Today's Halloween Practice!

Coach Nigro sent these five pictures from today's Halloween practice for the University of Niagara Swimming & Diving Team -- looks like FUN!

Lindsey Jackson Named Student Athlete of the Week!

Niagara University sophomore, Lindsey Jackson (Marietta, GA) earned Niagara Student Athlete of the Week honors for her performances this past week in the pool for the Purple Eagles.  Congratulations Lindsey!  Here's a link to the release:


LINK:  LINDSEY JACKSON -- STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

A Purple Eagles Speedo Pro Backpack

Do you have any interest in ordering a PURPLE EAGLES Speedo Pro Backpack for your son or daughter?  Our son's high school backpack has "seen its best days" -- so I went to Coach Nigro and asked him if there were any plans to offer a Speedo Backpack for the team.  I learned that this wasn't in the plans -- so, I've gone ahead and sought out the local swim shop here in Michigan asking for a PURPLE PARENTS deal:  


Here's the deal offered to us by Different Strokes (if we order 24 bags) - $45 for a PURPLE EAGLES Speedo Pro Backpack with the Niagara University "official" logo embroidered on the bag.  If you'd like your son or daughter's last name embroidered as well -- that will be $2 more.  


Please let me know if you're interested by placing a COMMENT below.  If we order less than 24 bags we need to make up for a "one time" $50 "logo digitization" charge -- on top of the $45 per bag charge.  There's no tax charge -- assuming we can get a "Tax Exempt Number" from Niagara University.  Might make a great Christmas present!!!

A New Purple Parents Video Production!

The Purple Parents Blog was busy this past weekend producing its second video of the season -- as the Purple Eagles defeated Fredonia State University on Family Weekend @ Niagara University.  Here's a link to the video:


LINK:  THE PURPLE PARENTS VIDEO #2

The Purple Eagles In the News...

Coach Nigro forward this link to a story in the Niagara Gazette about our team.  Here's a link:


LINK:  MAKING A DIFFERENCE AWAY FROM THE POOL

TRACKING THE MAAC -- WEEK TWO

The Purple Parents Blog is doing its best to keep the PURPLE PARENTS on top of how the teams in the MAAC conference are doing -- every week during the season.  Just click on the team's link and it will lead you to their most recent stories and meet results.  GO PURPLE EAGLES!

LINK:  CANISIUS

LINK:  FAIRFIELD

LINK:  IONA

LINK:  LOYOLA

LINK:  MANHATTAN

LINK:  MARIST

LINK:  RIDER

LINK:  SAINT PETER'S

LINK:  SIENA

Coach Nigro's Meet Wrap Up -- CSU Invite

Here is Coach Nigro's update after the meet this Saturday at Cleveland State.  

Top Performers from Friday:

• Ian O’Rourke won both boards and just missed qualifying for the NCAA zone championships.
• Emily Hughes competed in her first ever diving meet.
• Kara Borowiak swam her first 1000.
• The women’s 200 fly was a great event for us.  Ashley Harrington, Lindsey Jackson and Sarah Whynot did an excellent job.
• Alex Siuda continues to perform in the 200 back and IM.
• Lindsey Jackson had a good swim in the IM.

Purple Props this week went to Brian Sawma for dominating  the butterfly events against Gannon, Katie Metcalf for her swims last meet and well as her 100 back this week and Emily Hughes for making the transition from gymnast to diver.

Thank you again to all of the parents that came out and supported us in Cleveland.  We promise a Great show this weekend at home on Friday and on the road Saturday.

-Coach Nigro

Keeping Track of the MAAC -- Week One

The Purple Parents Blog will do its best to keep the PURPLE PARENTS on top of how the teams in the MAAC conference are doing -- every week during the season.  Just click on the team's link and it will lead you to their most recent stories and meet results.  GO PURPLE EAGLES!

