Congratulations on a tremendous and record setting 2022 season.  This season, we had ~205 registered swimmers and averaged 120 participants at each meet (for a high of 176 at the season home opener against Waterford and a low of 114 at the makeup Sherwood meet).  Our coaching staff - Coaches Grimstead, Emma, Lucy, Catherine and Chris - did a fabulous job of managing 2 practices per day, meet set up and meet management all season.  We are grateful that William Powell stepped up into a junior assistant coach role during the last 2 wks of the season to help out.  We were also fortunate to have more than a dozen additional junior assistants willing to step in to help our coaches when needed.   With your coaches donations, we were able to provide VERY GENEROUS end of season thank you gifts to all.  THANK YOU!!

FINALS RECAP

We wrapped up the season last week with a strong finish at the League Finals for 3rd place overall and 3rd place in our "Whale" Division!  Our 10 & Under swimmers finished in 2nd place after the morning session, and 11 & Overs in 4th place following the afternoon session.  We ended the day with a combined team score of 1466.5 points, just 42 points ahead of Brookberry Farm and only 36.5 points behind Waterford.  Stingrays represented well in podium finishes earning over 50 medals!!  Team/Session Scores attached at bottom of email.

Gold Medalists - 

• Peyton Clifford (Medley & Free Relays, 50 Free, Fly & Back!!) - OUR MVP!!!
• 13-14 Girls Medley & Free Relays (Peyton, Adah Clifford, Caroline Armentrout, Claire Isaac) PLUS TWO NEW GFSL RECORDS!

Silver Medalists - 

• Libby Keit (25 Back)
• Griffin Powell (25 Back)
• Claire Isaac (100 IM & 100 Free)
• 6U Boys Free Relay (Will Tabacca, Harris Walters, John Lynch, RJ Chapman)
• 7-8 Girls Free Relay (Stella Rospel, Georgia Tompson-Moose, Brynn Kratzer, Libby Keit)
• 9-10 Boys Medley & Free Relays (Griffin Powell, Reid Bartley, Brooks Walser, Turner Umstsead) *less than 1/2 sec from 1st place on both relays!
• 15-18 Boys Medley Relay (Owen Armentrout, Chris Bannigan, Drew Parent, Austin Cassidy) - edging out their Peace Haven rivals by 2 seconds!

Bronze Medalists -

• Libby Keit (25 Free)
• Griffin Powell (25 Free)
• Reid Bartley (25 Back)
• Adah Clifford (50 Fly &100 IM) 
• Caroline Armentrout (50 Back)
• Claire Isaac (50 Breast)
• Chris Bannigan (50 Free)
• Owen Armentrout (50 Back)
• 7-8 Girls Medley Relay (Stella Rospel, Georgia Tompson-Moose, Brynn Kratzer, Libby Keit)
• 9-10 Girls Medley Relay (Rose Condon, Grace Garner, Lake Hall, Molly Cavanaugh)
• 15-18 Boys Free Relay (Owen Armentrout, Austin Cassidy, Hayden Danhauer, Chris Bannigan)

Congratulations to these medalists and all who qualified for League Finals. SHOUT OUT to two special 6U swimmers who stepped up and returned to deck after their 6U session had ended in order to compete up in age to fill out relays that would have otherwise been scratched - way to go, Harris Walters and Nora Smith!  

END OF SEASON AWARDS

We officially closed our season one week ago as we gathered for our End of Season Pool Party, Potluck and Awards Ceremony.  There were chicken fights, sharks and minnows and whirlpools. Food and memories were shared.  Each swimmer received a season summary time sheet, remaining ribbons and a Feel the Sting water bottle.  Others were recognized with our team Swaggie awards.  The following award winners were also honored.  Congrats to all!!

