What an amazing way to kick off our season, Marlins! Our first swim meet is officially in the books—and while we didn’t come away with the win, what we did come away with is something even more important: growth, heart, and a ton of momentum! The opposing team brought a bigger roster and, as last year’s division champs, they gave us fierce competition. But here’s the thing: we are only going to get better from here! This meet was just the beginning, and the potential we saw on the deck and in the lanes was inspiring. 

Let’s start with something HUGE—our number of disqualifications (DQ’s) was significantly lower than what we usually see in a first meet. That is a huge victory in itself and speaks volumes about how hard our swimmers and coaches have been working to get the fundamentals right! 

To our incredible parents: THANK YOU!! From timing to setup to cheering from the sidelines—your energy and enthusiasm fuel this team. You may have noticed we need as many volunteers to put on the meet as we have swimmers on the team! It takes all of us working hard together to hold meet! Thank you to everyone who worked as hard out of the water as our kids did in the water today! A special thank you as well for your patience and flexibility with the closed bathroom situation (Thank you Mandi and Mike Armand!!). You rolled with the punches, and we’re so grateful for your positive attitudes!

A special thank you to Mary Derrick for her problem solving and flexibility during this meet as well!

To our amazing coaches, Mercedes & Vanessa—wow! The encouragement, knowledge, and heart you poured into every swimmer did not go unnoticed! You created a positive, confidence-boosting environment for our athletes to thrive in their very first meet of the season! 

We are so lucky to have you leading the way! Thanks to all the junior coaches who supported our first meet as well!

Let’s keep this momentum going! This is just the beginning of what’s sure to be a fantastic season, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next! Stay motivated, stay positive, and let’s hit the pool ready to grow and compete even stronger next time!! 

- The Marlins Swim Committee

From the Coaches:

We could not be prouder of the heart and hustle you showed out there! In just one week between time trials and this first meet, we dropped an incredible 344 seconds as a team (that’s almost 6 minutes!)—that’s an exceptional accomplishment! That kind of improvement doesn’t happen by accident; it comes from hard work, focus, and your willingness to push yourselves. And we’re just getting started! We’ll keep sharpening our strokes, cleaning up the little details, and cutting down those DQs each time we race. Every practice is a chance to get better, and every meet is a step forward. To our amazing families—thank you for your support! If you ever have questions, ideas, or just want to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s keep building something great—together! 

- Mercedes & Vanessa

From the Officials:

Great meet, everyone! I want to give a big thank you to all of our Stroke & Turn officials for your time and dedication. We know it’s a lot to ask, standing on deck and making those tough calls, and we truly appreciate the important role you play in helping our swimmers grow and improve!

Just a quick note for those who volunteer to be “legs” during backstroke events—first, thank you! Second, please remember not to hold onto anything for support while spotting. The rules that govern this part of the race are clear, and it’s important we stay consistent and compliant.

For any parents interested in becoming certified Stroke & Turn officials—it’s not too late! Courses are available through USA Swimming, and we’d love to have more volunteers join the team! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the committee or catch me after a meet.

Thanks again for all that you do! 

- Lourdes Rodriguez