NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
What an incredible weekend! NOVA’s soft opening of our new second floor was everything we hoped for, and more. Seeing the stands filled with families, the deck alive with teammates playing games and cheering one another on, and swimmers racing fast in their new home was a moment that was three years in the making. While there’s still work to be done, this is what “ELEVATE” looks like in action — our community coming together to create something extraordinary.
The “Soft Opening” Continues
We’re welcoming NCAP, MACHINE, and PSDN to NOVA-Regency this weekend for the NOVA Senior Classic, and we’ll still be in soft-opening mode as we fine-tune our new space. Here’s what’s happening over the next couple of weeks:
Sound System: The second-floor sound system will be active this weekend, and we’ll continue adjusting it until it’s just right.
Furniture: Benches, couches, and high-top tables have been ordered and will arrive soon to complete the space.
Elevator Lift: Installation is scheduled for early November, improving accessibility for all.
Signage: Interior and exterior signage is on the way — you’ll start to see updates each week.
Punch List Progress: We’ll continue to wrap up the finishing details that turn a beautiful space into a fully realized facility.
Final Push: Help Us Cross the Finish Line
We’re almost there: just $572,000 remains to fully fund this transformational project. Two important areas, the concessions space and weight room, are part of this final fundraising phase. Our brand-new ELEVATE Donor Wall is being built right now and will be unveiled at our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on Friday, November 7th. Please consider helping us reach our goal and add your name to the wall — a lasting symbol of the families, alumni, and community partners who made this dream a reality. Donate to Elevate Campaign
Thank You
Every cheer in the stands and every smile on deck this weekend reminded us why we do what we do. Thank you for your patience, your excitement, and your belief in NOVA’s mission. We could not do this without you.
Age Group Gold- Luke Nelson, Carter Cline
Luke, how many swimmers are in your group?
37 currently! I look to keep 35-42ish in the group.
Luke, what skills is your group working on this week?
We’ve gotten far enough into the season to have built a good amount of volume, so we’re working on adding more speedwork and goal-focused race pace. We did goal sheets last week, so the next step is to see if we can achieve that speed in practice or what we need to do differently to get there!
Luke, what's your favorite part of working with AGG?
I love the combination of teaching and training that works well in AGG. No kids are too fast or experienced to work on fixing technique, learning new skills, improving weaker strokes, or dealing with disappointment. The kids continue to impress me year after year with how talented they are and how tough they learn to be in and out of the pool.
Carter, what's your favorite part of working with AGG?
I really love the teaching aspect of this group. I think many people might assume that being in AGG will just inevitably make any swimmer “faster.” What they don’t realize is how many new skills the kids are learning and are then expected to be accountable for. Some of my favorite things we get to teach are race pace (for 200s and above), using paddles, and how to warm up & warm down in between races at meets (and WHY we do it).
Luke, what's your favorite part about working with Carter?
The biggest help I look for in an assistant coach is one-on-one feedback and technique correction, which is one of Carter’s strengths! I think we see eye-to-eye on a lot of our coaching priorities, especially when it comes to skillwork.
Carter, what's your favorite part about working with Luke?
When people think we are the same age :)
All kidding aside.. My favorite part about coaching with Luke is definitely his creativity. Luke has so many awesome ideas when thinking about new ways to challenge the kids – it doesn’t matter if it’s in a big main set, a challenge/test set, or a skill progression. He’s even made up new drills just to try out in order to help fix a specific technique issue. Not only does this make AGG even more fun to coach, it inspires me to think outside the box when writing for my own group!
Luke, you swam at NOVA and have coached here for many 12 years. How has NOVA influenced your life?
I found the social environment super difficult at school as I transitioned from private to public school, but I always felt more confident at NOVA. I worked hard and felt respected by peers and coaches, even as a shy kid that looked very young. NOVA taught me to be proud of the things that I’ve done because actions always speak louder than words. David was actually my coach in AGG (the group that I coach now) 20 years ago and his energy and positive reinforcement helped me realize that swimming (and butterfly specifically) was my passion.
Carter, you swam at NOVA and have coached here for 4 years. How has NOVA influenced your life?
