Hi Team-

Wow, what a fun weekend we Sturgeons had! We successfully ran our first official home meet with other teams. Thank you all who donated items to the low key snack bar, we netted ~$350 dollars from those efforts! Also thank you to all the volunteers who stepped up in a big way, even smaller meets take a lot of volunteers. So thank you officials, timers, meet helpers etc, without you, we would have no meet!

Looking over the results of this meet, I am amazed at how fast a lot of your swimmers swam. I love seeing first time swimmers braving their first winter swim meet and doing wonderfully congratulations Anya Wolfe, Lily Harvey, Ruby Briar-Sprouse, and Maya Edson! Welcome to winter swim meets, great job managing the nerves and swimming wonderfully.

We also have many Silver, Bronze, and even a few Age Group Qualifying times. Check out the results I have attached, AG, SILV, or BRNZ next to your swimmer's name means that this time qualified them for these next level, end of the season meets. Here are the time standards for the various championship meets by age group, if you are curious. Great job to all swimmers!

Now onto our next meet, I have attached the entry list for the Winter Classic Meet at UVAC Dec 5th-7th. I need to submit final entries by tomorrow morning at 9am! So let me know tonight by 9pm if you need to switch events around, change days, or want in. Let me know by email or text. I would love to have a big showing at this meet.

Next order of business is the Thanksgiving practice schedule and RSVP. We will be having practices tonight, Monday, on the usual schedule, 5-7pm.

Tuesday 11/25: 

5-5:30pm Little Frys

5-6pm Crimson

5-6:30pm Teal and Big Sturgeons

Wednesday 11/26: 

9:30-10am Little Frys

9:30-10:30am Crimson

9:30-11am Teal and Big Sturgeons

No practice Thursday or Friday

Saturday 11/29: 

4-4:30pm Little Frys

4-5pm Crimson

4-5:30pm Teal and Big Sturgeons

Sunday 11/30: 

4-4:30pm Little Frys

4-5pm Crimson

4-5:30pm Teal and Big Sturgeons

Note: For these practices, the fitness center will not be open, so please enter through the metal door closest to the pool. I will need a parent volunteer to open the door for people at the start of practice.

Also please let me know on the RSVP form if you can make it and what practices you plan on coming to. So I can be prepared with coaches for you.

The gear order should be coming in the next week or 2. I will send an email out when it is in and let me know if I should not hand your swimmer their gear in practice, so I do not ruin surprise holiday gifts.

I also will be sending out a T-shirt size request form (likely tomorrow) to collect your swimmer’s size for their yearly team t-shirt.

I will be compiling a wish list of gear for your swimmers for you all as we head into the holiday season, so be on the lookout for that. Number one item you need for your swimmer is a good pair of fins. Your swimmer really needs this item to fully participate in practice. If your swimmer does not have their own pair, please get one for your swimmer.

Also another higher ticket item for older swimmers, 13+ is a good tech suit for racing. These suits are crazy (I mean truly crazy expensive) but they do help swimmers of this age get excited for fast racing as we head into the championship season. I noticed there are some good ones for sale (Black Friday Specials Already?!) on SwimOutlet.com. Check them out if you are interested.

As always, I am wrapping this up a few words over my limit. Thanks so much for being part of this team and this fun journey with us. I am so excited to have the privilege of watching your little swimmers grow and develop their swimming skills over the course of this season and beyond. All of your swimmers have so much potential for greatness, they just need to be brave enough to go for it. We as coaches hope to help them with that everyday.

Take care everyone, I will see some of you at the pool tonight. If I don’t see you, have a fun and safe break.

Coach Hilary