NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
Happy New Year, NOVA! As we step into 2026, I hope you feel the same excitement and sense of possibility that January brings each year. This moment is full of opportunity—a chance to reflect, reset, and move forward with purpose.
Alex Morritt captures it perfectly: “New Year — a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately, we write it. The choice is ours.”
December tested us. We’ve seen the results, felt the challenges, and learned valuable lessons. The question now is: What will you do with that knowledge? What story do you want to write for the rest of this season?
For swimmers and coaches alike, goals are the lifeblood that get us out of bed and into the water, ready to do the hard work required to improve. There is no better time to set—or reset—your goals for the remainder of the season. When you look back in March, what do you want to see?
As we enter the final sprint toward our short course championship meets, there is still time to make meaningful progress. Commit to consistent practice attendance. Ask questions. Seek guidance from your coaches. Most importantly, be willing to implement the changes that will move you forward.
The time is now. The opportunities are here. The next chapter is yours to write.
Let’s go, NOVA!- Coach David
Six years ago, on January 14th, we lost one of our own, swimmer Carson Brewer. His passing changed our lives and our club forever. I, like many of you, remember the pain that we felt that day and the love that we showed one another as we grieved together as a team. Through that loss we gained two beautiful traditions to celebrate and remember Carson’s life.
First, the coaching staff and the Brewer family created the Carson M. Brewer Coaches Award. This honor is given in the spring to the 12 and Under swimmer who best embodies the honorable qualities that Carson possessed: being a hard worker, dedicated teammate, and incredible friend to all. The names of the winners of this award can be found at both pools, alongside the plaque of Carson.
NOVA New Year Kick Off - 1/9-11
Greensboro 12 and under Team Travel - 1/16-19
NOVA Long Course Winter Invitational - 1/17-19
College Swimming Information Night- 1/20
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
NOVA's 2025-2026 Short Course meet schedule is posted to the NOVA website HERE!
Age Group Dev. Bronze
Amanda, how many swimmers are in AGDB?
We currently have 69 swimmers in the group, yay! I love a big group.
Amanda, what is your group working on this week?
This week we are meeting many of our new swimmers for the first time, so it’s a balancing act of skill review while keeping endurance up. Lots of 200s for us at the meet this weekend, so we need to stay confident with those longer distances after having several weeks off!
Amanda, what is your favorite part of working with AGDB?
I love teaching, and AGDB requires a lot of teaching! It’s not uncommon for me to rack up almost 10,000 steps over the two AGDB practices, rushing up and down the pool to tweak whatever I can. It’s almost like a flow state really, and it’s so rewarding to see a rough skill/stroke finally fall into place after several weeks of working at it.
Ian, what is your favorite part of working with AGDB?
It is quite enjoyable to watch a kid finally understand a technical change. Often it's preceded by a few practices of misunderstanding, and when they finally make the switch there is a pretty tangible joy about them. I also just love watching kids drop ridiculous amounts of time out of nowhere.
Amanda, what is your favorite part of working with Ian?
I think Ian takes my - sometimes intense - edge off, and gives kids that may be a bit more skittish a softer landing in the group. I think we both have our own set of kids that jive better with our style, and that’s great! He’s also somehow always in a good mood, which tends to be contagious. It’s impossible to have a bad day!
Ian, what is your favorite part of working with Amanda?
I never doubt Amanda’s motivation and conviction as a coach. She is passionate and energetic. We are able to joke together, and balance each other well with our styles of coaching. I am very thankful for Amanda!
Amanda, what was your swimming journey and how did you end up coaching?
I started swimming at around 7 at our neighborhood pool, Three Chopt, after seeing the team kids practice while I would go there to play. I LOVED being in the water and thought it looked so fun. From there my family got me signed up with the YGR Tritons, later joining Poseidon when they disbanded. I ended up with a shoulder injury that cut my competitive swimming journey short pretty young, but I came back to it on and off through the years. I was never able to commit to it the same way as when I was younger, but I’ve been involved in swimming in some capacity ever since.
Ian, what was your swimming journey and how did you end up coaching?
My parents signed me up for club swimming when I was seven. I started swimming doubles when I was 11, and nearly quit when I was 13. I committed to swim in college during COVID and tore my labrum on the road trip to school before freshman year. Swimming has given me my fair share of grief, but it also forced me to evaluate my goals and motivations, and more than anything it has taught me discipline and persistence. My best friend and current roommate– also a Kenyon swim alumni– had taken a job in Richmond, Va. Obviously, NOVA’s reputation precedes itself, and in spite of my retirement from the sport, I quickly found myself back on the pool deck.
Amanda, what is your New Year’s resolution?
I don’t think I’ve ever had a resolution going into the New Year, but this year I do want to get better, or at least more comfortable, at cooking. More often than not, I am known to set off a fire alarm in the kitchen…surely 2026 will be my year. So far I’ve only set it off once!
Ian, what is your New Year’s resolution?
I am a big resolution disbeliever, so in the spirit of positivity, perhaps my resolution will be to get others to ditch resolutions as well.
On Christmas Eve, NOVA hosted our 1st annual Alumni Vs. NOVA Dual meet. With only a short time to put it together and reaching out to our alumni, casting only a small net we had over 40 alumni show up, most swam but some just came to watch! The meet featured 50s, 100 IM and the most popular events the 4x25 Free and Medley Relays!
Some of the highlights of the morning was an Alumni victory! Led by some of our current college swimmers at many Division I, II, III schools home training with NOVA. Not to be left out of the highlights were a few swimmers coming out of retirement to throw down some fast times. Leading the way was Brandon Moore with a 52 in the 100 fly (3 years retired), Preston Hudak in the 50 free with a 22 as well as 28 in the 50 breast (6 years retired), and Harry Belcher with a 21.9 in the 50 free (1 year retired).
It was a fun event for all and we are looking forward to growing it each year, as this will become an annual event. We can’t wait for our current seniors to come back as well as new retired alumni dusting off their suits and having some fun!
- Coach Mike J
12 & Under PPOW
13 & Over PPOW
The 13 and over PPOW is National Group's Katie Shaps, given for her consistency and excellence in practice over the holiday break. She impressed her coaches with her daily effort and commitment to self-improvement. In addition, Katie has been an excellent model for her underclassman teammates. When given the choice, she never takes the “easy” way out, but finds purpose in every stroke, turn, and rep she does. Coaches Mike and Alex are proud to officially acknowledge Katie’s commitment to the group and the team and look forward to seeing all of her hard work pay off at the end of the season.
