Riptide News Week 5

We had another great week of practices and enjoyed some fun events! Stay tuned for a Meet Wrap up from Coach Katie for more about our meets this week.

We have some schedule adjustments this week due to the July 4th Holiday on Friday. Please make sure to read carefully so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

The Riptide News will come to you through email each week on Sunday, but you can also find it as a news post on our website at SwimTopia.

Lots of news to share this week, as always don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions [email protected].

Riptide Shout Outs:

A big Riptide Shout Out to all the parent volunteers from our meets and events this past week. We can’t do it without you!

Have a parent volunteer who is going above and beyond that you’d like to give a Riptide Shout Out to? Email Karen Harris ([email protected]) with your shoutout, we’ll include it in the next Riptide News.

Riptide Swimmer Conduct Reminders: Please take a few moments to review the Riptide Code of Conduct with your swimmer prior to practices this week. As a team we value respect, teamwork, integrity and sportsmanship. Any violations of the Riptide Swimmer Code of Conduct will be handled as stated in the Code of Conduct.

Virginia Run Riptide Code of Conduct (must be signed into your Riptide account to view).

Photography Reminders: To protect our swimmers and according to NVSL/USA Swimming Rule pictures and videos may not be taken from behind the starting area. Please move to another location off to the side to take a picture or video of your swimmer.

Meet Results: Results from all of our meets so far are on our new website! You can visit https://variptide.swimtopia.com/results after every meet to see things meet results, personal bests, and the current team top times (The "ladder").

We ask our families to remember that the ladder is one tool that our coaches use to select swimmers for A meets, but many factors go into those selections. Please remind your swimmers that good sportsmanship means swimmers should not be bragging about their place on the ladder, and should not be getting upset with the coaches if decisions for A meets do not exactly reflect the ladder. If families have questions or concerns about A meet selections, they should be directed to our A-meet reps, not directly to the coaches.

Photos From Swim Meet and Events: Our team photographer, Chris Do, has been uploading photos from recent events. Thank you, Chris! You can view them on our website under the Photos link. The password is: bubbles.

In addition, a link has been created for families to upload candid photos (not already on the team website) from meets, pep rallies, practices, and other team activities to be included in our end-of-year video. Throughout the season, please share your photos to our Dropbox: https://virginiarunriptide.smugmug.com/upload/WV4VBg/pu

Pep Rally on TUESDAY (7/1) this Week: See notes from our Social team below for more details, we will have our Pep Rally on Tuesday this week instead of Friday.

Relay Carnival on Wednesday THIS WEEK! July 2nd: Relay Carnival is this week on Wednesday evening, July 2nd at Fox Hunt. Relay Carnival is one of our most fun meets of the season! It includes all the teams in our Division and is only relays. Similar to an A Meet, Coach Katie and Sam will seed each relay team using the team ladder and other available information. It is always a spirited, fast and exciting evening. The meet seeding will be finalized after our Monday night B Meet. If your swimmer is seeded into a relay, you will get a separate email on Tuesday with more details. **Note: Please expect to volunteer at Relay Carnival if you have a swimmer in the meet. This would not count toward one of the 5 required volunteer slots.

Make Up Picture Day-Thursday July 3rd: In case you missed out on Riptide pictures, our wonderful photographer has offered to do a make up day for individual (and family) swim pictures. He’ll be at the pool on Thursday (July 3rd) from 8-9 am for make ups.

Starts, Turns and Finishes Clinics: Starts, Turns and Finishes Clinic this Thursday from 7:00-8:00 at the pool. This a great time for swimmers of all skill levels to brush up on their starts, turns and finishes. Completely optional and open to all swimmers.

NO Practice on Friday, July 4th: Due to the July 4th holiday we will not have practice on Friday.

Volunteers: We are very tight on volunteers this summer and truly need everyone to go above and beyond. If you haven’t already signed up for your five required slots, please do so now at the remaining meets so we can plan ahead. (Toni Garcia will be reaching out to you to get those in!) While five volunteer slots is the minimum requirement, in reality we could really use at least six slots from each family to help cover all the needs. Please take a moment to review the remaining events and sign up to volunteer wherever you’re able. Every slot filled makes a big difference! If you have a swimmer that regularly swims both A and B meets, we request that you take on some extra slots. As a last resort, please be aware that if your child is swimming at a meet, you may be asked to help fill any open volunteer positions. We truly need all hands on deck to keep things running smoothly and make this a great summer for the kids!

Spirit Wear: If you are in need of a swim cap, Riptide gear, or VR tattoos, we have you covered. We will be set up at home meets or you can e-mail Jen Snitselaar ([email protected]) to coordinate.

Riptide Challenge – Week 3!

Great job to everyone who’s already taken on the challenge — you’re making waves!

Ages 8 & Under:

Completing legal freestyle and backstroke.

Ages 9 & Older:

Completing all four legal strokes — freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly — plus an Individual Medley (IM)!

Let’s cheer each other on, push our limits, and celebrate every achievement, big or small!

You’ve got this, Riptide swimmers!

Coach Appreciation Week-COMING SOON!: We will show our appreciation to all of our Riptide Coaches the week of July 7-11. Be on the look out for more details in next week’s Riptide News.

Congratulations to Our 2025 VR Riptide Seniors! We’re proud to recognize the following seniors, eligible for this year’s $500 Wrinkle Family/VR Scholarship:

• Brandon Bokus
• Chris Lee
• Elizabeth Schaad
• Angela Thompson

About the Scholarship: The Wrinkle Family Scholarship Fund was established in 2004 by Mike Wrinkle, whose daughter Shandra coached the team. He funded the scholarships until 2010, when the Virginia Run Swim Team took over fundraising.

Want to know how your swimmer can qualify in the future? Visit:
Scholarship Details & History

How We Fund It: Our Winter Swim Program at Cub Run has funded the scholarship since 2017. It offers swimmers a chance to stay active, build technique, and supports the team’s scholarship fund.

Special Thanks:  Huge thanks to Nick McGrath for his lasting impact as a swimmer, Jr/Sr coach, scholarship recipient, Assistant Head Coach, Head Coach, and Winter Program Head Coach.

Save the Date Senior Ceremony — July 12 at our last home A Meet. Join us to cheer on the Riptide and celebrate our Seniors!

Riptide Social Updates:

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, 7/1 6pm: Land of the free, home of the Riptide. Sport your Stars and Stripes as we celebrate July 4th (a little early). Come to JMRC ready with your best game face on for a friendly Riptide game of kickball and a coaches "pie eating" contest. Followed by some ice pops to cool down.

Friday, 7/11 6pm: A Riptide New Year's LIP SYNC! We will be counting down to the end of the season with the annual lip syncing event. Get your acts ready to bring to the stage at the Clubhouse. We are so excited to see the show! More details to follow.

Thank you to our Riptide Sponsors! Our team is grateful for your generous support.

Pin Oak Tree Services

Virginia Run Community

Ciro New York Pizza

Mindy Conway, Long and Foster Real Estate

The Wrinkle Family Scholarship Fund

Cub Scout Pack 2011

Luck Stone

Living Colour

Wholesome NOVA

The Dog Stop

Collegiate Sealers & Paving

Capital Construction of America, Inc.

Cheron Orthodontics