Adapted Information

7th Annual GTAC Disability Open - May 15-16 at the University of Cincinnati

Making Waves GTAC Meet Info

Dear LSC Adapted Chairs,

Please find the meet packet for our 7th Annual Disability Open. We ask that you kindly forward it to all of our coaches and other interested parties in your LSC. Last year, we had the largest group of new swimmers ever competing alongside our experienced paralympic swimmers, and we hope to have more new swimmers this year.

The GTAC meet is unique because 1) it is open to all swimmers with any sort of disability (and not just those classified or included by the International Paralympic Committee); 2) there are no cut times, so this is the perfect meet for the new swimmer; and 3) while IPC rules are used to officiate the meet (thereby allowing our experienced swimmers to have their times count for IPC rankings), the meet is also an observed meet by USA officials, thus allowing those times to be recognized for the USA SWIMS database. We are proud to have volunteers and officials from Ohio and Michigan who volunteer to run this meet over the entire weekend, and who are joined USA/IPC officials from other parts of the US and Canadian officials as well.

Each swimmer is not only welcomed to the meet by our committee (with a bagtag and commemorative t-shirt), but parents, swimmers, families and coaches are invited to a free social on Saturday evening so that they can meet other swimmers, exchange ideas, and help one another as their swimmer joins the "pool" of paralympic competition. Our goal is not only to provide a great meet for all competitors; we seek to help parents and coaches get involved in paralympic swimming so that each swimmer can compete to his or her highest level.

You will find the UC natatorium and campus to be easily accessible and beautiful, with the hotel nearby along with lots of great restaurants. The Bearcat staff looks forward to welcoming you along with us.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of us. We hope to see you in Cincy in May.

Thanks!

Keith Kennedy, Meet Director and Head Coach, Greater Toledo Aquatic Club kkjrswim@yahoo.com

Dianna MacDonald, Entry Chair didanmac@roadrunner.com

John Loria, Head Referee jloria1@aol.com