Mansion House Club

We are heading into the final weeks of the season! Time flies when you’re having fun!

This is a particularly big week for our Little Piranhas since it is your final week of practice! The culmination of the LP season is the Lollipop Meet on Thursday. Details below. Please note that after the Lollipop Meet there is no more practice for LPs. If your LP wants to join in the pancake breakfast next Tuesday (7/15) you are welcome to come! But there will be no practice for LPs that day. (If your LP really loved swim team and wants more practice, keep an eye out for emails about Polar Piranhas and join us to through the winter at the GW Rec Center!)

Please mark your swimmer(s) availability for the final A Meet, the IM meet, and Divisionals NOW. For IM and Divisionals we have to bid in swimmers for open lanes and need to know who can swim ASAP.

Photos for the slideshow! Please note that we have a google drive where you can share photos you have taken this season for possible inclusion in the ever popular end-of-season slideshow. Upload photos HERE. (Highest resolution you have please)

WEEK 7: July 12 – July 18

Morning Practices – normal times except on Thursday. See details under Lollipop Meet below.

Afternoon Practices

• Tuesday and Thursday: All ages EXCEPT LPs. 5:00-6:00pm.
• Sign-up on Swimtopia and update there if you cannot come. Please do not just no-show.
• No coaches in the water at these practices, so plan accordingly based on your swimmer(s) skill level.
• Please remember that 8 and under swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

B Meet

• July 13: B Meet #5 vs. Waynewood @ MHC: 6:00pm. Swimmers arrive NLT 4:45. Warmups @ 5:00. Volunteers arrive setup: 4:15, First half Marshals 4:45, Concessions 4:30, Announcer 4:45, Others NLT 5:20 (first shift) or 6:45 (second shift).
• Please remember to park at the far end of the lot or in the neighborhood to leave room for our guests! Do not park in reserved spots unless they are reserved for you!
• SO MANY volunteer slots left! Thanks to those who have already signed up. We know you are tired - we are tired too! This is our FINAL B meet! Sign up HERE! Since we are doing IM’s first - we will probably switch volunteers after freestyle (the switch will happen around 7:30 - so if your kid is swimming back or breast - you will be there for the 2nd half anyway - sign up for a job and have some fun with us!!
  • Swimmers must stay in the team area! We won’t hunt you down and if you miss a race, that’s on you!
  • Swimmers can leave the meet when they are finished swimming. HOWEVER, let a coach know you are leaving before you go.
  • Leave cell phones/electronics/valuables at home, or keep them secured inside your bags. We cannot be responsible for any valuables in the team area.
  • Concessions will be open! Last chance to grab one of Josh’s delicious bacon cheeseburgers! Please be sure that your swimmers save candy or soda for AFTER they finish swimming. Please also be sure to send your swimmer back to the team area to eat.

Other Stuff

July 14: Ice Cream for Breakfast! Team breakfast after each age-group practice.

• We supply the ice cream, you supply the toppings!
• Volunteers, of course, are needed. Check out SwimTopia, or just show up 15-20 minutes before the end of your swimmer's age group. There will be some sad swimmers if we can’t have ice cream breakfast due to lack of volunteers!

July 15: All-Star Relay Carnival, Sleepy Hollow (qualified swimmers only)

• All-star relay swimmers – Big CONGRATULATIONS to our 11-12 boys medley and freestyle relays on their qualification for All Stars! We are so proud!

July 16: Lollipop Invitational Mini Meet, 8 & under and Little Piranhas vs. MVYC, 9:00 am.

• This is your meet, Little Piranhas and 8 and unders! Don’t miss the culminating event of the LP season. We are welcoming our neighborhood friends from the Mount Vernon Yacht Club.
• This is also the final day of practice for Little Piranhas.
• Parents of all LP swimmers, plan to stay for the meet and cheer on your swimmer. LPs and 8 and unders should come to the pool by 8:15 am
• 8 and Unders are also eligible to participate in this meet! Freestyle and Backstroke only. There is no regular 8 and under practice on Thursday, so plan to come a bit early and swim in the meet!
• Please note: We will have lollipops, ribbons, and special swim caps for our participants. If your swimmer has a cap from a previous year, we ask that they not take another one so we are sure to have enough for the new swimmers. Thank you for your help with this!
• The meet will be staffed by swimmers ages 9+up. Official uniform (blue shorts/skirt, white top) encouraged! Swimmers will need to find a coach when they arrive to sign up for a job.
• Arrive: 8:15am, ALL AGE GROUPS (13+ should come at their regular practice time of 7:30 and plan to stay and help with the meet).
• There is no 8 and under practice on Thursday. 9-12s should plan to have practice after the lollipop meet is concluded unless we tell you otherwise.

July 17: Pep Rally: Red Carpet @ 6pm.

• Pot Luck Dinner! Bring a dish to share. Still need a lot more help for set up and clean up - would be super sad to have to cancel the last potluck of the season! Let’s do it right! Bring water or Gatorade for your swimmer(s). Please no soda.
• Last Name A-H (Dessert – cookies, brownies, etc)
• Last Name I-O (Main – meat, pasta, etc)
• Last Name P-Z (Side – veggies, fruit, etc)
• This is also our LAST PEP RALLY of the 2026 season. Everyone (including LPs) welcome! This is not just for A meet swimmers!
• Please note that this is NOT a drop off event for swimmers 10 and under. Stick around and meet/mingle with other parents. It makes the swim team way more fun.

A Meet

• July 18: A Meet #5 vs. Greenbriar @ Villa Aquatic, 4299 Andes Drive, Fairfax VA 22030
• Caravan from MHC exact time tbd but around 7:00am. Selected swimmers only; more information to come as to who is swimming and what you need to know. Watch your email! Please mark your swimmer availability (yes OR no) in SwimTopia TODAY.

Swim Prom!

• July 19: Swim Team Prom, ages 13+ only (Swimmers must be swimming as a 13-14 or 15-18 this summer to attend), 6:00 – 9:00, Dinner at the Mount Vernon on the Potomac marina, dessert at MHC. No date or corsage needed! Dinner and dessert will be served. Attire: think summer garden party. Accessories: Swimsuit & towel. Details: Check your email. If you have a swimmer in the indicated age groups you will receive an email about this event with further details.

WEEK 8: July 19– July 25

Morning Practices July 20-21 for everyone; July 22-24 - Divisionals swimmers only. Regular practice times (even for Divisionals swimmers)

No Afternoon Practices this week

• July 20: Fort Hunt IM Invitational @ Little Hunting Park, 5:00.Select swimmers only; Entries go in on 7/15 so please mark availability today and choose a volunteer spot! Email will come with entries this week.
• July 21: Fun Day and Pancake Breakfast, Volunteers: we need help! Last fun practice of the season, so parents/caregivers please come help cook up some food for hungry kids!
• July 21: Last day of practice for non-Divisionals swimmers. Divisionals swimmers meet with Coaches to choose strokes.
• July 22-24 Divisionals swimmers' practice. Practice continues for those swimmers who have qualified for Divisionals. If your swimmer is currently #1-2 on the ladder they will qualify for Divisionals. Swimmers who are #3, 4, 5, etc MIGHT qualify. Coaches and or Reps will let you know. Regular age group practice times.
• July 24: Fun indoor activity for Divisionals swimmers:If you have Divisionals Swimmers watch your email for details.
• July 25: Divisionals @ Kings Ridge, 8:00 – 2:30 (approx). Select swimmers only; VERY IMPORTANT that we know your swimmer(s) availability now.
• July 25: End of Season Awards Banquet @ MHC, 6:00 – 9:00pm.
  • All swimmers, siblings, and families welcome!
  • A kid-friendly buffet dinner & dessert will be provided.
  • Please RSVP via SwimTopia and indicate number of attendees, so we can accurately estimate food.
  • We really need some creative people to help with set up! See SwimTopia.
  • Join us for awards, camaraderie, and the legendary MHC Swim Slide Show!
  • Attire: Beachy casual/picnic chic/Piranha pride

UPDATES and REMINDERS

• Post-Event Clean-Up: Whether it's an A Meet, a B Meet, a Pep Rally, or a team breakfast and whether you stay till the end or leave as your swimmer is finished, PLEASE REMEMBER:
  • How we leave our team area is a direct reflection of who we are. ALL SWIMMERS should leave their immediate areas free of trash and looking orderly.
  • Failure to behave appropriately and failure to clean up = no earned fun day.
  • Clean up is our responsibility and not that of the lifeguards. This goes for all swim team events. Please be respectful.
• PiranhaThon: Congratulations and THANK YOU, Piranha Nation! Your generosity allowed us to raise over $1,300 for Educate Fairfax. This will help cover supply requests at both Riverside and Washington Mill!

• Pool use before 11am when the pool opens: Nope! No kids or adults in the main pool outside of practice until the pool opens at 11am. This includes lap swimming for adults. No exceptions. Kids 6 and under can swim in the baby pool ONLY with direct parent supervision.

Thank you for everything you do to help our team succeed! Especially reading this far! Enjoy your Sunday and buckle up because before you know it, we will be back in the long, long wait until Time Trials!

Rebecca & Heather

Happy Father’s Day! Already it’s Week 4 in Piranha-land. Lots going on, so read the full email for details:

Unfortunately necessary reminder first: Food and clean up at pep rallies. We go over this every week, but it bears repeating. (1)There is no food/eating allowed in the clubhouse. This means on the couch, on the floor, at the little table. This is ALWAYS true (we confirmed with the board that NO ONE should be eating in the clubhouse), and sometimes the lifeguards and managers look the other way, but again, no food in the clubhouse. Full stop. (2) Please keep an eye on and clean up after your own swimmers or make sure they clean up after themselves. Many of you are great about this but enough are not that we might have to put an end to food at pep rallies..

Thanks in advance and here’s the fun stuff:

WEEK 4: June 21-27

Practice:

Morning Practices Begin! (preferred)

• 13+: 7:30am-9:00am
• 9-12: 8:45-10:00am
• 8 and under: 9:45-10:30
• Little Piranhas: 10:00-10:30 OR 10:30-11:00 (we assigned to groups last week. If you haven’t been evaluated or don’t remember please come at 10:00 your first day and we will assign you!). Remember that LPs are NOT ELIGIBLE for afternoon practice. We don’t have coaches in the water and it is not safe for them.

