Dear Stingray Nation,

We are excited for Week #2 in the pool!  We already have some events and deadlines coming up.  Read on to find out more!

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MEET UPDATE

You may have heard that we are a dual-affiliated team.  What does this mean?  It means that in addition to being able to swim YMCA meets, our swimmers have the potential to also swim USA meets.  How does that work?  Each month we try to offer one YMCA and at least one USA meet.  All swimmers are STRONGLY encouraged to swim the YMCA meets, and are invited to swim the USA meets as well, if they are looking for more competition.  USA meets require a USA membership.  If your swimmer plans to attend any of the USA swimming meets this year, please complete the USA swimming registration using the FFYS club's unique link: Https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/F67F46D7803284. There is a $90 annual fee for a USA swim membership.

We have two meets open for entry right now.  They are both USA meets.  If your swimmer is new to competitive swim, you might want to wait for the first YMCA meet of the season.  If you need help with the registration process for a meet, please reply to this email.  A Booster parent will be able to help you with this.  If you are not sure if your swimmer should be swimming USA meets, or have questions about which events your swimmer should swim at a meet, please reach out to your swimmer’s coach.  Older swimmers, those in Gold and Senior, can talk to their coaches themselves, or you can reach out via email too.  If you need help connecting with your swimmer’s coach, you can reply to this email, and we can help get you connected.

HVP IMX Challenge Open Invitational - October 10-12

Milford High School, Highland, Michigan

This is a USA Meet.

Entry Deadline: September 17, 2025

2025 BA Halloween Town USA Open - October 25-26

Brighton High School, Brighton, Michigan

This is a USA Meet.

Entry Deadline: September 28, 2025

On our original schedule we had a tentative YMCA meet also scheduled for the weekend of October 25-26, but that meet is not being offered.  We encourage our swimmers with USA memberships to swim the Brighton meet. 

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PRACTICE UPDATE

We have only ONE change this week, but it affects ALL practice groups.

Friday, September 19

Senior - 5:00-6:30pm YMCA

Gold - 5:30-6:45pm YMCA

Silver - 6:30-7:30pm YMCA

Bronze - 7:15-8:00pm YMCA

Miniray - 6:45-7:15pm YMCA

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STINGRAY MERCHANDISE EXPO and ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Join us on Wednesday, September 17, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the YMCA for our merchandise expo and ice cream social.  Swimmers and parents can look at suits, parkas, and other spirit wear.  You can order your swimmer’s suit, cap, and anything else that you would like to show your Stingray spirit!  Be sure to grab an ice cream treat too! Swimmers can stop by before or after practice.  We will have a link to the online merchandise store available soon.    

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EQUIPMENT 

Swimmers need the following items for practice on a daily basis.  It is okay if they do not have them this week.  They make great birthday and Christmas presents too!

Miniray - swim fins, kickboard

Bronze - swim fins, kickboard

Silver - swim fins, pull buoy, kickboard

Gold - swim fins, pull buoy, paddles

Senior - swim fins, pull buoy, paddles, snorkel

All swimmers should bring a water bottle to practice.

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BAND APP

Practice times and locations sometimes change due to weather or pool availability. Please check your email daily before heading to practice. You can also download the FREE Band app and join our Stingray group: Band App.  Turning on the alerts in Band can help you be aware of practice changes.  When you join, PLEASE join with your first and last names.  This helps us keep this Our Band App closed, private and consisting of current parents, swimmers and coaches.  All “first name only” members will be deleted.  

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YMCA OFFICIALS TRAINING

Do you like free food?  Do you like a front row seat to the action at our YMCA meets?  Do you have a little bit of competitive swim knowledge or even perhaps some personal experience?  If so, YMCA Level I and II official classes are being offered on September 27 and September 28 at the Farmington YMCA. These classes are FREE for FFYS parents!  All parents are welcome!  

Level I:  https://lcdc.yexchange.org/Catalog/Class/Detail/308407

Level II: https://lcdc.yexchange.org/Catalog/Class/Detail/308408

Questions?  Please contact Tom Ludden at [email protected].

Fire Up Stingrays!