Dear Team, Championship season has officially arrived, and our athletes are not easing into it. No, they’re doing everything but taking it easy. They are taking it by force. Over the past few weeks, our team has been dropping time, racing with intent, and performing at an exceptional level. At STX Championships, several of our athletes stepped up and earned National A time standards, a clear signal that the work is translating when it matters most. Congratulations to Leanne Hughes, Stella Kang, Christian Schafer and Cynthia Slayton for EARNING their...

Why Compete? Competition gives us the opportunity to see what our athletes are capable of not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. In swimming, progress isn’t measured only by times on a clock. It’s also measured by confidence, resilience, focus, and the ability to keep showing up, even when things feel hard. As coaches, we use competition as one of many tools to understand where an athlete is in their development. It helps us celebrate progress, identify areas for growth, and guide swimmers forward in a healthy, thoughtful...

I love this sport. For over 25 years, I’ve done the best I can to give back to our youth because kids need the opportunity to see their hard work pay off without fear of failure, without fear of abandonment and with unconditional supprt. Over those years, I’ve learned far more from the kids on our team than they’ve probably ever learned from me. Early in my career, I was fortunate to coach a young swimmer named Chad Stein. Chad was one of a kind...a remarkable, rambunctious swimmer who loved...

Goal Setting: Building Champions for Life Swimming is more than a sport, it’s a vehicle for growth, resilience, and lifelong success. Through our TEAM, our coaches use the water as a classroom to teach discipline, perseverance, and joy in the pursuit of excellence. Our mission extends far beyond races and medals: we are committed to developing champions for life. At the heart of this journey is a shared partnership between coaches, parents, and athletes with each playing a unique and vital role. When these roles are respected and supported, our...