• Please remember that 8 and under and Little Piranha swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

Afternoon Practices (optional alternative if you cannot make morning practice)

• Tuesday and Thursday: All ages EXCEPT LPs. 5:00-6:00pm
• Sign-up on Swimtopia and update there if you cannot come. Please do not just no-show
• No coaches in the water at these practices, so plan accordingly based on your swimmer(s) skill level.
• Reminder that this is a replacement practice, not extra. Swimmers should not do morning and afternoon.
• Please remember that 8 and under swimmers may not be dropped off for these practices without a caregiver either. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

B Meet and Fort Hunt Relays

• June 16: B Meet #2 vs. Riverside Gardens @ MHC 6:00pm. Swimmers arrive NLT 4:45. Warmups @ 5:00. Volunteers arrive setup: 4:15, First half Marshals 4:45, Concessions 4:30, Announcer 4:45, Others NLT 5:20 (first shift) or 6:45 (second shift).
  • Lucky you - still a few volunteer slots left! Thanks to those who have already signed up. We still need: . Sign up HERE!
  • For the whole meet we still need 1 data entry person
  • For A shift we still need: 1 concessions cashier
  • For B shift we still need: 1 concessions workers, 1 clerk of course, 2 marshals, 1 stroke and turn (must be certified/trained) 2 timers and 2 team area parents
• Swimmers: If you did not sign up by 6pm yesterday (Saturday) you will NOT be able to swim in tomorrow’s meet. You are more than welcome to still come and cheer on your teammates!
• Suggested pack list: team suit, or green or black suit; team cap (NO caps with other team logos allowed); 2 towels; healthy snacks & lots of water; sunscreen, optional hat/sunglasses; card games or travel activities; spirit wear & green accessories.
• Once the meet begins, swimmers must stick to the team area so they don't miss an event or slow the meet down. This is a safety issue. Parents if your kid comes to find you, make sure they told a coach where they are and then return them to the team area ASAP. Oh hey, this one’s important so we’ll say it again: Swimmers, stick to the team area! Let a coach know if you leave!
• Swimmers can leave the meet when they are finished swimming. HOWEVER, let a coach know you are leaving before you go.
• Leave cell phones/electronics/valuables at home, or keep them secured inside your bags. We cannot be responsible for any valuables in the team area.
• Concessions will be open! Please visit and eat. Please be sure that your swimmers save candy or soda for AFTER they finish swimming. Please also be sure to send your swimmer back to the team area to eat.
• One more note about the team area: Parents must NOT be in the team area. We have a volunteer slot for a “team parent” if you want to help out! Otherwise please keep your kids in and yourself out!

• June 24: Fort Hunt Sportsman Relays, at Stratford Recreation Association pool 2300 Brinitzer Way, Alexandria, VA 22308
• This is a fun relay meet that we try to gear towards swimmers who typically do not get to swim in A meets (Note: we say try because there are some wacky age group rules for this meet. Sometimes the only way to make it work is to include A meet swimmers). If your swimmer is interested and available please be sure to mark their availability NOW. If they are not marked available they will not be considered for participation since the turn-around is so quick. We will hopefully have entries done by the end of morning practice on Tuesday. There are also a few volunteer spots needed for this meet too!

Team Breakfast

• June 23 : Donuts! After each practice. Please sign up on SwimTopia to help set up, serve, and clean up, and to bring extras like fruit and juice - we still need more help for this - especially for Little P’s and clean up!!

Team Picture Day

• June 25: Picture Day! Thursday is picture day for swim, dive, and tennis. (Swim goes first). Flyer is attached with information about ordering and times. Please, please, please be sure that swimmer(s) arrive fed and hydrated. Our goal is NO SWIMMERS PASSING OUT. It will be hot. We know it is earlier than normal, but that is for the light and the HEAT. We are looking for 2 parent helpers - please let us know if interested - you get discounts on pictures if you help!

Pep Rally

• June 26: Pep Rally: Halloween/dress up!, 6-8pm.

• Pot Luck Dinner! Bring a dish to share. Please deliver NLT 5:50 and bring enough for a crowd. Bring water or Gatorade for your swimmer(s). Please no soda.
• Last Name A-H (Dessert – cookies, brownies, etc)
• Last Name I-O (Main – meat, pasta, etc)
• Last Name P-Z (Side – veggies, fruit, etc)
• Come eat, play games, dress in costume if you like, and bond with the team! Everyone (including LPs) welcome! This is not just for A meet swimmers!
• Please note that this is NOT a drop off event for swimmers 10 and under. Stick around and meet/mingle with other parents. It makes swim team way more fun.

A Meet

• June 27: A Meet #2 vs. Kings Ridge @ MHC: Swimmers arrive 7:45 for MHC warmups at 8am, setup volunteers and ice drop off at 7am, announcer by 7:45, other volunteers NLT 8am.We need a LOT of help for this meet. So please sign up for a job. Selected swimmers only; more information to come as to who is swimming and what you need to know. Quick note: Even though you can see in SwimTopia as we build the meet sheet, please do not share information with your swimmers or make plans until we let you know that it is final. Sometimes we put swimmers in as placeholders and then move them around. We promise we will tell you when we are done! Watch your email! If your swimmer cannot attend (no matter their age group or level), please mark that in SwimTopia TODAY. Please identify yes OR NO. Note that failing to do so just makes more work for us!

WEEK 5: June 28- July 4

June 29: B Meet #3 vs. Hayfield Farm @ Hayfield Farm 7820 Hayfield Rd, Alexandria, VA 22315 : 6pm. Information to come.

June 30: Piranathon & Team Breakfast 8:00 – 10:00am. Each year, the Piranha Nation takes a day to give back to our community by swimming for donations to a local charity. This year we have chosen to support Educate Fairfax, the 501(c)3 non profit education foundation that supports Fairfax County Public Schools. Funds will be used to purchase school supplies for students in need at both Washington Mill Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School. Link below can be sent to out of town family and friends for donations too!

• This is an optional, all-family event that is geared toward fun & fitness along with community support.
• Link for donations - Mansion House Swim Team Swim A Thon

July 3:Pep Rally: USA Out! 6pm.Info to come.

July 4: A Meet #3 vs. Hollin Meadows @ MHC:Info to come. Mark availability (yes or no) right now please and thanks.

REMINDERS and TO-DO LIST

MARK SWIMMER AVAILABILITYplease and thanks! (If you haven’t already – and a thousand thank-yous to everyone who has.) Aresponse is required for all A and B meets, whether swimmers are available or not.

PICK A VOLUNTEER JOB while you’re there.

Check out the results and ladders while you’re there too! When you go to the schedule/sign up calendar - once a meet is complete you can go back and find links to the results from the meet as well as the updated team ladder!

Pool use before 11am: Kids and adults are NOT ALLOWED in the main pool outside of practice until the pool opens at 11am. This includes lap swimming for adults. No exceptions. There are no lifeguards and we could be significantly fined by the county. Kids 6 and under can swim in the baby pool ONLY with direct parent supervision.

It’s time Piranha People!! Registration for the MHC Swim Team 2026 season is OPEN! Register your swimmers HERE no later than 11:59 pm on April 30 to save $25, get a personalized swim cap, and guarantee your swimmer's t-shirt size. Please use the discount code EARLY to save $25. (Good until 11:59 pm April 30, 2026.) (Any swimmers registered after April 30 will get a non-personalized cap and a t-shirt as close in size to that requested while supplies last.) Registration for MHC Swim Team is on our SwimTopia site NOT the main MHC site.

Please note that you must be MHC members (or lessors) in good standing in order to register your child(ren) for swim team. This is an NVSL requirement and cannot be waived.

FAQs:

Age: swimmers must be between the ages of 4 and 18 as of June 1, 2026. (PLEASE NOTE: swim team is not a learn-to-swim program. If you have a young swimmer/little piranha we will conduct an evaluation to be sure they can be safe in the water. Evaluations for Little Piranhas will be held Sunday, May 17 during Polar Piranha Practice (details to come). Evaluations are not required for swimmers who have been on the team previously. If you are unsure whether your swimmer is ready to move to 8 and unders, please come to evaluations!)

Parent Meeting & Meet the Coaches: Will take place on Friday, May 29 at the pool.  Sportfair will also be there to purchase team suits and any other gear needed.  We will send more details as we get closer!

Practice: After-school practices begin on 6/1/26 (see times on SwimTopia website); Morning practices begin on 6/22/26. (LPs will start on Monday 6/22/26)

Cost: Please note that these are the costs as of 5/1/26. Register HERE before that (with code EARLY entered at checkout) to get $25 off your first swimmer!

First swimmer: $210

Second swimmer: $110

Third swimmer: $85

Fourth (and subsequent) swimmer: $60

Summer’s coming. Can’t wait to see you on deck! Eat ’em up Piranhas!

Questions? Contact the Mansion House Swim Reps at

[email protected]

Spring is in the air.....Do you want to get your swimmer(s) back into the pool a little sooner to get ready for summer? Hoping to get legal in a new stroke or just back in the swing of it?  Join us at GW Rec Center on Sunday evenings from 6-7pm Mar. 8-May 17 (no swim - Mar. 29, Apr. 5, May 10).  Click here to register.  Only 12 spots available so register now to get a head start on your summer season! 

***Note: Current Polar Piranhas DO NOT need to re-register!

Everything below this section refers to events from Summer 2025 and prior!!

Happy 4th of July week, Piranha Nation! Excellent job to all our swimmers at the A meet on Saturday. It was the closest meet most of us can remember; it came down to the final two relays! A great reminder that we always win and lose AS A TEAM and that every swimmer’s presence can make a difference in a win or a loss! Thanks for showing up!!

It’s an exciting time as we hit the home stretch of the season. We are now more than halfway through the competition portion of the season, but lots of fun still to come. Keep showing up!! 

BUT FIRST!

A couple quick notes:

1. Parking reminder for our final two home meets. It is an important show of manners as the home team to leave the parking lot available for our guests. Please park in the far end of the parking lot (beyond the tennis courts) or in the surrounding neighborhood and leave the lot for our guests. Even if you are on set up crew. It makes us look rude when teams arrive and have no parking. Not the impression we want to give. Thanks in advance!
2. Our concessions manager will be out of town for our final home A meet on July 5. This means that we will need extra help at concessions with set up, cooking (especially a grill master! If you love – or are just willing – to grill up some burgers, we have a job for you!), sales, and clean up. It also means that we will have additional slots for picking up food to sell. This will include opportunities to help ahead of the meet and on the morning of the meet. Please help.
3. Related to that. We are so very grateful to everyone who has stepped up to volunteer this season. Faces new and familiar, taking on jobs that are both new and familiar. We cannot express our gratitude enough. Similarly, to those of you who have consistently and diligently kept us informed of your own availability and your swimmer(s) availability, it is a huge thing. Your presence and your attention to the matter of telling us if your swimmer can swim in A meets and Divisional meets is a very big deal. Keep it up!
4. NOW THE FUN STUFF!

WEEK 6: June 29 – July 5

B Meet

• June 30: B Meet #4 vs. Highland Park @ MHC : 6:00pm. Swimmers arrive NLT 4:35. Warmups @ 4:50. Volunteers arrive NLT 4:15 (set up – including concessions set up), 5:00 (all other jobs first shift) or 6:45 (second shift).
  • Volunteers: Thanks to those who have already signed up. We still need: Lots of Concessions help both shifts, Marshals for both halves, Data Table help, Runners second half, Timers both halves. Sign up HERE! Thanks in advance!

