Weekly News
WST Families,
This one will be along one but we have alot going on at the beginning of the 2025 - 2026 season.
First off our LSC Virginia Swimming is hosting a clinic with olympians on Saturday, September 14th @ Swim RVA Richmond with 2 sessions 8:45am (12 & overs) or 1:15pm 12 & unders. Swimmers will get to meet Kelsi Worrell and Thomas Heilman and learn some techniques from these great athletes. Fee is $40 per swimmer... CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
PARENT MEETING:
For those of you that missed our new season parent meeting CLICK HERE for my notes on the season. I'm happy to review the content in person, over text or email or a phone call, just reach out to me I'm happy to help. (contact info below)
WESTMINSTER CANTERBURY POOL:
An email came out to our families who swim in the White and Blue practice groups reviewing the process and policies of our fortunate use of this beautiful facility. Please make sure you follow the rules in place especially parking in spots labeled "Visitor" only and abiding by the 14 mph speed limit. Coach Ann will also review with you all at practice.
White 5pm to 6pm, Blue 6pm to 7pm. If you have not confirmed your choice of the "A" (Mon/Wed) or the "B" (Tues/Thurs) schedules, please email Kelly Warnagiris your choice so we can communicate the rosters to our coaches asap. Both White and Blue Practice groups will also swim Sunday's 5pm to 6pm at the Jim Barnett Park indoor pool. And the Blue group will also swim Friday 5pm to 6pm.
The Winchester Swim Team is very fortunate that Westminster Canterbury, a retirement facility, has agreed to again, this year, allow the Winchester Swim Team to use this facility as an additional practice pool. We, as visitors, need to be respectful of the residents of Westminster and cognizant of their requests.
PARENTS:
* Parking will be allowed in spaces not marked with a number or those that have a "Visitor Parking" sign.
* The Speed Limit is 14mph within Westminster property and will be enforced by their security guards. If stopped for speeding, you might not be allowed to drive on the property. (It's a long walk from the CVS store)
* DROP OFF/PICK UP: swimmers at their designated time, or better yet, arrive 5 - 10 minutes early.
* Be sure to give Name, Address, Phone Numbers and email to the coaches. This will allow us to notify you of any changes or cancellations of practice times.
* If your child has any medical issues or concerns at any time, please discuss with the coaches.
* Parents are welcome to sit in the nice hallway outside the pool during practice time but are not allowed in the pool area.
SWIMMERS:
* May use the locker rooms and shower but must bring their own towels.
* EMERGENCY CORDS are hanging in the bathroom stalls and showers and are NOT TO BE USED by swimmers or siblings unless there is an emergency.
* Double check before leaving each practice that you have all your cloths, goggles, shampoo etc. prior to leaving the pool.
* We recommend that each swimmer bring a water bottle, with your name on it, to practice.
* Respect the residents of Westminster by keeping quiet when walking through the facility.
* Please no yelling, running or horse play in or on the Westminster property.
COACH PHONE NUMBER:
Ann Anderson 540-327-5503
Trey Shafer 540-336-2406
Claire Norris 540-235-2752
Jessica Barr 540-758-7029
Alisha Hilliard 765-623-2690
EQUIPMENT AND SUIT SALES:
The link to order your team suits and equipment is posted to the WST Website...
WST is under contract with the manufacture Arena and our vendor is Swim & Tri. With this contract comes a requirement for all team members to swim in an Arena suit for all USA Swimming Meets (does not include SVSL meets). WST also benefits with the contract with Swim & Tri and encourages all team families to purchase your supplies and suits through Swim & Tri so that the team receives benefits back to the team. Please email me if you have any questions. List of needed equipment per practice group are posted to the team website... CLICK HERE
SPIRITWEAR:
Our fall spiritwear sales will begin soon. As soon as the flyer is finalized I will email out to the team. We will have a window to place our orders followed by a bulk shipment coming to Mrs. Nardelli and distributerion during swim practice. Stay Tuned...
NEW USA SWIMMING PRESIDENT & CEO
USA Swimming Members,
We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you: Kevin M. Ring has been appointed as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of USA Swimming.