LINK:  CANISIUS

LINK:  FAIRFIELD

LINK:  IONA

LINK:  LOYOLA

LINK:  MANHATTAN

LINK:  MARIST

LINK:  RIDER

LINK:  SAINT PETER'S

LINK:  SIENA

Coach Nigro's Meet Wrap Up -- WNY Invitational

I was very pleased with the team’s performance this past weekend.  I really trained them hard early in the week.  Monday Tuesday and Wednesday were purposely difficult to prepare for our three day championship.  Needles to say we were all very tired going into Saturday.  When entering for this meet I take a different approach.  I allow the upperclassmen to pick two events, and I choose two others.  For the freshmen, I pick their events.  I also pick the relay teams.  I like to do “class envy”, meaning I try and make the relays by class; freshmen, sophomore, etc.  This allows us to hide our best relays and still have some fun and intra-team competition. Stand out swims:

• Aubrey Kettrick   had a wonderful meet.  She swam some off events and posted great times.  Her 200im and 100 breast were lifetime bests
• Lindsey Jackson did her first 200 butterfly.
• Kara Borowiak went best times in three of her four events
• Katie Metcalf swam the fastest in season times of her career.
• Kevin Jennings likewise swam some off events and showed that he could sprint strokes other than freestyle.
• Alex Siuda posted very good early season times in the IM's and 200 back.
• Evinn Drusys posted a best time in the 200 fly
• Brady Small and Jake Pisano swam their first collegiate 1000 free.

Purple Props this week went to Kara Borowiak and Kevin Jennings for their performances.

Thank you to all the parents that were at the meet to support us.  I hope to see many of you this Friday at Cleveland State.  Diving Begins at 3pm with swimming to follow at 5 pm.


-Coach Nigro

Do You Have an Audio Receiver You're Not Using?

The Niagara University Swimming & Diving Team could put it to good use!  The chlorine in the pool area doesn't treat electronic equipment very well and the team would like to replace their audio receiver.  So, please look around your basement -- and if you have one you could part with, please let Ben or Brooke know.  Thanks!

Highlight Video -- Western New York Invitational

The PURPLE PARENTS BLOG just published a video highlighting the Niagara University Swimming & Diving Team's first swim meet of the 2010-2011 season.  Here's a link to the Purple Parents YouTube Channel and the video:


LINK:  THE PURPLE PARENTS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Niagara University's New TV Spots - They're GREAT!

 

Living in the Detroit suburbs -- we're not in a market that Niagara University typically advertises in -- so we never see their TV spots.  Well, that changed today.  The PURPLE PARENTS BLOG just had an interesting/smart conversation with Tom Burns, the Associate VP for Public Relations, Communications and Marketing  -- about what they're doing at Niagara to promote the University.   He shared that they recently brought 30 high school students to Niagara (via the Purple Bus above) for their very first trip to campus and captured their experience.  GREAT STUFF.  You're going to enjoy this promotion of our school.  Here's a link to four of Niagara's new TV spots -- keep an eye out for a soon-to-be long form video for YOUTUBE:

LINK:  THIRTY @ NIAGARA! 

Happy Halloween!

Susan Small, Brady Small's Mom and Purple Parent -- just carved a pumpkin for her favorite college team -- the Niagara University Purple Eagles!  Happy Halloween!

Purple Parent Goes to First ND Football Game

John Pisano, the father of freshman Niagara University swimmer, Jake Pisano (and Head Coach of USS Swim Club; Team Suffolk) had one of the "greatest weekends of his life" -- last week at the University of Notre Dame.  John, a life-long Notre Dame fan had never been to the campus -- let a lone a football game in Notre Dame Stadium.  Here's a link to a video of John's two days at Notre Dame.  A little entertainment for the Purple Parents as we await the start of the 2010-2011 season:


LINK:  HIS FIRST GAME AT NOTRE DAME

Who's Going to the Western NY Invitational?

If you're going to the first meet of the 2010-2011 season -- let the PURPLE PARENTS know.  Just post a message below in the COMMENTS section. The freshmen parents in attendance will look forward to meeting everyone!  Please list your athlete's name when you post.  Thanks!