🐟 HCY Stingrays Scoop

🐬 Dear Stingray Families and Athletes,

We’re rolling into the heart of the season, and the energy around the pool has been fantastic! Between the excitement of last weekend’s Pentathlon meet and all the fun at Boo Bash out at Camp Carr, our swimmers have been staying active, competitive, and connected — both in and out of the water.

As our schedule picks up, please remember that communication is key. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your group coach with any questions about meets, training, or upcoming events. We have a lot of moving parts right now, and your coaches are here to help make the season run smoothly for everyone.

🏊 New Meets Posted This Week

JSY Holiday Mini Meet
We’re excited to announce that this meet will now include Junior 1 swimmers as well! This event is open to all swimmers ages 10 and under and is a great opportunity to gain valuable race experience in a fun, supportive environment.
🗓 Sign-up Deadline: October 27

CAT Winter Classic
Our mid-season invitational, the CAT Winter Classic, is open to all swimmers ages 9 and over who are registered with USA Swimming. This meet serves as an important checkpoint in the season, giving athletes the chance to track progress and race against strong competition.
🗓 Sign-up Deadline: November 3

Let’s keep the momentum going, Stingrays — stay focused, support your teammates, and keep bringing that positive energy to every practice and meet!

 

🏊‍♀️ HCY Girls vs. HACY Dual Meet Information

Location: Princeton Middle School
302 Gyott Lane, Princeton, NJ 08541

Schedule:

• Arrival: 1:00 PM (on deck and ready)
   
• Warm-Up: 1:15 PM
   
• Meet Start: 1:45 PM

 

🏊‍♂️ Dual Meet Reminders: Team Commitment Matters

Dual meets are all about teamwork — and that means every swimmer plays an important role from start to finish. Please plan to stay until the very end of every meet.

While we do our best to post event lists ahead of time, last-minute changes can happen. Illness, absences, or timing adjustments sometimes create a domino effect — especially in relays, where one change can impact several swimmers.

Relays are a key part of team scoring and are often decided by just a few points. Coaches may need to adjust lineups on deck to give our team the best chance to succeed. Even if your individual events are complete, you might still be called on to swim a relay — and that’s where team spirit truly shows.

Please remember:

• Stay in the team area on deck until the meet concludes.
   
• Support your teammates by cheering for all events — your energy helps everyone swim faster.
   
• Be ready to race if a lineup change occurs.
   

Finishing the meet together reinforces what being a Stingray is all about: commitment, teamwork, and pride in representing HCY.

 

🏊‍♀️ PPST Pentathlon Recap

Attached are the compiled results by age group from last weekend’s Pentathlon meet. The HCY Stingrays had six swimmers earn overall age group titles, an impressive accomplishment in a challenging format that demands excellence across all strokes.

The pentathlon is one of the most valuable meets for a swimmer’s long-term development. Competing in all five disciplines—butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley—builds versatility, endurance, and a deeper understanding of stroke technique and race strategy. These experiences not only strengthen each swimmer’s physical foundation but also foster the mental toughness and adaptability needed for future success.

Congratulations to our age group winners and to everyone who rose to the challenge!

Age Group Winners:

• Amelia Higgins – 11/12 Girls
   
• Jacob Joyce – 11/12 Boys
   
• Sophie Cain – 13/14 Girls
   
• Ben Najem – 13/14 Boys
   
• Alyssa Giovannis – 15 & Over Girls
   
• Jack Frank – 15 & Over Boys
   

Keep up the great work, Stingrays! Your dedication to racing every stroke shows true commitment to growth and excellence.

 

🎃 Boo Bash Recap

A Special Thank You from Kristin Heimall & Pam Gardinsky

Hunterdon Region VP of Operations & Deer Path Branch Director

Thank You to Our Senior Swimmers – Spooktacular Leaders!

A huge thank you to our amazing Senior Swimmers who took the lead in planning and running the Spooky Trail at this year’s Camp Carr BOO BASH! From the very first planning meeting to the last guest walking the trail, their creativity, teamwork, and energy shone through every step of the way.

We also want to extend a special thank you to the swim team parents who decorated and hosted trunks during the Trunk-or-Treat portion of the event. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and willingness to jump in made the night even more magical for our community families. The time and effort you put into your decorations and treats did not go unnoticed — and the kids absolutely loved it!

This year’s spooky circus and carnival theme (with a touch of zombie flair!)—all dreamed up by our senior swimmers—was a huge hit! With eerie decorations, dedicated “spookers,” and just the right balance of fright and fun, it created an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages.

Over 300 guests joined us for a night filled with trunk-or-treating, crafts, a bake sale, the moon bounce slide, archery, dancing, and rock climbing—but the Spooky Trail was truly a standout feature and a highlight of the evening.

We’re incredibly grateful for the leadership and enthusiasm our senior swimmers brought to this event. They’ve started what we hope will become a new BOO BASH tradition—with our senior swimmers leading the way each year in bringing the Spooky Trail to life.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s BOO BASH one to remember!

– Kristin and Pam

 

📱 Stay Connected with GroupMe

Join your swimmer’s GroupMe chat to stay updated. We recommend both parents and older swimmers join:

• Seniors: Join Here
• Pre Seniors: Join Here
• Junior 2: Join Here
• Junior 1: Join Here
• Little Stingrays: Join Here
   

 

🏅 Fall Meet/Event Schedule

 

🚨 Important Practice Updates – Fall 2025 🚨

Oct 25 – Dual Meets

• Canceled: J1, J2, Pre-Senior Girls
• Senior Girls: 7:00–8:30 AM @ Deer Path
• Boys: Normal schedule (Pre-Senior & Senior Boys @ Deer Path)
   

Oct 31 – Halloween 🎃

• All practices canceled – Have fun Trick-or-Treating!
   

Nov 1 – STAC Gobbled Meet

• All practices canceled
   

Nov 8 – Dual Meets

• No practice: J1, J2, Pre-Senior
• Senior practice: 7:00–8:30 AM @ Deer Path

Nov 14 - Distance Session of Autumn Challenge

• Senior 1/Senior2 Canceled
• Junior 2/Pre-Senior - 5:30-6:15 Meet Warm up prep
• Little Stingrays - Normal Practice

Nov 15-16-17 - Autumn Challenge 

• Practices canceled for the meet along with the Monday following the meet

Nov 27th - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

• The YMCA is closed for Thanksgiving - Enjoy the day with your families.

 

💡 Tip: Mark your calendars now! These changes affect all groups—especially during meet weeks.

 

See you on the pool deck,
Coach Lou & Coach Ruby