all summer long. We ran the numbers, we have the opportunity to train 6,000 students a year in a five-week Swim & Water Polo Camp. We can teach every kid in PPS how to swim. And, we already have these facilities. They are too often closed. And, these plans are affordable. The pools are there. The water awaits. The plans call for no extra time for custodians. Done well, I expect sensational health benefits and community school interactions.

In the final public hearing concerning input for the new superintendent search, I was the 13th speaker. Every other speaker that came to the microphone to share insights had common ground with my central message as well.

Speaker #1 said: Services and support are not in place in PPS.

Speaker #2, a young woman, remembered that the only thing she was jazzed about at Allderdice through 9th, 10th, and 11th grade was her involvement in marching band. That experience kept her going through high school.

Speaker #3 works as a professional in out-of-school time activities as a community-based provider. She wants PPS to embrace partnerships and have that as a skill-set. The new superintendent needs to have a “track record” (pun to me) and display “small wins” in after-school programming. Well, I want big wins.

Speaker #4, an 8th grade student in Higher Achievement, spoke of the need for a fresh environment. In past years I coached water polo with students in Higher Achievement. Of course, that's fresh!

Speaker #5, a 7th grade student, wants communication skills and respect in communities.

Speaker #6, Hill District Economic Council spoke of being healthy. Wishing for transforming students, leadership, innovation. Athletic do that.

Speaker #7, a Pitt Education Professor and a parent spoke about deep and sustaining partnerships. Pittsburgh has an incredibly rich network. Civic and community engagement are needed and golly, she said that PPS often seems as if it does not want input. Spot on!

Speaker #8, Sala Udin, wants to see someone articulate a strategy. That's exactly what the position paper did. That's exactly what the Sports Reform Task Force did. That's what was ignored by PPS. Sala wants a “turn around” and I do too. We'll even teach flip turns! Yes, Sala, Pittsburgh is a segregated city with a large number of poor people. That's why we are excited to do water polo in the Hill District's Ammon Swim Pool again in the summer of 2016 and champion swimming and water polo, activities that don't cost much beyond having swim suits.

Speaker #9 wants community schools and job training for parents. I've been working with the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, but that's not the social skills job training that is really desired. But the new document speaks of community fitness for the parents and guardians of the students we coach. I want adults to start to train when their kids are youngsters so that a few years later as the kids are in high school we can kayak together in our rivers.

Speaker #10, the President of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers hit a home run and made mention of the word “athletics.” She wants none of this as an “after-thought. Rather, authentic working together is desired. Bravo.

Speaker #11, a U-Prep teacher, Chris, made mention that Pittsburgh has been a sports town with some graduates in the NFL and NBA. Who is going to stand up and take the heat, he asks? I think we teach that in athletics too.

Speaker #12, Fred Logan of Homewood, wants the PSCC (Parent School Community Councils) to return with gusto. And our sports boosters, sports leagues and sports advocate efforts should be a part of those PSCC gatherings, perhaps bringing purpose for some to show up and get more involved.

I spoke at #13.

Speaker #14 ranted about knowledge being power. Learn everything and many things. “We should do better than that so our kids can survive in the world.” Learning to swim is a survival skill.

Speaker #15, a Linden teacher and advocate with gifted referrals wants a universal screening so that all the kids who qualify as gifted get an invite to the Pittsburgh Gifted Center. Of course, all the kids should have some of the same opportunities. We could tie a universal gifted screening approach to a mission to have universal swimming lessons.

Speaker #16, Obama Academy senior, spoke of Teen Block and speaking up with student voices. The most popular messages among the kids have been about school starting too early and PPS teaching the whole person. I just released a new video about the AM Swim Practices we have at 6 am. And, I'm a big fan of holistic coaching.

Speaker #17, a U-Prep junior, a young Mr. Sanders, wants to be an entrepreneur. His personal finance class doesn't have a stable teacher and there are many faculty who seem to change often. The lunches do not seem to be nutritional and he and his classmates do not seem to be energized after eating. With athletes, great nutrition is vital. With growing kids, nutrition matters. I also expect that with more athletes, we'll diminish violence. Learning to play well with others is a central theme we should embrace often.

Speaker #18, a parent wants to develop amazing adults and wants inclusion with the disability community. Unemployment is at 70% in that sector, and teaching needs to be visual, auditory and kinetic.

Speaker #19, Ron Lawrence, 100-Black Men and an A+ Schools board member is one I want to get to meet. Closing the achievement gap is important. That achievement gap happens at the swim pool too.