Kevin brings a wealth of experience from his leadership in the golf industry, where he successfully grew membership, expanded commercial partnerships, and developed new pathways for athlete compensation. His background gives him a unique perspective on how to strengthen our sport, ensuring that athletes, coaches, clubs, families, and fans all benefit from the growth of USA Swimming.
Throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated a deep understanding of what it means to lead a membership organization. He knows that success requires balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders while always keeping athletes at the heart of the mission. That experience, paired with his proven record of innovation and partnership building, makes him the right leader to guide USA Swimming into an exciting future.
Please join us in welcoming Kevin to the USA Swimming family. We look forward to the energy, ideas, and leadership he will bring to help our community thrive on the road to LA28 and beyond.
Learn more about Kevin here.
With gratitude,
USA Swimming
USA SWIMMING REGISTRATION:
CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO REGISTER WITH USA SWIMMING
Each swim family should create a USA Swimming Account and register each swimmer within that account. This is a yearly registeration required by all swimmers with several benefits including our team insurance. If you are new to WST, the deadline to register is 30 days from your start of practice for the 2025 - 2026 season. If you started practice on August 18th then your deadline to register with USA Swimming is September 18th. If you are new and participating in a swim meet you must be registered with USA Swimming before attending any meets.
For swimmers who swam with WST during the 2024 - 2025 season under the premium plan $88 your current registration will run through December 31, 2025.
All High School Prep swimmers will need to register under the "Seasonal" category @ $53 which covers 150 days and give swimmers the ability to participate in USA Swimming (non-championship) meets during that time period. This is required to attend all practices.
All 12 & under swimmers who do not swim more than 2 USA Swimming meets a year can register with the FLEX membership of $30. Also the FLEX membership does not cover short course or long course District Championships meets. If you plan to swim these meets then I recommend Premium Membership $88 annually or an upgrade before those meets. Meet recon reports prior to each meet reveal swimmers with expired registraiton where they need to be cleared up before attending any practice or meet.
All coaches, board members and team officials will be registered as non athletes by the team admin under the bulk registration option before the end of the 2025.
If you have any questions please email [email protected]
FUNDRAISING NEEDS:
Splashcards
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Each family has already contributed a $150 fee which covers 10 Splashcards ($15 each).
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These cards will be distributed at the Holiday Party on December 18th at Jim Barnett Park.
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Families may resell the cards to recoup their $150 investment.
Swim-a-Thon
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Our first major fundraiser will be the Halloween-Themed Swim-a-Thon on October 30th.
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Each swimmer is responsible for raising a minimum of $200.
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A Swim-a-Thon donation page will be posted soon on the WST website.
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Remember: as WST is a non-profit organization, all donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
Additional Fundraising Opportunities
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Scrip Program: We are seeking a volunteer to research and organize this program for WST.
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Grants & Corporate Sponsorships: If you have experience in grant writing or corporate giving, your help would be invaluable. Many companies set their charitable donation schedules in the fall. Parents employed at companies that offer matching gifts or community donations are encouraged to apply on behalf of WST. (WST’s nonprofit number and contact info are available to include with applications.)
Federal Tax ID: 20-2411904
Next Steps
For more details or to get involved, please reply to this email or contact any board member.
MEET REGISTRATION:
The 2025 - 2026 WST Meet Schedule was updated last week. I just want to make sure you all saw the new version and that you were registering for the meets you plan to attend between now and December asap. Please note the deadlines for each meet to sign up. We can not guarantee entry to a meet after the deadline has passed. Also meet fees are non refundable after our entries have been sent to the host team. We also plan to add an Intrasquad meet on a weeknight this fall for a WST only USA Swimming Sanctioned meet for all team members. We will share that date asap.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MEETS
CLICK HERE FOR DOCUMENT ON HOW TO REGISTER FOR A MEET
Please reach out to me or your coach if you have any questions on signing up for meets. While meets are not mandatory, they are highly encouraged. You do not have to attend all days of the meet, you have a choice to only attend certain sessions. Add your requests into the "Notes" box so our coaches know what days to enter your swimmer into the meets. For example "Saturday Only" or "Would like to swim the 200 Fly".
