NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
40 Years. And We Have Some Stories to Tell.
In 1987, I was 13 years old, swimming for Geoff Brown out of Raintree Swim and Racquet Club and the University of Richmond’s Crenshaw Pool, when Geoff and a couple of other young coaches, Stan Bailey and Tony Barney, banded together to form a new club team: NOVA of Virginia Aquatics.
They chose the name because nova is an astronomy term, derived from the Latin word for “new.” A nova is a star that suddenly becomes dramatically brighter, and that was exactly what they intended NOVA to become in the swimming world.
I certainly didn’t know then what NOVA would become, or that 40 years later, I would still be here.
In 2027, NOVA will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Over the next year, we are going to celebrate those 40 years the best way I know how: through the people and the stories that made NOVA what it is.
Because every single day, 40 years of NOVA history walks through our doors.
Maybe you were on that original team with me. Coach Michael Cousins was there. NOVA parent Stacy Stevens Hilton was there. They are both in this 1987 picture with me.
Maybe you swam here 20 or so years ago and now your child swims for NOVA. Maybe you never left. Our alumni are everywhere. They are still swimming on our Masters team, teaching in our lessons program, serving on our Board of Directors, coaching on our pool decks and bringing their own children back to the place where they grew up.
And then there is my personal favorite: what I affectionately call the NOVA Grandparents Club.
These are the former NOVA moms and dads (shout out to Jeff Miller) who spent years driving their kids to practices and lessons, sitting through swim meets and volunteering countless hours. Now they are walking back through our doors with their grandchildren. Twenty or twenty-five years later, they’re doing it all over again.
Forty years of swimmers and coaches. Forty years of parents sitting in the stands. Forty years of friendships, marriages, families, victories, disappointments, lessons learned and stories.
We have stories! And that is what we are going to share with you as we celebrate NOVA’s 40th year. There will certainly be plenty to celebrate about what NOVA swimmers have accomplished over four decades. But I think the bigger story is what remains after the times, medals and records are long forgotten.
It’s the friendships that lasted. It’s the stories of coaches who changed the trajectory of a young person’s life and the teammates who became family. After nearly 40 years as part of NOVA myself, there is one thing I know for sure: being part of the NOVA community has value that lasts well beyond the results and the successes.
Over the next year, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’re going to tell those stories here and on social media. And we want to hear yours. If you are a NOVA alum, parent, coach, grandparent or friend, send us your memories, your old pictures and the stories that have stayed with you.
Forty years of NOVA means there are a lot of stories to tell. We can’t wait to hear yours.
NOVA 12 & Under Short Course Kick Off 10/3-4
NOVA/TAC Dual Meet 10/9-11
AGB Tie-Dye and Italian Ice Social 10/9
AGDS Surge and Pizza 10/16 RSVP by 10/12 commit HERE
AGDG urban air and Pizza 10/16 RSVP by 10/12 commit HERE
Senior Silver Chick fil A and Pickleball 10/17 RSVP by 10/9 commit HERE
NOVA Halloween Haunt 10/23-25 entry deadline 10/12 commit HERE
E = Event - The event number for each event (race). This can be found on the website where you initially entered your swimmer, the heat sheet, or on meet mobile
H = Heat – Which heat number of each event they are assigned to (found in the heat sheet or on meet mobile)
L = Lane – Which lane assignment for each event they will swim in (found in the heat sheet or on meet mobile)
NOVA Expectations for the Meet:
All swimmers are strongly encouraged to remain on deck during their meet session. Swimmers choosing to sit with parents will run the risk of missing an event. (And miss out on making great memories with their teammates!)
Swimmers are expected to come talk to their group's coaches before and after each race so each swimmer will get reminders and race strategy tips. This should be about 15 minutes before they swim so they have time to get behind the blocks. Swimmers should talk to coaches immediately after they swim (BEFORE THEY SEE YOU) so the coaches can give feedback for each race.
Swimmers are NOT ALLOWED IN THE WARM UP / WARM DOWN POOLS during the meet sessions without specific coach permission! No, not even to practice their turns before their race.
