Good evening Stingray families,

Lots of information tonight!

Pictures

Before time trials on June 13, we will have individual and team pictures taken. Individual photos will be at 7 a.m. and the team picture will be at 7:30. Please arrive by 7:15 for the team photo. Feel free to come for the photo even if you have other commitments that prevent you from coming to time trials. I will have the order forms next week.

Time trials

The time trial meet is a chance for new swimmers to see what a meet feels like without another team there. It is also an opportunity to get baseline times for the season so you can see how your swimmer will progress. All swimmers can swim every event for their age group at time trials. There will be a limit at the meets.

Please declare for time trials by Thursday, June 11. Your swimmer can swim every event in his/her age group at time trials. There will not be relays at time trials. To declare for the meet, please log into https://hpstingrays.swimtopia.com/login, go to “Meets & Events,” and click “Meet Entry.” You can declare your swimmer to be swimming or not attending. Then you can choose which event all of your swimmers would like to swim.

The signup for volunteer slots are also open. Please volunteer if you are able so that we don’t have to recruit you unwillingly. That is uncomfortable for everyone.

Practice Signups

Week of June 8 - 8&unders/6&unders: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A8AE29A0F5C16-64389802-8uand

Week of June 8: MiniRays: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A8AE29A0F5C16-64389785-mini

Recycle

I am collecting “like new” swimming suits (team suits or similar) and t-shirts that don’t fit anymore. Then members can look and find something “new to you.” These items will be available at time trials and the first home meet.

We still need VOLUNTEERS!

1. Stroke and turn judges
   1. We only have 1 as of today! We really need 4-5 stroke and turn judges. It takes 2 hours to complete a class and then you get the best position on deck to watch your swimmers. If we do not have judges, we forfeit the meet. This is a very important position! You do not have to be perfect, we just need someone watching.
2. Pancake cookers and servers - We have 1! Thank you! We could use another!
   1. Our wonderful concessions coordinator (Jeanann) is looking to retire. She has been a staple on our team for many years. The first thing she needs is for someone to take over the pancakes (this year). She will train you, and we need volunteers for Friday morning or the swimmers won’t get pancakes. I do not want to be around if the swimmers find out they aren’t getting pancakes - that might be a scene from a horror movie!
3. Concessions coordinator
   1. As mentioned above, Jeanann is going to finish this season as our concessions coordinator, but she would love to train the next person willing to take the time to learn this position. Some of the tasks are creating the list of food items that families bring to meets, purchasing food (can be shared with the swim team directors), and running the stand at the meets. Lots of you wonderful parents have worked the concession stand in the past, so you know how important it is. Both our team and the visiting team depend on it for food and it helps defer swim team costs.

Helpful information for people new to swim team

• Everyone can swim at the regular season meets. There is a limit to how many events a swimmer can swim. In the sign up you can request events, but the coaches ultimately pick which swimmers swim which event. Signups are open.
  • Please let us know if you are coming or not!
• We need volunteers. We need over 80 slots filled for home meets to ensure it goes well. Please volunteer as much as possible! Many hands make the work lighter.
• There are three meets at the end of the season that are based off time or rank on the team.
  • The first in the Warrior Novice meet. This one is for the “not as fast” swimmers. There is a time limit for each event (can’t be faster than…).
  • Straehle is a meet for the fastest swimmers in all of CMSL (Central Maryland Swim League). There are 10 divisions in CMSL and we are in Division 2. The times to qualify are posted here: https://www.gomotionapp.com/reccmsl/UserFiles/Ima...
  • Divisionals is the end of season meet for the teams in the Division (the ones we swim during the season). We have a limited number of entries for each event.

• Lots of great information can be found in our handbook. It isn’t perfectly up to date, but has lots of fantastic information for new families. https://hpstingrays.swimtopia.com/team-handbook
• No photographs are allowed behind the blocks. If you are a timer or a clerk of course (line up the swimmers), please do not use your cell phone.
• Ribbons and other information will be put into family folders. These are located in the guard office, but will be out during some practices. Ribbons can be collected during the week, not during the meet. (I hope to have them updated next week.)

Go Stingrays!

2026 Events

June 13 - Time trials

June 19 - Pep Rally #1/School’s Out Party - Stingray Spirit (red & black)

June 20 - Swim meet vs. South Carroll (home) - Color Wars (colors per age group TBD) - Senior meet #1

June 26 - Pep Rally #2 - Bikers vs. Surfers

June 27 - Swim meet vs. Rollingwood - Senior meet #2

July 3 - Swim meet vs. Dulaney - Red, White, & Blue

July 8 - Night of Shenanigans

July 11 - Swim meet @ Andover - Superhero

July 12 - Mini Ray Meet - Disney

July 13 - Warrior Novice meet @ Wynnewood (tentative)

July 18 - Swim meet 2 Springlake - Zoo Animals

July 19 - End of Season Celebration

July 22 - Straehle @ Padonia

July 25 - Divisionals @ South Carroll