NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
We wrapped up another outstanding long course season at NOVA Regency by hosting the Eastern Zone Age Group Championships at the end of July. Following another incredible and dominant showing at District Championships, Virginia Senior Championships, and Virginia Age Group Championships, it's a fitting time to reflect on the remarkable journey we've shared this season.
Summer Juniors concluded this past week, while NCSA Junior Nationals and Toyota National Championships wrapped up at the end of July. Several swimmers from our Senior Development Gold, Senior Gold, and National groups delivered outstanding performances, putting the finishing touches on an extraordinary season.
For coaches, this is always one of the most bittersweet times of the year. It's when we pause to reflect on the season—and, for some swimmers, on years of growth, hard work, and memories. We celebrate the accomplishments, the personal bests, and the graduates who are moving on to the next chapter of their lives. At the same time, we naturally ask ourselves what we can do even better next season. The "what ifs" linger, and the fatigue we've pushed aside throughout the year finally catches up with us.
That's why this break is so important. It's a chance to reflect, recharge, and refocus. It gives us time to step away from the pool, put down our computers and cell phones, be present with our families, and enjoy the peace that comes with knowing the questions of today are often best answered with the perspective that tomorrow brings.
As we look ahead, I'm reminded of the incredible opportunity that every new season presents. There is excitement in the unknown, promise in what lies ahead, and anticipation for those who will choose to dream big and embrace the hard work required to make those dreams a reality.
Who will be next? Who will step forward, commit to the process, and discover just how much they are capable of achieving? I can't wait to see who rises to the challenge and becomes the next source of inspiration for those who follow.
To our NOVA families, thank you for your unwavering support. Your trust, encouragement, and commitment make everything we do possible.
To our NOVA staff, thank you for your dedication throughout another incredible season. I hope you enjoy a well-deserved break with your families.
And to our NOVA swimmers, know that when the new season begins, we'll be ready to welcome you back, challenge you, support you, and help you continue chasing your dreams.
Enjoy the remainder of your summer, and we'll see you back on deck soon.
NOVASTRONG! OneNOVA!
See you soon,
~ Coach David
Congratulations on an unprecedentedly successful NCSA Championship!
We brought a crew of 35 swimmers, the majority of whom are at this meet for the first time. This meet serves a different purpose for us than its spring counterpart. We bring a smaller group and aren't focused on competing for team banners. Instead, our goal is to find a way to swim faster on a bigger stage with brighter lights and against some of the best competition in the country.
Learning how to adapt between back-to-back championship meets is a valuable skill that swimmers will use throughout their careers. Water is still water. If you make the right adjustments, you can swim fast just about anywhere, regardless of the venue, the atmosphere, or even who's in the lane next to you.
This group embraced this and we came away from the meet with over 68% lifetime best times, an incredible achievement considering so many of those best times had been set just one week earlier. Those performances led to more than 13 swimmers scoring top 24 and seven first-time qualifying standards for championship meets ranging from Winter Juniors to USA Nationals.
A special congratulations to new first-time qualifiers:
Lucy Wagner 200 Butterfly Summer Juniors
Luke Wenert 50 Freestyle Winter Juniors
Charlie Hilton 200 Butterfly 2026 USA Nationals
Zach Fisher 200 Freestyle Summer Juniors
Josh Farnsworth 200 Freestyle Summer Juniors
Daniel Bunge 100 Butterfly Winter Juniors
Hayes Williams 400 IM US Open
Congratulations again to everyone on an outstanding championship season. Enjoy your time away from the pool and celebrate everything you've accomplished.
-Coach Matt
More than 30 NOVA swimmers proudly represented Virginia Swimming at the highly competitive Eastern Zones Age Group Championships, held at NOVA-Regency at the end of July.
The NOVA team’s competitive spirit shined throughout the meet across all age groups. Swimmers celebrated numerous personal bests, outstanding relay performances, team records, finals appearances, and—most importantly—valuable experience racing at a higher level. Beyond the competition, swimmers also had the opportunity to make new friends and build lasting connections with teammates and swimmers from across Virginia.
Congratulations to all of our NOVA swimmers on an incredible meet! Your hard work, determination, sportsmanship, and team spirit were on full display. We are so proud of you!
Seven of NOVA’s top athletes traveled to Irvine, California to compete in the 2026 Toyota National Championship. Our NOVA swimmers were competing amongst the top swimmers in the USA including Olympians Caleb Dressel, Alex and Gretchen Walsh. Not only was this meet The National Championship, it also served as the qualifying meet for the 2026 Junior Pan Pacs being held in Vancouver, Canada. For the first time, USA Swimming held an 18 and under only Championship heat to determine who goes to Junior Pan Pacs. This added feature was very exciting to watch and motivating for all our swimmers to attempt to make this final.
