Monday, February 16, 2009

2009 5A Call-Up Numbers by Region

Region # - Girls/Boys/Total

I - 1/2/3
II - 16/20/36
III - 0/0/0
IV - 30/32/62
V - 15/27/42
VI - 1/0/1
VII - 25/7/32
VIII - 0/0/0

Four weakest regions had a combined total of four (4) call-ups out of the 176 headed for Austin.

The rule change* produced results proponents said it would.

Thanks to ML for putting this together!

Now, who's going to do the 4A?



*The old UIL rule placed strict limits on the number of call-ups from each region

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW!

Anonymous said...

Its either this or have a swimmer that is swimming 30% to 50% slower than the top swimmer in the field and getting embrassed because the crowd is leaving for a bathroom break while the swimmer is finishing the race. Not fair to the athlete. Another options is to bring in the top two from each Region plus the top 9 thru 16. There will be 3 heats in the prelims adding another 30 minutes to the prelims. Then more swimmers will get to make the trip to experience the State meet. Hopefully it'll influence those swimmers to advance to next level.

Anonymous said...

or winner from region and then have a cut time based on the last couple of years. The kids then know what they have to do.

Anonymous said...

If you have a "cut" time, then the meet will load up with many swimmers from the metro areas and end up with a few from the weaker regions. Or, take the top 3 or 4 from each region. So the prelims take 30 to 45 minutes longer. It wouldn't hurt me to work another 45 minutes knowing more swimmers got to enjoy Austin and the State Meet. It'll put more spectators.

Anonymous said...

I'd like see one more heat to to prelims at state. Take 24 in each event. But then go top 16 on finals. It would create more racing and more opportunities for everyone to showcase their skills. I've been told that UIL doesn't think UT has enough deck space for the extra swimmers. Most teams bring an extra swimmer anyway as an alternate for a relay or just company to the other swimmer(s) that made state. Last year, the boys had 3 DQ's in the 200 Medley Relay on Friday. So having 15 relays in Finals doesn't showcase our state.

Anonymous said...

anon 4 region winners would still go like now and cut times would be similar to call up - you think the metros don't have many swimmers this year???

anon 5 basically agree either 24 or cut times or worse case go to 20 swimmers if deck space is a problem at least finals will go faster not waiting for lane 8 to finish

Anonymous said...

Deck Space? UT handles 500 swimmers in a USA Swim Meet with very little problems. The people there know how to do it right. 30% increase in the size will have no effect on the outcome.
Another point, the metro areas with a strong club program will help high schools fill the Call-Up spots with some teams gaining the maximum of 3 swimmers in an event. Thereby, easily winning the team title. Should take the top 3 to State from each Region in order to offer more opportunities to the weaker Regions and limit one high school from dominating because of the strenght local club team program. In the end, Texas will still have a strong State Meet.

Anonymous said...

There are several strong club programs and one team will not dominate especially since most of the club swimmers swim on different HS teams! Why let weaker regions have swimmers that score points. Third place at some regions isn't even a BB time.

Look at this year A&M consol gets three mens relays to state coming from one of the weakest regions (0) yes zero call ups. Yet they get to score points.

I want to see the best and if they go to some of the same HS ok that is what this is about. In fact it would make the team chase a little more interesting by have more kids score points rather than have a couple studs and you can win.

Anonymous said...

Remember it is called the Texas High School State Meet, with uil in there somewhere to screw things up. It should be the Best of the Best, with some geographic representation to keep everyone happy. Take the winners from each region meet, but then every pick-up should go to the fastest swimmers. Let's not obamazize swimming. Let the spots be earned by those who have swum the fastest. Why give slower swimmers a bailout. A third heat would make it a better meet; but only if the fastest swimmers are choosen.

Anonymous said...

OK, time for a couple of rants, intentionally inflammatory.

1. If you are too lazy or too spineless to give a real or pen name, get off this blog. "Mr/Ms Anonymous" my Aunt Matilda! Could be the same fraidy-cat blogging in 9 times.

2. Based on the numbers, let's just dump regions 1, 3, 6, and 8. Obviously not worth it.

Anonymous said...

um region 6 had some good top swims as did region 1 but 3 and 8 agree

Anonymous said...

Top 2 from each Regions plus 8 fastest and only 16 score points. Gives more representation and still can have a competitive meet. Yes, some of the Regions are weak but Lion King, you don't have to be so mean about it. Those Regions are getting better.
Take a look at the UIL Track&Field meet. Many good athletes are left at home because of the limitations on the number allowed to compet. At least swimming provides for a better opportunity for the best but it shouldn't totally ignore the weak.

Anonymous said...

Somebody get lion king some coffee.

Anonymous said...

Anyone got any comments on the National Record in the IM set in region 2??

Anonymous said...