WST SWIM LESSONS WITH WPR:
Please spread the word to friends and family members looking to take swim lessons locally. WST is partnering with Winchester Parks and Recreation to offer swim lesson by WST. This will elevate the program to a new level giving local community swimmers an opportunity to learn from very experienced coaches the skills to become great swimmers. Online registration is OPEN. Please reach to [email protected] for additional information.
Next session 9/9/2025 - 10/2/2025 and 10/7/25 - 10/30/2025
USA SWIMMING MAAPP UPDATE:
MAAPP must be reviewed and agreed to by all athletes, parents/legal guardians, coaches, and other non-athlete members of member clubs annually, and such agreement must be retained by the club or LSC, as applicable. Likely, you follow this by having your families agree to policies and team expectations at the beginning of the season. During your online registration each family signs off on receiving our MAAPP policy. This is note to let you know as of Jan. 1, 2025 USA Swimming updated their policy with then prompted WST to update their policy.
CLICK HERE FOR WST MAAPP POLICY
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For Parents:
- September 3, 8 p.m. ET | REGISTER
For Athletes:- September 4, 8 p.m. ET | REGISTER
Members can also participate in trainings online at their own pace through the Education tab on their USA Swimming account. To learn more, including easy-to-follow steps, visit USA Swimming's Safe Sport training page here .
USA Swimming Safe Sport staff is hosting Zoom trainings for parents, minor athletes and coaches to assist clubs in completing the Training and Education requirement of the Safe Sport Club Recognition program. Each family should review every 2 years.
All team coaches, officials, board members, parents and swimmers should attend the online class every 2 years in order for our team to keep it's Safe Sport certification active.
To access training sign into your USA Swimming Account and click on the "Training" Tab. They have classes for Parents, Coaches and Swimmers.
WANT TO BE AN OFFICIAL???:
OFFICIALS ORIENTATION MEETING: Wednesday, October 1 5:30pm - 8:30pm CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
CURRENT WST USA SWIMMING OFFICIALS: Faye Thompson, Dean Thompson, Viktoriya Startseva, Francine LaFalce, Tin Truong, Joseph Biberston, Allie Smith, Brittany Rhodes. Thank you for your commitment to this great sport and your team!!
If you are interested in becoming an official for USA Swimming Meets you can begin the process online via the Virginia Swimming Website. Fundamentals of Officiating, Stroke and Turn, Starter, Referee and Administrative Official are online line now.
This is a great way to satisfy your volunteer hours and have the best seat on deck at swim meets supporting our swimmers.
First step, Register with USA Swimming https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/03E34F0ABD6C63
Second step, Sign into your USA Swimming Account > click on EDUCATION > COURSE CATELOG > OFFICIALS >
Start with the Foundations of Officiating, then Stroke and Turn Certification and then the Concussion Protocol.
You will also need to complete a background check, concussion training and athlete protection training. Information found on the Virginia Swimming Website.
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TEAM EQUIPMENT:
PLEASE ORDER ONLINE THROUGH OUR VENDOR SWIM & TRI AT THIS LINK
Our team is under contract with Arena. All competition suits should be of the Arena brand. During practice swimmers can wear any suit or cap.
All team members will receive a WST shirt and silicon cap as part of their team registration (late September, early October).
WST receives value in kind back from Arena when we order our supplies through Swim & Tri which helps out team financially to purchase our coaches supplies.
DI DRYLAND TRAINING FOR ALL AGES:
My name is Kiersten, and I am the General Manager for the new Athlete Focused training facility opening up in Winchester in just a few weeks called D1 Training. I had the great pleasure of working with several of the Senior, Gold, Silver, and Bronze swimmers earlier this year during their WST practice. I enjoyed getting to test each of your athletes on our force plates and designing a few dry-land workouts for the swimmers to start improving some of their deficiencies. During the dryland workouts we did pool side, I saw some great potential in several athletes and their eagerness to improve. To continue helping them progress, D1 has put together a special Team Training option for your athlete to come train in our facility. Our location's address is 178 Costello Drive, Winchester VA. Within our facility we have just under 5,000 square feet. Approximately 2,300 is our turf space for speed, agility, power, balance, and conditioning work. For our weight room we have 7 squat racks, DBs ranging from 5lbs - 85lbs, KBs, medballs from 5lbs - 50lbs, battle ropes, sleds, plyo boxes, and Assault fitness treadmills, rowers, and bikes. Our facility is set up the same way as Division 1 collegiate strength rooms are designed.