Divisional Relay Carnival!

July 2: Division 10 Relay Carnival, 6:30pm, Greenbriar, 13001 Point Pleasant Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033, selected swimmers only

• MARK SWIMMER AVAILABILITY, NOW. Even if you think your kids won't qualify. This is especially important for this meet. It is the only chance for relays to qualify for All Star Relays and it is a scored meet. So we want to put our best foot forward!
• Look for an email on Tuesday for those swimmers who qualify. Unsure if you should expect your swimmer to qualify? Ask us! We will have a definite lineup after the B meet.
• Warm-ups are tbd but we will have that information by Monday.
• It will be hot. Please be sure to hydrate yourself and your swimmers. Keep them out of the heat during the day on Wednesday, if possible. Consider eating a nutritious midday “dinner” so they have fuel to swim fast.
• Bring chairs for swimmers and spectators

Other Stuff

• No team breakfast this week. There will be fun day though!
• July 4: The Annual Piranha-Thon! 8:00 –10:00. Each year, the Piranha Nation takes a day to give back by swimming for donations to a local or national organization.
  • This is an optional, all-family event that is geared toward fun & fitness along with charitable support.
  • We’re supporting Educate Fairfax, the 501(c)3 non profit education foundation that supports Fairfax County Public Schools. Funds will be used to purchase school supplies for students in need at both Washington Mill Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School. Link below can be sent to out of town family and friends for donations too!
  • https://educatefairfax.app.neoncrm.com/forms/mansion-house-swim-team-swim-a-thon
  • We will also have a QR code available to scan to make donations on the day of the event.
  • A donation of any amount (online preferred; cash or check accepted) is required to participate. Friends, family, and neighbors are welcome to donate as well!

• July 4: Mansion House Family Celebration, 12:00 – 4:00. Come to the pool for live music, obstacle course, food & ice cream trucks, beer and hot dogs, belly flop contest, and more. Volunteer signups and more info on the Mansion House website.

Friday Note: It will be difficult this week with the 4^th of July, but try to keep those swimmers hydrated!

No Pep Rally this week due to the Fourth of July holiday

A Meet

July 5: A Meet #4 vs. Villa Aquatic Gorillas @ Mansion House: MHC warmups at 8am, setup volunteers at 7am, announcer 7:45, marshals 7:45, other volunteers NLT 8am. Selected swimmers only; more information to come as to who is swimming and what you need to know. Watch your email! If your swimmer cannot attend (no matter their age group or level, excluding Little Piranhas), please mark that in SwimTopia TODAY.

• NOTE: This meet is Senior recognition day! ALL swimmers are encouraged to come and cheer senior swimmers' accomplishments. We also need a parent to help line up/organize the senior families for our traditional Senior Walk. This is an easy job between the individual races and the relays and lasts about 10 minutes, but we would be grateful for the help!

WEEK 7: July 6 – July 13

• July 7: B Meet #5 vs. Waynewood @ WW. Details to come, but this is our final B Meet of the season. Hope to see you there!
• July 8: Ice Cream for Breakfast! Team supplies the ice cream, you bring your favorite toppings! Yum!
• July 9: NVSL All-Star Relay Carnival. TBD if we have any teams qualify.
• July 10: Lollipop Meet, 9:00am @ MHC vs MVYC. Little Piranhas, your day has come! This meet is for you and for 8+under swimmers. Older age groups (9-10 and up) run the meet and fill all volunteer positions. One of the true highlights of the season! Detailed info to come but please mark calendars now!
• July 10: Last Day for Little Piranhas! Come support your LP at the Lollipop meet and on their last day of practice! LP families please join the rest of the team at the Banquet on July 19 to celebrate a great season!
• July 11: Pep Rally: Halloween in July! @ 6pm. Time for the costume contest! Pelase bring food! We were very light on food at the one on 6/27.
• July 12: A Meet #5 vs Greenbriar @ Greenbriar, 9am. Final A meet of the season! Caravan from MHC at time tbd. Invited swimmers only. Details to come.
• July 13: Swim Prom, 6:00. Ages 13+ exclusively. Detailed info for eligible swimmers to come.

It’s the home stretch y’all! Don’t let up now. See you on deck!

P4L,

Jeannine and Rebecca

Weeks 4-5

Happy Father’s Day! Already it’s Week 4 in Piranha-land. 

For starters, Congrats on our first win of the season and a great A Meet!

Unfortunately necessary reminder first: Food and clean up at pep rallies. We go over this every week, but it bears repeating. (1) There is no food/eating allowed in the clubhouse. This means on the couch, on the floor, at the little table. This is ALWAYS true (we confirmed with the board that NO ONE should be eating in the clubhouse), and sometimes the lifeguards and managers look the other way, but again, no food in the clubhouse. Full stop. (2) Please keep an eye on and clean up after your own swimmers or make sure they clean up after themselves. Many of you are great about this but enough are not that we might have to put an end to food at pep rallies. Neither of us are interested in cleaning up spaghetti spilled on the floor of the clubhouse or entire plates of food including a melting popsicle off of the couch (both true stories from this Friday). (3) Please bring enough to share and get it there BEFORE the pep rally starts. We need food for the pot luck to be both enough and early so that there is food for all of the kids to eat. We also ask that adults wait until the kids have eaten. This week we ended up with enough food but only barely.

TL:DR: Bring food, clean up, don’t let your swimmers be 100% feral, don’t make us be your clean up crew or the bad guys who have to chase kids out of the clubhouse or who have to cancel the next pep rally.

Bottom line: Hopefully this week will be better or the next one will likely be cancelled.

Thanks in advance and here’s the fun stuff:

WEEK 4: June 15 – 22

Practice:

Morning Practices Begin! (preferred)

• 13+: 7:30am-9:00am
• 9-12: 8:45-10:00am
• 8 and under: 9:45-10:30
• Little Piranhas: 10:00-10:30 OR 10:30-11:00 (we assigned to groups last week. If you haven’t been evaluated or don’t remember please come at 10:00 your first day and we will assign you!). Remember that LPs are NOT ELIGIBLE for afternoon practice. We don’t have coaches in the water and it is not safe for them.

• Please remember that 8 and under and Little Piranha swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

Afternoon Practices (optional alternative if you cannot make morning practice)

• Tuesday and Thursday: All ages EXCEPT LPs. 5:00-6:00pm
• Sign-up on Swimtopia and update there if you cannot come. Please do not just no-show
• No coaches in the water at these practices, so plan accordingly based on your swimmer(s) skill level.
• Reminder that this is a replacement practice, not extra. Swimmers should not do morning and afternoon.
• Please remember that 8 and under swimmers may not be dropped off for these practice without a caregiver either. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

B Meet and Fort Hunt Relays

• June 16: B Meet #2 vs. Riverside Gardens @ RG 8633 Buckboard Drive, Alexandria VA 22308: 6:00pm. Swimmers arrive NLT 5:00. Warmups @ 5:25. Other volunteers arrive NLT 5:15 (first shift) or 6:45 (second shift). Officials briefing at 5:30, Timer briefing at 5:35. Please try your best to be on time and save your team reps some stress.
  • Lucky you - still a few volunteer slots left! Thanks to those who have already signed up. We still need: 1 A Shift Clerk of Course, 2 data table people, B Shift ribbon table, 2 B Shift Team Parents, and 2 B shift timer. We also need someone to transport our tents to and from the meet. Sign up HERE!
  • Swimmers: NOTE that although SwimTopia may indicate meet entries are closed, this is just for data management. Undeclared/un-entered swimmers may absolutely still swim! Let a rep know, or just arrive & coaches can write you in. This week swimmers should plan to swim two strokes only (unless they are legal in IM. Then they may also swim IM if we get that far.) If your swimmer was in the A meet yesterday and placed in the top 3 in their event, they should choose DIFFERENT events for the B meet. Talk to coaches with questions.
  • Suggested pack list: team suit, or green or black suit; team cap (NO caps with other team logos allowed); 2 towels; healthy snacks & lots of water; sunscreen, optional hat/sunglasses; card games or travel activities; spirit wear & green accessories.
  • Once the meet begins, swimmers must stick to the team area so they don't miss an event or slow the meet down. This is a safety issue. Parents if your kid comes to find you, make sure they told a coach where they are and then return them to the team area ASAP. Oh hey, this one’s important so we’ll say it again: Swimmers, stick to the team area! Let a coach know if you leave!
  • Swimmers can leave the meet when they are finished swimming. HOWEVER, let a coach know you are leaving before you go.
  • Leave cell phones/electronics/valuables at home, or keep them secured inside your bags. We cannot be responsible for any valuables in the team area.
  • Concessions will be open! Please visit and eat. Please be sure that your swimmers save candy or soda for AFTER they finish swimming. Please also be sure to send your swimmer back to the team area to eat. They accept cash and credit cards. They plan to serve pizza and Chick-Fil-A.
  • One more note about the team area: Parents must NOT be in the team area. We have a volunteer slot for a “team parent” if you want to help out! Otherwise please keep your kids in and yourself out!

• June 18: Fort Hunt Sportsman Relays, Little Hunting Park, 7000 Canterbury Lane, Alexandria VA 22307 This is a fun relay meet that we try to gear towards swimmers who typically do not get to swim in A meets (Note: we say try because there are some wacky age group rules for this meet. Sometimes the only way to make it work is to include A meet swimmers). If your swimmer is interested and available please be sure to mark their availability NOW. If they are not marked available they will not be considered for participation since the turn-around is so quick. We will hopefully have entries done by the end of morning practice on Tuesday.

Team Breakfast

• June 17: Donuts! After each practice. Please sign up on SwimTopia to help set up, serve, and clean up, and to bring extras like fruit and juice.

Pep Rally

• June 20: Pep Rally: Carnival, 6-8pm.

• Pot Luck Dinner! Bring a dish to share. Please deliver NLT 5:50 and bring enough for a crowd. Bring water or Gatorade for your swimmer(s). Please no soda.
• Last Name A-H (Dessert – cookies, brownies, etc)
• Last Name I-O (Main – meat, pasta, etc)
• Last Name P-Z (Side – veggies, fruit, etc)
• Come eat, play games, dress in costume if you like, and bond with the team! Everyone (including LPs) welcome! This is not just for A meet swimmers!
• Please note that this is NOT a drop off event for swimmers 10 and under. Stick around and meet/mingle with other parents. It makes swim team way more fun.

