The Purple Parents -- Official Hotel for MAAC's

The Hyatt Regency Buffalo has been selected as the OFFICIAL HOME of the PURPLE PARENTS during the 2011 MAAC Swimming & Diving Championships.  We have a block of rooms set up for the dates of Wednesday, Feburary 16th to Sunday, February 20th.  YOU CAN BOOK WHATEVER NIGHTS YOU WANT -- NO RESTRICTIONS!  Our room rate is $99 per night (plus tax) and includes free parking for one vehicle per night.  To make your reservation -- please call:   1-888-421-1442 and tell them you're with the "NIAGARA UNIVERSITY PURPLE PARENTS" group.  Please make your reservations ASAP -- we have until January 15th -- however, once the rooms are gone -- they are gone.

Ian O'Rourke Receives Two Honors This Week!

Niagara University senior, Ian O'Rourke had a wonderful Saturday diving against Buffalo winning the 1 meter board and -- qualifying for the NCAA Zone A Meet.  Ian's performance earned him two honors:  Niagara University Student Athlete of the Week and MAAC Diver of the Week!  Congratulations Ian!

LINK:  NIAGARA STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

LINK:  MAAC DIVER OF THE WEEK

Coach Nigro's -- University at Buffalo Meet Recap

The team had some very solid performances this weekend at Buffalo.  Our goal for this meet was to have season best performances.  As a team we had 23 season best times and four top performances on the board.  The group did a nice job of responding to the challenge. 

Highlights on the day…

Women

Lindsey Jackson won the 200im and swam a great 100 butterfly.

Sarah Universal swam season bests in both her individual events, the 200im and 100 breast. 

Renee Parsons had on of the best 100 butterflies I have ever seen her swim.  This earned her Purple Props for the week.

Men

Chris Zukas posted his best scores of the season on 1 and 3 meter diving.

Ethan Mahoney had his best 100 back of the season.

Tyler Ferguson had solid swims in the 200 and 100 freestyles.

Jack Pisano dropped one second in his 200 free and seven seconds in his 500 free to earn Purple Props for the week.

The biggest highlight of the week was Ian O’Rourke’s performances on the diving boards.  Ian won the 1 meter with a score of 321.10, and placed 2^ndon the 3meter with a 348.85.   This earned him Purple Props. His Scores have qualified him for the NCAA Zone A championships Zone meets are the selection meets for NCAA Championships.  The best five divers from Zone A will advance to the Nationals.

As always thank you to those of you that were in attendance to support the Purple Eagles.

This weekend the swimmers will be in Canada to swim the Waterloo Warriors.

Saturday's Meet Against Buffalo -- 2 PM Start Time

The Niagara University Purple Eagles make the 17 minute drive to University at Buffalo tomorrow -- to take on the Bulls.  The meet is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM EST.  Those who live in the Buffalo area can watch the meet on a taped delay basis on LCTV.  Here's a link to the LCTV website and a link to the University at Buffalo athletic site, just in case they have live results of Saturday's meet:  Good Luck Purple Eagles!


LINK:  LCTV 


LINK:  UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO WEBSITE

The Team BackPack -- No Longer Purple!

Niagara University's recent announcement that they've become an exclusive NIKE school -- has forced the Purple Parents to switch our order from a Purple Speedo BackPack to a Black Nike BackPack.  The reason for the switch is Niagara will not allow our team to use the Speedo BackPack beginning next season -- so it makes no sense to buy a purple Speedo backpack for one season.  Nike doesn't have a purple color option for us -- so, we're stuck with black.  The switch to Nike will add an additional $5 to the "investment" for the Team BackPack.  Please check your email for more information.

"Purple for the People" -- Couln't Pass This Up!

Seven-Eleven is capitalizing on a recent comment made by President Obama concerning a potential "Slurpee Summit" between the Democrat and Republican party's respective leadership.  Seven-Eleven announced today that they're going to try to bring Bipartisanship to Washington D.C. with PURPLE SLURPEES.  Well, since they're PURPLE -- the Purple Parents Blog had to report on this!  Here's a couple of links to what Seven-Eleven is up to!


LINK:  PURPLE FOR THE PEOPLE


LINK:  SLURPEE'S WEBSITE

Coach Nigro's Meet Wrap Up -- Siena Meet

Our women swam tough this past weekend, but came up short against a very good Siena team.  As a team we had 15 season best times. Unfortunately we were out-touched in several close races.   Sophomore, Julia Bulmahn and Junior, Ashley Jones secured victories in the 100 back and 1 m diving.

Purple Props went to junior Kaley Pfohl who swam season best times in the 1000 free and 500 free.

Thank you to those of you that came out to cheer us on.  This weekend we are at the University of Buffalo.  The meet will begin at 2pm and will also be televised locally (tape delay) on LCTV.

Purple Parents Official Hotel -- Akron Meet

The Purple Parents have a block of rooms reserved on a "first come, first served" basis at the Marriott Courtyard Akron Stow -- for the nights of December 3rd and December 4th -- the same hotel the team will be staying at.  The rate is $89 per night and includes breakfast each day. Here's a link for a King Bed and a link for two Queen Beds.  See you there!


LINK:  RESERVATION LINK FOR A KING BED


LINK:  RESERVATION LINK FOR TWO QUEEN BEDS

The Team BackPack -- Still Time to Order!

As we await the receipt of payment for the Purple Eagles Team Speedo Pro BackPack -- if you still want to order a bag - leave a comment (below) by this Friday.  As of right now, twenty-one team members will be sporting the "purple bag" at the Akron meet.  We'll need to know the name you want on the bag; first, last or initials -- only.  The "investment" is $49.50 per bag -- add $10 if you want the bag sent to your home instead of Niagara University.

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