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It's that time of year everybody! We stacked two more A division wins this week over Columbia and Congressional by wide margins. Collected hundreds of pounds of food for AFAC during our food drive (winner to be announced this week), and finished the week with another  have reached that beautiful time of summer. Your body has acclimated to the 90 degree days with 90% humidity, at least twice this week you could have sworn that the 4th was just last week, your car smells faintly of wet towel, you have started to wonder "when do these kids go back to school?", and most importantly, it's Divisionals week!

Divisionals is a meet we finished 3rd in last year (2024 was a crazy year in A Division as Congressional won the Divisionals meet, Washington Golf won A Division, and, well, we all know who won Champs). With the Relay Championship belt already secured, Divisionals would be the next step on our way to achieving the CCSDA treble.

*As we look ahead to Champs, please note that due to the way entries work, there is always the chance (and usually there is at least one swimmer every year) for a swimmer to be selected for Champs who did not swim at Divisionals. 

Now, contrary to popular belief, Championship SZN has something for the whole team, not just those swimming at Champs. Practices all week are open to all swimmers on the team and we still have SuperNoVa to get through for all our non-Divisionals swimmers. Join the party and follow along for all this week has to offer:

A Division Championships -- Tuesday, July 22nd -- @ Washington Golf & CC

Warm Up - 5:00PM, Meet Start - 6:00PM,  Theme: Let's Get Down To Business

The A Division Championships, colloquially referred to as Divisionals, is kind of like the conference championships for college football/basketball. All five A division teams will meet at Washington Golf to compete for the title of A Division champion. It means less than winning Champs, but it doesn't mean nothing! Swimmers are able to swim 3 individual events, just like a regular dual meet, but each team only gets 2 entries and 1 exhibition entry for each event. Events will be scored 1st-6th place (7-5-4-3-2-1). You can find the entire lineup attached. 

This meet, much like Relays, has a great competitive vibe to it and all swimmers, whether they are entered to swim or not, are encouraged to come and be a part of the team cheering on their teammates. You won't be disappointed. We are showing up to do a job on Tuesday, so everyone dress in your best business attire and as Captain Li Sheng implores "Let's get down to business."

Washington Golf does tend to get full when it comes to parking, so carpooling may be a good option. They have a small parking lot in front of the club house and another across Glebe Rd at their tennis center. They will also be offering complimentary valet parking throughout the evening. The snack bar will be open throughout the meet and there will be a buffet open after the meet starts. 

SuperNoVa Meet -- Wednesday, July 23rd -- @ Army Navy

Warm Up: 5:15PM, Meet Start: 6:00PM, Meet Theme: Christmas In July

Normally a tri-meet with Belle Haven and Washington Golf, we will only be visited by our friends from Alexandria this year as Washington Golf has to makeup their dual meet with Kenwood on Wednesday evening. SuperNoVa has become a de facto B meet Championship. Only swimmers who are not participating at Divisionals should swim on Wednesday (those who are only swimming exhibition at Divisionals may enter SuperNoVa as well). In addition to the B Champs nature of the meet, this is also where we contend our wet t-shirt relays during the medley relay portion of the meet. These have become a staple of Army Navy dominance over the years, so swimmers should come ready to practice for them on Wednesday morning.

As with Champs, swimmers will be able to enter 2 individual events. I have changed the entry status so that you may choose events for your swimmers. So even if you have already marked your swimmer as available, please go in and choose their 2 individual events. Entries will close for SuperNoVa on Tuesday at 12:00PM. 

We will have a backyard barbeque buffet on Wednesday as well. Please register before you come using the link below to help house staff provide the best service possible.

SuperNoVa Buffet Link

CCSDA Championships Lineup

After Divisionals the coaches will hunker down and get to work on putting together the best possible lineup to eke out the most points we can in each age group. The lineup for Champs will be posted and sent out on Thursday afternoon. So be on the lookout for that. In addition to the lineup there will be a plethora of Champs meet and associated events to go over. All of that will come at the end of the week. 

Thursday (not Wednesday) Afternoon Practice

Due to hosting SuperNoVa on Wednesday there will be no afternoon practice. We will offer a practice on Thursday afternoon from 4-5PM for those who cannot make it in the morning. As with all practices this week, it is open to all swimmers on the swim team.

Registration for End of Season Events

There are a few events that will come up after the Champs meet that will require registration. 

Splash Party

The annual Splash Party will take place on Tuesday evening from 5-9PM at the Arlington pools. Everyone will have a little time to get home and change after Champs finals out at Lakewood. Then join us at the pools for food, floats, 15-18 gag gifts, and general merriment. 

You can sign up using this link -- Splash Party Registration

The Swim & Dive Teams Banquet

On Friday, August 1st we will have the annual Banquet in the ballroom of the Arlington clubhouse. We will start with dinner at 5:30PM and then will recognize the accomplishments of our swimmers with age group and team awards, senior sendoffs, slide show, etc... All to be followed by the best dance party of the summer. 

This event does usually fill up and you will need a reservation in order to attend. You can register to attend here -- Swim Team Banquet Registration

Plenty to digest there, so make sure you wait an hour before getting in the pool (is that still a thing?) We are looking forward to a jam packed two weeks. We wouldn't have it any other way.

From the Deck,

Coach Ian