A Meet

• June 23: A Meet #2 vs. Truro @ MHC: Swimmers arrive 7:45 for MHC warmups at 8am, setup volunteers and ice drop off at 7am, announcer by 7:45, other volunteers NLT 8am. We need a LOT of help for this meet. So please sign up for a job. Selected swimmers only; more information to come as to who is swimming and what you need to know. Quick note: Even though you can see in SwimTopia as we build the meet sheet, please do not share information with your swimmers or make plans until we let you know that it is final. Sometimes we put swimmers in as placeholders and then move them around. We promise we will tell you when we are done! Watch your email! If your swimmer cannot attend (no matter their age group or level), please mark that in SwimTopia TODAY. Please identify yes OR NO. Note that failing to do so just makes more work for us!

WEEK 5: June 22 – June 29

June 23: B Meet #3 vs. Hayfield Farm @ MHC: 6pm. Information to come.

June 24: Team Breakfast

June 26: Team Picture Day. More info to come, but plan to be there early (7:00-ish) in your team suit, or green or black if you do not have a team suit. The photographer will do individual, family, and a large group shot. We need parents to help. Please sign up.

June 27: Pep Rally: Tropical! 6pm. Info to come.

June 29: A Meet #3 vs. Sully Station Supersonic Transporters @ SS: Info to come. Caravan will be early because it is far. Mark availability (yes or no) right now please and thanks.

REMINDERS and TO-DO LIST

MARK SWIMMER AVAILABILITY please and thanks! (If you haven’t already – and a thousand thank-yous to everyone who has.) A response is required for all A and B meets, whether swimmers are available or not.

PICK A VOLUNTEER JOB while you’re there.

Pool use before 11am: Kids and adults are NOT ALLOWED in the main pool outside of practice until the pool opens at 11am. This includes lap swimming for adults. No exceptions. There are no lifeguards and we could be significantly fined by the county. Kids 6 and under can swim in the baby pool ONLY with direct parent supervision.

WEEK 2: June 1 – June 7

AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICES continue Monday – Friday, same schedule:

• 13+up: 4:00 – 5:00pm
• 9–12: 5:00 – 6:00pm
• 8+under: 5:45 – 6:30pm
• Please remember that 8 and under swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

Wednesday June 4, 7:00pm: Little Piranha parent meeting on the back deck. You’ve got questions! We’ve got answers! If you have a LP we will see you there.

Thursday June 5, 6:00pm: Little Piranha evaluations during 8 and under practice. This is for swimmers who have not already been evaluated. If you brought your swimmer to the evaluations at GW Rec Center, you do not need to have them evaluated again!

Friday June 6, 6:30pm: PEP RALLY: Break out the costuming and accessories and WEAR GREEN because it’s the GREEN OUT Piranha Pep Rally night!! Open to all swimmers and families (LPs too!), so Piranha up and show us your green.

• 6:30-8:00 at MHC (immediately after practice for 8 and unders)
• Pot Luck Dinner! Bring a dish to share. Bring water or Gatorade for your swimmer(s). Please no soda.
• Last Name A-H (Main – meat, pasta, etc)
• Last Name I-O (Side – veggies, fruit, etc)
• Last Name P-Z (Dessert – cookies, brownies, etc)
• Dress in your finest Piranha gear! Come learn (or recall) all our team cheers and bond with the team! LPs welcome!
• Please note that this is NOT a drop off event for swimmers 10 and under. Stick around and meet/mingle with other parents. It makes swim team way more fun.

Saturday June 7: TIME TRIALS @ MHC: The first official meet of the season, but without the involvement of another team – it’s a low-pressure event with a big function. This is where swimmers get an official time for each event they are legal to swim, which coaches use to seed meets. We still need LOTS of volunteers. So please sign up. If you recently completed training in a job, this is the perfect time to try it out. Can’t stay the whole time? You can still help with set up, with concessions, etc. We promise it’s more fun than you think!

• Set-up volunteers arrive: 7:00 am
• Swimmers arrive: 7:45am for warm ups at 8:00am
• Announcer: Please arrive by 7:30 to set up and get started at 8:00
• All other volunteers: no later than 8:00am
• Bring: suit, goggles, cap (bring 2 if you have them!), towel, water bottle
• We will be selling concessions so be sure to stop by. Remember that your swimmer should avoid soda or candy before swimming. Stick to light, easy to digest food before swimming.
• Not sure what to expect? Ask a veteran parent, one of us, or check out the description on our website. Basics? Kids swim every stroke they are legal in to give us a snapshot of where we are in order to seed the first A meet on Saturday June 14.
• Can only make part of it? Come for what you can! Can’t make it at all? Not a huge deal. Please try to make it to the B Meet on Monday June 9 so your swimmer can get times!
• Sport Fair will be back starting at approximately 7:30am with team suits and other gear for sale.
• We will (hopefully) have extra silicone caps for sale and fan t-shirts (adult sizes S-L).

REMINDERS

• MARK SWIMMER AVAILABILITY and select swimmer eventsas soon as possible! Like, right after you read this email! Help us out and click here now to mark availability. Not sure what your swimmer should swim? Don't worry. Coaches will approve strokes so kids aren't overwhelmed.
• MARK VOLUNTEER AVAILABILITY while you’re there. As with dual meets, Time Trials requires full official and volunteer staffing, including concessions. Please note that for Time Trials, we need to cover everything ourselves! That means double the volunteers of a normal dual meet. So, please help out.
• Note: You can mark swimmer and volunteer availability for the entire season in one sitting, which reps & coaches love.
• Team suits: Sport Fair will be at MHC during time trials with team suits and practice suits plus gear like goggles for sale.
• Team caps and t-shirts: We will have team t-shirts ready for pick up this week! You’ll know they are ready when you see one of us buried in piles of Ziploc bags full of t-shirts. Please LABEL your t-shirts RIGHT AWAY with your swimmer’s name. For obvious reasons. 174 kids have the exact same shirt. Y’all can do that math.
• Fan t-shirts: We still have plenty in Adult sizes S-L available for sale ($20 each or two for $30). Need a larger size? We need at least 24 to place a second order, so let us know! Those will be $20 for XL, $25 for XXL or XXXL) The sooner the better because they will take 2 weeks to print.

• Post-Event Clean-Up: Whether it's an A Meet, a B Meet, a Pep Rally, practice or a team breakfast and whether you stay till the end or leave as your swimmer is finished, PLEASE REMEMBER:

• How we leave our team area is a direct reflection of who we are. ALL SWIMMERS should leave their immediate areas free of trash and looking orderly.
  • Clean-up is our responsibility and not that of the lifeguards. This goes for all swim team events. Please be respectful.

WEEK 3: June 8 – June 14

Sunday, June 8. The NVSL will be holding stroke and turn trainings at a variety of locations. If you are willing and available, you can get trained as stroke and turn judge. All details available at https://www.mynvsl.com/. We can’t run meets without officials! So please consider getting trained.

Practice:

AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICES continue Tuesday – Friday, same schedule (no practice Monday due to B meet.)

B MEET

Monday, June 9: B MEET #1: MHC vs. HOLLIN MEADOWS (at HM: 2500 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria VA)

• Wear green and white and come ready to cheer or help.
• Warm-ups at 5:25pm, meet starts at 6:00pm (note: Sometimes HM needs to start early or late. If that happens we will let you know!) Please arrive by 5:10pm and look for our tents.
• MARK SWIMMER AVAILABILITY and select swimmer events as soon as possible! Same link, different meet, super easy. This is the single most significant thing you can do to support reps & coaches – thanks in advance! 😊
• MARK VOLUNTEER AVAILABILITY while you’re there. Basically, ditto. Meets don’t happen without volunteers. Please note that the first half is generally freestyle and backstroke, second half breaststroke and butterfly (if we get that far).
• Not sure what to bring or what your swimmer needs? Check Meets 101 on SwimTopia! Lots of great info there. Can’t find it? Ask a veteran parent or a team rep. We love to help!

Friday June 13: PEP RALLY: Details to come next week!

Saturday June 14: A MEET #1 MHC vs. Shouse Village (at Shouse Village). Select swimmers only. Please mark availability now even if you are brand new! Details next week.

It’s time Piranha People!! Registration for the MHC Swim Team 2025 season is OPEN! Register your swimmers HERE no later than 11:59 pm on April 30 to save $25, get a personalized swim cap, and guarantee your swimmer's t-shirt size. Please use the discount code EARLY to save $25. (Good until 11:59 pm April 30, 2025.) (Any swimmers registered after April 30 will get a non-personalized cap and a t-shirt as close in size to that requested while supplies last.) Registration for MHC Swim Team is on our SwimTopia site NOT the main MHC site.

Please note that you must be MHC members (or lessors) in good standing in order to register your child(ren) for swim team. This is an NVSL requirement and cannot be waived.

FAQs:

Age: swimmers must be between the ages of 4 and 18 as of June 1, 2025. (PLEASE NOTE: swim team is not a learn-to-swim program. If you have a young swimmer/little piranha we will conduct an evaluation to be sure they can be safe in the water. Evaluations for Little Piranhas will be held Sunday, May 18 during Polar Piranha Practice (details to come). Evaluations are not required for swimmers who have been on the team previously. If you are unsure whether your swimmer is ready to move to 8 and unders, please come to evaluations!)

Practice: After-school practices begin on 5/27/25 (see times on SwimTopia website); Morning practices begin on 6/16/25. (LPs will start on Monday 6/16/25)

Cost: Please note that these are the costs as of 5/1/25. Register HERE before that (with code EARLY entered at checkout) to get $25 off your first swimmer!

First swimmer: $205

Second swimmer: $105

Third swimmer: $80

Fourth (and subsequent) swimmer: $55

Family maximum: $500

Summer’s coming. Can’t wait to see you on deck! Eat ’em up Piranhas!

Questions? Contact the Mansion House Swim Reps at

[email protected]

Polar Piranhas is now at full capacity! If you missed out and want your swimmer(s) to be added to the waitlist, please email us at [email protected].

Reminder that our end of season banquet will be on Saturday July 20 from 6:00-10:00 pm at MHC. We will have food from Chalkboard, lots of awards to celebrate, paper plates for every swimmer, and the highlight of the night, the slide show! Please bring a dessert if you can, a 10x10 or larger tent if you have one (in case of rain), and your good thoughts for no rain/storms! If storms look likely we may have a change of venue and will let you know via email ASAP. See you tomorrow!

Happy 4th of July week, Piranha Nation! 

• Big congrats to all of our swimmers who competed at Divisional Relays last Wednesday! Special kudos to Parker Canfield, Harper Dresch, Norah Dominski, and Rachel McDonald, our 11-12 girls medley relay who made it to All-Star Relays as the 10^th seed and the same four swimmers who are our 11-12 girls freestyle relay who placed 19^th in the NVSL and were seeded a first alternate. We are so proud of you!

WEEK 6: July 1 – July 6

Practice:

Morning Practices (except on July 4!)

