Here are some quotes from athletes in the program, or who have attended our camps, clinics, classes or lessons:
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Recently, I was talking with my pastor and I told him for the umpteenth time what a great group NOVA Masters is. Its hard not to mention it when we get together. I mentioned a workout once when (wearing fins) I swam 100 free in 1:10. And when I got back to the wall, Coach Mike shouted 1:10 Alan! Thats awesome!
How often and where else do people our age get encouragement like that? I said. Sometimes you get out of the pool and people you barely know are patting
you on the back and saying Great job! If the rest of the day were filled with such encouraging people, the world would be a very different place.
He said, Well, when you combine the hard work and fun youre all having with the fact that youre building up your endorphins every time youre together Masters Swimming probably feels a lot like getting together with a bunch of drinking buddies.”
That made me laugh. And I hope it’s encouraging, because it’s true. I do end up swallowing a lot of water there.
– Alan
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Thank you for creating a positive environment where excellence is inevitable to steal a phrase. Your slogan has been tested and proven and I thank you for being the encourager by getting me to see that I can do more than I think.
You are a great coach and I so appreciate that you bring the team together in social events as well as coaching us as a team. Thank you Mike, it is hard work, often thankless, takes so much of your energy and patience and it all turns out so well. Congratulations on coaching a winning team, for putting so much of yourself into making this a wonderful swim club. You are the best Mike, thank you.
– Jayne
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I can’t tell you what a huge confidence booster part 1 of the Triple Crown was. I have never swam that far in that time.
Thank you very much for everything. After just two months with the club, I
am beyond impressed. If you offered a lifetime membership, I’d sign up!
– Bob J.
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I wanted to let you both know the top ten things you guys have helped me accomplish and that I am grateful.
Things that have improved or am thankful for since joining NOVA.
1. I swim 14 seconds faster in freestyle than when I started in January. ( I got my personal best time today). Still in shock.. double checked my math each time.
2. I now swim straight on the backstroke…well straighter than when I first started & I no longer hit my head against the pool edge when doing backstroke.
3.I learned how to swim butterfly.I can now go 75yds straight… goal 100yds and then 200yds eventually.
4. I re-learned how to do flipturns… still need to work on them.
5.I can now do bi-lateral breathing. It has helped me out in the Pacific.
6. I have learned to decipher your workout code and remember the set. Still need to work on lap counting though. I sometimes lose track. Thank God for Gene he keeps me honest.
7. My breaststroke is a lot better .. I no longer swim up hill but it is still me least favorite stroke.. I am still really really slow. Goal: Improve times next year.
8. I can push myself out of the pool in 4 ft 6 feet and not use the stairs… Still working on trying to get out of 7 feet of water…..
9. I learned how to use the pull gear, but using my fins are lot more fun.
10. I can now swim a full hour non-stop (at-least in the pool…I still freak out every once in the while in the ocean when it is really choppy)
And most importantly : I have lost 2 dress sizes since I started swimming… Thanks!
A year ago in Novemeber Kerri managed to convince me to go to a practice with her to check out what you guys had to offer. I just want to say that in that year I have learned a lot and I am super happy I joined.
Thanks for keeping me motivated.
– Veronica
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My family and I are moving to Colorado early December so I guess I’ll
have to make this my last month of swimming at the Nova Masters
Swimming program. Thanks for your excellent coaching – I never
dreamt I would enjoy swimming this much.
– Tim
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I wanted to make sure I sent you a big THANK YOU for all the effort you put into making the World Masters meet in No. Cal a fun meet for the team. You did a great job putting the relays together and making sure everyone had a good time. I had a lot of fun and really appreciate being a part of a masters team that encourages everyone to have fun and swim fast 🙂
Thank you.
– Alison M
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Thanks so much for making World’s so special for me. You are truly a great coach in addition to being a really fun guy. I appreciate your video tape analysis and race strategy very much. People like you keep Masters Swimming fresh and exciting!
Thanks,
– AJ
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Just got back today from the World’s after the open water swim yesterday!
What a swim!!
Thank God for the water temperature…70 degrees!!! The wind was strong and
cold, even with the sun out, and the tide was coming in..In the swim I made
a couple of mistakes in sighting, but got 2nd, the silver medal behind a
well respected. long time, FINA rep., good swimmer in my age group!
Loved the meet Mike, love Stanford, and had a great experience. Thanks for
the encouragement and help. I felt my turns reflected your help, along with
the starts (from the practices with Paul), it was a wonderful experience for
me after being out of LC meets for 11 years! I really enjoyed swimming the
relays too with Katherine, Kim, Dick and Tom.
Thank you!
– Carol
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“I am impressed by you and Paul. You put together a first class program and are complementary in your coaching styles. The pool is at a good temperature, the showers clean and hot and the work out times work for me.”
– Mark
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“Just wanted to say thanks for the great lesson a few weeks ago. Since I
broke my collarbone 3 months ago I hadn’t been swimming much but after the
lesson I went from the 1:50 lane (long course) back down to my 1:35 lane in
two days with my new stroke! Thank you!!!”
– Marisa
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“I just wanted to let you know that the swimming class has been great. I think the combination of classroom videos and in-pool drills and coaching have been VERY beneficial. The locker room chatter that I’ve heard from some of the other participants echoes my sentiments. Thanks!”
– Annie
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“Thank you so much for the highlights and the strengthening program.
I don’t think I’ve ever had such complete coaching.”
– Helen
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“THANK YOU for giving me a final opportunity to cap off my weekend with the 800 free relay leadoff swim. It was a weekend beyond dreams …. just 3-4 weeks ago I had written off the SCY season. …. 8 swims and 6 new best times!!!!!”
– Hank
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“I wanted to thank you for your coaching, and say that even though I haven’t achieved what I would like to yet, Thanks to you, I am now comfortable in the water and feel relatively good while swimming upwards of 3500 meters. ”
– Finney
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“I was so overwhelmed on the way home I started crying….I had such an AMAZING experience at LB this weekend. I don’t know if you realized this, but I hit every GOAL I set for myself for the meet!(except the 200 where I stopped early by mistake!!!) They were a bit aggressive, so I was sooo stoked! Take care and keep up the great work at NOVA.”
– Beeeeeeee
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“I couldn’t have made those stroke improvements without both of you helping me day in and day out and giving me lots of coaching advice during competitions. I really appreciate the recognition and I have had a lot of fun at all of the meets. Thank you for the Nova 2005 Outstanding Female Competitor award.”
– Libby
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Mike, you and Paul are the two best coaches I’ve ever had and I really appreciate you have done for my stroke and all. Without those changes there is no way I would have been able to do as well as I did, only training twice a week since May, at SCM regionals. Thank you to both of you. 🙂
– Meg
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All the coaches at Nova are excellent. They push you to improve without overtraining you. Not only that, they have kept me extremely motivated and focused, helping you improve your mental approach to swimming as well as technique, strength and endurance. I can’t believe how much I have improved in a short time, and I can’t say enough about what an outstanding program it is. Thanks!
– George Serbia
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All the coaches at Nova are excellent. They push you to improve without overtraining you. Not only that, they have kept me extremely motivated and focused, helping you improve your mental approach to swimming as well as technique, strength and endurance. I can’t believe how much I have improved in a short time, and I can’t say enough about what an outstanding program it is. Thanks!