With this Team Training your athlete will be working with our coaches for 8 weeks on improving reaction time, increasing power in their lower body and upper body, building core strength, and working on injury prevention exercises for shoulder health. The workouts your athlete will be completing are customized by our elite coaching staff to work specifically on movement patterns to help swimmers. For this training program we have 2 options; Senior, and Gold swimmers have a 2x per week training schedule; then Silver and Bronze swimmers have a 1x per week training schedule.
- Senior and Gold Training-
- Training starts the week of March 31st
- 2x per week 60 minute workouts - Monday / Wednesday 4pm-5pm
- $25 cost per session - total is $400 for entire 8 week program
- Training at D1 - 178 Costello Drive, Winchester VA. 22602
- Link to sign your child up - https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=5742264&stype=41&sTG=28&prodId=103300
- Silver and Bronze Training -
- Training starts the week of March 31st
- 1x per week 60 minute workout - Tuesday 4pm - 5pm
- $25 cost per session - total is $200 for entire 8 week program
- Training at D1 - 178 Costello Drive, Winchester VA. 22602
- Link to sign your child up - https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=5742264&stype=41&sTG=28&prodId=103301
If you have any additional questions about what this program will entail, please email me at [email protected]. Looking forward to continuing to work with your athletes and help them prepare for the next step in their athletic career.
STRENGTH TRAINING FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE SWIMMERS:
FASST: Please contact Coach Tucker [email protected] 540-834-9518. Located 5 mintues from Jim Barnett Park. 
FASST Sports Performance: Elevating Athletes, Empowering Dreams
At FASST Sports Performance, our mission is clear: to provide a comprehensive program that enhances and improves every facet of an athlete's performance on all levels. We are committed to unlocking the full potential of athletes, helping them reach new heights in their sports endeavors.
Our vision extends beyond the realm of sports, as we aspire to build a vibrant and supportive community where young athletes and individuals of all ages come together. FASST Sports Performance is not just a place for physical training; it's a haven where people unite to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to chase their dreams and achieve their personal fitness goals.
Whether you're an aspiring athlete striving for excellence or someone looking to lead a healthier, more active life, FASST Sports Performance is the destination where your journey begins. Join us in realizing your potential and becoming a part of a thriving community dedicated to growth, empowerment, and achievement. Together, we can elevate athletes and empower dreams.
2 FOR 2 FOUNDATION:
PLEASE like and share their content on Facebook and Instagram...
WHY SUPPORT SWIM LITERACY
WHY SUPPORT THE 2 FOR 2 FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 1908, Winchester, VA 22604 Phone: (401) 301-9474
www.2for2foundation.org facebook.com/2for2foundation
For many, swimming is just a recreational activity—a way to cool off in the summer or a sport to watch during the Olympics. But for Shelly Lee and the 2 For 2 Foundation, swimming is a crucial life skill, a cognitive booster, and a means to break generational barriers to water safety.
When Shelly Lee moved to Winchester in the 1970s, she was hired by Winchester Public Schools in part due to her swimming background. Over the decades, she has witnessed firsthand how the lack of access to pools and structured swim lessons has left many children in the area at risk.
In many communities, particularly lower-income households, swimming has become an overlooked skill. National statistics show that 79% of children in households earning less than $50,000 have little to no swimming ability. The disparities break further along racial lines: 64% of Black children, 45% of Hispanic children, and 40% of white children have little to no swimming ability. With ten people drowning every day in the U.S., these numbers represent more than just missed recreational opportunities—they highlight a critical public safety issue.
The 2 For 2 Foundation was created to address these disparities and increase "swim literacy," a term Shelly and her team use to describe not just the ability to swim, but also a generational shift in water safety awareness and education. Swimming is more than just an essential safety skill—it also has powerful developmental benefits. Research shows that early swimming engages multiple senses simultaneously, helping to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain, improving memory, and enhancing cognitive function. In essence, swimming acts as "brain food," supporting skills that are transferable to the classroom, such as concentration, following instructions, and problem-solving.
