Riptide News 5-31-26

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].

In This Edition:

1. Coach Patrick’s Corner
2. Registration is Still Open
3. Declare Your Swimmer for A Meets
4. Official’s Corner
5. Call for Volunteers
6. Social News: Pasta Potluck!
7. Riptide Sponsorships
8. Team T-Shirts
9. Team Swim Suits

Attachments:

1. Master Calendar
2. Sponsorship Form
3. VR Riptide Season Schedule 2026

Coach Patrick’s Corner: Thank you all for a great first week of practice! The weather improved as the week went on and it was great seeing so many of our swimmers at the pool. The weather this week looks great for practice! We know many of you are wrapping up spring sports and have school events, so no need to email us when you are not able to attend practice. Try to come to as many practices as you can before Time Trials! If there is weather and we need to cancel practice, we will notify everyone via email as soon as possible

Don’t forget to get fins and bring them to all practices! Our fin bin has very limited options, so please bring your own. Please write your swimmer’s name on both fins in case they are left behind.

Evaluations for new swimmers on the team will take place this week at practice. As a reminder, they must be able to swim across the pool unassisted and without stopping. This is to ensure your swimmer’s safety during all practices. If this applies to you, please do your best to attend a practice this week. If you are unable to attend please notify Coach Patrick ASAP.

We hope everyone enjoyed the popsicles from King of Pops on Friday! They will be back later this season.

Registration Is Still Open: If you haven't already, register your swimmer(s) today!! It's hard to plan the season when we don't know who is on the team, so the sooner you register the better.

Declare Your Swimmer: Please declare your swimmer's availability for all A meets NOW!! Only declare 'no' if you will be out of town. This helps us determine who will be in town for the A meets. Even if you don't normally attend the A meets, still declare 'yes' because you never know if your swimmer will be selected to swim! Instructions on how to do this can be found here

PLEASE NOTE there is a meet on July 4 this year. PLEASE make every effort to be available to swim that day. VR has never swam against three of our A meet teams before, plus we are swimming against our neighbors at Sully Station on July 4, so let's make sure we show these teams what Riptide is all about!! Division 10 is very new for us, as our team has not been in a double digit division since the 1990s. Let's be committed to doing and bringing our best each and every week!

Please do your best to save vacations for August when swim team is over. If you are already planning to go out of town during swim season, please consider leaving after the A meet or leaving vacation a little early so that you're there for the meet. We are part of a team and we do not want to let our teammates down.

Official’s Corner:

Congratulations to Sarah Cullen for certifying Starter! Next up, Chief Judge :)

Erin Thomson for certifying Starter and re-certifying Stroke and Turn Judge

Kevin Harris for certifying Referee and Starter!

Thank you and be PROUD of the service you provided to our swimmers.

Call for Volunteers: Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to fill important roles this summer!

We are still looking for a volunteer to plan and coordinate our end of the year banquet. Please email Stefanie McCrea if you have any interest and would like to discuss more details. There is a lot of information that will be passed on to you from previous years and there is flexibility in the scale of the event.

Other volunteer opportunities still available:

• 3rd A meet representative / Board position (will work with current representatives; must be willing to continue the job next year)

If you have not signed up for your 6 volunteer positions, please do so as soon as you can. All volunteer positions for meets and social events are up on the website! Questions? Contact Stefanie McCrea [email protected]

Social News: Riptide Tradition! Swimmers and their family are invited to enjoy a potluck style dinner together as a team to kick-off our swim season. This is a great opportunity to welcome new families and catch up with friends. Each family will need to sign up for a dish (2026 Riptide Pasta Potluck by Wednesday, June 17th. We are SO EXCITED to kick off the swim-team social event season!!

Few Items:

- Please bring your dish at 5:30pm, we’ll have a swimmers activity while we set-up and plan to start dinner around 6:00pm.

- Please bring a serving spoon with your dish. Please label the spoon and dish with your first initial, last name.

- While we will have water available, we encourage families to bring their own drinks.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Michelle Bange @[email protected].

Sponsorships: Sponsoring the Virginia Run Riptide is a great way to give back to the community and advertise your business! Sponsorship money in 2026 will help us pay for timing supplies, senior gifts for graduating seniors, and help us start saving for sound system/timing system replacement in the future. Fees are as follows, $500 for a Corporate, $300 if a Riptide family-owned businesses, and $150 for a family sponsorship. We will place your company logo on banner displayed for all 5 home meets (plus Time Trials and Division 10 Relay Carnival). Additionally, we will place your company logo and link on our website, Thank You announcement as a sponsor at all home meets, Sponsorship acknowledgement on team emails, and Shoutouts on our social media. The sponsorship form is attached to this email. Questions? Contact Jen [email protected]

Team T-shirt: Reminder that each swimmer will receive a team t-shirt (designed by one of our swimmers) with registration and they will arrive by our first meet. This was made possible by Pink Oak Tree Services. We have additional t-shirts for sale and matching hoodies available in white, green, and purple HERE. All proceeds support our team.

Swimsuits: If you haven’t already, take your swimmer(s) to Cassel’s to get sized and place your order. Cassel’s is open Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm.

The first order is in and will be distributed at practices, or you can reach out to Jen to coordinate pick up.

Suits ordered after May 10th may not make it in time for time trials and you will be responsible for picking them up individually from Cassel’s. Questions? e-mail Jen [email protected]

Online Stores (we have TWO): Note: we are trying a new vendor this year, they offer spirit wear, and additional team t-shirts (for families and siblings) order HERE. Logoed, non-customized caps will be available for sale throughout the season. Second StoreHERE and closes TODAY 5/31/26.

Master Calendar: Please find our updated master calendar attached. The only change to note is the movie outing has been moved to July 14.

Stay Connected: Follow our team on Instagram and X @vrriptide! We also have a facebook group where last minute reminders are sent and people can ask questions.

Thank you to our Riptide Sponsors! Pin Oak Tree Services, Virginia Run Community, Virginia Run Children’s Sale, Collegiate Sealers & Paving, The Dog Stop, Wholesome NOVA, Pack 2011 Cub Scouts