NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our NOVA community, we are thrilled to share that our capital campaign is 90% funded. Together, we have raised $2.25 million toward our $2.5 million goal, leaving just $250,000 to go. This milestone represents a powerful vote of confidence in NOVA’s future and the shared vision we have for our athletes, families, and broader community.
Many of you have already seen the exciting progress on the new second floor, including the addition of comfortable furnishings and the purchase of tables and chairs for the multi-purpose Community Room, creating welcoming, functional spaces for connection, meetings, and events. These upgrades are already making a meaningful difference in how our families experience the facility.
As we enter the final stretch of the campaign, we are focused on funding several key amenities that will fully bring this project to life: live-streaming equipment to better share our competitions, a build-out of the second-floor concessions area so we can offer hot food and beverages during swim meets, and equipment and finishing touches for the new weight room. These elements will significantly enhance the athlete and family experience for years to come.
We are especially grateful to the NOVA families who have made new gifts or increased their pledges since July 2025. Your generosity is helping push us across the finish line:
David and Lynn Fellowes, The Oakley Family, The Bunge Family, The Markham Family, The Nichols Family, The Lutterbein Family, The Welsh Family, The Vogel Family, Rich and Nancy Crowder, The Dart Family, The Calhoun Family, The Reid Family, The Joyce Family, Wade Wright, Kelly Zhang, Sarah Smith, Sarah Sleeman, The Shaps Family, Natalie Tang, The Francis Grandparents, The Carlson Family, The Green Family, The Hopkins Family, Rebecca Nelson, The Bynum Family, The Agee Family, The Fortuna Family, The Mazzini Family, The Linkonis Family, Cindy Anderson, Ashley Cullum and Charlotte Shirey.
Thank you for believing in NOVA and for helping us build a stronger, more vibrant future together.
NOVA takes the decision to adjust programming due to weather very seriously with the safety of swimmers, parents and staff paramount. We strive to effectively make clear decisions, offer alternatives if conditions warrant, and communicate quickly to all aspects of NOVA programming. Forecasts, road conditions, if parking lots and sidewalks at both locations are plowed and treated are all factors when making weather cancellation decisions. We will not necessarily follow area school systems when making decisions for NOVA and often will offer practices even though school is closed. As always, please use your best judgement in deciding whether to travel to NOVA. Stay safe and stay warm!
Drew Hirth
Director of Operations
The NOVA Swim-a-Thon is an important fundraiser that supports NOVA's general operating budget. Pre-event sponsors help cover costs including the tshirts, decorations, snacks, prizes and more. If you have a business ( or family) that would like to become a sponsor please contact Julie Farney - julie.farney@novaswim.org for more information.
Here are a few details about this year’s event:
- Date: April 11 2026
- Location: NOVA Regency
- Goal: $125,000
Novice Gold- Anita Dillman and Kai Kratzer
Anita, how many swimmers are in your Novice Gold group? 53 which is lower than normal. We had a lot of move ups in December!
Anita, what is Novice Gold working on this week? Each week is a little bit of everything as we try to instill a well rounded young swimmer in all 4 strokes. NG introduces some new components from NS like an 8-step underwater pullout for breaststroke, breathing every other stroke in butterfly and N-2(Backstroke) and N-1(Bk-Br) turns as well as LLRR(Fr) turns. This age learns quickly from seeing their peers doing things correctly, so we will have some demonstrations at the beginning of the week.
Anita, what is your favorite part of working with NG? It’s never boring working with the youngest swimmers and the hour practice goes by quickly because there’s so much engagement with them. They’re also fun and funny. I keep them on their toes with some crazy stories and they keep me on my toes with their comical comebacks. They absolutely love a challenge and can do some astonishing stuff at their young ages like no breath 25’s and underwater streamline kicking on their backs and stomachs for an entire 25.
Kai, what is your favorite part of working with NG?
