Weekly News
WST,
First the deadline to sign up for the ISCA meet in Hampton, VA is today. The deadline to sign up for the WST Intrasquad meet is Friday, October 31st. ALL WST swimmers should be participating in the Intrasquad meet Nov. 5th at the indoor pool Jim Barnett Park. This meet give our families a chance to swim in a USA Swimming Sanctioned meet without having to travel at a minimum of one hour away one way. The fee is $10 for per swimmer. Please go to the MEET PAGE and sign up today.
Second, just a quick reminder that all WST swimmers should be registered with USA Swimming. Swimmers cannot attend practices or meets without creating an account on the USA Swimming website and registering your swimmers. This is very important as it is our teams insurance policy. If one swimmer shows up to practice not registered it null and voids our insurance policy. VERY IMPOARTANT.
CLICK HERE FOR USA SWIMMING REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Also, when we go to swim meet or when we host a meet like our upcoming Intrasquad Meet a recon report is run before each meet showing swimmers who are out of compliance with USA Swimming and ineligible to participate in the meet until the updates are made to the USA Swimming account. This may include an upgrade from FLEX membership to PREMIUM membership or a swimmer who turns 18 and needs to complete the online Athlete Protection Training before coming to practice or meets. Or a swimmer may not be registered which urgently needs to be addressed asap. If you have any issues with your USA Swimming Registration, please let me know so I can help sort things out.
Only 3 days till our annual Halloween Swim a Thon, Thursday, October 30th at Jim Barnett Park indoor pool. This is a very important fundraiser for our team. If you have not set up your online profiles, please do so this week and help promote the event via your social medial accounts. The idea is to request supporters of your swimmers from family, friends, neighbors and corporate sponsors. Donations will be accepted until the end of November 2025. Each swimmer is asked to raise a minimum of $200 each. Results will be announced at the Holiday/Christmas party on December 18th in the social hall at Jim Barnett Park. Also if you have not signed up for a food donation please do so asap.
Schedule:
White & Blue groups will swim from 5:30pm - 6:30pm. (Social 6:30 - 7:30pm)
Bronze, Silver, Gold, & Senior groups will swim from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. (Social 7:30pm - 8:30pm)
We hope every swimmer 10 & under will achieve at least 100 laps, and every swimmer 11 & up will achieve at least 200 laps.
Swimmers will earn prizes if they swim 100 or 200 laps.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 fundraises.
Parents your help is needed to spread the word throughout your social media, to count your swimmers laps at the swim a thon, and food donations for the Halloween party after the swims.
Thank You for supporting WST and 56 years being a part of the Winchester Swim Community in 2025!!!
As a reminder, WST is a 501c3 nonprofit and donations are tax deductible.
Also Mrs. Hightower will be at the event with our Yard Sale items for anyone interested in donating the lightly used equipment and apparel for resale. Donations go to the team.
Please start by building your profile on the WST Swim a Thon page. Then reach out to family, frieds, neighbors, companies asking them to sponsor your swimmer(s) with donations to the team. WST is a Non Profit organization so all donations can be a write off, see form below...
CLICK HERE FOR SWIM A THON PAGE
CLICK HERE FOR SWIM A THON SOCIAL PAGE
CLICK HERE FOR CORPORATE DONATION FORM
NEW PRACTICE SCHEDULE STARTING NOV. 10th
NO PRACTICE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st
NO PRACTICE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH @ JIM BARNETT PARK ONLY
JIM BARNETT PARK HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
Thanksgiving Schedule:
Wed. 11/26 – facility closes at noon - WST practice 7am to 9am (3 lanes)
Thurs. 11/27 – pool closed
Fri. 11/28 – pool closed
Sat. 11/29 – 7am to 8:30am (3 lanes)
Christmas Schedule:
Tues. 12/23 – 5:30am to 7am (3 lanes)
Wed. 12/24 – pool closed
Thurs. 12/25 – pool closed
Fri. 12/26 5:30pm – 7:30pm normal schedule
Sat. 12/27 - 7am to 8:30am (3 lanes)
New Years Schedule:
Wed. 12/31 – facility closes at noon – WST practice 7am to 9am (3 lanes)
Thurs. 1/1/26 - closed
WESTMINSTER CANTERBURY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE NO PRACTICE:
Thurs. 11/27
Wed. 12/24
Thurs. 12/25
Wed. 12/31
Thurs. 1/1
GUIDELINES FOR HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMERS:
Here is a little advice and guidelines from the coaching staff to read and take into consideration as we move into the final stretch of the first half of the short course season.