Speaker #20, Education Rights Network advocate wants to end that pipeline to prison. I agree, the PPS administrative cabinet should have a commitment to include an administrator to work full time on efforts to better support those with disabilities. Another after-thought it seems.

Speaker #21, Kenneth, a long-time community activist and friend wants student government and school newspapers to be a first contact with visitors to the school. The newspapers teach ethics and are a place to get focus in a crisis. What's going on should be written about and he feels Mark Roosevelt was a terrible person, especially as he sold off the printing presses in all the schools.

Speaker #22, Tim Stevens, spoke and sang of his days in the U-Prep school, site of the meeting, as it was then called Herron Hill. He spoke at a past meeting and he highlighted the slogan above the stage, “We are all learning.” Enough said.

Speaker #23, Chris Moore, the new U-Prep principal, a former teacher at Schenley, is back in PPS and he feels the new superintendent should be one who is “called” to the job. That is a great trait. He also says that the new superintendent should have the discipline to put students first as he or she makes decisions. I got to chat for a minute after the meeting with the new principal. He'll help to get the word out to the students about the opportunities to play water polo in the neighborhood on Fridays at the Thelma Lovette YMCA.

Safe Sport

Concerning injuries in high school football

Hooking Pittsburgh into some swimming and water polo this week, month and season

Hi Friends,

Join us for some swimming and water polo this summer with some expanding opportunities.

See the Google Calendar link at http://CLOH.org.


10:30 am Mondays, West Penn Rec Center outdoor pool, Polish Hill.
The Garfield Gators (boys & girls) are there too!

6-7:30 pm Mondays, Northside's Sue Murray Swim Pool

11 am to noon, Tuesdays, Citiparks Sheridan's outdoor swim pool with some Learn & Earn youth workers. This is a short walk from Langley HS.

6-7:30 pm Tuesdays, adult masters players gather for water polo in the deep end at Mt. Washington's Ream outdoor pool. Kid's play in the shallow end.

10:30 am Wednesdays, West Penn Rec Center, again.

6-7:30 pm Wednesdays, Northside's Sue Murray again.

11 am to noon Thursdays, Sheridan, again.

6-7:30 pm Thursdays, Mt. Washington's Ream pool.

Friday 5-8 pm at Hill District's Thelma Lovette YMCA indoor pool.

All outdoor sessions are weather permitting. These are casual, drop-in sessions where rookies and volunteers are most welcome.

We hope to sustain these practices throughout August and then transfer them to the Obama Academy pool as we're starting a varsity water polo team for the high school boys and girls. Plus, many other city and area high school principals have gotten letters that invite them to join a sport-team coop so that their students can participate on our scholastic water polo squad(s). The first to opt-in, Seaton LaSalle High School. Welcome.

Sadly, the pledge for the Pittsburgh Promise shrunk by $10,000 for city kids this week. In my humble opinion, we need to get our city kids better sports and fitness opportunities so many more can be RECRUITED into colleges. The sports background is attractive in college applications as it teaches discipline, goal-setting and teamwork. At Summer Dreamers we're working on backstroke, plus gaining respect for ourselves, our mates, our surroundings and playing well with others.

Stay cool at the pool and hope you and yours are safe throughout the summer!


--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus Mark@Rauterkus.com
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo Camp Executive Coach
Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy
Recent Head Water Polo Coach, Carnegie Mellon University Women's Club Team
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://CLOH.org

412 298 3432 = cell

Obama Academy results from the WPIAL Class AA Championships

WPIAL Swimming Results: Pittsburgh's Obama Academy finished the 2015 Class AA Championships as a top 20 team.

Medley Relay = 15th place.
15 OBAMA 'A' seed time = 1:56.00 final time = 1:49.97 4
1) Niksic, Sead D 09 2) r:NRT Kovalik-Haas, Joseph 12
3) r:NRT Rauterkus, Grant 11 4) r:NRT Opalko, Zack 09
25.68 58.08 (32.40)
1:24.48 (26.40) 1:49.97 (25.49)

In 2014, Obama results:
9th place, Obama Academy-AM 'A' Seed time= 1:51.27 final time: 1:47.49
1) Friedman, Benjamin A SR 2) Rooney, Yoka A SR
3) Rauterkus, Grant P SO 4) Brewton, Thomas S SR
28.50 56.93 (28.43) 1:23.98 (27.05) 1:47.49 (23.51)