Last Saturday, NOVA swimmers traveled to Smith Mountain Lake to participate in the ISCA East Coast Open Water Festival. What started as a day that looked like it might be incredibly chilly quickly warmed up, creating great conditions for a day of racing. The water remained relatively calm and smooth, making for an exciting open water experience.
NOVA swimmers from SDG through National competed in both the 5K and 3K Knockout races.
In the 5K, swimmers typically spread out into pods, drafting off one another to make the swim more efficient. On race day, however, the swimmers seemed to scatter like dust before a storm! The sun came out strong at the start, and the glare made spotting the third buoy especially challenging.
The 3K Knockout brought its own unique challenge, with girls and boys racing together in one massive pack. Making it through to the final round was an incredible accomplishment, but simply surviving the first round was an achievement in itself!
NOVA swimmers showed up ready to race, embracing the challenges and finishing the open water season on a high note. Congratulations to all of our swimmers on an incredible meet!
Results
Male 12-13
Daniel Bunge - 1st 1:03:31
Male 14-15
James Wallin - 1st 1:07:21
Cole Stuhlmacher - 2nd 1:10:42
Gabe Reno - 3rd 1:12:18
Colston Worthington - 5th 1:14:24
Female 14-15
Ellie Laraway - 1st 1:08:33
Orielle Hall - 2nd 1:08:44
Nora Francis - 7th 1:16:43
Cora Chapman - 8th 1:17:02
Aubryn Meadors - 11th 1:17:46
Male 16-19
Cole Nelson - 2nd 1:03:25
Grant Hewett - 5th 1:10:20
Jude Chapman - 9th 1:15:31
Female 16-19
Lucy Wagner - 1st 1:15:14
Overall Female
Ellie Laraway - 2nd 1:08:33
Orielle Hall - 3rd 1:08:44
Mixed 3k Knockout
Maddie Goodman - 19th, Round 2
Every Family has a Fundraising Obligation. Let Virginia Diner Help You Get Started!
The Fall Virginia Diner Peanut Sale is here, and it’s one of the easiest ways to support your swimmer while stocking up for the holiday season! To keep things fresh we have added several new items this season, and a limited amount of TERVIS branded cups (but once those are gone they are gone!).
This fundraiser runs for just two weeks, so don’t wait to start sharing with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. The best part? Families receive 40% of their total sales as fundraising credit, making this a great opportunity to offset team expenses while supporting NOVA.
Our goal is simple: if every NOVA family sells just 4 items, we will meet our team fundraising goal! Whether you're purchasing for holiday entertaining, hostess gifts, teacher gifts, client appreciation, or simply enjoying some of Virginia Diner’s famous peanuts yourself, every order helps.
Orders will be delivered to NOVA in early November, giving you plenty of time to distribute items before Thanksgiving and the holiday gift-giving season.
Thank you for helping make this fundraiser a success. Click the link to see the amazing product list and detailed instructions on how to sign up.
12 & under PPOW
Our first 12 and under Practice Performer of the Week for the 2026-2027 Season is Carter Bertsche, from Age Group Silver!
Carter has been killing it everyday since the new season began. He leads by example, swimming with intention during drill sets, and working super hard during main sets. The coaches are very excited to see how his level of focus and attention to detail pays off as we continue further into the short course season.
Way to go, Carter!
13 & over PPOW
Paolo Tique from Senior Silver is our first 13 and over Practice Performer of the Week for the 26-27 season.
Paolo has stepped up his practice attendance and set a high bar for the new Senior Silver swimmers. He's doing a great job of balancing teaching NOVA lessons, his senior year studies and has added the NOVA Strength to his training.
Keep up the hard work Paolo!
Think Pink for October!
NOVA swimmers can rock a Pink NOVA Cap at all practices and meets throughout October! Pick up yours at Regency or Gayton, plus shop our collection of pink suits and new Nova T-shirts and apparel.
Festive Halloween Suits
Get into the spooky spirit with the new Gourd Vibes Dolfin Uglies, available now along with s selection of fun Halloween-themed swimwear.
