THE STINGRAY SPLASH, July 21 2024 Edition

Stephanie Talberg

This is the last edition of THE STINGRAY SPLASH for the 2024 Season! There may be a Special Edition of an All-Star Meet Recap.


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Be Ready for Next Season, Order Stingray Spiritwear Here!  https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/VA/Chantilly/Armfield%20Farm%20Swim%20Team?
 
 
 B MEET VS FRANKLIN GLEN RECAP
On Wednesday after a storm delay at Franklin Glen, we were finally able to compete AND complete our last B Meet of the season. Thank you to those who stepped up to take on a Volunteer position so that many of our kids could get one last swim in. 
 
 
DIVISIONALS @ SOUTH RIDING RECAP
The heat finally relented on Saturday to give us a perfect morning for a Divisional Swim Meet! Our Stingrays were super and we snagged a total of 62 ribbons (places 1-6). We had 28 swimmers qualify for the League All-Star Meet based on their times from yesterday. AMAZING! 
 
At the Half Time ceremonies, Armfield Farm received the following awards:
 
2024 White Division Overall Team Champions
2024 White Division Girls Team Champions
2024 White Division 9-10 Girls Champions
2024 White Division 11-12 Girls Champions
2024 White Division 13-14 Boys Champions
 
We desperately need a trophy case!
 
 
RECORD BREAKERS
The fast South Riding pool and pleasant weather allowed for more records to fall. 
 
Kate Li broke the Girls 9-10 50M Freestyle team record with a time of 33.25, besting a record from 2017. She now holds 3 Girls 9-10 individual team records, was part of the Girls 9-10 Medley Relay team record as well as the Mixed Age/Mixed Gender Relay team record! What a great season it has been for Kate!
 
Jake Sim broke his own Boys 11-12 50M Fly record from last week with a new time of 29.62. This also allowed him to claim the COLONIAL SWIM LEAGUE RECORD all to himself after last week’s tie. He is also .02 away from breaking the Boys 11-12 100M IM team record. Let’s see what happens at All-Stars for Jake!
 
Kyle Gadsby continues to amaze swim meet spectators from all teams with his talent. Seriously, I hear a lot of “wow” comments on the pool deck from everyone watching him. On Saturday, Kyle broke his own Boys 13-14 50M Backstroke record (Team and CSL) with a new time of 26.93. He broke his own 100M IM record (Team and CSL) with a new time of 1:00.75. He broke his own 50M Fly record with a new time of 26.46. This became his SIXTH (6th) COLONIAL SWIM LEAGUE record of the season! I have run out of adjectives for him!
 
Jason Xin has been fairly quiet this season until now. He broke the Boys 15-18 50M Backstroke record with a new time of 27.51, beating another record previously held by Coach Cameron! Go Jason!
 
Emma Cigna had an absolutely stellar day. She broke her own Girls 15-18 50M Backstroke record for like the hundredth time with a new time of 29.96, FINALLY broke that “Emma tie” on the 50M Fly record with a blistering time of 29.18 and if that wasn’t enough, she decided it was a good day to break the Girls 15-18 100M IM record as well (new time 1:06.31). Amazing!
 
 
STINGRAY SWIMMERS OF THE WEEK
1st Practice: Rex Lonsberry
2nd Practice: Noah La
3rd Practice: Saisa Upadhayaya
 
Congrats!
 
 
BANQUET RECAP
The Saturday afternoon rain showers ended just in time, and we were able to gather at the Pool for a final celebration of an AWESOME season! 
Here is a rundown of the season Award Winners and Special Acknowledgements. 
 
Stingray Award — Walter Tiss
Team Spirit Award  — Amaya Hernandez
Coaches Award (Younger Boy) — Maks Lopez
Coaches Award (Younger Girl) — Harper Lyddane
Coaches Award (Older Boy) — Jason Xin
Coaches Award (Older Girl) — Claudia Shin
Team Rep Award (Boy) — Ted Shin
Team Rep Award (Girl) — Sophie Nguyen
 
High Point Awards
8U Boy — Xavier Gines
8U Girl - Sadie Obeng
9-10 Boy — Jordan Stephenson
9-10 Girl — Kate Li
11-12 Boy — Jake Sim
11-12 Girl — Heidi Shin
13-14 Boy — Kyle Gadsby
13-14 Girl — Stella Obeng
15-18 Boy — Jason Xin
15-18 Girl — Emma Cigna
 