Yeah.. Matt Thompson is an exceptional athelte. He has been doing the same thing since he was a freshman. If you get a chance to watch him swim I suggest you do. While Jimmy Feigen was increadable in his time as an high school athelte. Thompson has been outright the most dominante swimmer in one of the toughest states in the country for all four years. He will only continue to get better... Does anyone want to make a bet he goes 1:42 or 1:43ish in the IM? and 46ish in the 100Back?

Anonymous said...

Did anyone realize that one team came within 0.34 seconds of placing four swimmers in the same event but the same team did place three in another event. That is six swimmers in two events. UIL might as well Fed Ex that team the trophy. Current selction process has its faults.
Matt is a good swimmers, it would have been nice if he had stayed in Texas.

Anonymous said...

How long will hp remain at the top once DISD closes Loos and dm is out in the cold.

Anonymous said...

if a team is good enough and deep enough to place 6 in two events then they probably deserve the title. So with that logic any football team with more than 3 all americans should have to bench them for the playoffs - come on obama

Button said...

"come on obama"

hey! watch the name-callin'!!!

Anonymous said...

Has nothing to do with Obama. Last I heard, UIL Track & Field brings up the top 2 from each Region. That means only 8 can compet for the title. The "rich" district with good club programs have the advantage over rest of the State with the way the selection process is set up now. It only favors Austin, DFW, Houston & San Antonio areas. Some of these areas benefit by having swimmers transfer in from out of state that had never lived in that district since birth because of the excellent club program. In turn, that benefits the local high schools. I'm not against one improving themselves but there should be a balance. If not, it'll turn similar to the New York Yankees trying to "buy" the World Series by signing the best because they have the $$$ My opinion drop back to only two and the competiton will only increase and the best of the best will still make the meet. I believe its a topic the UIL needs to address in their next meeting. But,I'll vote for the top 3 from each Region.

Anonymous said...

sounds like a loser hs coach whining. I guess the fact he is pushing is that club swimmers might be too good for HS so we should just ban them altogether.

If you want to go the route of the previous poster you better realign the regions because now it is a joke.

sad that this joker gets a say.

Anonymous said...

top 3 in each region what a joke - you wont get the best of the best. If you want to score to 16 places get the best 16 - if you only want to score the best three then your solution will work. No wonder the UIL is so screwed up with opions like that. Maybe they need a 3a or 2a class for you.

Anonymous said...

It is what it is. Let's the obamanatizing to a minimum. Otherwise we could start to get into multiple starting noises. This would allowing the slower swimmers, less trained, less dedicated, less committed, to acually start the race before the better trained, more committed swimmers. The greedy more committed swimmers should not be allowed to win, despite the extra hours and years of extra hours they have committed themselves to. Reward the less fortunate, less committed less trained. It is not their fault.

Anonymous said...

"...once DISD closes Loos..."

Is there something behind this comment? Is there a chance Loos will be lost? Oh, Lawdy, where WILL we-uns hold TAGS???

(You can send me a GC for Starbuck's, thanks for the offer!)

Anonymous said...

Sorry no whining coach here. One who will enjoy the weekend in Austin. But I think you're worried that your kid might not make the cut. Some athletes have it and others don't. Its matter how much training one does. A "natural is a natural"...

Anonymous said...

Even though this sounds like a bunmch of kids bickering back in forth ill give my 2 cents.

I dont even think you should take the top swimmer from each region. I think you should take the top 16 swimmers to state with the fastest times out of region. Why even give a weak region a chance to make state? Did those kids truely earn it? by no means am I taking away the time, energy, and emotions they put in this year. But why would you wanting anything but the best at state? Why reward one kid who swam slower, and in return punish a kid who was a 1/2 faster? Is it impossible for these kids from smaller regions "slower regions" to make state? No its not, last time I checked Adrian Peterson came from a small texas town to become a the best back in the league. WHat im trying to say is, it all has to do with heart at the end of the day, if the kid wants it badly enough then give them the opportunites to swim against the best by going to invitationals. Dont punish the kids who put in the time and effort to be at state.

If you think its unfair to take the top 16 swimmers in the state regardless of region, then you need to go join a summer league. where things can be fair. We aren't in little league anymore, and in reality some of these kids are competing for scholarships. If you want fair then my proposal is fair. If the smaller regions want put in a request to be a 4A school, but even at that good luck cause some of these swimmers in the state swim meet shouldnt even be the 4A state swim meet.

And yes reward the team with the best swimmers, even if they go 1 through 4 in every event at state they earned it. Lets punish them and say its not fair when in reality they are the ones who actually push each other everyday in the pool. Last I checked we weren't paying the swimmers, they were paying us for our knowledge, and coaching.

Anonymous said...

