NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON IS HERE and it’s time for NOVA to SHOW UP as ONE TEAM.
When our swimmers walk onto the pool deck and look up, we want them to see a wall of NOVA, loud, proud, and impossible to miss. A sea of matching championship shirts. A crowd that says this is our house.
The stands will be packed with Quest, SwimRVA, Hanover, Dolphin Club, and plenty of others. Our goal is simple: OUT-CHEER. OUT-ENERGY. OUT-SHOW UP. We’re bringing an unmistakable NOVA presence that can’t be ignored.
This year’s “We Build Fast” LEGO-themed shirt is pure NOVA. We built our second floor fast. Every single day, we build fast swimmers—at every age, every level, and in every lane. This shirt represents the work, the growth, and the momentum of our entire program.
When we wear the same gear, something powerful happens. Energy rises. Confidence grows. Connection locks in across all training groups—from our youngest swimmers to our championship veterans.
Parents. Siblings. Grandparents. Athletes.
Let’s PACK THE STANDS, light up the facility, and show everyone that when championship season arrives, NOVA STANDS TOGETHER.
Grab your shirt. Wear it LOUD. Bring the energy.
Let’s turn every session into a HOME-TEAM ADVANTAGE.
Shirts are now available in both Swim Shop locations. Come get yours TODAY!
NOVASTRONG!
#OneNOVA
~ Coach David
NOVA's Championship Meet season is starting next weekend! The 12 and under swimmers will kick us off with their District Champs meet Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Regency!
In each championship season there is at least one championship meet for every group across NOVA, which include all ages and levels of experience. These meets take place during the months of February and March, and are very important for all swimmers to attend. An end-of-season meet is a big part of the feeling of accomplishment that keeps swimmers engaged in swimming. Everyone wants to feel that they achieved something, especially when they put in months of hard work! Being a part of a TEAM championship meet win is something each and every NOVA swimmer can be proud of! There are a wide range of championship meets from local to national level with a progression between each. There are many 15 & over swimmers currently on the team that have attended every meet on this list!
Local meets- District Champs, 12 and under Districts, 13 and over Districts
State meets(qualifying meets)- Senior Champs, Age Group Champs
National meets(faster qualifying meets)- Clover Cup, NCSA Age Groups, NCSA Juniors
If you have questions about which meet your swimmer should attend please reach out to your swimmer's coach!
-Coach Luke
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
12 and under District Champs- 2/13-2/15
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!
Novice Silver- Laurel Reid, Luke Nelson
Laurel, how many swimmers are in Novice Silver? 58
Laurel, what is Novice Silver working on this week?
We are working on IM turns and getting ready for District Champs. Plenty of "popportunities" to come!!
Laurel, what is your favorite part of working with Novice Silver?
I love being able to coach young kids and see them grow throughout the program. It is so much fun to talk to swimmers years later and say “Remember when you were in NS and…”. If a swimmer started as an 8 and Under or came through our lessons program they probably spent time in NS. It is special to have fun stories of a large majority of our team.
Luke, what is your favorite part of working with Novice Silver?
The activity and fast-paced focus required when you have to explain the practice and give one-on-one feedback is so fun and engaging! There’s always something going on in Noviceland.
Laurel, what is your favorite part of working with Luke?
We just work well together! All of our years together in AGS formed a partnership that we think is unbeatable. Luke is a great technical coach and goes along with my craziness, what more can I ask for!!!
Luke, what is your favorite part of working with Laurel?
Laurel is one of the hardest-working people I know - she’s going to put her very best into every practice regardless of how she feels or what’s going on that day. She loves a good joke and is never too cool to break out into a little karaoke right in the middle of practice!
Laurel, what is your favorite snow day memory?
Every year growing up all of my friends (and my brothers’ friends) went snowboarding over MLK weekend. Nothing beats a group of 30 kids, no cell phones, and all of the chaos that ensues.
Luke, what is your favorite snow day memory?
When I was in college one year we got so much snow that we made a giant igloo that was super impressive. It took all day but the inside was tall enough to stand up and the walls were so thick that we could sit on top of the igloo!
The NOVA Distance Tune-Up on January 23th was a huge success. Swimmers from AGG to National competed in the 400 IM or the Mile and dominated the pool. Swimmers achieved new all time top 10 times, got new Senior and Age Group champs cuts along with some NCSA cuts thrown in. This fast evening of racing was a testament to the hard work our NOVA swimmers are doing. Congrats coaches and swimmers.
Age Group Gold, Senior Dev. Silver, Senior Dev. Gold, Senior Silver, Senior Gold, National
12 & Under PPOW
13 & Over PPOW
The 13 & over PPOW is Senior Dev. Bronze's Julianna Adams. Julianna has a fantastic work ethic, proving herself to be a reliable practice swimmer and rising to any challenge she’s presented with. She also takes ownership of her swimming experience, communicating clearly with coaches. Extremely coachable, Julianna receives feedback well and immediately incorporates it into her strokes. We are excited to watch her continue to progress this season! Great job, Julianna!