My favorite part about working with Novice Gold is making noticeable impacts on each swimmer's stroke development and character development. Watching young swimmers fall in love with the sport and drop massive amounts of time each time they jump into a pool is really exciting to be around. On the flipside, you get to hear about each and every one of these kids' crazy stories and life experiences that I think sometimes makes you appreciate the joy and excitement each day brings.
Anita, what is your favorite part of working with Kai? Kai is always even-keeled and a go-with-the-flow type of coach, so we balance each other out. He’s also always up for whatever, like timed handstands, high jumps to amaze the kids, high fives where he gets knocked around by ill-aimed little hands, and sometimes he’s a human jungle gym for NG. None of it phases him and he comes back for more of it day after day without complaint. He’s also great at remembering names and I can always count on him to jump in whenever asked.
Kai, what is your favorite part of working with Anita?
Anita is the best. End of story. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the sport that is very clearly reflected on our group's strength in the pool. I am always picking up on small tid bits of information that I then use when I coach. I respect her as a coach and I respect her even more as a person. Working around Anita has not only made me a better coach but also heavily impacted my growth as an individual.
Anita, if you were an animal , what would you be and why? So easy, a butterfly. In NG it’s the year of the butterfly, don’t let them tell you otherwise, and we pay homage to it everyday. The butterfly is graceful with long extended wings that move their bodies with little resistance. That’s how we want NG to learn to move through the water. I’m pretty sure all of NG would choose to be the butterfly, it’s just how we fly.
Kai, if you were an animal , what would you be and why?
I would be a hawk, a red tailed hawk to be exact. Don’t ask me why, but whenever my mom used to ask me the same question, this is the answer I have always had. I mean who wouldn't want some snazzy red tail feather paired with the freedom and flight and near perfect eye sight!
NOVA Distance Day - 1/23 Entry deadline 1/12, Commit HERE
12 and under District Champs- 2/13-2/15 Entry deadline 2/1, Commit HERE
13 and over District Champs- 2/27-3/1 Entry deadline 2/15, Commit HERE
Senior Champs- 3/5-3/8- Entry deadline 2/22, Commit HERE
Age Group Champs- 3/12-3/15 Entry deadline 3/1, Commit HERE
NOVA's 2025-2026 Short Course meet schedule is posted to the NOVA website HERE!
2026 Champs shirts will be available in the Swim Shop the first week of February. Come get your LEGO inspired "We Build FAST!" shirt to wear for all NOVA champs meets.
Champs meets are right around the corner. Please make sure to visit the Swim Shop for all your championship meet needs. Appointments for new to "kneeskin" girls are avaible by calling the Swim Shop.
NOVA New Year's Kickoff -Jan 9th-11th- NOVA kicked off the New Year with FAST swimming Friday night and didn't slow down all weekend long. Swimmers raced hard, took on new events, teamed up for fast relays, achieved new times standards, and achieved many best times.
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 Bronze, Senior Silver
NOVA Senior LC Invite- Jan 17th-19th- NOVA's 13 and over swimmers turned the pool around and raced long course this past weekend. This change in pool direction led to many new best times, lots of new qualifying times, two team records and a state record. With 3 sessions each day the pool was almost always filled with fast swimming and lots of team support. Congrats on a great meet coaches and swimmers!
Senior Dev. Silver, Senior Dev. Gold, Senior Silver, Senior Gold, National
GSA January Jumpstart- Jan 17th-19th- NOVA's invited 12 and unders team traveled to Greensboro NC to race teams from all over the southeast. NOVA swimmers crushed it in the prelim/finals sessions with many new best times, new time standards and many new championship meet qualifying times. No snow thankfully but lots of fast swimming, laughter, and of course fun. Congrats coaches and swimmers
12 & Under PPOW
Our 12 & Under PPOW is Age Group Silver's Anna Sessa. Anna has been on FIRE since December champs! It doesn’t matter if it’s a speed set, aerobic set, or a drill set… Anna has been the model for those around her. Her attitude and work ethic is contagious, pushing others around her to do the same. Way to go Anna and keep up the great work!!
13 and Over PPOW