• 13+: 7:30am-9:00am
• 9-12: 8:45-10:00am
• 8 and under: 9:45-10:30
• Little Piranhas: 10:00-10:30 OR 10:30-11:00 (we will assign to groups)

• Please remember that 8 and under and Little Piranha swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

Afternoon Practices

• Tuesday ONLY: All ages EXCEPT LPs. 5:00-6:00pm (NOTE: No afternoon practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to the Fourth of July holiday

B Meet

• July 1: B Meet #4 vs. Highland Park @ LHP 6406 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22310:6:00pm. Swimmers arrive NLT 5:00. Warmups @ 5:20. Volunteers arrive NLT 5:20 (first shift) or 6:45 (second shift).

• July 2: Team Breakfast! We are looking for a few people to donate some fruit and OJ to supplement the bagels and cream cheese. Please sign up to help on Swimtopia.
• July 4: The Annual PiranhaThon! 8:00 –10:00. Each year, the Piranha Nation takes a day to give back by swimming for donations to a local or national organization. Look for an email later today with more information.

Friday Note: It is a privilege to be chosen for an A meet. Please help your swimmer(s) respect that privilege by resting up, eating well, hydrating, and generally preparing to perform at peak levels on Saturday. Please keep them out of the sun on Fridays and away from the pool. This is a great time for movies, the library, or other indoor non-exhausting events. Help us get some more wins by preparing to swim fast!

July 5: Pep Rally: Winter Holiday in July, 6pm, potluck.

• Pot Luck Dinner! Bring a dish to share. Bring water or Gatorade for your swimmer(s). Please no soda.
• Last Name A-H (Side – veggies, fruit, etc)
• Last Name I-O (Dessert – cookies, brownies, etc)
• Last Name P-Z (Main – meat, pasta, etc)
• Dress to celebrate a winter holiday in July! This should be a fun one so come eat, play games, participate in the costume contest, and bond with the team! Everyone (including LPs) welcome! This is not just for A meet swimmers!
• Please note that this is NOT a drop off event for swimmers 10 and under. Stick around and meet/mingle with other parents. It makes swim team way more fun.

July 6: A Meet #4 vs. Arlington Forest Gators @ Mansion House: MHC warmups at 8am, setup volunteers at 7am, other volunteers NLT 8am. Selected swimmers only; more information to come as to who is swimming and what you need to know. Watch your email! If your swimmer cannot attend (no matter their age group or level, excluding Little Piranhas), please mark that in SwimTopia TODAY.

• NOTE: This meet is Senior recognition day! ALL swimmers are encouraged to come and cheer senior swimmers' accomplishments. If you have a senior please respond to the email you received about helping us celebrate your swimmer!

WEEK 7: July 8 – July 14

• July 8: B Meet #5 vs. Waynewood @ MHC. Details to come, but this is our final B Meet of the season.
• July 9: Ice Cream for Breakfast! Team supplies the ice cream, you bring your favorite toppings! Yum!
• July 10: NVSL All-Star Relay Carnival. Big congrats to our relay team who qualified! Details under separate email for those families.
• July 11: Lollipop Meet, 9:00am @ MHC vs MVYC. Little Piranhas, your day has come! This meet is for you and for 8+under swimmers. Older age groups (9-10 and up) run the meet and fill all volunteer positions. One of the true highlights of the season! Detailed info to come but please mark calendars now!
• July 12: Pep Rally @ 6pm.
• July 13: A Meet #5 vs Camelot Community Club Knights @ Camelot, 9am. Final A meet of the season! Caravan from MHC at time tbd. Invited swimmers only. Details to come.
• July 14: Swim Prom, 6:00. Ages 13+ exclusively. Detailed info for eligible swimmers to come in a separate email.

WEEK 4: June 17 – 22

Practice:

Morning Practices (preferred)

• 13+: 7:30am-9:00am
• 9-12: 8:45-10:00am
• 8 and under: 9:45-10:30
• Little Piranhas: 10:00-10:30 OR 10:30-11:00 (we assigned to groups last week. If you weren’t at practice please come at 10:00 your first day and we will assign you!)

• Please remember that 8 and under and Little Piranha swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

Afternoon Practices (optional alternative if you cannot make morning practice)

• Tuesday-Thursday: All ages EXCEPT LPs. 5:00-6:00pm
• Sign-up on Swimtopia and update there if you cannot come. Please do not just no-show
• No coaches in the water at these practices, so plan accordingly based on your swimmer(s) skill level.
• Please remember that 8 and under swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

B Meet

• June 17: B Meet #2 vs. Riverside Gardens @ MHC: 6:00pm. Swimmers arrive NLT 4:45. Warmups @ 5:00. Set up volunteers arrive 4:30 (if possible) Other volunteers arrive NLT 5:30 (first shift) or 6:45 (second shift).
  • Lucky you - still a few volunteer slots left! Thanks to those who have already signed up. We still need: B Shift Clerk of Course, lots and lots of concession workers, 2 data table people, B Shift Marshal, B Shift ribbon table, Runners (1 A shift, 2 B shift), 2 B Shift Team Parents, and 1 B shift timer. Sign up HERE! Did we mention we need lots of help at concessions???
  • Swimmers: NOTE that although SwimTopia indicates meet entries are closed, this is just for data management. Undeclared/un-entered swimmers may absolutely still swim! Let a rep know, or just arrive & coaches can write you in.
  • Suggested pack list: team suit, or green or black suit; team cap (NO caps with other team logos allowed); 2 towels; healthy snacks & lots of water; sunscreen, optional hat/sunglasses; card games or travel activities; spirit wear & green accessories.
  • Once the meet begins, swimmers must stick to the team area so they don't miss an event or slow the meet down. This is a safety issue. Parents if your kid comes to find you, make sure they told a coach where they are and then return them to the team area ASAP. Oh hey, this one’s important so we’ll say it again: Swimmers, stick to the team area! Let a coach know if you leave!
  • Swimmers can leave the meet when they are finished swimming. HOWEVER, let a coach know you are leaving before you go.
  • Leave cell phones/electronics/valuables at home, or keep them secured inside your bags. We cannot be responsible for any valuables in the team area.
  • Concessions will be open! Please visit and eat. Please be sure that your swimmers save candy or soda for AFTER they finish swimming. Please also be sure to send your swimmer back to the team area to eat.
  • One more note about the team area: Parents must NOT be in the team area. We have a volunteer slot for a “team parent” if you want to help out! Otherwise please keep your kids in and yourself out!
  • Safety note: Photos and videos are NOT ALLOWED behind the start (so behind the timers or at the far end of the pool in the 25m events). Please move to the side to take photos and videos. It’s a better view anyway!

• June 18: Team Picture Day 7:00 am Brush your teeth and comb your hair! Flyer from the photographer is attached and posted at the pool. We will need a few parents to assist the photographer. She typically offers a discount so sign up early on Swimtopia to help! Please send your swimmer in their team suit if they have one. If they do not have one please send them in a green or black suit. The photographer will take individual/sibling photos and a group photo. Please have your swimmer EAT or bring a snack and drink water. No practice after photos but we don’t want anyone passing out from hunger or dehydration during the photo!

Photos

• Speaking of photos: Our own Karen Lant has been taking professional grade photos at our meets for several years now. You have probably seen her taking photos at time trials, the B meet, and the A meet. You can see her photos HERE. Please feel free to download photos of your children! If you do not want your child’s photos shared there, please let us know. (Please note that it may be impossible to remove them from group shots).
• Related! Karen also creates our incredible slide shows that are the highlight of every Swim Banquet! If you have (high resolution please!) photos that you have taken that you would like to submit for the slideshow, please submit them here. No promises as there are always far more photos than time, but Karen makes an effort to include as many different faces as she can!

Pep Rally

• June 21: Pep Rally: Disney, 6-8pm.

• Pot Luck Dinner! Bring a dish to share. Bring water or Gatorade for your swimmer(s). Please no soda.
• Last Name A-H (Dessert – cookies, brownies, etc)
• Last Name I-O (Main – meat, pasta, etc)
• Last Name P-Z (Side – veggies, fruit, etc)
• Dress as your favorite Disney character! Come eat, play games, participate in the costume contest, and bond with the team! Everyone (including LPs) welcome! This is not just for A meet swimmers!
• Please note that this is NOT a drop off event for swimmers 10 and under. Stick around and meet/mingle with other parents. It makes swim team way more fun.

A Meet

• June 22: A Meet #2 vs. Lakeview Marlins @ MHC: Swimmers arrive 7:45 for MHC warmups at 8am, setup volunteers at 7am, other volunteers NLT 8am. We need a LOT of help for this meet.One key position we need is an ANNOUNCER. None of our regulars are available. So if you’ve been wanting to try, this is your moment! There is a script and we can help you, but we need someone!! Selected swimmers only; more information to come as to who is swimming and what you need to know. Watch your email! If your swimmer cannot attend (no matter their age group or level, excluding Little Piranhas), please mark that in SwimTopia TODAY.

WEEK 5: June 24 – June 29

June 24: B Meet #3 vs. Little Hunting Park @ LHP: 6pm. Information to come.

June 26: Divisional Relay Carnival @ Sully Station: 6pm. Selected swimmers only. Please mark availability ASAP. This is a fun FAST meet. If your kids qualify we promise you want them to swim! Info to come. Yes it is in Centreville. We are sorry. Plan accordingly.

June 28: Pep Rally: Red Carpet! Dress as the celebrity of your choice: 6pm. Info to come.

June 29: A Meet #3 vs. Sully Station Supersonic Transporters @ MHC: 8am warmups Info to come (but yay it’s a home meet and we don’t have to drive to Centreville twice in one week!).

WEEK 2: June 3 – June 9

AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICES continue Monday – Friday, same schedule:

• 13+up: 4:00 – 5:00pm
• 9–12: 5:00 – 6:00pm
• 8+under: 5:45 – 6:30pm
• Please remember that 8 and under swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

Wednesday June 5, 7:00pm: Little Piranha parent meeting on the back deck. You’ve got questions! We’ve got answers! If you have a LP, we will see you there.

Thursday June 6, 5:45pm: Little Piranha evaluations during 8 and under practice. This is for swimmers who have not already been evaluated. If you brought your swimmer to the evaluations at GW Rec Center and received a placement email from us you do not need to have them evaluated again!

Friday June 7, 6:30pm: PEP RALLY: Break out the costuming and accessories and WEAR GREEN because it’s the GREEN OUT Piranha Pep Rally night!! Open to all swimmers and families (LPs too!), so Piranha up and show us your green.

• 6:30-8:00 at MHC (immediately after practice for 8 and unders)
• Pot Luck Dinner! Bring a dish to share. Bring water or Gatorade for your swimmer(s). Please no soda.
• Last Name A-H (Main – meat, pasta, etc)
• Last Name I-O (Side – veggies, fruit, etc)
• Last Name P-Z (Dessert – cookies, brownies, etc)
• Dress in your finest Piranha gear! Come learn (or recall) all our team cheers and bond with the team! LPs welcome!
• Please note that this is NOT a drop off event for swimmers 10 and under. Stick around and meet/mingle with other parents. It makes swim team way more fun.