NOVA has influenced my life in so many ways! I would say as a kid, being a NOVA Swimmer definitely taught me the values of hard work, discipline, and time management. There is no “taking the easy way out” when you are a NOVA Swimmer, and I think having that mindset instilled at a young age is just a great life skill to have. I also made lifelong friendships and great connections as a NOVA Swimmer. Many of my friends today I met as an 8&Under swimming here!
Luke, if you could pick Carter’s Halloween costume what would it be?
An old lady
Carter, if you could pick Luke's Halloween costume what would it be?
Tough question! In a nod to his favorite classic joke,, I think it would be hilarious if Luke dressed up as “Joe…. Joe MAMA!”
NOVA Senior Classic 10/31-11/2
NOVA MAAGS 11/7-11/9
AGDB Game Night 11/14 RSVP by 11/10 HERE
AGDG Surge Fall Social 11/14 RSVP by 11/7 HERE
WAC Invite 11/15-11/16 Entry deadline 11/2 HERE
NOVA Cranberry Contender 11/22-11/23 Entry deadline 11/10 HERE
NOVA's 2025-2026 Short Course meet schedule is posted to the NOVA website HERE!
NOVA swimmers raced teams from all over Virginia this past weekend in NOVA's Halloween Haunt. Swimmers took on two courses, while the parents walked up the stairs to the second floor for the first time. It was an exciting weekend for everyone. NOVA had many swimmers achieve new best times, new time standards and new qualifying times. We had many swimmers swim in their first meets and even more tackle new events. Congratulations on a great meet coaches, swimmers and parents!
Novice Bronze, Novice Silver, Novice Gold, Age Group Dev. Bronze, Age Group Dev. Silver, Age Group Dev. Gold, Age Group Bronze, Age Group Silver, Age Group Gold, Senior Dev Bronze, Senior Dev. Silver, Senior Dev. Gold, Senior Bronze
Gold Medal Status is a prestigious designation awarded by USA Swimming to recognize the top-performing clubs in the nation. This status is earned through USA Swimming’s Club Excellence Program, which ranks teams based on their athletes’ achievements and team development. Clubs that reach Gold Medal Status have demonstrated consistent excellence in training, support, and overall success at the highest levels of competitive swimming.
To achieve Gold Medal Status, clubs must accumulate points through their swimmers’ performances in top-level national and international competitions. Points are awarded based on factors such as placement, time standards, and competition level, making this status a reflection of both team depth and athlete progression. Teams must meet one of these two requisites: Be a top-20 point-scoring USA Swimming member clubs in 2025 and a minimum of one 18 & Under athlete from the club must achieve a Gold time standard.
Additionally, Gold Medal clubs are eligible for the Podium Club, an exclusive group that USA Swimming honors for sustained excellence and impact on the sport. The Podium Club celebrates clubs that continue to inspire through their contributions, setting a high standard for commitment to athlete development and community engagement. To be a podium club, a team must have achieved gold medal status for four consecutive years. Doing so demonstrates a club’s unwavering dedication to excellence and its role in fostering the next generation of swimming champions.
NOVA has achieved gold medal status 23 times out of the last 25 years and we were the 15th ranked Gold Medal team for 2024-2025.
12 and under PPOW
13 and over PPOW
Our 13 and over PPOW is Senior Dev. Silver's Julia Carvalho. Julia has attacked each practice this season with a smile and a positive attitude. She is a leader in SDS both in her lane and within the practice group. Julia spent the spring and summer recovering from surgery and has put in the work to come back stronger both mentally and physically. She has had two great meets and has set herself up for success this season and her coaches are very proud of her. Let's go Julia!
NOVA’s Annual Meeting will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at NOVA Regency in the Community room.
Each year, NOVA elects new members to the Board of Directors. We require at least 50% of our families to cast votes. Each family must be in good standing to vote, and only one vote per family is permitted. Thank you for your participation!
There are two ways to vote:
- Vote by clicking the link and filling out the google form. Vote for the 2025 Board here
- There are paper ballots and voting boxes at Gayton and Regency. Ballots must be completed by November 14, 2025 before the Sunday meeting.
The Regency Swim Shop location has moved upstairs. During day time hours you may enter either from the second floor parking deck and you can always access the store by climbing the blue stairs to enter from the lobby.
All Speedo equipment is 20% off everyday and every dollar spent in the VA swim shop goes back to NOVA and benefits the TEAM.