PT / Deerslayer: Small towns lack the money to build and maintain a pool. It is easy find a ball and grass for a football game. The football player needs high school in order to get noticed. A swimmer doesn't need to swim in high school to get noticed or gain a scholarship. If the swimmer has NCAA A & B cuts, the university will come even without an invitation. Really, I know. High school can be to political and a distraction to the most serious swimmer. PT, you want best, I'd love it in the right format. But leaving out a majority of the population for your personal gains isn't the answer to what High School should be all about. Its education and learning to fit into our society and tolerate the strong and the weak. High School should be fair and fun for the kids. If a swimmer wants to get recognized, go to the Junior & Senior National Meet or the Olympic Trials and place in the Top 16. Those Top 16 are truly the "Best of the Best" and carries more weight than an high school state meet. Taking 24 to the State meet prelims and scoring 16 only means the 4th & 5th place swimmers from Region 2 & 4 don't get to go. I'm sure if each Region had one vote it'd a 6-2 defeat for you. Oh, that is democracy. Someone should set up a "Super Meet" in late December before the holidays with the Top 10 HS teams invited to a two day meet. That will be great and our swimmer will be there.
Does anyone have any links to how the current call up procedures came about? Really, something doesn't smell right. "The Whiner"

Button said...

"Even though this sounds like a bunmch of kids bickering back in forth ill give my 2 cents."

ain't that the truth! much more of the "yer idearz dummer'n my idear" stuff and this one's shutting down.

i love the exchange of ideas. it's rare that we get this sort of thing here. this must be one of those occasional hot button* topics that really gets people going.

let's just stick with the topic and avoid flaming anyone who disagrees with your brilliant thoughts. after all, this ain't some teenager forum - it's the texasswimming blog!

*hot button, get it? yeah, y'all know it's true...chicks dig fat old bald guys...

Anonymous said...

In no way am I trying to shoot anyone down, or be ignorant. Its obvious that being fair has a different meeting to all the coaches. The coaches that you have from the smaller regions have the opinion that hey fair is allowing just not the top swimmer in our region to go to state but lets allow at least one more to go so they can represent us as well. But then you have the coach from a bigger region saying being fair is allowing the kids who are obviously faster who got 5th or 6th in the region to be able to go to state. Point given with all do respect to the swimmer and coach out of region 6-5A. The 200yd free males, how can you justify letting more than one kid represent the region in that event when he swam a 1:47, yet we had kids in other regions not getting called up and they swam 1:42 and 1:43? What is fair is the question?

I can say this, we’ve had faster years with some really fast swimmers, we’ve had a lot slower years with not that many fast swimmers. But this year, both boys and especially girls this has probably have to be the deepest they have ever been. Just not for those who’ll be at state but those who won’t be as well, we are really deep this year. Why can’t we do what track and Cross Country do and have a national high school swim meet where we take the best of the best and swim them against other states? Now that could be fair, the top eight in each event on the all-state team. It would be interesting to see what we would come up with.

Anonymous said...

We have been discussing issues that won't be changed by us or even by popular opinion. Let's face it, we are dealing with the psudominincaa, otherwise know as the uil. How about the teams at state who are going to wear 2,3,4,or 7 of the new floatation devices(some of the new suits? Legal or not legal. An economic issue? Forget geographics, how about socioeconomics?

Anonymous said...

I've got other things to do. This my last entry. What is "fair". Lets just give Region 2 & 6 their own State Meet. Us unworthy people don't that measure up financially and athletically and hearth and dedication should stay at home. Really I wish you'd spot crying about how good your region is compared to the others. Track & Field takes the 1st & 2nd places finihers at the four Regional Meets to the State Meet. And, so does the Olympic Team. It takes the top 2. Yes ,many are really fine individuals are left at home. One solutions is for families of the athelets that place 3rd, 4th or 5th is to move to weaker region and take advantaged of the top 2 finisher's selection process. The same thing is done in the Olympics ever four year. Some individual who has been living here in the USA for 20 years born here goes off to another country to qualify for that countries Olympic Team because their not good enough to make the cut for the USA team. Take your selection process and apply it to the Olympic Games. Only a handful of select countries and individuals would qualify for the Games. The call-up only benefits the strong teams in getting stronger in order to walk away with the team title. If you were playing "poker" you'd be accused of "stacking the deck".. and a cheat. I can imagine who pushed the "call-up" selection process through the UIL, the lobbyist from Region 2&6. See you guys in Austin!

Anonymous said...

Ya, lets make it fair and equal. Everyone swim in their birthday suit. It'll cheap and everyone will be on the same level.

Anonymous said...

Rumors abound that DISD has sent notice of the eminent closure of Loos. The ultra-corrupt DISD was somewhere between $60-80 million over budget this year. Written off to an accounting error, fire the cfo. They have said that the, obamba, fake bailout, "stimulus", but sure to create huge inflation, plan, will send them millions. Why not, they are perfect for the bailout. Even with that said, they need to cut expenses. Loos sits on a valuable piece of property. Sell it and take the money. I'm sure some of the money will even make it to help the students.

Anonymous said...

to anon 6:04 pm why then don't we do the football model and have a dual meet playoff system?