Saturday June 8: TIME TRIALS @ MHC: The first official meet of the season, but without the involvement of another team – it’s a low-pressure event with a big function. This is where swimmers get an official time for each event they are legal to swim, which coaches use to seed meets. We still need LOTS of volunteers. So please sign up. We promise it’s more fun than you think!

• Set-up volunteers arrive: 7:00 am
• Swimmers arrive: 7:45am for warm ups at 8:00am
• All other volunteers: no later than 8:00am
• Bring: suit, goggles, cap (bring 2 if you have them!), towel,
• We will be selling concessions so be sure to stop by. Remember that your swimmer should avoid soda or candy before swimming. Stick to light, easy to digest food before swimming.
• Sport Fair will be back starting at approximately 7:30 with team suits and other gear for sale.
• We will also have extra MHC silicone caps for sale ($10 each) and previous season t-shirts for sale ($5 each) at concessions.

• REMINDERS

  • MARK SWIMMER AVAILABILITY and select swimmer events as soon as possible! Like, right after you read this email😊. Help us out and click here now to mark availability. Not sure what your swimmer should swim? Don't worry. Coaches will approve strokes so kids aren't overwhelmed.
  • MARK VOLUNTEER AVAILABILITY while you’re there. As with dual meets, Time Trials requires full official and volunteer staffing, including concessions. Please note that for Time Trials, we need to cover everything ourselves! That means double the volunteers of a normal dual meet. If you just got trained in a new job, this is a great opportunity to try it out. So please help.
  • Pro tip: You can mark swimmer and volunteer availability for the entire season in one sitting, which reps & coaches love.
  • Team suits: Sport Fair will be at MHC during time trials (~7:30-8:45) with team suits and practice suits plus gear like goggles for sale.
  • Team t-shirts: We expect that team t-shirts will arrive early this week and will let you know when they are ready for pickup.
  • Post-Event Clean-Up: Whether it's an A Meet, a B Meet, a Pep Rally, or a team breakfast and whether you stay till the end or leave as your swimmer is finished, PLEASE REMEMBER:
  • How we leave our team area is a direct reflection of who we are. ALL SWIMMERS should leave their immediate areas free of trash and looking orderly.
  • Clean up is our responsibility and not that of the lifeguards. This goes for all swim team events. Please be respectful.
  • Watch for the week 3-week 4 email which will include time trial results and our first ladder of the season!

  WEEK 3: June 10 – June 15

  Practice:

  AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICES continue Tuesday – Wednesday, same schedule (no practice Monday due to B meet.)

  Morning Practices and LPs start Thursday June 13

  • 13+: 7:30am-9:00am
  • 9-12: 8:45-10:00am
  • 8 and under: 9:45-10:30am
  • Little Piranhas: 10:00-10:30am OR 10:30-11:00am (we will assign to groups – please come for 10:00am for the first practice)
  • Please remember that 8 and under and Little Piranha swimmers may not be dropped off for practice without a caregiver. Older siblings must be 13+ to qualify as a supervisor for younger siblings. This is for your swimmer(s) safety. For older swimmer(s) please use your judgment about whether you should drop off or stay.

  B MEET

  Monday, June 10: B MEET #1: MHC vs. HOLLIN MEADOWs (at MHC)

  • Wear green and white and come ready to cheer or help.
  • Warm-ups at 5:00pm, meet starts at 6:00pm
  • MARK SWIMMER AVAILABILITY and select swimmer events as soon as possible! Same link, different meet, super easy. This is the single most significant thing you can do to support reps & coaches – thanks in advance! 😊
  • MARK VOLUNTEER AVAILABILITY while you’re there. Basically, ditto. Meets don’t happen without volunteers. This is a home meet so we need your help in more spots!
  • Not sure what to bring or what your swimmer needs? Check Meets 101 on SwimTopia! Lots of great info there. Can’t find it? Ask a veteran parent or a team rep. We love to help!

  Friday June 14: PEP RALLY: Details to come next week!

  Saturday June 15: A MEET #1 MHC vs. Villa Gorillas (at Villa Aquatic). Select swimmers only. Please mark availability now! Details next week.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! Reminder that Sport Fair will be at MHC from 3-5 pm on Monday selling suits and gear. Coaches will be available to say hi and chat starting at 4pm. The parent meeting will be at 5pm on the back deck. Please check your email for the first weekly update this weekend! Here we goooooo!

Hello Piranha families!! 

Summer swim is RIGHT around the corner (we can't believe it either) and as always we need YOU! We have some key volunteer positions that are currently vacant or have limited volunteers. None of these jobs require experience and only a few require formal training, but ALL of them are necessary to have a fun and safe summer. Please see below for jobs we need someone to step up for ASAP (responsibilities won't start until the season does, but your swim reps will sleep better):

Concessions manager

This is a MUST FILL job. Our former concessions manager no longer has swimmers on the team. If we don't fill this one there will be nothing but bagged chips and Gatorade at the meets (no, really. We can't be team reps and concessions managers). We have a number of people willing to help and work the stand at meets, but we need someone willing to take charge of planning and purchasing food for home meets. This can be one or two people who are willing to split the job and work independently with a budget provided by the swim reps. You do NOT need to spend your own money in this job.

Assistant Chief Timer

Our previous assistant chief timer is now a swim rep so we need to fill her spot! This job is lots of fun and we will train you! Previous experience as a timer is helpful but not 100% necessary. Our Chief Timer will work with you so that meets are covered so neither one of you has to be chief or assistant chief at every meet.

Stroke and Turn

Our numbers of qualified S&T judges seem to dwindle every year as swimmers (and their parents) age out. The more qualified judges we have, the less we have to ask them to volunteer. See PDF in the post below or www.mynvsl.com for training dates. Qualified previously? Great! Please remember you need to requalify every 2 years. Can't remember when you last went? Ask! We know!

Starter

Similar to S&T, our starters tend to have older kids who age out so we always need more! The more qualified people we have the fewer meets they will have to work. See PDF in the post below or www.mynvsl.com for training dates. Qualified previously? Great! Please remember you need to requalify every 2 years. Can't remember when you last went? Ask! We know!

Thanks in advance. We can't run meets without you!

New this Spring! Do you want to get your swimmer(s) back into the pool a little sooner to get ready for summer? Hoping to get legal in a new stroke or just back in the swing of it? Join us at GW Rec Center on Sunday evenings from 7pm-8pm, April 7-May 19 (no swim on May 12). Click HERE to register. Only 15 spots available so register now and get a head start on your summer season!

***NOTE: Current Polar Piranhas DO NOT need to reregister

***Applications are closed. Junior Coaches for the Summer 2024 Season will be announced soon!

Calling all junior coaches! MHC Swim Team is hiring for the 2024 Summer Swim Season! We are seeking applicants for Junior Coaches for the 2024 season. Send your application to [email protected]. Applications are due NO LATER THAN 11:59 pm March 17, 2024. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this deadline.

REQUIREMENTS:

Age 15+ by 5/28/24

Lifeguard Certified by 5/28/24 (if you are registered for a class this Spring, please include date of class in your application)

Member of the Swim Team by 5/28/24.

Check your email for application forms. Didn't get one? Email us!

MHC Swim Team is accepting applications for Junior Coaches for our Winter Swim Program! Applicants must be 15 years old or older prior to the first practice on September 10, 2023. Applications are due NO LATER THAN 11:59 pm on September 3, 2023. Please send applications electronically to [email protected].

Practices will be on Sunday evenings from 7:00pm-8:00pm at the GW Rec Center. Junior coaches should expect to be in the water with swimmers at each practice. Practices run each Sunday starting on September 10, 2023 until May 19, 2023. (no practice on the following dates: 11/26, 12/24, 12/31, 2/11, 3/31, and 5/12). Coaches will likely not work every Sunday.

Swimmers who are currently 14 and hoping to coach next summer season are HIGHLY encouraged to volunteer as helpers for our youngest swimmers to gain experience. We expect many applicants for Junior Coach next summer and will be prioritizing experience and demonstrated effort to gain experience. Similarly, 15-year-olds who plan to apply next year are highly encouraged to apply to coach for the winter. (*Please note that a lifeguard certification is not required for junior coaches for winter swim but WILL be required for junior coaches next summer). Experience is key to successful coaching!

Questions? Have a 14-year-old who wants to volunteer? Let us know!

Congratulations to the four swimmers who are heading to Individual All Stars this Saturday, July 29:

• Norah Dominski: 10&under IM and 9-10 Breaststroke
• Lally Mikulski: 13-14 IM and 13-14 Breaststroke
• David Ungureanu: 13-14 Freestyle
• Stassi Pinedo: 8&under Breaststroke

We are so proud of your accomplishments! Go HOUSE!

WEEK 7: July 10 – July 16

• July 10: our last B meet @ Waynewood
  • 1027 Dalebrook Drive, Alexandria 22308
  • Swimmers and volunteersarrive NLT 5:10.
  • Event order: IM, Butterfly, Free, Back, Breast. 
• July 11: Ice Cream Social! Team breakfast after each age-group practice.
  • Swim Team will supply vanilla ice cream.
  • Swimmers, plan to bring a favorite topping 
• July 11 & 13: Optional afternoon practice, 5:00pm. 

• July 12: All-Star Relay Carnival, Hamlet 
  • All-star relay swimmers - CONGRATS! David Ungureanu, Barnaby Lant, Jim VanZandt, Jack Dominski, and Ryan Carrado - we are so proud! 
• July 13: Lollipop Invitational Mini Meet, 8&under and Little Piranhas, 9:00 am.
  • The meet will be staffed by swimmers ages 9+up. Official uniform (blue shorts/skirt, white top) encouraged! 
  • Arrive: 8:30, ALL AGE GROUPS (13+ should come at their regular practice time of 7:30 and plan to stay and help with the meet).
• July 14: Pep Rally: DECADES!! @ 6pm.
  • 13-18 50s; 11-12 00s; 9-10 80s; 8 and under 70s; LPs 90s; Coaches 60s
  • A-I (last name): Side dish
  • J-P: Dessert
  • Q-Z: Main
• July 15: Final A Meet @ Holmes Run, 9:00. .
• July 16: Swim Team Prom, ages 13+ only (Swimmers must be swimming as a 13-14 or 15-18 this summer to attend), 6:00 – 9:00
  • Theme: TROPICAL. 
  • Attire: Semi-formal or thrift-store chic. Accessories: Swimsuit & towel. 

