Hello Stingrays Families,

We hope everyone enjoyed celebrating our incredible seniors on Saturday! Although the meet included some tough swims, five ties, and an overall team loss, we were so proud to see the energy, effort, and spirit that our swimmers brought to the pool. As we enter our final week of regular practice, we’re excited to see our Stingrays finish the season with the same joy and enthusiasm they’ve shown all summer.

Before we move on to this week’s updates, we wanted to share a quick note: We know our team is filled with driven athletes and families who care deeply about our performance—something we truly value. JP and I both have intense competitive spirits, and like many of you, we love to win and strongly feel the disappointment of a tough meet.

That said, we also want to gently remind everyone of the heart of summer swimming. From the very beginning, our focus has been on creating a positive, supportive environment where swimmers of all levels feel encouraged to grow, have fun, and build a lifelong love of the sport.. Wins are a wonderful bonus, but the true measure of our season is the joy, improvement, and connection we see in and out of the water. Competition is an exciting part of our season, but it’s never been the only purpose of what we do. As Ted Lasso said, “I believe you can outscore your opponent and still lose, just like you can score less than them and win.”

If you ever have questions or concerns about any decisions we’ve made, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. We’re always happy to have a conversation and walk through our reasoning with transparency. Your trust and partnership mean a great deal to us. Thank you, as always, for being part of this amazing Stingrays community. We’re so grateful for your support.

Below are important reminders for the upcoming week:

Monday, July 7 – B-Meet at Ravensworth

We will be swimming our B meet away at Ravensworth. Swimmers should arrive by 5:25 PM. Please be on time and ready to warm up!

Tuesday, July 8 – Team Tuesday at Great Waves Waterpark

We’re heading to Great Waves Waterpark in Alexandria for our Team Tuesday event from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

• If you missed the sign-up, you’re still welcome to attend, but tickets must be purchased at full price.
• Please note: This is a team event, but swimmers must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Coaches will not be supervising swimmers during this outing.
• Additional details can be found on SwimTopia.

Wednesday, July 9 – All Star Relays

Another big congratulations to our Stingray relay teams who qualified for All Star Relays!

• The meet will be held at Lincolnia Park. Warm-up times at the venue are limited to 13 minutes per team, so we will hold relay warm-ups at Hunt Valley before heading to the meet, as in previous years.
• Additional timing and logistical details will be shared soon.

Thursday, July 10 – Practice Change & Volunteer Appreciation Night

• Morning Practice: Due to the Lil’ Ray Lollipop Meet, practice will only be held for:
  • 12 & unders: 7:00 – 8:00 AM
  • 11 & overs: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
  • These will be the only practices on Thursday. Swimmers must attend at least two practices during the week to be eligible for Saturday’s A-Meet.
• Evening Event: Volunteer Appreciation Night
  • Join us at the pool from 7:00 – 9:00 PM to celebrate our amazing volunteers.
  • Parents 21+ can enjoy appetizers and drinks while swimmers are welcome to swim and enjoy the evening.

Friday, July 11 – Early Pep Rally: “PJ Out!” We’re kicking off our pep rally early this week to allow time for our fun paper plate awards!

• 5:45 PM – Lil’ Ray Cannonball Contest
• 6:15 PM – Weekly Awards & Paper Plate Awards
• 7:15 PM – Stingrays Cannonball Contest

Come dressed in your favorite PJs and get ready to celebrate another great week!

Saturday, July 12 – A Meet vs McLean (Away)

Swimmer selections will be posted on Thursday and Friday. Be prepared for a strong meet against McLean. Let’s finish the dual meet season strong!

Monday, July 14 – Final Day of Regular Practice 

We’ll wrap up the season with our traditional tie-dye activity! Please bring a white t-shirt or pair of socks to tie-dye during your practice session.

Thank you all for your continued support and spirit. Let’s make this final week of the regular season a great one!

Maia & JP

Co-Head Coaches

Hunt Valley Stingrays