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Vallejo Aquatic Club

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

June – August
Shark Attack
2010 The Official Newsletter of the Vallejo Aquatic Club

Lady Sharks Set New Pace-

Two New Team Records Set
VJO’s Lady Sharks have been on fire lately and have set two - not
one, but two, new team records.
2009 - 2010 VJO Board
Angelynne Yee, President Alyssa Powell achieved two new team long course records as she
Brian Rodinsky, Vice President swam a 31:47 in the 50 meter Fly at the Long Course Far Westerns and
Dove Butler, Treasurer helped our 11-12 year old 400 meter IM Relay Team in their quest for a
Kathy Lau-Nelson, Secretary team record at the Long Course Junior Olympics. Her team members in
Diane Powell, Membership the 400 meter IM were Mirelle Augst, Ashley Sotelo & Sabrina Yee. The
Debbi Tucker, Officials girls swam the medley in 5:29.34
Debbie Rodinsky, Meet Director
Debbie Cameron, Newsletter Congratulations girls – job well done!

Coaches Hot Cocoa Nights to begin again in November

Coach Tuffy Williams
Hot Cocoa Nights run from November to March and run strictly on donations
Coach Aaron Jon Toch
from parents. We need donations of hot cocoa, cookies, crackers, chips,
Coach Lesley Ruszel veggies or anything else you’d like to bring. We can also use paper goods.
Look for a “need” list in the Shark Tank starting in late October. And, don’t
forget, we will also need parent volunteers to help serve.

Speaking of “job well done”…

Congratulations to Justin Yee & Alessandro Bond for

completing their 50-mile hike in Yosemite National Park. Justin
& Alessandro, along with other members of Boy Scouts Troop
12 of Vallejo, can be seen here on top of Glacier Point. It is
located on the south wall of Yosemite Valley at an elevation of
7,214 feet (2,199 m), 3,200 feet (980 m) above Curry
Village. The previous day, the same group ascended Half
Dome, in the background.

If your swimmer accomplishes something extraordinary, in or

out of the water, please make sure to let the Shark Attack
know – and don’t forget pictures – we LOVE pictures! Info can
be emailed to communications@vallejoaquatics.org or put in
the Cameron file.
Page 2 Shark Attack
Reflections from the Deck

of you and your parents. Much will be need to prepare everyday for this
expected of you and your parents. You journey just like school. You should
have chosen this path; we, the coaches, pack your swim bag and check it every
will do our job to help make you the night before going to bed. Be sure you
best swimmer possible. have a dry towel and swimsuit. Your fins
and swim cap. You wouldn’t think of
On every Journey each member has a going to camp without packing a
job to do. First we need a map to get suitcase would you?
us where we are going. Your coach will
complete the map, and directions will be The first stop on this journey is the
given on a daily basis. If you chose to Napa Swim Meet. Make sure you sign
follow the map and directions you will up and attend.
Coach Tuffy become a better simmer. How much
better depends on how much effort you Let’s see how far you can go this year -
NOTES FROM THE TUFFGUY put into following your coach’s remember the journey doesn’t stop until
directions (practice). August 5, 6 & 7, 2011 in Petaluma.
With our return to Cunningham
pool we start on a new journey Your role on this journey is to do Go Hammerheads…Go VJO!
into the world of swimming. On everything you can to help you to
this journey much will be asked become a better swimmer. You will Tuffy

Coach Tuffy for all the hard work he and medical information updated. If you
donated to the team over the summer have not signed up yet, please e-mail
in organizing and running the annual me (aaronjon@vallejoaquatics.org) so I
Swim-a-thon. Along with swim meets, can send you the invitation. The
the Swim-a-thon is the major fundraiser website will be our primary form of
for our team. We would not be able to communication with our
survive without it--so next time you see Membership, specifically e-mail.
everyone’s favorite coach make sure
you say “Thank You!” If you have not done so yet, please
sign-up for the team’s two upcoming
Over the summer, VJO upgraded its meets: October 9-10 in Marin, and
website (our last one was ancient, circa November 5-7 in Napa. These are the
the very early 2000’s!). Please take the two closest pools we swim at and are an
time to check everything out--not only excellent opportunity to get the year
Coach Aaron Jon
does it look great, but it’s very started. Both of these meets are “team
informative (www.vallejoaquatics.org). meets,” meaning that each member is
The new site is a great resource for asked and expected to participate. If
I would like to welcome
parents and swimmers alike: whatever you have any questions about how to
everyone on the team to the
question you may have, such as meets, enter or what to swim, please contact
2010-2011 swim season! The
social events, practice changes, will your Coach and they will be more than
Coaching Staff is very excited to
have an easy-to-find answer posted. happy to assist.
be underway and is looking
forward to sharing the year with There are links to online sign-up and
event fliers as well. Each family has Thanks for your time...and Go
everyone.
access to their own account, where you SHARKS!!
I’d like to recognize and thank can keep all your contact information
 Shark Attack Page 3