Most Improved Awards
6U Boy — Isaiah Lee
6U Girl — Lana Trimble
7-8 Boy — Jonathan Van Dalen
7-8 Girl — Nora Yuan
9-10 Boy — Lance Lonsberry
9-10 Girl — Sadie Spradlin
11-12 Boy — Rex Lonsberry
11-12 Girl — Emma Yuan
13-14 Boy — Gabe Nguyen
13-14 Girl — Ainsley Kibler
15-18 Boy — Alex Chen
15-18 Girl — Mikaela Lopez
 
Graduating Seniors
Logan Earle
David Li
Walter Tiss
 
Super Senior (already graduated but now aging out) 
Brianna Edwards
 
Board Recognition
Dan Earle - President
Justin Lee - Vice President
Stephanie Talberg - Corresponding Secretary
Katey Miller - Recording Secretary
Jamie Kibler - Treasurer
Aida Rivera-Gines - Team Representative
 
Coaches Recognition
Cameron Lai-Harris - Head Coach
Logan Earle - Assistant Coach
Brianna Edwards - Assistant Coach
Sophie Nguyen - JRay
Walter Tiss - JRay
Michael Edwards - JRay
Caleb Earle - JRay
Noah Sharabi - JRay
Natalie Talberg - JRay
Anirv Ganti - JRay
Stella Obeng - JRay
 
Special Volunteer Recognition 
Patty Gioffre - Concessions Chair
Beth Earle, Young Lee, Teresa Van Dalen - Computer Chairs
Edree O’Neil — Spiritwear Chair
Sandeep Kathuria - Sponsors Chair
Liz Hillman - Banquet/Awards Coordinator
 
Super Volunteers Recognition
Mia, Sebastian, Nico Aviles’ Family
Alex Chen’s Family
Evan, Toby, Isaiah Lee’s Family
Jason Zhao’s Family
Ted, Claudia, Heidi Shin’s Family
Allison Wang’s Family
Brianna & Michael Edwards’ Family
Melanie McGarry’s Family
Elliot Stephens’ Family
Sophie & Gabe Nguyen’s Family
Darren & Erin Kim’s Family
Walter Tiss’s Family
 
Sponsors Recognition
We would like to THANK the following Businesses for supporting our team this season!
Blue Bird Art Foundation https://www.bluebirdartfoundation.org/
WashingtonExec  https://washingtonexec.com/
Ritu Desai, Samson Properties Realtor https://ritudesai.samsonproperties.net/
Piero’s Restaurant for donating proceeds of orders
Baskin Robbins Ice Cream for donating proceeds of orders 
 
 
***Remember to pick up awards, medals, team pictures, and ribbons in your Swimmer Folder in the file boxes in the front of the pool house before the pool closes for the season! If you missed Banquet, your awards (including paper plates) will be filed this week.***
 
 
REIMBURSEMENTS
If you bought or paid for anything for the team this season, make sure you fill out the Reimbursement Form on our Website https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAjLOEc4HFSDlKMtqJc_Z-jpu67dEoiZsOcj6kHk-I3VrvTg/viewform It currently is taking about 2-3 weeks for checks to arrive in the mail. 
 
 
CORY YOUNG ALL-STAR MEET
Come cheer on our Stingray All-Stars in Ashburn Village next Saturday 7/27. The Meet starts at 8am. It’s the last hurrah of the season for the Colonial Swim League and it showcases the best of the best in local Summer Swim!
Pool Address is 
44078 Cheltenham Circle
Ashburn VA 20147
 
Speaking of the best of the best, don’t forget to tune into the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Opening ceremonies are this Friday 7/26 and swimming competitions begin on Saturday. Cheer on our local DMV swim athletes like Erin Gemmell, Phoebe Bacon, and Torri Huske. Our area’s most notable Olympic swimmer, and the most decorated female swimmer in history, started her competitive career at age 6 with the Palisades Swim & Tennis Club in Bethesda. Yes, even Katie Ledecky strutted her stuff on a local Summer Swim Team! 
GO TEAM USA!
 
AND 
 
GO STINGRAYS! 
 
See You All Next Year!
Registration will open April 1st 2025