Took a look at your Top 100 Swimmer List and had a few questions and comments relating to your ranking. I don't know if you are the one to address these comments/questions, but figure that you would forward it off to the appropriate person.
Since my son/daughter is a member of the Class of 2007, my comments certainly are influenced by his/her personal experience and times. I know, you must be thinking I am just another crazy nut parent, but I want to let you know I have never corresponded to anyone regarding their comments regarding my son/daughter and don't belong to your or any other message board. It is not my practice to "bellyache" but I just can't keep my mouth shut this time.
Here we go, with probably too much information, but I am a parent so please give me a little leeway.
My son/daughter, XXXXXXXXXX, will be attending XXXXXXXX next year on a scholarship and is ranked #XX on your list.
XXX is listed as a free/flyer. This is incorrect. He/she is an XXXXer, with 2008 Olympic Trial cuts. XXXXX was a member of the [lists several teams here, state titles, dating back to 2003] He/she is undefeated through four years of HS swimming.
Beginning last summer, XXXXX was recruited by Auburn, Florida, Texas, Stanford, Cal, USC, UVa, Washington, Purdue, Harvard, Indiana, SMU, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and many others. On his/her recruiting trips to XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX he/she was in the company of the majority of the guys/girls in your Top 20 and was offered scholarships at all. Coaches made trips to our home. In addition, XXXXX was offered full scholarships at several other schools that he/she never visited.
Unfortunately, XXXXX has been recovering from a XXX injury (Summer 2006- November 2006) and mono (December 2006 until six weeks ago). He/she missed the 2006-07 short course season except for a very brief appearance at HS States in February where with just three weeks training and still suffering from mono he/she won the XXXXX and XXXXX. He/she missed 10 weeks of training during the 2005-06 SCY season due to a severe reaction to chlorine exposure. Despite that he/she managed to eek out a [several times listed] - unshaved and untapered. The time out of the water had a more obvious effect on his/her long course times at Spring Champs but he/she managed a [many more times listed] . During the summer, his/her XXXXX injury affected his/her ability to scissor kick so his/her back and free times were not good, but he/she went [more times listed].
Of course, I can't expect you to know all this information, particularly about his/her recent health issues, but I am sure XXXXX isn't the only swimmer in the Class of 2007 that had a rough junior year (and senior year) for one reason or the other. However, times speak for themself so I will reserve my questions to times.
My question is, when compiling your list, from what time period did you use times to arrive at your rankings or did you use LTB? Of course, if you only looked back to 2006, I can understand your findings. If you only looked at this past season I am shocked he/she even showed up on your list. If you used XXXXX's [event] times, you are definitely being generous. Did you look just look at short, did you combine the short and long? A comment, since Nationals and the US Open have been held long course during the last several years, I would think many swimmers tapered for long course meets as did my swimmer so I would hope they were considered. XXXXX hasn't tapered for a SCY meet since 2003.
I remember back to November, when on one of your message boards, XXXXX was listed as #XX on someone's list so the drop to #XX was quite surprising.
I also found it curious XXXXX was not even included in your class ranking articles posted last week despite the fact that he/she was mentioned as an XXXXX recruit on your message board in November and that a press release announcing his/her signing was posted.
I am pretty knowledgeable about times around the country. If you are looking at SCY LTB since 2004, XXXXX is the #XX [event]er in the country behind XXXXX XXXXX among the class of 2007. Same is true in LC. Okay, maybe that is too far to look back and you are not looking at LTB. Let's just take a peak at 2006 SCY. [more and more times and rankings listed]
Your list is your list, you are entitled to publish it, and how you arrive at your ranking is your decision. I am just trying to understand how and why so that I can explain to my son/daughter why in Collegeswimming.com's eyes he/she is #XX if he/she happens to stumble upon your list. Life has thrown him/her a curve and it is a struggle mentally, physically, and emotionally to come back to his/her former level of competition. Stuff/opinions like this doesn't help. I am thankful that XXXXX believes in him/her and didn't rely on rankings (nor did the other schools who actively recruited him/her).
So that you may better understand where I am coming from, I have included below XXXXX's lifetime bests.
Thank you so much for you time and assistance, Greg. I look forward to your reply.
Best,
XXXXXXXX
[List of top 47 times attached]