WEEK 8: July 17 – July 23

• July 17: Fort Hunt IM Invitational @ Hayfield Farm, 5:00. Select swimmers.
• July 18: Fun Day and Pancake Breakfast, after age-group practices. Volunteers: bring your griddle and cook up some hot cakes for hungry kids! Swimmers: You provide the toppings. Details to come!
• July 18: Last day of practice for non Divisionals swimmers. Divisionals swimmers meet with Coaches to choose strokes.
• July 19-21 Divisionals swimmers' practice. Practice continues for those swimmers who have qualified for Divisionals. Regular age group practice times.
• July 22: Divisionals @ Truro, 8:00 – 3:00 (approx). Select swimmers only
• July 22: End of Season Awards Banquet @ MHC, 6:00 – 9:00.
  • All swimmers, siblings, and families welcome!
  • A kid-friendly buffet dinner & dessert will be provided.
  • Please RSVP via SwimTopia and indicate number of attendees, so we can accurately estimate food.
  • Join us for awards, camaraderie, and the legendary MHC Swim Slide Show! We promise to give you the happy cries.
  • Have photos to include? Yes please! See weekly email for shared Google Drive link
  • Attire: Beachy casual / picnic chic / sundress & birks

UPDATES and REMINDERS

• Post-Meet Clean-Up: How we leave our team area is a direct reflection of who we are. ALL SWIMMERS AND SPECTATORS should leave their immediate areas free of trash and looking orderly.
• PiranhaThon: Congratulations and THANK YOU, Piranha Nation, for raising $1,800 for the Tourette Association of America to help fund research and awareness campaigns.

• Team Photos: If you had photos taken of your swimmer and have not received an email from Briar Creek Photography, reach out to [email protected].
• Mark SWIMMER and VOLUNTEER availability as always, thanks!

WEEK 5: June 26 – July 2

• Monday, June 26: B Meet vs. Hayfield @ MHC, including LP kickboard races
  • Swimmers & volunteers arrive 4:45
  • Set-up crew arrive 4:00
  • LPs arrive 5:20, races at 5:40
• Tuesday, June 27: Bagels team breakfast & Penny Dive after each age group practice
• Tuesday/Thursday, June 27/29: Optional/Make-up afternoon practice: 5:00-6:00.
• Wednesday, June 28: Divisional Relay Carnival @ Fox Hunt
  • Swimmers & volunteers arrive 5:00
  • Bring chairs/mats + bug spray for swimmers
• Thursday, June 29: Team Picture day
  • All swimmers arrive @ 7:00
  • No practice after; stay for optional mini clinics on starts, turns, finishes
• Friday, June 30: DISNEY Pep Rally, 6:00
  • Last names A – I: main dish
  • Last names J – R: side dish
  • Last names S – Z: dessert
• Saturday, July 1: A Meet vs. Truro Homes @ MHC

WEEK 6: July 3 – July 9

• Monday, July 3: B Meet vs. Highland Park @ MHC: 6pm. Info to come.
  • Little Piranhas: It’s time for KICKBOARD RACES! Held before the meet start. More info to come.
• Monday, July 3: B Meet vs. Highland Park @ MHC including LP kickboard races
• Tuesday, July 4: Piranhathon charitable fundraiser Info to come
• Thursday, July 6: Optional/Make-up afternoon practice: 5:00-6:00.
• Friday, July 7: TROPICAL Pep Rally
• Saturday, July 8: A Meet vs. Waynewood @ MHC

Keep checking here for schedule, updates, and upcoming events, and remember to click the Schedule table above to mark swimmer and volunteer availability for the coming weeks.

WEEK 3 (June 12–18):

June 12, 6:30: B Meet #1 @ Hollin Meadows

• Warm-ups 5:40
• Volunteers 5:50
• Address: 2500 Woodlawn Trail, Alex VA 22306

After school practices continue T–F (no LPs till June 19)

• 13 & up: 4:00 – 5:00
• 9 – 12: 5:00 – 6:00
• 8 & under: 5:45 – 6:30

June 16, 6:30: the SUPERHERO Pep Rally!! (Villains too!)

• June 17, 8:00: A Meet #1 @ MHC vs Great Falls
  • Warm-ups 8:00; Volunteers 8:00 (set up 7:30)
  • Mark swimmer & volunteer availability and check email or SwimTopia for details

WEEK 4 (June 19–25):

MORNING PRACTICES and LITTLE PIRANHAS begin 6/19:

• 13+up: 7:30 – 9:00
• 9–12: 8:45 –10:00
• 8+under: 9:45 – 10:45
• Little Piranhas: 10:45 –11:30

June 19 - B Meet #2 @ Riverside Gardens: 6pm

June 20 - Team Breakfast. Details to come. Volunteers needed!

June 21 - Fort Hunt Sportsmen Relays @ SRA: 5pm

June 23 - Pep Rally: Pirates, Aaargh! @ 6pm (potluck)

June 24 - A Meet #2 @ Fox Hunt: 9am (we will caravan from MHC. Check email for details for invited swimmers)`

Keep checking here for schedule, updates, and upcoming events and remember to click the Schedule tab above to mark your swimmer and volunteer availability for the weeks to come! 

WEEK 2 (June 5–11):

After school practices continue M–F (no LPs till June 19)
13 & up: 4:00 – 5:00
9 – 12: 5:00 – 6:00
8 & under: 5:45 – 6:30

June 6, 5:45: Little Piranhas make-up evaluations (for those who missed previous evals)
June 6, 7:00: LPs parent info meeting
June 7 thru June 9: T-shirt and cap distribution @ practice
June 9, 6:00: the great big GREEN Pep Rally!! Don’t be shy – you know you want to dress up!
June 10, 8:30: Time Trials @MHC. Marker swimmer & volunteer availability and check email or SwimTopia for details. Team suits for sale from Sport Fair beginning at 9:30

WEEK 3 (June 12–18):

After school practices continue T–F (no Monday practice)
June 12, 5:00 pm warm-ups/6:30 start: B Meet #1, MHC @ Hollin Meadows (away)
June 16, 6:00: SUPERHEROES Pep Rally
June 17, 8:00: A Meet # 1, Great Falls @ MHC (home)

Questions? Click around this website awhile. Can’t find an answer here? Chat with reps or send us an email ([email protected]).

Did you miss the first weekend of officials training? Still need to get certified or re-certified? There are still chances to do so! See below or click HERE for more info. You will need to click through the link on the NVSL site for "list of dates/locations" within the post on training. (Also don't forget that we have LOTS of volunteer opportunities that do not require certification. Including data and concessions!!) Thanks in advance for supporting your kids by helping out!

REMEMBER! If you were last certified in 2021 or earlier you MUST get recertified to work an A meet. (For Referee, Starter, and S&T. Referee must have up to date certs in ALL THREE).  Thank you to those of you who have already been to training, but we need more!

Hytek Virtual Clinics (learn to do data! No certification required, but class is helpful. Link to register is on NVSL site. Preregistration is required.)

June 2 6pm-9pm

June 9 6pm-9pm

Go to the NVSL site here to preregister for one of these clinics. Clinics are not required for data but are helpful!

Sunday, June 4th - 8:30-10:30AM 

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Fox Mill Woods 

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Holmes Run 

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Overlee 

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Sully Station II 

Wednesday, June 7th - 7PM 

• Referee/Starter Recertification (Virtual)** (Note that virtual is only an option if you have already been certified for a minimum of 5 years)

Sunday, June 11th - 8:30-10:30AM 

• New Referee @ Overlee 

• New Starter @ Stratford 

• Ref/Starter Recertification @ Greenbriar Tuesday, June 13th - 7PM 

• Stroke and Turn Recertification (Virtual)** (Note that virtual is only an option if you have already been certified for a minimum of 5 years)

Wednesday, June 14th - 7PM 

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn @ Vienna Woods 

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn @ Village West 

**Virtual recertification clinics are for officials who have been certified in the position for a minimum of 5 years. 

Piranha Nation, here we GO!

Check here weekly for schedule, updates, and upcoming events. And don't forget to visit the signup calendar under the Schedule tab to mark your swimmer and volunteer availability for the weeks to come!

WEEK 1:

• May 30 thru June 2: After school practices
  • 13 & up: 4:00 - 5:00
  • 9 - 12: 5:00 - 6:00
  • 8 & under: 5:45 - 6:30
  • Little Piranhas: No practice until June 19
• May 30 thru June 1: Gear swap, 4:00 - 6:00

WEEK 2:

• June 5 thru June 9: After school practices continue, same schedule
• June 10, 8:00 am: Time trials (swimmers in 8 & under age groups and above)
  • Plan to be there (unless your swimmer is a Little Piranha) - this is an important benchmark for all swimmers
  • Sport Fair: Team suits and other equipment for sale beginning at 9:30

Questions? Ask your friendly neighborhood swim reps at practice, or via email at [email protected].

Summer swim is almost here! Less than two weeks until Meet the Coaches (5/29 3-5 pm) and the start of the season. We are so excited and hope you are too!

Reminders for this week (Please read all the way down!):

• Spirit wear sale closes on FRIDAY MAY 19!! This is a hard deadline so we can take delivery early in the season. Order HERE today!
• Officials Training starts THIS SATURDAY May 20. We always need more trained officials. Click HERE for information about dates for New Referee, New Starter, New Stroke and Turn and Recertification dates for all of the above. There are also clinics available in June. See the NVSL site linked above for details. Please contact us if you are curious about becoming an official, we really need more volunteers this summer! (Not sure if you need to recertify? Email us and we can tell you!)
• Want to sit in the shade and help with the data? We promise it isn't as difficult or intimidating as it seems! We really need more people to learn how to enter data during meets. Training is available in person THIS SATURDAY May 20 and virtually within the next few weeks. Can't attend training, but want to help? Training is not required (but it is helpful). Click HERE for more info.
• We also desperately need a co-chair for concessions! This is a great opportunity to volunteer and split responsibility with 1-2 friends. Our concessions team is retiring after this season and is unavailable for some home meets this season. Please help! Email us at [email protected] if you are willing or just have questions.
• Little Piranhas Evaluations will be held this Sunday, May 21, at 6pm at the George Washington RecCenter pool. Note that this is different from previous years - the change will allow parents to plan ahead according to where their young swimmers are placed.
• Finally, if you haven't registered yet, registration is still open!! Click HERE and tell your friends! See you on deck!

Check out our NEW MHC spirit wear site HERE! Among other items, we are featuring pajama pants in both adult AND YOUTH sizes! Items from this site will be produced all at once for delivery in mid-June. Order now through May 19. The site will close on May 19 so that we can get the spirit wear before NVSL meets begin. (*Please note that items remain available year-round through our SwimOutlet site, but any orders placed there are separate and would ship to you directly)

It’s time Piranha People!! Registration for the MHC Swim Team 2023 season is OPEN! Register your swimmers no later than 11:59 pm on April 30 to save $25 and get a personalized cap for each swimmer. Please use the discount code EARLY to save $25. (Good until 11:59 pm April 30, 2023.) (Any swimmers registered after April 30 will get a non-personalized cap while supplies last.) Registration for MHC Swim Team is here on our SwimTopia site NOT the main MHC site.