200 Free Relay = 12th place
12 OBAMA 'A' seed time = 1:39.10  final time = 1:36.75 10
1) Niksic, Sead D 09 2) r:NRT Opalko, Zack 09
3) r:NRT Rauterkus, Grant 11 4) r:NRT Kovalik-Haas, Joseph 12
23.23 48.55 (25.32)
1:12.22 (23.67) 1:36.75 (24.53)

2014 results: 9th place Obama Academy-AM 'A' seed time = 1:40.22 final time = 1:34.10
1) Brewton, Thomas S SR 2) Friedman, Benjamin A SR
3) Rauterkus, Grant P SO 4) Rooney, Yoka A SR
23.55 47.10 (23.55) 1:11.26 (24.16) 1:34.10 (22.84)

400 Free Relay = 19th place
19 OBAMA 'A' seed time = 3:38.45 final time = 3:46.04
1) Rabinovich, Eitan 10 2) r:NRT Donehue, David 09
3) r:NRT Opalko, Zack 09 4) r:NRT Kovalik-Haas, Joseph 12
26.33 55.43 (55.43)
1:22.52 (27.09) 1:54.49 (59.06)
2:21.10 (26.61) 2:51.36 (56.87)
3:17.68 (26.32) 3:46.04 (54.68)

Sead Niksic
100 fly = 7th = 54.31
split = 24.73 54.31 (29.58)

100 back = 6th = 53.99
split = 26.00 53.99 (27.99)

Grant Rauterkus
200 Free = 22nd = 1:59.61
splits = 26.12 55.91 (29.79) 1:28.15 (32.24) 1:59.61 (31.46)

100 free = 24th = 53.13
25.34 53.13 (27.79)

Eitan Rabinovich
200 IM = 2:12.65 = 16th place
Splits 28.64 1:02.94 (34.30)
1:42.50 (39.56) 2:12.65 (30.15)

500 free = 15th place = 5:15.25
splits: 28.40 1:00.05 (31.65)
1:31.43 (31.38) 2:02.89 (31.46)
2:34.52 (31.63) 3:06.49 (31.97)
3:38.83 (32.34) 4:11.25 (32.42)
4:43.92 (32.67) 5:15.25 (31.33)

Team scores:
1. Quaker Valley 274
2. West Allegheny High School 215.5
3. Hampton 205.5
4. Mars High School 163
5. Indiana High School 160
6. Laurel Highlands High School 155
7. Knoch High School 152
8. Hopewell High School 124
9. Cornell 94
10. Shady Side Academy 90
11. Derry Area High School 66
12. South Park High School Varsity 63
13. Riverside Swimming & Diving 59.5
14. Mt. Pleasant High School 50
14. Springdale High School 50
16. Highlands High School 43
*
17. Obama High School 42
*
18. Elizabeth Forward 41
19. Ambridge High School Swimming 33
20. South Fayette Varsity 32
21. Uniontown High School 31
22. Burrell High School 27
23. Brentwood High School 26
23. Winchester Thurston 26
25. Greensburg Central Catholic 25
26. Belle Vernon Area High School 24
27. Ringgold High School 11
28. Northgate High School 8
29. Thomas Jefferson High School 7
30. Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh 6
31. Keystone Oaks High School 5
32. Freeport Area High School 4.5
33. East Allegheny High School 4
34. Blackhawk High School 3
35. Deer Lakes 2
35. West Mifflin Titan Swimming 2
37. Carlynton High School 1

In 2014, Obama finished in 16th place with Obama Academy earning 53 points.

WPIAL Swimming Action with Obama Academy

Day One of the WPIAL Swim Championships is in the books and Obama Academy did well in some places and okay in others. At least one new school record was obtained.

Medley Relay before the race.

Back, Sead; Breast, Joe; Fly, Grant; Free, Zack. In the photo they are in the purple caps and standing in order of left to right as Sead, Zack, Joe and Grant.



100 fly:


On Day 2 of the WPIAL meet, with a 10 am start, brings Grant in the 100 free, Sead in the 100 back, Eitan in the 500 free, and a 400 free relay that will have Eitan, David, Zack and Joe.

After the meet, I expect to walk down to Pitt's Pete, the event center, and watch some city-championship basketball games. The boys and girls both have their games starting at noon and 2 pm.

Come work for our Swim & Water Polo Camp in 2015

Looking for workers for Swim & Water Polo Camp, the Triathlon & Water Polo Camp and our Mindful Eating, Yoga and Multimedia Class as an activity provider with the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, a 501(c)(3), and part of Pittsburgh Public Schools' Summer Dreamers Academy.

Apply now.



Summer Dreamers in 2015 is going to happen with the students from June 29, 2015 to August 5, 2015.