NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, NOVA families from all the coaches here at NOVA!
It’s hard to believe we are through another December Championship season, as time seems to fly by. NOVA swimmers were scattered from Richmond, to the Tidewater area, to North Carolina, up to Columbus OH, and back to Richmond for fast swimming all across the program. Congratulations to everyone that competed these past few weeks!
With December marking the “midpoint” of the short course season, it gives everyone a chance to catch their breath and evaluate what we have done and gear up for yet another championship run! I use the term midpoint loosely, as believe it or not we have been in the water working since September for anywhere from 13-15 weeks and it’s only 8 weeks until our 8 and unders kick off our Short Course championship season. It will be here before you know it, but there is no better time than now to continue the work and prepare for even faster swimming in Feb/March.
NOVA has always prided itself on hard work and discipline, but that doesn’t mean that learning from the work and discipline stops. With each championship season every swimmer should evaluate what went well for you and build off of that and reflect on what you can do better in order to continue to make progress. Oftentimes we swim in meets for the reward of a best time, new cut, or that first place win. There are times, which is almost always, when we swim in meets to learn what we can do better, even if a swim meet was successful. When you can put all it together, hard work, discipline and what you have learned in the process during your practice effort, you’ll find success beyond what you thought was possible.
Congratulations again on a great “first half” of the season. Continue working hard, learning how to be a better you, and continue the discipline it takes to get there!
Let’s Go NOVA!
NOVA's Holiday practice schedule will run December 18th- January 8th. All practice groups have changes so please check both times and LOCATIONS!
Click HERE to find your swimmer's practice schedule.
Holiday Championship meets were full of FAST swimming!
December 6-9th Qualified National and Senior Gold NOVA swimmers headed to Ohio State to compete in the USA Winter Juniors Meet. The swimmers raced well, competed against some the fastest 18 and under swimmers in the country, and had many great swims.
December 8-10th Senior Silver and Senior Development Gold traveled to Cary, NC to compete in the TAC Blizzard Blitz. Swimmers came ready to race, records were broken, and spirits were high.
Senior Gold, Senior Silver, Senior Development Gold
December 8-10th Our 8-12 qualified swimmers headed over to Hampton AquaPlex to compete in the CGBD 8-12 Christmas Champs. Our swimmers brought the Christmas cheer, an unrivaled cheering section, and lots of best times!
Age Group Gold, Age Group Silver, Age Group Bronze, Age Group Development Gold, Age Group Development Silver, Novice Gold
December 15-17th National and Senior Gold swimmers team traveled down to Greensboro NC to compete in a HUGE meet. Swimmers swam fast, raced hard, and brought the speed to finals!
Please check out our updated All Time TOP 10 lists, New Team Records, and Seasonal TOP 10 lists HERE!
Group coaches: Lead Laurel Reid, Assistant Lauren Medlin
How many swimmers are in Novice Silver? 57
What skills is NS working on this week? We are welcoming new swimmers from Novice Bronze to Novice Silver this week and introducing them to using a pace clock. We are also reviewing LLRR turns and having some holiday fun!
Laurel, what's your favorite part of working with NS? My favorite part of working with NS is having the opportunity to coach so many swimmers! Almost everyone passes through NS at some point and it is so rewarding to see everyone grow and move through the program. 8 and Unders are also a lot of fun because you never know what they are going to say!! "Wait...are Chuck Norris and Oprah brothers?!?!?"
Lauren, what's your favorite part of work with NS? My favorite part of working with NS is that the swimmers are at that age where they still get to have lots of fun at practice. We do a lot of technique work that requires them to focus and learn, but they are still able to play around and enjoy themselves in the water.
Laurel, what's your favorite part about working with Lauren? I really enjoy Lauren's sense of humor! She has been a great addition to NS this year.
Lauren, what's your favorite part about working with Laurel? I love how seamlessly our coaching styles and senses of humor fit together (and our between- practices snack runs)
Laurel, do you have white or colored lights on your tree? White lights
Lauren, do you have white or colored lights on your tree? White lights
Laurel, what one food has to be on your holiday table? Fried Calamari
Lauren, what one food has to be on your holiday table? Potato Rolls!
NOVA is a 501-(C) 3 corporation. All donations (above your families fundraising obligation) are tax deductible. Looking for a way to donate? Click this easy link https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E107237&id=3. Your donation will be recorded instantly and a tax letter will be emailed to you. 100 % of donations count towards your family's obligation.
CALLING ALL TRIATHLETES!
Join Coach James Crabb (2012 Olympic Trials Athlete, 3-time Masters National Champion) at Nova Gayton (12207 Gayton Rd) in the first swim clinic of the year. Three 2 hour sessions (4-6pm Jan 7, 14, and 21) of powerful instruction offer a deep dive into how to improve your technical skills in the water and what it takes to swim more confidently. All swimmers will have Video Analysis and should expect to learn and enhance their freestyle coordination and efficiency. All participants will receive a complimentary membership to NOVAFit for the month of January.
Spots are limited, so don’t hesitate to sign up!
Register for a specific session: HERE
Register for all 3 sessions: HERE