Please note that you must be a MHC Shareholder (or lessor/renters) in good standing in order to register your child(ren) for swim team. This is an NVSL requirement and cannot be waived.

FAQs:

Age: swimmers must be between the ages of 4 and 18 as of June 1, 2023. (PLEASE NOTE: swim team is not a learn-to-swim program. If you have a young swimmer/little piranha we will conduct an evaluation to be sure they can be safe in the water. Evaluations will be held Sunday, May 21 during Polar Piranha Practice (details to come).)

Practice: After-school practices begin on 5/30/23 (see times on SwimTopia website); Morning practices begin on 6/19/23.

Cost: Please note that these are the costs as of 5/1/23. Register before that (with code EARLY entered at checkout) to get $25 off your first swimmer!

First swimmer: $205

Second swimmer: $105

Third swimmer: $80

Fourth (and subsequent) swimmer: $55

Family maximum: $450

NEW THIS SEASON: Mentor families! Are you new and have lots of questions? Check yes to having a mentor family! Have you been here forever and have lots of knowledge to share? Check yes to BEING a mentor family!

RETURNING THIS SEASON: Our beloved Coach Joel and Potluck Pep Rallies! Get excited y’all!!

Summer’s coming. Can’t wait to see you on deck! Eat ’em up Piranhas!

Questions? Contact the Mansion House Swim Reps at

[email protected]

Mark your calendars!

NVSL U clinics will be held on May 20, 2023. These are clinics for volunteer jobs that require certification (Referee, Starter, Stroke & Turn). Exact locations and times are tbd. Interested but not sure if you need to be certified? Reach out with questions to [email protected]

Please note that we currently have a waitlist for Polar Piranhas! If you are interested in adding your children to the waitlist, please send us an email with their names and ages. We will contact you if space opens up!

ICYMI we have MHC 2022 Champs t-shirts for sale! Commemorate our AMAZING summer with t-shirts for the whole family. Shirts come in youth and adult sizes. Check out the shirt here:

POLAR PIRANHAS WINTER CONDITIONING

• What: A once-weekly practice to keep your swimmer's skills alive and feed their love of swim. No meets, no volunteering (!!), just swimming.
• When: Sundays 6:00pm-7:00pm.
• Where: The GW Rec Center.
• Coached by: Our very own Coach Joel + a rotating cohort of Mansion House junior coaches.
• Starting: Practices begin Sunday September 11 and run almost every Sunday through May 21, 2023.
• Cost: $395 for the first swimmer per family, $295 for the second swimmer, $245 each for any additional swimmers. (This breaks down to less than $12 a session, which is a steal.)
• Registration: Open NOW - don't wait! Register here.
• Size: Space is limited and capped at 50 swimmers (to avoid overcrowding lanes).
• Membership: Priority will be given to MHC members until September 1. After September 1 we will open registration to non-pool members.
• Bring: Swimmers need a competition style suit (one piece for girls, ideally jammers for boys but do your best), towel, 2 pairs of goggles, fins, and their own kickboard. EVERY WEEK. We cannot borrow gear from the rec center.
• Need new gear? Shop here and support the team! Mansion House Club Piranhas - SwimOutlet.com
• No swim dates: 11/27, 12/25, 1/1, 4/9. We also typically take off for Super Bowl Sunday and Mother's Day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations and best of luck to our swimmers participating in the Individual All Star meet at Orange Hunt! Marco Perez, Patrick Donovan, Harper Dresch, Parker Canfield, Addy Gillespie, Lally Mikulski, and Molly Lussier we are so proud of you! Have a great meet!!

MHC PICTURE DAY - Thursday July 14 @ 7:30am

Please arrive before 7:30 to get lined up for photos. Wear Mansion House suit if you have one. If you do not have one, please wear a green or black suit. If you do not have that please wear your team tshirt. We need volunteers - please arrive at 7:15am if you are available to help!

Below please find the information provided to us from the photography company Briar Creek Photo - http://www.briarcreekphoto.com/

Mansion House Piranhas ~ 2022 Picture Day

Briar Creek Photography looks forward to returning for your team and individual/sibling photos on Thursday morning July 14.

**7:30 am Dive individuals also on swim team, followed by more dive individuals and Dive Team photo by Photographer #1

**7:30 am Swim individuals/siblings by Photographer #2

**8:00 am Coaches line up Swim Team in height order for team photo followed by remaining individual/siblings photos by two photographers

**9:30 am Tennis team photo, followed by tennis individuals/siblings

You will receive a link to your child’s private gallery of images (individual and/or team photo) within 3 days of our session at your pool. Please add [email protected] to your address book so that our email does not go to your spam folder.

All orders will be placed on-line and mailed to home.

If you place an order for a Package on the opening day of sales, follow the instructions on the Pop-Up to receive one Free Laminated Bag Tag .

One more reminder - Wednesday afternoon swim team practice has been canceled for this week.

Mansion House Swim Team is SO VERY PROUD to recognize the three relay teams that have qualified for All Star Relays. They will be competing Wednesday, July 13. If you see them, please congratulate them on this fantastic accomplishment!

9-10 Girls Medley Relay:

• Parker Canfield
• Norah Dominski
• Rachel McDonald
• Harper Dresch

11-12 Girls Freestyle Relay:

• Remington Hall
• Sofia Silvester
• Sarah Pegher
• Addy Gillespie

13-14 Boys Freestyle Relay:

• David Ungureanu
  
• Oliver Raak
• Jack Dominski
• Ryan Carrado

WEEK 4: June 20 – June 26

• MORNING PRACTICES, same schedule:
  • 13+up: 7:30 –9:00
  • 9–12: 8:45 –10:00
  • 8+under: 9:45 – 10:45
  • Little Piranhas: 10:45 –11:30
• June 20: B Meet vs. Riverside Gardens @ MHC: 6pm. Warm-ups: 4:45. Volunteers arrive 5:00. 
• June 21: Team Breakfast & Penny Dive after each age group practice. 
• June 22: Fort Hunt Sportsman Relay Carnival: 6pm, Stratford Landing pool, 2300 Brinitzer Way. Warm-up times and volunteer times TBD. 
• June 24: Pep Rally: SUPERHEROES!! 6pm. All swimmers! Come get amped up for Saturday’s A meet and show us how YOU superhero. 
• June 25: A Meet @ Brookfield: 8am. 

WEEK 5: June 27 – July 2

• June 27: B Meet vs. Hayfield Farm @ MHC: 6pm. 
• June 28: The second Potomac Marlins Clinic: 11am. For swimmers ages 9&up. 
• July 1: Pep Rally: A M E R I C A N A @ 6pm. 
• July 2: A Meet vs. Shouse Village @ MHC: 8am. 

WEEK 2: June 5 – June 12

• AFTERNOON PRACTICES continue Monday – Friday, same schedule:|
  13+up: 4:00 – 5:00
  9–12: 5:00 – 6:00
  8+under: 5:45 – 6:30
• June 6 and 7, 5:45: LITTLE PIRANHAS ASSESSMENTS: Bring your little one with goggles, a towel, and ready to swim!.
• Friday June 10, 6:00: PEP RALLY: Piranha night, babyyyyyy!! Open to all swimmers and families, so Piranha up and show us your green.
• Saturday June 11, 8:30: TIME TRIALS: This is where swimmers get an official time for each event they are legal to swim, which coaches use to seed meets. Mark SWIMMER availability and VOLUNTEER availability ASAP

WEEK 3: June 13 – June 19

• MORNING PRACTICES begin 6/13:
  13+up: 7:30 –9:00
  9–12: 8:45 –10:00
  8+under: 9:45 – 10:45
  Little Piranhas: 10:45 –11:30
• Monday June 13, 6:00: HOME B MEET vs. HOLLIN MEADOWS: You guessed it, mark swimmer & volunteer availability!
• Wednesday June 14: POTOMAC MARLINS FREE CLINIC: 11:00am. Open to swimmers 9+up. Details to come.
• Friday June 17, 6:00: PEP RALLY: Colors Theme: Details to come.
• Saturday June 18, 8:00: AWAY A MEET @ FOX MILL ESTATES: You guessed it, mark swimmer & volunteer availability!

The NVSL is happy to announce the 2022 Officials Clinic Schedule. Most clinics will be in person this year. You do not need to pre-register for the in-person clinics. 

In order to attend the virtual recertification clinics, you must be certified in the position for a minimum of 5 years and registration is required. To register: Virtual Officials Clinic Registration. Please note that we are working on confirming locations for the Hy-Tek, table workers, clerk of course, chief timer and announcer clinics. More details to follow.

Wednesday, May 25th - 7PM

• Referee/Starter Recertification @ Overlee
• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinics @ Sideburn Run

Saturday, June 4th (NVSLU @ Fairfax County Government Center)

• Referee/Starter Recertification (8AM)
• New Starter (10AM)
• New Referee (10AM)

Wednesday, June 8th - 7PM (VIRTUAL)

• Stroke and Turn Recertification
• Referee/Starter Recertification

Sunday, June 12th - 9:30AM

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Brookfield
• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Hunt Valley
• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Holmes Run

Sunday, June 12th 9:30AM

• New Referee @ Long Branch
• New Starter @ Long Branch

Tuesday, June 14th (VIRTUAL)

• Referee/Starter Recertification (7PM)

Wednesday, June 15th – 7PM

• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinics @ Stratford
• New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinics @ Vienna Woods

_____________________________________________________________________

Registration for Summer Swim 2022 is now OPEN! Register by April 29 to get personalized swim caps for this season. A late fee will apply for registrations after May 15. 

Please note! You must be a member (or lessor) of MHC in good standing in order to register your child(ren) for swim team. This is an NVSL rule and cannot be waived.

Cost of Registration

$175 for first swimmer

$70 for second swimmer

$55 for third swimmer

$30 for each subsequent swimmer

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Piranha families! Are your swimmers looking for a swim tune up before summer? We’ve got you covered! Two of our local club teams (and MHC swim team sponsors) are running summer tune up programs. 

Click the links below for details and how to sign up! 

Potomac Marlins summer tune up programs: https://www.teamunify.com/team/pvpm/page/news/321634/potomac-marlins-summer-prep-programs 

NCAP summer league tune up (with Coach Joel!) https://www.teamunify.com/pvjandm/__doc__/TGIFF2022-%20final.pdf

Interested in being a sponsor for the Piranhas this season? Check out our newly updated sponsorship tab for information!

Mansion Swim Team,

Practices are held on Sunday evenings(7 to 8 pm) at the George Washington Rec Center from September 12th, 2020 to May 22nd, 2021.

The following is the list of days we will NOT be practicing on Sundays - Please let us know if you have any questions.