"Swimmers tend to be great students," Shelly says. "The discipline, the coordination—it all carries over into their academics. It’s a cradle-to-grave activity that benefits people their entire lives." Despite its importance, access to swimming lessons has become more difficult due to the lack of public pools and structured programs. Unlike previous generations like my own where public pools were numerous and some schools had mandatory swim classes, today’s children in Winchester don’t have as many opportunities to learn to swim.
This is where 2 For 2 Foundation steps in. In 2024 alone, the foundation funded over 3,015 swim lessons for children in the area, ensuring that financial barriers do not keep kids from learning to swim. The foundation supports programs at the Valley Health Wellness Center, where early swimming lessons are being incorporated into childhood development initiatives, including a special focus on the Water Babies program.
“We’re hoping to teach the entire fifth grade at Daniel Morgan Intermediate School how to swim through gym class,” Shelly says. “Imagine a world where every fifth grader in our community learns water safety and survival skills. That’s our dream.” The program doesn’t stop with kids. 2 For 2 also funds lessons for adults, addressing the generational impact of swim illiteracy. Parents who never learned to swim are now gaining confidence in the water and passing that confidence on to their children.
One of the biggest challenges 2 For 2 faces is the lack of facilities. While the foundation has worked tirelessly to fund swim lessons, the demand far outweighs the availability of pools. “The misconception is that we’re just trying to build a pool. It’s so much bigger than that,” Shelly explains. “We will never own or operate a facility, but we are committed to developing and maintaining access to water and ice facilities in this region. It’s about education, recreation, and public wellness.”
With continued support from the community, donors, and local organizations, 2 For 2 is working on solutions that will provide long-term access to swimming for all ages. The foundation is also looking to incorporate swimming into school curriculum and push for legislative action on drowning prevention.
For more information on donating, swim lessons, and event tickets visit 2for2foundation.org
NEW USA SWIMMING NETWORK:
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COMMUNICATIONS:
All communication, billing, meet sign-up and schedule changes are done via the WST website: www.winchesterswimteam.com. Although parts of the website will be accessible to the public, you must provide WST with an e-mail address to gain access to the “team only” areas. Once your registration information has been entered into the system and approved you will receive an email with directions to sign into the website and verify your account information. PLEASE do this as soon as possible. You do not want to miss any important information. We encourage you to check your email and the website at least once a week. It includes a calendar, news, contact info, forms, and membership data. In addition to email, we also use text messaging to communicate any last-minute practice changes due to unexpected weather. Our website is a continuous work in progress. If you have any suggestions or concerns, please contact [email protected] We are always open to suggestions for improving the site. WST Coaches Contact & Information Page.
2025 - 2026 WST BOARD MEMBERS & COMMITTEES:
President - Emily Shafer – 540-535-9567 – emily.shafer@winchesterswimteam.com
Vice President – Sabrina Ramey - 540-303-7464 - sabrina.ramey@winchesterswimteam.com
Secretary – Allie Smith - 502-404-3496 allie.smith@winchesterswimteam.com
Treasurer – Tiffanie Lugo - 304-579-7418 – [email protected]
Member at Large - Jonathan Sharp - - [email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator – Jessica Lewis - [email protected]
Swim a Thon Coordinator - Emily Shafer - [email protected]
Splashcard Coodinator - Lauren Hightower - (571) 490-6157 - [email protected]
WST TEAM RECORDS (SHORT COURSE) AS OF APRIL 2025
WST TEAM RECORDS (LONG COURSE) AS OF APRIL 2025
RECOMMENDED APPS FOR PARENTS & SWIMMERS TO USE:
As of Jan 31, 2025 the On Deck App is being replaced by the new Sports Engine Motion App. Please delete your On Deck app and download the new app fron the app store. This app is linked to the WST website content. Please log in with your username and password for your WST website account. This app is recommended instead of using your browser on your phone.
Search for your swimmers times - USA Swimming - https://www.usaswimming.org/Times/individual-times-search
Meet Mobile - app used at all swim meets to show heat sheets, results and more. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meet-mobile-swim/id422154977
Please like and share all WST Facebook and Instagram posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Kelly Warnagiris
WST Team Administrator/Officials Chair
703-283-9121
