Team Update 6/15/26

June 15th

Marlin Families -

Tomorrow is our second home meet of the season, and we're excited to welcome Oak Park to Manchester! We are looking forward to a fun evening of great swims, team spirit, and cheering on our Marlins. The good news is that Oak Park has fewer swimmers than last week's team, so we expect the meet to move a little more quickly and wrap up earlier than our marathon meet last week!

This update contains several important reminders, so please take a few minutes to read through everything and contact us with any questions.

Declaration Changes

If you need to make any changes to your swimmer's declarations (fingers crossed there are none😊), please notify Coach Sam (919-455-4975) and Jackie (919-345-9359) immediately. Changes require updates to the meet software, heat sheets, and event lineup.

Open Volunteer Positions

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer! We still have a few critical positions that must be filled before we can run tomorrow's meet:

Head Timer – Serves as the meet's backup timer and provides coverage for any lane where a timer is missing or a timing issue arises. This position helps ensure all swimmers receive accurate official times.

Order of Finish Judge – This position works alongside Oak Park's judge to determine places 1st–6th in main events as a backup to the timing system.

Ribbon Delivery – Hand out participant and heat winner ribbons for swimmers ages 10 and under.

➡️ We cannot run the meet without these positions filled.

We also need help with pool deck setup. This includes lining up chairs behind the blocks, arranging deck furniture, installing rope barriers, and other pre-meet preparations. If you can arrive early to help, we'd greatly appreciate it - and you'll likely score one of the better parking spots!

Practice Schedule Reminder - Tuesday morning practices begin this week!

Ages 7 & Up: 9:30–10:30 AM
Ages 6 & Under: 10:30–11:00 AM

Meet Information – Home vs. Oak Park

New swim parents: Additional information about what to expect at a swim meet, what to bring, event information, and more can be found on our website.

Please arrive at the pool no later than 4:45 PM so you have time to set up and get your swimmers ready. Team stretching begins at 4:45 PM, followed by warm-ups at 5:00 PM.

The meet will begin promptly at 6:00 PM.

A few reminders:

Our parking lot is reserved for the visiting team.
The right side of the pool (shallow end/basketball goal side) is reserved for Oak Park.
Marlin families will set up on the opposite side of the pool.

Concessions & 50/50 Raffle

Come hungry! We will have:

Chick-fil-A sandwiches
Bella Italia pizza
Oh! Mochi donuts (limited supply)
Water, Gatorade, soft drinks
Fruit, baked goods, snacks, and candy

We'll also have a 50/50 raffle, with all proceeds benefiting the team. Venmo or cash only, with smaller bills appreciated.

➡️ We are still looking for a few fruit donations if you're able to contribute.

Feel free to bring chairs and sun shades for your family's comfort.

Please Check Out Before Leaving

IMPORTANT: Please do not leave the meet without checking in with Coach Sam.

If your swimmer needs to leave early, we need to know as soon as possible. Last-minute lineup changes - especially for relays - create a ripple effect that impacts coaches, meet administrators, the Clerk of Course, kid pushers, timers, starters, and fellow swimmers. A quick check-in can save a lot of scrambling later in the evening.

A Few Additional Team Updates

Munchin Marlins Host Needed!
We are still looking for a host for the final Munchin Marlins dinner of the season. These team dinners are a great tradition and a fun way for swimmers to connect outside of practice and meets. If your family is interested in hosting, please let us know!

Meet #1 Recap & Ribbons
We are still working through results and recap from last week's meet. In the meantime, ribbons have been sorted and placed in your family folders in the file box located in the kitchen (Thank you Jennifer Curtis!) Thank you for your patience while we get everything organized.

Team T-Shirt Update
We know everyone is eager to receive their team shirts! We are awaiting an update from our vendor and will share more information as soon as we have it.

Summary of Actions Needed

Volunteer for one of the remaining open positions if possible.

Notify Coach Sam and Jackie immediately of any declaration or volunteer schedule changes.

Bring concession donations to the pool if you signed up.

Consider hosting the last Munchin Marlins dinner.

Continue signing up for upcoming meets, volunteer positions, and Muchin Marlins opportunities throughout the season.

Thank you for all of your support, flexibility, and willingness to help make our swim team successful. We can't wait to see everyone tomorrow for another great night of racing and team spirit.

GO MARLINS! 🏊💙