NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
This weekend, more than 200 NOVA swimmers and their families will be traveling for mid-season championship meets. Travel will always be a part of swimming (and of most youth sports) but one of the greatest benefits of our second-floor expansion and long-course addition is this:
NOVA families can now travel significantly less. That means saving both time and money—every single year.
Before we built our long-course water, nearly every long-course meet required travel. For many families, that meant multiple weekends on the road, in hotels, and eating out. Here’s what those trips realistically cost:
Liberty University (Lynchburg, 2 nights):
Mileage/Gas $182 + Hotel $337 + Food $300 = $819Stafford (2 nights):
Mileage/ Gas $100 + Hotel $298 + Food $300 = $698Hampton (2 nights):
Mileage/Gas $119 + Hotel $688 + Food $300 = $1,107
By owning a facility that can host larger meets, especially long-course meets, we have reduced the need for NOVA families to travel by one-third to one-half, depending on the swimmer’s level. That means at least three fewer travel weekends per year for many families.
If your athlete is with NOVA for the next 2–4 years, the cumulative savings, in both dollars and hours, is tremendous. At the same time, NOVA is taking on the full operational cost of hosting five additional events this year alone to make these savings possible. This is why we need the support of every NOVA family to finish the Capital Campaign.
Your swimmer is already benefiting from this expansion.
Your family is already saving time and money because of it.
Now we are asking for your help to fully fund it.
Please consider making a pledge or contribution this week. Every gift—of any size—moves us closer to completing this extraordinary project for our swimmers and our community. Donate to Elevate Campaign
NOVA takes the decision to adjust programming due to weather very seriously with the safety of swimmers, parents and staff paramount. We strive to effectively make clear decisions, offer alternatives if conditions warrant, and communicate quickly to all aspects of NOVA programming. Forecasts, road conditions, if parking lots and sidewalks at both locations are plowed and treated are all factors when making weather cancellation decisions. We will not necessarily follow area school systems when making decisions for NOVA and often will offer practices even though school is closed (like this past week). As always, please use your best judgement in deciding whether to travel to NOVA. Stay safe and stay warm!
Drew Hirth
Director of Operations
Age Group Dev. Gold- Carter Cline and Kevin Snyder
Carter, How many swimmers are in the group?
We currently have 39 swimmers in the group
Carter, What is your group working on this week?
This week is Champs Week, so things are really exciting! Practices this week are all about getting ready to go fast and perfecting race details – starts, turns, relay starts, and sprinting will be the main focus every day. We also have our Hampton Champs hype party for all 10&Unders going to the BB+ Champs, and this is one of my favorite events of the year.
Carter, What is your favorite part of working with AGDG?
I really enjoy the cohesiveness that this group has. Everyone is pretty much on the same page as far as their goals – working hard and getting faster, and that makes writing practices to challenge the kids fun for me!
Kevin, What is your favorite part of working with AGDG?
It is always so exciting watching these young swimmers start getting their first A times or first Age group champs cuts and seeing how that fuels their fire for years down the line.
Carter, What is your favorite part of working with Kevin?
Honestly, everything! But if I had to pick a specific thing it would probably be his passion for seeing the kids do well and the sport of swimming as a whole. Like me, Kevin gets really excited for every kid in the group when they have great practices and/or great races, and I love the energy he brings to the pool deck. He also loves data and has a really analytical brain for stats and numbers, so he has really interesting and helpful perspectives on things that don’t always jump out to me right away.
Kevin, What is your favorite part of working with Carter?
Our humor is pretty much the same, so we are constantly cracking jokes and making niche references to random memes or shows. Also, Carter has ball knowledge. So we could talk about the NBA or NFL for hours, shoutout the GOAT Pat Spencer.
Carter, what is your favorite part of the Championship swim season?
I love champs season so much! Everything really comes together, and the combination of months of hard work plus the excitement and energy of a champs meet typically leads to the kids doing things they never thought they could do! Not only is it super-rewarding for both the swimmers and the coaches, the confidence the kids gain from these experiences is invaluable, and I love how this positively affects their swimming as a whole.
Kevin, what is your favorite part of the Championship swim season?
ALL OF IT. The excitement and anticipation for the upcoming champs meet really starts to show itself at practice. The kids bring even more energy to practice and you can start to really see the improvement they’ve made over the last few months come to fruition. Of course, the insane swimming that happens at the meet itself is always the cherry on top.
Carter, what is one thing on your Christmas list?
New luggage, which will be helpful for the travel meets we have coming up!
Kevin, what is one thing on your Christmas list?
New Basketball shoes, going back to KDs after a long stint wearing Lebrons.
Winter Juniors 12/10-12/13
NCAP Katie Ledecky Invite 12/11-12/14
HVAC Christmas BB+ Champs 12/11-12/14
NOVICE Winter Social 12/12
SDS Holiday Float and Movie 12/14
SDG Holiday Celebration 12/18
National Holiday Cheer Party 12/22
NOVA's 2025-2026 Short Course meet schedule is posted to the NOVA website HERE!
Also, be sure your swimmer is ready for the cold weather. The shop is fully stocked on swim parkas, sweatshirts and flannel pants. Keep these in mind as you do your holiday shopping as they make great gifts!
NOVA December Dip was a great mid season championship meet held at NOVA- Regency. This was "Not your average Dip" NOVA swimmers had an amazing weekend. Swimmer achieved new cuts, new best times and many swimmers achieve new BB times allowing them to swim at the HVAC 8-12 Holiday Champs meet! Way to Dip swimmers and coaches!
Novice Bronze, Novice Silver, Novice Gold, Age Group Dev Bronze, Age Group Dev Silver, Age Group Bronze, Age Group Silver, Senior Dev Bronze, Senior Dev. Silver, Senior Bronze, Senior Silver
RAYS Nutcracker Invitational took place at the Jeff Rouse Center this past weekend. This was a travel meet for parts of our senior program where NOVA raced with teams from all over Virginia. This prelims finals meet was a mid season championship meet and the swimmers stepped up BIG! NOVA swimmers made new friends and supported each other while they picked up many new best times and new Sr Champs, Age Champs and NCSA AG cuts. Great job swimmers, coaches and thank you chaperones!
Senior Dev Bronze, Senior Dev Silver, Senior Bronze, Senior Silver
TONS of FAST SWIMMING highlighted the TAC Blizzard Blitz meet. Swimmers raced hard, supported each other, made changes at finals, and swam fast in Cary NC. NOVA swimmers achieved many new life times best times, crushed finals, and made new NCSA cuts, all while cheering and dancing finals away. Great work NOVA swimmers and coaches!
12 and under PPOW
What more can I say, Sahas is THE BOSS!
13 and over PPOW
Congratulations to Darli for this week's PPOW!
