Manta Rays News 10.22.25

Happy Wednesday Manta Rays! 

Here's your weekly team news update!

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025: Rookie Academy & USA practice will be at the YMCA due to the MHS Girls home swim meet at Carver!  Here's what you need to know when we have practices at the YMCA:

• Swimmers: 
  • Check in with parent AND at Welcome Center
    • Team check in will be at a table right next to the Welcome Center desk!
    • If you don’t have a membership card or QR code on your phone, you’ll need to provide your name or date of birth to WC staff.
    • Make sure you plan enough time to get checked in both places.
    • If you need a membership card or QR code​ on your phone, you’ll need to stop at Member Services.  They are open Monday-Friday 8 am-6 pm!
  • Swimmers can use the daily-use locker rooms or the family bathrooms.  DO NOT LEAVE ANY personal belongings in any locker room unless it’s LOCKED inside a locker!
  • ALL swimmers will need to rinse off in the shower BEFORE they can enter the water for practice! Bring your stuff into the pool area if you aren’t locking it up, then go shower & use the restroom!
  • No cell phones in the locker rooms or the pool complex!
  • Headsets will be out on a table in the pool area; you won’t need your gear bag when we practice at the YMCA!
• Parents:
  • Practice times are the same regardless of location.  If we need to adjust times, we’ll post in Heja!
  • Any non-member adult wishing to stay at the YMCA during practice will need to bring a photo I.D. to present to Welcome Center.  Adult Members will need to check in.
  • Purple Practice Check in: the Welcome Center staff will have the team laptop.  When you’re done (about 5 minutes into the start of practice), please give it back to the Welcome Center.
  • Gold Practice Check in: when you are done with check in (about 5 minutes into practice), please give the laptop to a coach.  They will put it in my office in the right location.
  • Because of the extra safety measures at the YMCA (single facility entrance/exit, extra support staff, access to security cameras, etc.) we do not need a check out parent when we practice at the YMCA.
  • There is limited seating outside the pool complex in the hallway leading to the Kids Adventure Center.  Please do not move chairs from the lobby or conference rooms to sit by the pool windows.  This violates the fire code!

• Don't forget to submit Registration Part 2 Jot Form for your family by 10/23! Team Cap and t-shirt personalization cannot be guaranteed if you don't submit your Part 2 by the required deadline! I will also submit a 2nd gear order on 10/28, please submit gear orders by 10/27!
• Your athletes will still receive a team t-shirt and cap but it may not be personalized if form submissions are received after 10/23.
• Registration Part 2: https://form.jotform.com/252334476909162

Strength Training Orientation & Regular Sessions

Strength Training is only available to swimmers in 6th grade or above that are in the Gold Junior or Gold Senior practice groups. This could open up to other training groups as the season progresses but for now, we are limiting for space and safety purposes.

S.T. will be held at the YMCA on Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-6 pm with Denise T. (Wellness Director & Personal Trainer).

If your Gold JR./Gold SR. (6th grade & above) swimmer has not participated in strength training sessions with us before (either with Denise, CJ or Brock), has not completed the YMCA's W.O.W. course, and/or needs a general refresher on weight lifting at the YMCA,  we ask that you attend orientation sessions on 10/28 & 10/30 at the YMCA 5-6 pm.

If your swimmer cannot attend these sessions and has not done strength training with us in the past, please communicate with me so I can discuss options with Denise!

Regular S.T. Sessions will begin Tuesday, November 4th!

General Reminders for Strength Training Sessions:

1. All Manta Rays will be required to check in with the Welcome Center upon arrival (bring your membership card for faster check in!)
2. Wear appropriate attire (no jeans, soft-sided shoes (crocs, sandals, etc.) or boots.
3. If you bring personal items (cell phones, bags, coats, change of clothes, etc...) lock them in a locker while you are at S.T..  Do not leave personal belongings in a locker or locker rooms without a lock!
4. Bring water, a good attitude and be ready to work!

Friday, October 31st: there are NO practices for any groups on Halloween, so please enjoy the holiday (and bring your coaches all your Reese's peanut butter cups-just kidding!!)

Other upcoming deadlines & Important Dates:

• USA Swim Meet: DASH (Dubuque) Giving Thanks Invite Sign Up Deadline: Sunday, November 2nd 
• YMCA Swim Meet: Home Swim Meet Deadline: Manta Rays November Invite: Monday, November 3rd.
  • Need help with signing up for meets? Check out these articles or contact your Parent Booster Committee Rep:
    • How to Sign up for Meets Using Full Team Website: https://support.teamunify.com/en/articles/21
    • How to Sign up for Meets Using the SEMotion app:  https://support.teamunify.com/en/articles/1345#declare
• Team Photo Dates: November 10th & November 11th: 5:45 pm-???
  • ALL Manta Rays should have their photo taken. You are under no obligation to purchase any of the photos but we pay for each athlete to have their photo taken so we (the team) can use them for team promotions, athlete highlights, and much more.
  • Each athlete only needs to attend one day, not both.
  • Athletes should wear either a solid, black (or Manta Rays team) swim suit or their 2025-2026 team t-shirt for their photos so we have a unifed team look.
  • Siblings are encouraged to come together so the photographer can take family photos, if preferred.
  • A make Up date will only be scheduled if needed and not guaranteed, please attempt to attend one of these dates!

​Thanks so much! Have a wonderful week!

Go Manta Rays!!!