SHARK PROFILES
June - August 2010

Will Rodinsky Age: 18

Favorite Strokes: Backstroke & freestyle
Favorite Meet Events: Any event Aaron Jon hasn’t made me
swim
Role Model: My father & mother
Future Goal: To graduate high school & go to a good college
Hobbies: Being a lifeguard, swimming, any type of sport
Favorite Song: Any song with a good beat
Favorite Movie: Ali, Rambo, The Power of One
Favorite Book: The Warrior Within, The Power of One
When Will grows up, he wants to be a traumatologist/coach of
something.
If Will could change one thing it would be the way we treat
others; to treat others with more respect.
Something interesting about Will that he would like to
share: He loves to whittle & play a card game called cribbage.

Chris Rodinsky Age: 18

Favorite Strokes: Freestyle & backstroke
Favorite Meet Events: Pigging out at Hospitality and leaving my
parents a HUGE tab at the VJO Snack bar 
Role Model: Coach Aaron Jon
Future Goal: To be a flight nurse and be as handsome as Aaron Jon

Hobbies: Talking, peacock sounds, swimming, hanging out, and
getting my picture taken to have a jumpstart in modeling
Favorite Song: Lay Me Down – The Dirty Heads
Favorite Movie: It’s a tie The Goonies & Sandlot; mainly baseball
films
Favorite Book: What’s a book?
When Chris grows up, he wants to be a flight nurse and a great
father!
If Chris could change one thing it would be for Mary to be taller
than Will & Will to be shorter than Mary.
Something interesting about Chris that he would like to share:
He is a published poet & he laughs at his own jokes, and…he has the
best pick up lines!   
Page 4 Shark Attack
SHARK PROFILES
June - August 2010

Anthony Aranas Age: 16

Favorite Strokes: Breaststroke & freestyle
Favorite Meet Events: 100 Free & 50 Breast
Role Model: His father
Future Goal: To get JO times
Hobbies: Fishing, video games, cooking
Favorite Song: Good Morning Life
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone
Favorite Book: The Executioner
When Anthony grows up, he wants to be a
cardiologist
If Anthony could change one thing it would be his
height & his times for swimming

Andrew Sterling Butler Age: 17

Favorite Strokes: Backstroke, freestyle & butterfly
Favorite Meet Events: 100 back, 100 free, 50 free
Role Model: Aaron Piersol
Future Goal: To be a fighter pilot in the US Navy &
swim in college
Hobbies: Airsoft, ride my bike
Favorite Song: Alejandro by Lady Gaga
Favorite Movie: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
Favorite Book: Lone Survivor
When Andrew grows up, he wants to be a fighter
pilot.
If Andrew could change one thing, he would like
to be able to travel through time.
Shark Attack Page 5

SHARK PROFILES
June - August 2010

Tori Singley Age: 16

Favorite Strokes: Backstroke
Favorite Meet Events: 100 Back & 100 Free
Role Model: Chelsea Handler
Future Goal: Swimming for Santa Rosa Junior College
Hobbies: Swimming/working on my 1977 GMC Truck
Favorite Song: Welcome to Detroit by Eminem & Trick Trick
Favorite Movie: The Hangover, A Night at the Roxbury, She’s
the Man
When Tori grows up, she wants to be a medical salesman
(saleswoman actually).
If Tori could change one thing it would be to have never
played water polo due to the injury it created.

Scrip – How you can help!

