Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Channel Cats 2014 Catalina Relay
June 30, came very soon for Jacee. As she traveled to
California once again to her second swim from Santa Catalina Island to Palos
Verdes, a distance of 21 miles with a mix gender relay of all 14 year olds. We
arrived at the La Jolla Cove for Jacee’s swims that would accumulate 6 miles in
two days. She had fun seeing all of her La Jolla Cove Swim Club friends. Thank
you to everyone who helped Jacee with her daily workouts.
On July 2nd, Jacee traveled to San Pedro for the
second time in one year. This would culminate into a second successful crossing
of the Catalina Channel in a mix gender relay, as a 14 year old. The energy filled the environment and the
kids and parents prepared taking the necessary steps to avoid seasickness. Gathering
at the local Mexican Food Restaurant, and taking the endless pictures for the
memories.
Dan and Doug shared their wisdom and advice as they always
have in preparing the teenagers for various swims. This swim would seem the
same but it has all the new and excited teenagers that would enthrall the
hearts of everyone as the set out for their journey.
Each swimmer had their own plans for the swim but each would
become part of a successful relay crossing for the first time in their lives.
Accept Jacee who has swum the first relay last August 12/13, 2013. The
attention was endless and each child was set with their personal preparation
for the swim. Of course, the goal was successfully completing the swim as one
unit.
Jacee Frivaldo, AZ
Isabella, Back, CA
Carson Gossler, CA
Ethan McVeigh, CA
Cayden Pangelinan, CA
Valerie Chin, CA
Ethan McVeigh, CA
Cayden Pangelinan, CA
Valerie Chin, CA
Morgan Hartley, CA - Alternate
Colin Grubensky, CA – Alternate
Colin Grubensky, CA – Alternate
Each swimmer entered the water to do their
part as they encountered many jellyfish, currents and waves throughout each leg
of the relay. Cayden, had the pleasure of swimming with the dolphins this year
and stated, “That he could hear their clicking before he actually saw them.” It
was a pod of dolphins the he would swim with most of the leg of his swim.
Jacee’s journey this year was successful
because there was no seasickness and she enjoyed her time with the Jellyfish.
As she says, “would you let these jellyfish just jump in your house and do what
they wanted. Of course, they are going to sting you.” She also stated, “That
the jellies that got in her suit were just going to visit their friends as she
swam through them and they fell out of the suit.”
Bella, landed the team at 8:42.xx mark
unofficially. The overall swim was relatively calm and the finish had a high
tide which definitely helped at the end. These awesome swimmers including both
alternates Morgan and Colin had the proper preparation and joined together for
a successful crossing of the Catalina Channel. Of which only 92 successful
relays have been swum since 1926 through 2013.
Congratulations, to our successful Channel
Cats!
Special Thanks goes to Julie, Violet, and
Jim! Julie and Violet kayaked and Jim was our second observer for the swim. The
LA County Fire Rescue Unit attended the finale of the swim. Oh, maybe that is
because it was Julie’s Husband. Thanks for the ride back to the boat! It was
much warmer than swimming the way back.
Two Mile Champion at the Southern California Cup
Jacee volunteered again this year at the USA
Swimming National Open Water Championships. She enjoyed speaking to the all the
great swimmers, officials and organizers. Her favorite job is marking the
numbers on the swimmers. She also enjoys cutting the chips off the swimmers at
the finish line. 
The 10k was swum on Friday and the 5k was swum on
Sunday. There is a Southern California Cup swum on Saturday where everyone in
the National Championship and age group entries are invited. There was a 1-mile
swim and a 2-mile swim. Jacee encouraged
the 1 mile swimmers and made friends with many of them. She then swam the 2
mile swim having a great race. In the last 500 meters Jacee, in the middle of
the pack, Jacee decided to win the race and went for the finish. She and
another female swimmer were working hard to be the first female in the race. In
the last 50 yards Jacee commanded the field with a moved enabled her to take
the lead and hold onto it, as she out touched the second place swimmer by 3
seconds. It was a great finish for all
of the swimmers. Congratulations, to
Jacee and everyone who swam all of the championship races.
The 10k races were won by Mann, Becca and Gemmell, Andrew.
The 5k races
were won by Meyer,
Alex and Anderson, Haley.
Congratulations,
to our National Champions that will go to represent the USA at the various World
Championships this year!
2014 Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Swims
It was an excellent day for an open water swim and Alcatraz
was the swim of the day. Approximately, one hundred swimmers entered the water
that beautiful day. The water was moving swiftly and the chop was substantial.