Lane Francis, Owen Miklos and Abigail Bonham all swam their way into the 18 and under championship final, with Lane making 3 - 50, 100, and 200 Back. Owen qualified in the 200 Fly and Abigail qualified in the 200 Breast. For a swimmer to qualify for Junior Pan Pacs, one needed to finish First for an automatic spot or second for a chance as only 20 total make each team. Lane Francis managed to grab a spot with team USA! Lane finished second in the 100 Back and accepted her invitation to represent the Red, White and Blue in Vancouver at the end of the month.
Here are a few highlights from the group that represented NOVA:
Abigail Bonham - 4th in 18 and Under Final 200 Breast - 2:29.85 (1st All Time 15-16 - 2nd Open)
Kate Boutry - Best Time in the 100 Fly - 1:03.04
Maddie Bynum - Best Time in the 100 Free - 57.37 and 100 Fly - 1:01.98
Mia Eubank - Best time 1500 Free - 17:08.54 (6th All time 15-16 - 10th Open)
Lane Francis - 4th in 18 Under Final 200 Back - 2:10.99 (1st All Time 15-16 and Open), 5th in the 18 Under Final 50 Back - 28.76 (1st All time 15-16 and Open), 2nd in the 18 and Under Final 100 Back - 1:00.78, 7th in the 18 and Under Final 50 Free - 25.62 (1st All Time 15-16 and Open)
Brady Julian - Best Time in the 100 Breast - 1:09.53 and 100 Back - 57.77
Owen Miklos - 6th in the 18 and Under Final 200 Fly - 1:59.30 (1st All Time 15-16 and Open), 15-16 Team Records in 50 Fly 25.12 and 100 Fly 55:10
Overall it was a great experience for the group, looking for bigger and better swims in the future.
Coach Mike
After a long Summer season filled with a successful run of meets, NOVA delivered outstanding swims this last week to finish on the highest of notes.
This meet featured first-time event winners, multiple team and state records, and strong personal performances throughout the group. The girls finished second overall in the team standings, while the combined team earned fifth place; results that reflect the commitment, resilience, and consistent progress of the entire group.
One of the meet’s defining moments came in the girls’ final medley relay. Entering the race, they were one point behind in the team standings and in order to move ahead, they needed to beat the team holding second place. They did far more than that: our girls beat every other team in the relay, winning the event and securing their second-place overall finish in quite the dramatic fashion.
Beyond the victories, records, and final standings, the team gained invaluable competitive experience - racing the best 18&unders in the USA. This particular group also had the opportunity to grow closer, more confident, and become stronger than ever. While the whole National group was not in attendance, we coaches are confident that this group effort will spread throughout the group and motivate us to set bigger/better goals for the future.
Event Wins + Highlights:
Lane Francis - 200m Backstroke / (2nd in 100 Backstroke)
Abigail Bonham - 200m Breaststroke
W 400m Medley Relay (Francis, Bonham, Bynum, Boutry)
18 Finals Swims
8/10 Top-20 Relay Finishes (4 Top-10)
Team Records:
Abigail Bonham: 200 Breast
W 15-16/Open 400 Medley Relay (Francis, Bonham, Bynum, Boutry)
W 15-16 400 Free Relay: 3:51.29 (Francis, Boutry, Bynum, Patterson)
NEW Top 10s:
15-16:
Mia Eubank - 400 Free 3rd / 800 Free 3rd / 1500 Free 3rd
Maddie Bynum - 100 Fly 2nd
Abigail Bonham - 400 IM 3rd
Owen Miklos - 50 Free =4th / 200 Free 4th / 400 Free 4th
Zach Fisher - 100 Free 4th
Chance Lowry - 100 Back 3rd / 200 Back 2nd
Kate Boutry - 50 Back 2nd
17-18:
Brady Julian - 200 Fly 9th
Open
Mia Eubank - 400 Free 4th / 800 Free 5th / 1500 Free 4th
Kate Boutry - 50 Back 2nd
Abigail Bonham - 100 Breast 3rd / 200 Breast 1st / 400 IM 5th
Maddie Bynum - 100 Fly 4th
Owen Miklos - 800 Free 3rd / 1500 5th
Chance Lowry - 200 Back 5th
-Coach Alex
NOVA Families -
Every day, NOVA swimmers benefit from the vision and generosity of the families who came before them and helped make our Regency home a reality. While our doors are open and our programs are thriving, our capital campaign is not quite finished. One final arrow remains on the donor wall that lines our hallway, waiting to be filled with the names of the families who will help complete this journey.
By making a pledge or donation today, your family can become a permanent part of NOVA’s history while investing in its future. Pledge Here Donate NOW
The opportunities your swimmer enjoys today were made possible by others who believed in NOVA’s mission. Now, together, we can finish what we started and ensure that generations of swimmers to come can continue to elevate.
With gratitude,
Julie Farney
In order to help with planning for the coming 2026- 2027 season here are the practice and meet schedules, these are tentative and subject to change.
2026-2027 Short Course Practice Schedule- August 31- March 28
2026-2027 Short Course Meet Schedule- This includes specific group schedules and a master schedule for the whole team
