Weekly News
WST Families,
What an exciting weekend our team had participating in the mid-season RAYS Nutcracker Championship Meet this past weekend in Stafford, VA!! So many great swims and so much FUN. This meet helps our swimmer figure out where they are in their short course training and prepares them for the second half of the season with short course championship meets in Feb/March/April. Here are just a few highlights from the meet...
1 - Laila Lewis swam a 32.15 - 50 Free earning her a girls 10 year old qualifying time for the April 2026 ISCA ELITE Showcase classic meet in St. Petersburg, FL
2 - Bennett Hinchman swam a 27.60 - 50 Free earning him a boys 12 year old qualifying time for the April 2026 ISCA ELITE Showcase classic meet in St. Petersburg, FL.
3 - Conner Hughes swam a 59.80 - 100 back earning him a boys 13/14 Virginia Swimming Age Group Championships qualiyfing time for March 2026.
FOX CLEAN UP MEET 12/21:
Today 12/8 is the deadline to sign up for the last short courese meet of 2025 - December 21st, a one day meet at Claude Moore Park pool, Sterling, VA. If you are interested in attending this one day meet please sign up on the MEET PAGE. WST ENTRIES
CHALLENGE SETS 12/14:
5 Months into the short course season, some of youR swimmers may feel they are ready to move up to the next level practice group. All you need to do is sign up for our practice session on Sunday, December 14th where they can swim the challenge set for the next level.
Please keep in mind that the challenge set is not the only criteria coaches use to choose appropriate Practice Groups for each swimmer.
WHEN: Sunday, December 14th 4:00pm to 6:00pm indoor pool Jim Barnett Park (during practice)
Click on the Edit Commitment to sign up for this challenge set. If you can not attend this day please contact Coach Trey to schedule a new date.
HOLIDAY PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Jim Barnett Park:
Tues. 12/23 – 5:30am to 7am (3 lanes, Silver/Gold/Senior)
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, Silver/Gold/Senior)
Wed. 12/31 – 7am to 9am (3 lanes, Silver/Gold/Senior)
Thurs. 1/1/26 - pool closed
Westminster Canterbury:
No Practice: Wed. 12/24, Thurs. 12/2, Wed. 12/31, Thurs. 1/1
VIRGINIA SWIMMING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE 1/31/2026
Calling all graduating seniors!! The 2026 Athlete Scholarship application is now open. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2026. Information can be found on the Virginia Swimming website.
SUMMER LEAGUE TUNE UP CLINIC:
Do you know any swimmers who swim for Sherando, Clearbrook Stonebrook Country Club, Winchester Country Club, Clarke County P&R (SVSL Summer League)? PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD - NEW FOR 2026 - A specialty camp designed for swimmers who want to sharpen their skills, refine stroke technique, improve starts, and master fast, efficient turns—giving you the edge you need for a strong summer season. Swim smarter, faster, and with more confidence! Registration opening soon - limited space is available and will fill quickly.
TEAM T-SHIRT DISTRIBUTION:
We are almost finished distributing our annual team t-shirts and swim caps to our swimmers and parents who placed orders. If you have not received your shirt or cap lease email [email protected] to make arrangements for pick up.
WST CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY PARTY 12/18:
Please send out a BIG thank you to Stephanie Welch for volunteering to make our annualy Holiday Ornament for the Christmas Party!!! CLICK HERE FOR VOLUNTEER AND DONATION SIGN UP
PLEASE BRING FOOD DONATIONS FOR THE HIGHLAND FOOD PANTRY TO THE PARTY!!
DONATIONS TO THE TEAM:
Please send out a BIG warm thank you to the Law Office of Joshua Hummer for their generous donation to the team!!! Being that WST is a non-profit organization all donations are tax deductible and go towards the daily operation of the team which are all very much needed as costs continue to rise for pool rental, payroll and travel. These types of donations also help our marketing budget to help bring more swimmers to the team. Please spread the work to local businesses to see if they can add WST to their support/donation list for 2026.
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 SAFE SPORT RENEWAL:
WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE OUR CLUB A BETTER, SAFER, & MORE PROTECTED PLACE FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP TO THRIVE! DEADLINE IS JANUARY 12, 2026.
We, Winchester Swim Team, fully endorse and support USA Swimming’s Safe Sport and Safety programs by helping to provide countless resources for our club members on our very own website, Winchester Swim Team or these resources can also be found at https://www.usaswimming.org/safe-sport/safe-sport-recognition-program.
OUR GOAL, AS A TEAM, IS TO BECOME A “SAFE SPORT RECOGNIZED” CLUB BY USA SWIMMING. In order to do this, certain requirements must be met. Some of which include learning exercises for our swim parents and athletes. WE NEED ALL OF OUR SWIM PARENTS AND ATHLETES TO TAKE A QUICK COURSE ONLINE WITH USA SWIMMING. USA Swimming will track the number of people that take the quick online training program from our team and we will be awarded points based on our completion rate. The more parents and swimmers that participate, THE BETTER!
PLEASE HELP OUR TEAM BY TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE A TRAINING EXERCISE THAT WILL HELP TO PROTECT OUR SWIMMERS AND OUR MEMBERSHIP!
How to Link a Child to a Parent Account and Give Them Their Own Login
Athletes:
Kids ages 5-12: Go to https://university.usaswimming.org/landing?lmsCourseId=42.
Youth ages 13-17: Go to https://university.usaswimming.org/landing?lmsCourseId=51.
(Turn off pop up blockers on your web browser)
- Click on View Info.
- Click on Start.
- Click on Login; You will be prompted to login or create a login if you are not currently a member.
- Click on Start.
- Once the course is complete click on the “Submit Button” and complete the survey at the end of the course.
- To download the certificate, click on view transcript and click on the course “Download Certificate” button.
Parents: (Turn off pop up blockers on your web browser)
Make sure your account is linked to your athlete’s account. How to Link a Child to More Than One Account
Go to https://university.usaswimming.org/landing?lmsCourseId=49.
- Click on View Info.
- Click on Start.
- Click on Login; You will be prompted to login or create a login if you are not currently a member.
- Click on Start.
- Once the course is complete click on the “Submit Button” and complete the survey at the end of the course.
- To download the certificate, click on view transcript and click on the course “Download Certificate” button.
Thank you to everyone for your help with this matter! It is extremely important, and we hope that everyone will take the time to make Winchester Swim Team a safer place!
Please let us know if you have any questions!
FUNDRAISING NEEDS:
Splashcards
-
Each family has already contributed a $150 fee which covers 10 Splashcards ($15 each).
-
These cards will be distributed at the Holiday Party on December 18th at Jim Barnett Park.
-
Families may resell the cards to recoup their $150 investment.
Swim-a-Thon
-
Our first major fundraiser will be the Halloween-Themed Swim-a-Thon on October 30th.
-
Each swimmer is responsible for raising a minimum of $200.
-
A Swim-a-Thon donation page will be posted soon on the WST website.
-
Remember: as WST is a non-profit organization, all donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
Additional Fundraising Opportunities
-
Scrip Program: We are seeking a volunteer to research and organize this program for WST.
-
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:
Please take a moment to sign up for the second half of the short course season meets. 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 a Block Party meet at Jim Barnett Park for Jan. 21st. ALL TEAM MEMBERS SHOULD BE SWIMMING IN EITHER THE 12 & under or 13 & over CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS IN FEBRUARY.
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 for spring lessons will open soon. Please reach to [email protected] for additional information.
Next session March 2 to 26, 2026. We will offer (3) 4 week blocks for levels 4, 5 & 6.
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:
|
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