Ever use your Safeway Club Card? If you do, please make sure you are signed up to
have part of your scrip benefit donated to VJO. There is NO COST to you – Safeway will
donate a small portion of sales you make at their store to VJO. It’s easy to do – just log onto
escrip.com and follow the instructions to set up VJO as one of your beneficiaries for your
Safeway Club Card. Our group ID number is 139414752. If you aren’t certain whether or
not you are signed up, you can always review your account info at that site as well.
If Safeway isn’t your only grocery store of choice, Raley’s, Lucky’s, & Food 4 Less also
offer similar programs. We have cards available for these programs - please see Debbie
Cameron on deck or leave a note in the Cameron file if you need a card or info on any of
these other programs.
 Page 6 Shark Attack

Swim-A-Thon 2010

My, what a difference 2 hours makes!

VJO’s July Meet – Everyone Works, but it sure doesn’t look like work, does it?

So…Picture Day or Jump Rope Day? Maybe a little of both!

Shark Attack Page 7
Tidbits from USA Swimming…

RULES PRIMER
The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in
the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over
another swimmer.

Trained officials observe the swimmers during each event to ensure compliance with these technical rules. If a swimmer commits
an infraction of the rules that is observed by an officIal, a disqualification (DQ) will result. This means that the swimmer will not
receive an official time and will not be eligible for an award in that event. A disqualification may result from actions such as not
getting to the starting blocks on time, false starting, performing strokes in an illegal manner, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

DQs are also a result of technical rules violations. They include but are not limited to:

 Freestyle: Walking on the bottom, pulling on the lane rope, not touching the wall on a turn, or not completing the
distance.
 Backstroke: Pulling or kicking into the wall once a swimmer has turned passed the vertical onto the breast. Turning onto
the breast before touching the wall with the hand at the finish of the race.
 Breaststroke: An illegal kick such as flutter (freestyle), dolphin (butterfly), or scissors (side stroke); not on the breast;
alternating movements of the arms; taking two arm strokes or two leg kicks while the head is under water; touching with
only one hand at the turns or finish.
 Butterfly: Alternating movements of the arms or legs; pushing the arms forward under instead of over the water surface
(underwater recovery); a breaststroke style of kick; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.

For specific language on any technical rules consult the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations book. Violations of the rules are
reported to the Referee. The rules require that every reasonable effort be made to notify the swimmer or his coach of the reason
for the disqualification. If your child is disqualified in an event, be supportive rather than critical. For beginning swimmers, a
disqualification should be treated as a learning experience, not as a punishment. A disqualification alerts the swimmer and coach to
what portions of the swimmer's stroke need to be corrected. They should be considered in the same light as an incorrect answer in
schoolwork-they point out areas that need further practice. Disqualifications are necessary to keep the competition fair and
equitable for all competitors. A supportive attitude on the part of the official, coach, and parent can make a positive situation out of
the disqualification.

Welcome to VJO

June July August

Savanna Parangan Courtney Williams Arren Caberto

Jared Fisher Megan Neves Gabrielle Bon Borquez
Karah Fisher Armando Rojas Claire Yu
Brandon Collins Omari Harris Antonio Bond
Christian Richardson Alessandro Bond
Haile Rosengren William Benberg
Rachel Peralta
Chelsea Banaria
Aiden Taylor
Louis Rodriguez
Page 8 Shark Attack

Life in the Fast Lane

The following swimmers achieved new time standards at the following meets:

“PRT” TIMES: THE “A” TEAM: “B” TIMES:

Vallejo Aquatics LC C/B/A+ (7/9-11) Napa Valley LC C/B/A+ (6/18-20) Napa Valley LC C/B/A+ (6/18-20)
Ares Elmore: 50 Free
Mirelle Augst: 100 Breast Jalen Aquino: 50 Breast, 50 Fly
Bobby Hilton: 200 I.M. Evan Augst: 100 Fly
LC Far Westerns (7/28-8/1)
Milton Lau: 50 Free, 200 Free Bobby Hilton: 100 Free
Alyssa Powell: 50 Fly
Jose Martin: 200 Free Jackson Radley: 50 Free
Brandon Miguel: 100 Back Gabriel Tomboc: 10 Breast
Colin VanDervoort: 100 Free, 200 Colin VanDervoort: 100 Fly
Free, 200 I.M. Sabrina Yee: 50 Back
JOOOOOOOOO Times: Alexander Viray: 100 Free, 200 Free, Mitchell Zia: 100 Back
50 Back, 100 Back, 50 Fly
Napa Valley LC C/B/A+ (6/18-20)
Sabrina Yee: 50 Free, 100 Free Vallejo Aquatics LC C/B/A+ (7/9-11)
Mirelle Augst: 100 Back Marshall Zia: 50 Free, 100 Back Sarina Chang: 50 Back, 100 Back
Brandon Miguel: 800 Free, 100 Fly Gabriel Hilton: 50 Free
Mitchell Zia: 200 Breast Vallejo Aquatics LC C/B/A+ (7/9-11) Arnold Imperial: 200 Free
Anthony Aranas: 200 Breast Xavier Quintana: 100 Free
Vallejo Aquatics LC C/B/A+ (7/9-11) Regina Horder: 50 Back, 50 Breast Justin Yee: 50 Free
Andrew Butler: 100 Fly Amália Keilholtz: 50 Free, 100 Free Mitchell Zia: 50 Free
Samantha Man: 100 Breast Samantha Man: 50 Fly
Brandon Miguel: 200 Free Jose Martin: 50 Free 2010 R.E.A.L. Championships (8/6-8)
Dylan Powell: 100 Free Brandon Miguel: 400 Free Taylor Castro: 100 Free
Gabe Viray: 50 Free, 100 Free, 100 Fly Rebecca Sabio: 200 I.M. Meigan Dutcher: 100 Breast
Mitchell Zia: 50 Breast, 100 Breast Gabriel Tomboc: 100 Free Gabriel Hilton: 25 Free
Colin VanDervoort: 100 Back Arnold Imperial: 100 Free, 200 Free
Pacific Swimming Long Course Braeden Yee: 50 Breast Amália Keilholtz: 100 I.M.
Junior Olympics (7/15-18) Marshall Zia: 100 Free Frankie Liang: 100 Breast
Milton Lau: 200 Breast Rebecca Sabio: 100 Free
Dylan Powell: 100 Fly 2010 R.E.A.L. Championships (8/6-8) Justeen Singley: 50 Free
Taylor Castro: 50 Free Christina Tampinco: 50 Free, 100 Free
Alex Chan: 100 Breast Gabriel Tomboc: 100 Breast
LC Far Westerns (7/28-8/1) Anjel Falcon: 100 Free, 200 I.M.
Will Rodinsky: 200 Back Izzy Fouad: 100 Free
Patricia Welton: 100 Breast Amália Keilholtz: 50 Free, 25 Back
Joby Miniano: 100 Breast, 200 I.M. Far “Out” Western Times…
2010 R.E.A.L. Championships (8/6-8) Rebecca Sabio: 50 Back
Mirelle Augst: 50 Free, 100 Free Napa Valley LC C/B/A+ (6/18-20)
Elaine Tandjung: 50 Free, 200 Free
Jose Martin: 400 I.M. Colin VanDervoort: 500 Free, 100 Alyssa Powell: 100 Fly
Brandon Miguel: 50 Free, 100 Free, Back, 100 Fly
500 Free, 200 I.M. Dylan Powell: 400 I.M.
Alexander Viray: 50 Fly
Dylan Powell: 200 Breast, 200 I.M.
Braeden Yee: 25 Back, 25 Breast Pacific Swimming Long Course
Colin VanDervoort: 100 Breast Sabrina Yee: 100 Free, 100 I.M. Junior Olympics (7/15-18)
Mitchell Zia: 50 Breast
Milton Lau: 100 Breast
Brandon Miguel: 100 Fly
Alyssa Powell: 50 Fly, 200 I.M.

2010 R.E.A.L. Championships (8/6-8)

Andrew Butler: 50 Free, 100 Free, 100
Fly
Milton Lau: 100 Breast
Brandon Miguel: 100 Fly, 200 Fly
Alyssa Powell: 50 Fly, 100 I.M.

2010 Western Zone Swimming

Championships (8/10-14)
Andrew Butler: 50 Free
4th of July Parade – VJO’s Sea of Blue