The swimmers jumped in one at a time, to promote safety first. The water was a
warm 56 degrees that day and wonderful for the swimmers that did the practice
swims in the very cold Scottsdale Lake. Each swimmer entered the water with
their personal goal in mind.
The swift current from Alcatraz is always an issue but with
the professional help of Bob Roper and his pilot Paddy and the awesome crew and
staff, the swimmers knew the plan and were ready to tackle the intrepid waters
of the San Francisco Bay. The reason for the swim was the Annual Swim from
Alcatraz for F.A.S.T. (The Foundation for
Aquatic Safety and Training). To promote drowning prevention each year for many
people that still need to learn to swim.
Jacee and Cole Whitener were two swimmers that have come
back year after year, swimming this extremely fun and fast swim. The challenge
is always at a personal level because there is a first place finisher that does
not mean there is only one first place finisher. The main goal is for each
person to add to their community. Making a difference in their community
becoming and community leader by focusing on helping others learn to swim, also encouraging a water safety
mindset that will and does help save lives.
This year the first place person was Jacee and Ryan was the
first place male, her challenger from last year. It was interesting Jacee
commented, “The swift choppy water was the toughest in years for Jacee.” She
also stated, “This swim was one of the most enjoyable swims, she has
encountered.”
One special guest that Jacee was able to befriend was Liz
Hunter our official Coast Guard entry. Along with Liz, there are so many
individuals that make it a national and international event. It creates a goal
for many swimmers to focus on during their daily training. The swimmers will take
the experience back to their friends and family to encourage others to focus on
swimming and drowning prevention. Enabling each swimmer to swim the “impossible
swim”!
The day after the infamous Alcatraz Swim, a wonderful
weekend of swimming continued with the Golden Gate Bridge Crossing (GGB). You ask why? The best answer I can think of
and have heard from several swimmers is “Why not”. Well, yes the current is swifter, yes, you
can find yourself swimming in place for several minutes and yes, you never know
what to expect out there. Once again Bob Roper, Paddy and crew know how to
handle the entire process. There are many safety precautions even in the
toughest situations.
This year’s GGB had its stopping point for Jacee. Jacee and
Liz Hunter were off and swimming together once they jumped. Starting in the
middle of the pack Jacee took off passing the entire field to what looked like
a first place finished until the moment came where the destination and current
came together to stop the swimmers. Ryan and his friend found the way out of
the current and finished the race first. Jacee finally, got to her destination
and completed the swim as the first female. This year the focus would be
touching the rock. Having fun in these swims is truly the goal and of course,
first place is in the heart of each swimmer.
Thank you again for the wonderful event planners and
organizers of these annual events!
If this article has piqued your interest here is the link
for this swim. The event planners will help you through the process.
First Graders that Excite and Dream Big!
Once again, Jacee was invited back to Mrs. Horton’s first
grade class to speak about goal setting and leadership. Her main focus is
sharing her life to enable the kids to see a goal and achieve their individual
goals in their lives. There is always much excitement from these young folks
that truly inspire Jacee to see herself in new ways she could only see through
the excited and encouraging eyes of these children.
Jacee has a very interactive session with these first
graders as they begin to see that they can make a difference at a young age.
Keep in mind Jacee was only in the second grade when she swam her first
Alcatraz swim and she keeps these children close to her heart. She decided at
the end of her first grade year to make this “impossible swim”. Knowing anyone of them could become an
“overnight” success, by making the choice to be challenged.
Jacee shares her life experience with the children and they
respond in such positive ways. Sharing their hopes, dreams, and presenting
their goals. Even though Jacee’s main focus is swimming, music and school. Her desire is to help make excellent children
of all ages. Helping others see their individual potential is the main focus.
Imagine being six again..
Someone comes into your classroom and helps you see you can
make a difference in others’ lives. How far do six year olds dream? How long
can they hold on to that dream with encouragement?
Building good citizens that will make a difference is the
key in the succeeding. Knowing deep down no matter what, you will make a
difference. That is the secret that is parlayed to approximately thirty
students each year.
As always Jacee, is asked if she will swim in the Olympics
by one of these bright first graders. The answer is always yes, that is a goal
and I have to keep working really hard to reach that goal.
This year Jacee shared her steps and the process of swimming
across the Catalina Channel with a great group of six relay swimmers. Setting
the record for the first 14/15 year old relay team to be recorded by the
Catalina Channel Swimming Federation the name of the relay team is “The
Children’s Crusade Relay”. Oh, by the way that is a 21 mile swim from Santa
Catalina Island to Los Angeles.
If you would like Jacee to speak at your group or
organization please go to the link on the follow me and enter you information
and she will get back to you!
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