The end of October though November is, historically, a very tough time for a few reasons:
1. School: Classwork ramps up this time of year, and bigger tests are right around the corner. Managing your time and keeping good study habits now will save you from a lot of stress later.
2. High School Swim: Most high school seasons begin in November, and they’ll ask you for some level of commitment, big or small. Either way, it will disrupt your training rhythm to some degree. Planning ahead and communicating will help you balance both.
3. Sleep: We’ve been back on the morning schedule for 8 weeks now. If your sleep habits haven’t been sustainable, it’s going to start showing. You don’t “get away” with less sleep as it affects you whether you feel it or not. The best approach is consistency: keep the same wake-up time and gradually train your body toward an earlier bedtime. You’ll sleep better and more efficiently.
4. Training: Practices are now consistently demanding and if you’re doing it right, you’ll be feeling it over the next 2–3 weeks. That’s part of the plan. As your body adapts, becoming fitter and faster, combined with race prep building through the back half of November, you’ll soon start reaping the benefits of all the work you’ve put in. The last eight weeks have been about building the foundation for exactly what’s coming next.
Based on history and what student-athletes have been able to accomplish in the past, this stretch is completely manageable. If you’re willing to make the right sacrifices:
*Social: Staying social is important year-round, but this is the time to be smart about it. Skipping a late night or one Saturday event can make a big difference in how well you rest and recover for the week ahead. Small choices now lead to big gains later.
*Phones: For 99% of us, phone use isn’t helping us reach our goals. Most of that time just trains your brain to stay alert and chase constant stimulation. If there’s ever a time to cut back, especially before bed, now is it.
*Fuel: Making small changes in what you eat can have a huge impact. Starting today gives you nearly six weeks of improved energy, recovery, and performance heading into the championship meet(s). You’ll train better, feel more energized, and reduce your chance of getting sick. All of which will have a compound week to week! Aim to add more greens, protein, and complex carbs and cut back on the things you already know aren’t helping you.
ANNUAL WINCHESTER CHRISTMAS PARADE:
WST plans to participate in the annual Winchester City Christmas/Holiday Parade Monday, December 1, 2026. Line up begins 6:05pm.
We are looking for some volunteers to come together as a committee to work on getting a float for our swimmers to ride in this year. Any parent who volunteers their time will go towards their annual volunteer commitment.
Please email [email protected] if interested. We are 73 days out from the event. Volunteer are also needed to attached small cards to candy canes to be handed out during the parade.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER @ "JOB SIGNUP"
VOLUNTTEERING 101:
WST Volunteer Coordinator is Jessica Lewis. [email protected].
All families are required to complete 30 annual volunteer hours as part of year round registration with WST, with a minimum of 8 of those hours at the annual WST Long Course Meet June 12 - 14, 2026.
Families have the season (Sept to August) to complete their hours. Swim meet volunteer jobs are posted the week of the meet on our website, including the timeframe required and hours to be credited. An email is sent out in advance with the date and time the jobs will open. Sign-ups are done online. Parents must sign up for and complete each session in its entirety. Sessions may run shorter or longer than expected. If a session runs longer, the volunteer hours earned may be adjusted as needed.
Other volunteer opportunities will be available during the season with the number of hours to be credited designated at that time. Volunteer opportunities will be posted on the website or made known via e-mail.
Even after your family meets your minimum volunteer obligation, please be aware that WST may still need your help. In particular, we are usually required to provide timers for a certain number of lanes at meets. It is expected that every family with swimmers entered in those meets works one timing shift at the meet.
WST needs every family to fulfill their volunteer obligation. We cannot run our team and annual long course meet without many volunteers. On September 1, 2026, families will be billed $25 an hour for all unmet volunteer hours.
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 registration 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 registration 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 10/7/25 - 10/30/2025. No Lessons Nov. 3 -
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.
CLICK HERE FOR WST MAAPP POLICY
- October 21 | 8 p.m. ET | Register
- November 4 | 8 p.m. ET | Register
- December 9 | 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. WST is due to renew January 2026.
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???:
CURRENT WST USA SWIMMING OFFICIALS: Faye Thompson, Dean Thompson, Viktoriya Startseva, Francine LaFalce, Tin Truong, Joseph Biberston, Allie Smith, Brittany Rhodes, Sarah Gilbert. 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.
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
