Hi Marlin Families,

I am very excited for the first meet today. This update has alot of info, please take the time to read it all and contact me with any questions. Thank to you everyone for declaring your swimmers!

• Declaration Changes
• Open Volunteer Positions
• T- Shirt orders
• Swim Cap update
• Practice schedule changes - morning practices start NEXT week
• 1^st Home meet today
• Munchin Marlins
• Ribbons
• Sponsors
• Actions needed
• Video- a must watch :) 

Declaration changes: Any change you need to make (fingers crossed there are none 😊 ) should be reported immediately to Coach Sam (919-455-4975) and me (919-345-9359) as there are updates we need to make in the meet software and printouts for the meet. Although this is an intrasquad meet, it is still an official meet and alot of work goes into organizing events and relays so any changes need to be communicated in a timely manner.

Open Volunteer Positions: Thank you to all who have signed up to volunteer. I am thrilled to announce all positions have been filled. We do need someone who would like to train as an Order of Finish Judge. We will need this position filled starting next week and tonight is a great opportunity for someone to learn.  See me at the meet if interested.

T-shirts: If you ordered shirts, I will be distributing them today at the meet.

Swim Cap Update: Swim Caps will be given out at the meet. Make sure your swimmer brings their goggles!

Summer practice hours: START NEXT WEEK

Please note that starting next week we will follow summer practice hours. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday will remain the same while Tuesday and Friday will have AM practice: 7 and Up 10:30-11:30 and 6 and unders 11-11:30.

Meet today: For new swim parents there is more information on what to expect at a meet, what to bring, info about events, etc. located on our team website under the meets/events tab. 

Please arrive at the pool no later than 5:15 so that you can set up and get your
swimmers ready. They will stretch at 5:15 and begin pool warm up at 5:30.
The meet starts promptly at 6 PM. We will have concessions available: Water,
Gatorade, soft drinks, fruit, baked goods, snacks and candy, very limited number of pizza slices. Thanks to the Garkalns family for handling Concessions once again this year.

Welcome to Tuesday Meet day weather! We will swim even if it rains. If there is thunder/lightning we will delay for 30 minutes. We will treat this meet as if we are hosting a meet with another team in attendance. Feel free to bring sun shades for the pool deck. 

Additional meet events:

• We are adding a cannonball event- mainly to slow the meet down and allow a fun break in between strokes. Parents are invited to join the fun. Anyone who is interested will be called to the blocks between freestyle and backstroke events.
• Our team fundraiser will take place in between back and breast stroke events. For just $5, you can take your best shot and pie a coach in the face. Donations will be collected at the concessions table.
• Coaches relays will be moved up to between breast stroke and butterfly. Parents are invited to enter teams. If you are interested please let me know so we can plan lanes. 
• Preordered pizza- if you ordered one please remember to Venmo Connie at @Connie-Garkalns. 
• I anticipate that this meet will be over much quicker than a normal meet- families are welcome to enjoy the pool after the meet to socialize, meet new families and celebrate our "win."

Munchin Marlins- Thank you to Lauren Ward for taking the lead last night and to all the parents who contributed and helped setup, serve and cleanup! Thank you to Bethany White for taking the lead for next week. Signups will be updated once we have a menu.

Ribbons: Ribbons will be earned at this meet- Main event swimmers will receive their ribbons tomorrow in our team box in the kitchen and heat swimmers (9-10 and below) will receive their heat winner/participant ribbons after each race.

Sponsors:  Thank you very much to all of our 2025 Sponsors: 

• Chick Fil A (Falls Village and Strickland & Six Forks), 
• Diaphragm Direct, 
• Rick Hall Eyewear, 
• Dominion Realty Partners, 
• Hartsfield and Nash Insurance, 
• Statewide Construction, 
• Boyles Dental, 
• Vanderwall Orthodontics, 
• Surge Electric, 
• Pro 3:5 Sports Academy, 
• Aardvark Printing and 
• Bella Italia. 

Their donations greatly help our team financially and we appreciate them. Thank you to Connie Garkalns for leading the effort and obtaining many donations along with the Ward, Brin, Barnes and Curtis families. Special thanks to Connie for creating, ordering and paying for our Sponsor Banner again this year- it hangs above our concession stand at home meets and she brings it to hang at away meets. She also made smaller signs to advertise our generous sponsors and has updated the Marlins Bulletin Board with our 2024 team picture and 2025 sponsor information.

Summary of actions needed:

• notify Coach Sam and I immediately if there is a change to your declarations or job sign ups.
• Signups for rest of season are open- meet declarations, Muchin Marlins lead and RSVP's etc.

Video:

Thank you to Liz Convissar for making this amazing video of our 2024 season. Liz absolutely captured what summer league swimming is all about. Please take a minute to watch- it is a great hype video!! 

** Thank you for your patience and for taking the time to read all of this! As always if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

GO MARLINS!

Jackie Miller

Manchester TSA Rep

919-345-9359

[email protected]