Why doesn’t HS Swim end with Metros?

[Anonymous]

Maryland People. There are are too many High School swim championships here. The feeling is that Metros is REALLY the big meet. Why are there Regionals and States following Metros? It’s taxing on swimmers who have other champs meets just around the corner. How does everyone feel about this, for those living in Maryland? Curious to hear opinions.

[Anonymous]

That's just how the public calendar is. For our area (MCPS), Metros is the really big deal and swimmers/teams care way more about those results. Regionals (especially) and States are very anticlimactic.

Best of both worlds is the private schools that are done at Metros.

I can't speak to other areas of the state, but I imagine a State Championship is more meaningful to them. However, MCPS swimmers still dominate state meets.

One thing we do notice at the national meets in March is that kids who come from fall HS swim season areas sometimes perform a bit stronger (on average) than our run down kids. I am sure it is very challenging for coaches to deal with missed practices and up and down taper from January-February in our area. In the end, I don't think our kids would give up the experience of Metros though, it's the best!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's just how the public calendar is. For our area (MCPS), Metros is the really big deal and swimmers/teams care way more about those results. Regionals (especially) and States are very anticlimactic.

Best of both worlds is the private schools that are done at Metros.

I can't speak to other areas of the state, but I imagine a State Championship is more meaningful to them. However, MCPS swimmers still dominate state meets.

One thing we do notice at the national meets in March is that kids who come from fall HS swim season areas sometimes perform a bit stronger (on average) than our run down kids. I am sure it is very challenging for coaches to deal with missed practices and up and down taper from January-February in our area. In the end, I don't think our kids would give up the experience of Metros though, it's the best!

I will add that this is possible because the season starts a couple weeks earlier, and isn't tied to Saturday meets. There are meets before Thanksgiving, conference championships before Metros, and for many teams Metros is the end. Maryland privates do not participate in MD State Championship (except McDonough).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's just how the public calendar is. For our area (MCPS), Metros is the really big deal and swimmers/teams care way more about those results. Regionals (especially) and States are very anticlimactic.

Best of both worlds is the private schools that are done at Metros.

I can't speak to other areas of the state, but I imagine a State Championship is more meaningful to them. However, MCPS swimmers still dominate state meets.

One thing we do notice at the national meets in March is that kids who come from fall HS swim season areas sometimes perform a bit stronger (on average) than our run down kids. I am sure it is very challenging for coaches to deal with missed practices and up and down taper from January-February in our area. In the end, I don't think our kids would give up the experience of Metros though, it's the best!

Not in MD, but we have been lobbying to change our similar hs schedule to end earlier, like in December, so that kids can be better prepared for March sectionals. No luck so far though.

[Anonymous]

We’re in DC and have DC States after Metros which is a big Womp Womp ever year lol

[Anonymous]

when States was introduced, it took many years for swimmers to really take it seriously. Metros is still the king, but States is taken much more seriously than it used to be. The kids swim really fast and sometimes even faster than at metros because the UMD pool is great.

regionals remains the dumbest and least liked meet on the calendar

[Anonymous]

States was really fun for my swimmer last year and a big deal for their school. He had fun as an individual at Metros but his team was more competitive at states (smaller public school) and competing there as a team meant a lot to them.

It is a busy time, and for the most elite swimmers I can see it being one more meet to get through (our best swimmers missed it for another meet) but for more run-of-the-mill good swimmers it means something and is fun.

[Anonymous]

Many states have Regional and State meets.

If you don't want to do Regionals and States, don't do them. Not that complicated. Someone else will be happy for the opportunity to compete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when States was introduced, it took many years for swimmers to really take it seriously. Metros is still the king, but States is taken much more seriously than it used to be. The kids swim really fast and sometimes even faster than at metros because the UMD pool is great.

regionals remains the dumbest and least liked meet on the calendar

States the competition is a bit lower than Metros, but it is a fun meet and kids swim way faster at that meet. It’s just timed finals so they don’t wear themselves down with a prelims, and coaches probably don’t back off the training enough for metros. They are better rested for states. Those factors combined with UMD being a faster pool leads to some crazy fast swims

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:when States was introduced, it took many years for swimmers to really take it seriously. Metros is still the king, but States is taken much more seriously than it used to be. The kids swim really fast and sometimes even faster than at metros because the UMD pool is great.

regionals remains the dumbest and least liked meet on the calendar

States the competition is a bit lower than Metros, but it is a fun meet and kids swim way faster at that meet. It’s just timed finals so they don’t wear themselves down with a prelims, and coaches probably don’t back off the training enough for metros. They are better rested for states. Those factors combined with UMD being a faster pool leads to some crazy fast swims

.

It would be an interesting analysis, but generally Metros is the faster meet.

In our experience, our training group only rested for metros and was ramped all the way back up during states.

Of course dreaded illness and “bad meets” happen, but especially among the top level MCPS swimmers, metros has faster swims. And Germantown is also a good pool, with familiarity that may help kids. I know my kids have several best times in Germantown, including metros.

[Anonymous]

Metros is the best meet of HS season...private with publics...the energy is like no other. Our school was elated when they finally were able to compete there. Many VA schools would love to participate but the meet would last FOREVER