Dear Stingray Nation, 

 

Congratulations to all of our Stingrays who swam at the OLY Open this weekend.  It was a very competitive and fast meet!  

 

In case you were not aware, all YMCA memberships now include 3 free guest passes. You can bring the same guest 3 times, or different guests totaling 3 PER FAMILY, (not per person,) within the calendar year.  We encourage our Stingrays to bring a friend to a Stingray practice to check out the team!  March clinics will be a great time to bring a friend!   

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PRACTICE UPDATE

 

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - Normal practice 

 

Tuesday, February 10th

Senior - 6-8pm YMCA

Gold - 7-8:30pm YMCA

Silver 6-7pm YMCA

 

We will have Sunday practice February 15th!

Senior - 9-11am YMCA

Gold - 9-10:10am YMCA

Silver - 10:10-11:00am YMCA

 

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CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

 

YMCA CLUSTERS CHAMPIONSHIP MEET- February 21-22, 2026

• LAST CALL - Registration closes TODAY!    

• All swimmers who have met or will be meeting the THREE meet minimum should swim at this Championship Meet! 

• We are hosting this meet!  ALL families are required to volunteer for TWO sessions at this meet WHETHER OR NOT your swimmer is swimming.  Volunteer signup is OPEN, click here: Volunteer Signup

•  Location: Waterford Kettering High School

 

YMCA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - March 7-8, 2026 - East Kentwood High School, Kentwood, MI 

• EVERYONE who meets the 3-YMCA-Meet requirement and has achieved at least one YMCA State Cut is SHOULD attend this meet.  

• Check out the time standards: YMCA Time Standards 

• 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: hotel block   

• Location: Kentwood, Michigan

 

YMCA ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS - March 20-22, 2026

• 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 23.

•  Location: Canton, Ohio

 

YMCA NATIONALS - Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3, 2026

• This is a time standard meet:  YMCA Time Standards

• A hotel block will be secured.  Contact Eric Stricher for details.

• More information will come in the weeks ahead.

• Location: Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC

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TEAM EVENTS 

Championship Season Spirit Dinner - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

• 7:30 P.M. at the YMCA (Practices will 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, but we welcome parents to hang out and to take pictures.)

 

Zone Team Dinner - Wednesday, March 18, 2026

• This is for swimmers (and parents) attending YMCA Great Lake Zone Championship Meet 

• More information coming soon

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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 YMCA State Championships and YMCA Zones, but they often sell out, so do not delay!

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END of SEASON and MARCH CLINICS

The last day of regular practice for all groups is February 27th.  

State Championship Swimmers will continue for one week, March 2-6.  

Zone Team* and National Team* swimmers will continue until their respective meets, according to a slightly altered schedule that will be communicated.

But, guess what? Swim does not really end!  

MARCH CLINICS will be offered: 

Monday, Wednesday & Friday evenings at the YMCA - March 2nd-27th, 2026

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

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

Registration opens Monday, February 2, 2026, registration links coming soon!

Registration for 10 & under:

http://apm.activecommunities.com/ymcadetroit/Activity_Search/115450

Registration 11 & older:

http://apm.activecommunities.com/ymcadetroit/Activity_Search/115451

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*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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SWIMMERS OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to our Swimmers of the Week!

Senior - Jill Stricher

Gold - Kiyaan Ghike

Silver - Riley Bradley

Bronze - Claire Main

MiniRay - Jude Jabri

 

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FIRE UP STINGRAYS!  Championship Season approaches!