NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
"It's a HOT HEAT!" reverberated across the pool deck all weekend at the NOVA hosted 2025 Central District 8 & Under Championship Meet. Approximately 250 ready-to-race young swimmers from across 7 local teams showed up wearing their game faces Saturday and Sunday morning. With 168 heats in the meet, there were many opportunities to conquer a first-time race, earn best times, win heat ribbons, light up glasses and light up foam wands.
The NOVA tattoo parlor was open both days lead by Novice Group Mom Sarah Smith. The customers were so plentiful, reinforcements were recruited to assist in adhering NOVA ink and a variety of underwater sea creatures to faces and arms. Saturday, the attendees wore the NOVA Harley influenced Champs T-shirts and most of the seated timers were representatives from our 15 and older groups. Sunday attendees wore our NOVA inspired colors of red, white, and blue and many timers that day were members from our 13–14 year-old groups.
The racing both days was fast and furious for our NOVA swimmers and there were countless close call races where only the scoreboard could determine the winner. Swimmers waited in anticipation of the final results to see if they would stand on a block during the two awards ceremony breaks held each day. The top 8 winners in relays and individual races were recognized at the spectator end with awards and photo ops led by Coach Laurel and assisted by our older NOVA swimmers who were timing each day.
To go along with the music, cheers, smiles, and high fives, NOVA's social media was abuzz with fun pictures featuring our Novice groups. We even had a new influencer on deck, William Fatt who revived the generations old yarn game, Cat's Cradle! In the end, our 8 & Unders won the meet be nearly 1,200 points, but more importantly, created new memories with teammates they'll be friends with for life!
Way to go NOVA 8 & Unders! Your coaches are so proud of your efforts!
Coach Anita
8 and under District Championships- Feb 8th-9th- NOVA kicked off the 2025 Championship meet season with a big win at the 8 and under district meet. The excitement was electric as swimmers raced hard, got many new time standards and best times. There were many celebrations as swimmers received their top 8 awards. Congrats swimmers and coaches on an amazing win!
Novice Bronze, Novice Silver, Novice Gold, Age Group Dev Silver
9-12 Distict Championships- 2/14-2/16
Senior Silver Top Golf 2/22 RSVP deadline 2/14, Committ HERE
Senior Dev. Gold Riddle Me This Escape Room 2/22 RSVP deadline 2/18, Committ HERE
13 and over District Champs- 2/28-3/2 Entry deadline 2/16, Committ HERE
Senior Champs 3/6-3/9 Entry deadline 2/24, Committ HERE
Age Group Champs 3/13-3/16 Entry deadline 3/3, Committ HERE
NOVA's 2024-2025 Short Course meet schedule is posted to the NOVA website HERE!
Swagger
If any kids are reading this, swagger is our “old people” version of the word “aura.” Let me give you an example. I had a swimmer last year race really well at Age Group Champs, but he barely missed a few goals. He placed second in 50 fly that he wanted to win, and he went 1:00.04 in 100 fly when he’d been working at that oh-so-satisfying :59. Any of my kids can probably attest that I usually remind them to think about goals and numbers at practice - thoughts behind the blocks at the meet should be about the race plan and HOW to achieve those goals. Instead, when this swimmer walked up to me before his 100 fly at NCSA AG in Orlando, I just said “enough talking about it. Let’s do it.” He nodded silently, walked behind the blocks, and he did it - his first 100 fly under 1:00. This ability to have fun with his friends for 90% of the meet but turn on the intensity and focus when needed is Swagger. His confidence earned him the responsibility and privilege of anchoring both of the freestyle relays at that meet. He took those jobs seriously, helping his team clinch team and state records in both events and an event win in the 400 Free Relay. (+1000 Aura)
This is why one of the many lessons I try to teach kids in AGG is how to come over to talk to me (and thus how to go behind the blocks) only about 10 minutes before their race. Kids that are more prone to anxiety often struggle with this the most even though they’re exactly the target for this lesson. Sitting in the bleachers with your friends makes a light attitude and having fun significantly easier than standing behind the blocks mashing your goggles into your eye sockets for the 1000th time. Keep the social energy and the fun as the priority until it’s game time, then be the tough, competitive, and ruthless athlete that achieves 100% of their potential.
If all else fails, a Nova tattoo and a “mom heart” should do the trick.
Coach Luke