"Paul Bridges Golden Speedo Award"

(for longevity of commitment and serving as a role model with spirit, enthusiasm and dedication to our team - trophy)

• Emma Grimstead

"Coaches Awards" 

(Individual selections based on coachability, performance, dedication and/or willingness to listen and learn - trophy)

• Coach Grimstead - Lucy Smith & Brayden Stempkowski
• Coach Emma - Rylan Kirley & Koji Kishida
• Coach Chris - Reese Powell & Mason Winter
• Coach Lucy - Rosalie Hoeing & Will Strathman
• Coach Catherine - Grace Garner & Andy Stillerman

"High Point Winners"

(individual boy/girl in each age group that accumulated the highest point totals throughout the 6 regular season dual meets - personalized trophy or towel)

• 6U  Nora Smith & RJ Chapman
• 7-8 Libby Keit & Nolan Manning
• 9-10 Molly Cavanaugh & Reid Bartley
• 11-12 Hope Davis & Noel Bartley
• 13-14 Caroline Armentrout & Kai Kishida
• 15-18 Audrey Cavanaugh & Owen Armentrout 

"Most Improved"

(individual boy/girl in each age group who achieved the most number of time drops and/or largest average percentage of improvement over the course of the season - medal)

• 6U Katy Meeks & Flint Chapman
• 7-8 Mackenzie Donahue & Grant Wolfe
• 9-10 Haddie Hoeing & Reid Bartley
• 11-12 Nollie Hoeing & Kerry Donahue
• 13-14 Claire Isaac & Hudson Winter
• 15-18 Jessi Kate Bartlett & Chris Bannigan

"Silver Cap Award"

(Perfect meet entry attendance at all 6 regular season dual meets, meet cancellation does not count against eligibility.  *Asterisk indicates City Meet attendance as well - silver cap)

10&U (latex silver cap)

• Reid Bartley
• Molly Cavanaugh
• RJ Chapman*
• Mackenzie Donahue
• Lily Duffy
• Kane Feltis
• Samuel Forrest
• Grace Garner
• Haddie Hoeing
• Rosalie Hoeing
• Libby Keit*
• Asa Kistler*
• Greta Kistler*
• Brynn Kratzer
• Morgan Lewis
• Layla Lone
• Ava Kate McGrady
• Katy Meeks*
• Cooper Parent
• Hattie Patterson
• Emmett Sayers
• Lucas Sayers
• Caroline Strathman
• John Strathman
• Harris Walters
• Jackson Walters
• Jack Ward
• Kenzie Wells*
• Mavis Wells*
• Annie Whitley

11&O (silicone silver cap)

• Caroline Armentrout*
• Owen Armentrout*
• Chris Bannigan*
• Jessi Kate Bartlett
• Noel Bartley
• Austin Cassidy
• Hope Davis
• Kerry Donahue
• Ben Grimstead*
• Emma Grimstead*
• Josie Hoeing
• Nollie Hoeing
• Claire Isaac
• Alexander Matheson
• Evelyn Perrault*
• Oliver Perrault*
• Max Peterson*
• Will Strathman*
• Mason Winter

Pick up of water bottles, ribbons and other awards will be available today Wed 7/19 from 3:30-5:30 PM and tomorrow Thurs 7/20 5-6:30 PM for all who were not in attendance at the party. 

Lastly, we recognized our swimmers who are aging out this year at 18 years old.  All 5 have been lifelong New Sherwood Stingrays - swimming for our team for either 13 or 14 years.  All present were honored at League Finals with the Kristi Vhlahos Achievement Award for over 10 years in the league.  If you get a chance, check out the photo collage displayed on our bulliten board at the pool to see these five over the years. Congratulations to our newest Stingrays for Life:  Owen Armentrout, Chris Bannigan, Austin Cassidy, Emma Grimstead, and Lucy Kohrt!!!

THANK YOU!!

We can't thank you enough for all the volunteer efforts you have provided over the course of the season.  We say it all the time, but we truly couldn't do this without you! We are extremely grateful for all of your help and for the leadership of the Steering Committee to make our season a success.  Thank you to Mark Meeks and Brooke Keit who have volunteered to serve next season as Volunteer and Sponsorship chairs respectively.  We are still looking to fill the role of Social Chair. We hold ~2 preseason meetings between March and May for planning. Let us know if you are interested.  

Finally, THANK YOU for your overwhelming generosity in providing league rep gifts.  We are beyond grateful.  New Sherwood Stingrays summer swim team has been and continues to be a labor of love for both of us.  What we and our families get from being a part of this team and this community is beyond measure and our hope is that you feel the same 🖤❤️!!

...Until next season!

Colleen and Christina

PS.  League Finals date is likely to be released in Dec and the 2023 meet schedule in January for your summer 2023 planning purposes ;)