NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
This Thanksgiving, we pause with gratitude for everyone who has helped bring our NOVA facility to life, and for those who believed in the vision long before the second floor opened. Because of the generosity of families who came before us, our swimmers have trained, grown, and achieved in the pools they built. Now, we are ready to finish this project for this generation and the next.
NOVA swimmers are walking the new second floor and proudly pointing to the Donor Wall. Between June 5 and July 31 alone, 100 names were added. When a young swimmer sees their family name engraved permanently, something special happens. They realize:
“I helped make this happen. I am part of something bigger than myself.”
That feeling matters — and we want EVERY NOVA family to experience it.
To date, 155 of 630 families have given, helping us bring the project so close to completion. Thanks to them, momentum continues to build, but we still have a final hill to climb. As of today, $449,813 remains to finish the campaign.
Pledges made between today and December 31st will be added to the donor wall in January.
Now, we need the final push.
Help your swimmer know the pride of belonging to the NOVA story.
Age Group Bronze- Anita Dillman, Zoe Moore
Anita, how many swimmers are in AGB? 64
Anita, what is AGB group working on this week? Fly, fly and more fly! I think butterfly is the hardest stroke to change once muscle memory sets in and as swimmers age and grow. We work a lot on the timing of the stroke and tipping! Getting the head and chest down with the butt up is key to an efficient butterfly. We have also been working on the shrug and shoot of the breaststroke pull to avoid “chicken wings” which pause the arms in the incorrect area of the stroke.
Anita, what is your favorite part of working with this AGB? This season, I have a good mix of move ups from other NOVA groups, group returners, as well as newcomers to the team. In general with AGB, it’s fun to watch the newcomers learn, improve and surprise themselves as they develop. It’s also fun to see who, out of the more experienced of the group, steps up, works hard and becomes lane leaders. The best part of coaching for me is when a swimmer comes out of nowhere with huge improvements that I did not see coming!
Zoe, what is your favorite part of working with this AGB? This is the first year I am working with an 11-12 year old group. So far I have really enjoyed getting to know the kids and learning how AGB practices are run. I am so excited to see how the season goes and look forward to helping each swimmer achieve their goals.
Anita, what is your favorite part of working with Zoe? This is our first time coaching together, but so far we have gotten into a good rhythm at practices and have had some great belly laughs together. We’re never short on amusement in AGB. Also, Zoe has a bulldog named Betty who has the personality of a ham and the body of a large turkey. Zoe likes to dress her up and pose her for pictures. There is nothing like a Betty photo to start my day of coaching with Zoe!
Zoe, what is your favorite part of working with Anita? Anita has an unlimited amount of knowledge about the sport of swimming. I learn something new everyday working with her! She also has a really great sense of humor and I end up laughing during every practice.
Anita, what was your swimming journey and how did you end up coaching? Oh my, it was long, long ago when I started lessons at the local YMCA. At some point in one of the classes when I was 4 or 5 they challenged us to swim as many lengths of the pool that we could. I was the last one swimming at the 500 yard mark and the instructors told me I had to leave because they wanted to go home. I eventually joined the YMCA team, which was similar to NOVA, and swam all through high school and then college at LSU. I taught lessons and coached here and there and then started coaching regularly at the Midlothian Y after my kids joined the team there. I also coached summer league in JRAC, before joining the coaching staff at NOVA in 2018.
Zoe, what was your swimming journey and how did you end up coaching? I started swimming summer league when I was 5 or 6 years old and continued till I graduated high school. I joined Poseidon when I was 7 and swam there till I was 15. I then transferred to Virginia Gators up in Charlottesville and swam for them until I graduated. After that, I swam for Bridgewater College. I taught lessons and lifeguarded throughout high school and college and ended up taking a job with NCAP. After a year, I decided to move back to the area and ended up starting my job here in 2023! I love this sport and I’m very thankful to be back in Richmond with NOVA.
Anita, what are you thankful for this holiday season? I’m so incredibly thankful that all 3 of my college aged kids will be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. My best sleep happens when all 3 of my kids are home safe and tucked into bed under the same roof. There is really no other peace quite like that for me as a mom.
Zoe, what are you thankful for this holiday season? I am incredibly thankful for my daily phone calls with my mom. She’s my best friend and I don’t know what I’d do without those chats! I am also very thankful for my great group of friends who support me no matter what. Lastly, I am thankful for my bulldog Betty. She is the best part of my day!
TAC Blizzard Blitz 12/4-12/7
Rays Nutcracker Invite 12/4-12/7
NOVA December Dip 12/5-12/7
AGB Holiday Party 12/08 entry deadline 12/1 HERE
Winter Juniors 12/10-12/13
NCAP Katie Ledecky Invite 12/11-12/14
HVAC Christmas BB+ Champs 12/11-12/14 entry deadline 11/30 HERE
NOVICE Winter Social 12/12 RSVP 12/5 HERE
NOVA's 2025-2026 Short Course meet schedule is posted to the NOVA website HERE!
NOVA swimmers crossed the river and raced November 15 &16 at the WAC Fall Invite at CSAC . Swimmers took on two courses with very tight timelines to achieve many new best times, new time standards, and new qualifying times. This was a great tune up meet to get ready for our December Champs meet. Congrats coaches and swimmers on a great weekend.
Age Group Dev. Silver, Senior Dev. Bronze, Senior Dev. Silver
November 22-23 NOVA swimmers raced at NOVA Regency in the Cranberry Contender. There was a lot of "Awesomesauce" swimming with plenty "saucy" races and some "sauce bosses" in the house. Swimmers raced hard and did a great job of being aggressive in their races and as a team we achieved many new time standards and AGC cuts. Great work NOVA!
Novice Bronze, Novice Silver, Novice Gold, Age Group Dev. Bronze, Age Group Dev. Gold, Age Group Bronze, Age Group Silver, Age Group Gold, Senior Dev. Gold, Senior Bronze, Senior Silver, Senior Gold, National
12 and under PPOW
13 and over PPOW
Our 13 and over Practice Performer of the Week is Senior Gold's Hayes Williams. She has been crushing practice in SG this season. Hayes has been a stand out in the group with her high level of effort, performance, and consistency in each workout. Be on the lookout for her racing at TAC next weekend!
Let's go Hayes!
NOVA is proud to once again support the Henrico Christmas Mother program. Donations can be dropped off at Gayton or Regency through November 29.
Collection boxes are available at both sites.
Donations Due THIS SATURDAY
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!"
