Dear Stingray Nation, 

Here it is, the news you have been waiting for, the complete guide to Championship season, also known as the “Championship Digest.”  Grab a cup of coffee, maybe a snack too, put your feet up, and read this entire email, it contains A LOT of information!

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MEET UPDATE

LCSC Polar Plunge - January 31-February 2, 2025 at the Livonia Rec Center

Sturgis Invitational - February 1, 2025 Sturgis, MI

• This is a YMCA meet.  

• Coaches will NOT be attending this meet, as they will be at the Livonia meet

• Swimmers who are trying to meet the 3 meet requirement should swim this meet  

• Registration is OPEN!

 Flint 50s - February 2 - Location TBD

• This is a YMCA meet.  

• All swimmers should swim this meet!  

• Meet entry closed yesterday, if you missed it, please contact Sean Smith IMMEDIATELY: [email protected]

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CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS

 YMCA EASTERN CLUSTERS - February 7, 8, and 9, 2025

• This meet is OPEN for Registration and the Volunteer Signup is OPEN too!  

• All swimmers who have met or will be meeting the THREE meet minimum requirement are qualified to qualify to swim at this Championship Meet! 

• ALL parents are required to volunteer for TWO sessions at this meet whether or not your swimmer is swimming.  

• Locations: Northville HS (Friday evening)  and Trenton HS (Saturday/Sunday)

YMCA 8 & UNDER STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - February 15, 2025 

• Registration is OPEN - This is the final meet for all 8 & under swimmers who have met the minimum 3 YMCA meet requirement. There are no time standards for this meet.

• ALL 8 & under swimmers who are eligible for this meet are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend. 

• This is a one-day meet, and a great way to end the season for our 8 & Under swimmers - We have several 8 & Under State Champions on our team!! 

• Location: Waterford Kettering HS, Waterford, MI

YMCA 9  & OVER STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - February 22 -23, 2025 - SVSU 

• Registration is OPEN - EVERYONE who has met the 3-YMCA-Meet requirement and has achieved at least one YMCA State Cut is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend this meet.  

• IMPORTANT - Click here: YMCA Time Standards to check for cuts.

• ALSO IMPORTANT - If you have one cut, you can pick two bonus events, if you have 2 cuts you can pick one bonus event. This is for the whole meet, not per day.

• If you are a relay-only swimmer at the state meet, you are permitted one bonus individual event on the day that your relay is swimming.

• There is a hotel block for this meet. The reservation information can be found on our website.   

• Location: Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, Michigan

• We are co-hosting this meet.  We will soon be asking for volunteers to help us run this meet.  More to come on this soon!

YMCA ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS - March 15-17, 2025 

• Registration is OPEN 

• IMPORTANT - This is a time standard meet open to all swimmers who have met the 3-YMCA meet requirement and who have achieved a YMCA Zones Cut: YMCA Time Standards

• VERY IMPORTANT - EVERYONE who has a YMCA Zones cut MUST attend this meet. This is our Championship Meet that we focus on for the entire season for those swimmers who have cuts.

• We recommend reserving a room in our hotel block. The block expires February 14, 2025.

•  Location: Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

YMCA NATIONALS - March 31 - April 4, 2025

• This is a time standard meet:  YMCA Time Standards

• A hotel block will be secured.  Contact Bob Holdrigde for details.

• More information will come in the weeks ahead.

• Location: Greensboro, NC

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TEAM EVENTS

8 & Under Fire and Ice Event - Wednesday, February 5th, 2025  

• 7:15 P.M. at the YMCA

• This is a spirit event for all 8 & Unders swimming at the YMCA 8 & Under State Championships at Waterford!

Championship Season Spirit Dinner - Wednesday, February 12, 2025 

• 7:30 P.M. at the YMCA (Practices will likely be slightly adjusted)

• This is a time for our championship team swimmers and coaches to get together for a carb-filled meal before Championship Season begins!

• No RSVP is required. This event is FREE for all swimmers competing in at least one championship meet! (Please no parents or siblings, unless there are leftovers.)

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HOTEL INFORMATION

Click here to find hotel information for our upcoming meets: Hotel Information

The team has reserved a block of rooms for the YMCA 9 & Up State Championships on February 22-23 and YMCA Zones for March 14-16.

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END of SEASON and MARCH CLINICS

The last day of regular practice for all groups is February 28th.  Zone Team and National Team swimmers will continue until their respective meets, according to a slightly altered schedule that will be communicated soon.

But, guess what? Swim does not really end!  

MARCH CLINICS will be offered: 

Monday, Wednesday & Friday evenings at the YMCA - March 3-28 (no clinic on 3/17)

10 & under - 6:00-6:45pm (cost $115)

11 & older - 6:45-8pm (cost $135)

Registration opens TODAY - Monday, January 27th, 2025. __________________________________

ZONE TEAM and NATIONAL TEAM UPDATE

There will be an additional $100 charge for Y Zone Team and an additional $100 charge for Y National Team. This pays for the pool rental and coaching fees for the month of March.  Coach Rich will supply the Y with the roster for Y Zones and Y Nationals, and your credit card on file with the Y will be charged.  Please note, this is a YMCA charge, NOT an FFYS Boosters charge.

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Questions?  Please reply to this email, we are happy to help!  

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FIRE UP STINGRAYS!  Championship Season approaches!