Dear Marlins Families,

What an incredible weekend! After three hard-fought meets, we finally brought home the win — and not just any win, it was a statement! In a cross-divisional meet, we came out on top, scoring higher than all the teams present. While the other teams were from Division F, our strong performance proves that we belong in Division E and are ready to rise to the challenge. This win was a turning point — not just in points, but in confidence, momentum, and team spirit. This victory wasn’t just about points — it was about heart, teamwork, and resilience!

A special thank-you goes out to our incredible officials, who were organized, professional, and a model of how a meet should be run! And to our amazing parents — your support made all the difference. From keeping our swimmers cool and hydrated, to stepping up and lending tents to shade the timers (thank you!!), you helped create a meet environment that was safe, supportive, and efficient in the summer heat.

And what an exciting Aqua Ducks mini meet for our 10 & under swimmers! The heart, determination, and sportsmanship our youngest Marlins showed was truly inspiring. From cheering each other on to racing with everything they had, these swimmers reminded us what team spirit is all about! We were thrilled to see several of them medal in their races! A big congratulations to Rachel, Eddie, Frankie, Olamipo, and Kyano for their medals! The future of our team is bright, and we couldn’t be prouder!

Looking Ahead: A Big Week is Coming!

We’re heading into a packed week of fun, excitement, and team spirit:

🚩 Swim-a-Thon – Tuesday, July 8 Both Practices

 During all practices, we'll be swimming laps for donations. Don’t forget to bring your forms, collect your pledges, and aim to beat your personal best from last year! Let’s make this our biggest fundraiser yet!

🏁 Meet #5 vs. New Carrollton– Saturday, July 12

 Last year we tied with New Carrollton— this time, let’s bring home the win! It’s going to be close, and we’ll need every swimmer, every timer, and every cheer! All hands on deck!

🌟 Laurel Invitationals – Sunday, July 13

 Final seeding happens today, so keep an eye out for notifications if your swimmer is selected. Since we’ll have a smaller roster, we’ll be reaching out for help with lane timing, running, and other support roles. Your help keeps things moving!

Let’s carry the energy from this past win into our final regular season week! You’ve worked so hard all season, and we’re so proud of what you’ve accomplished. Let’s finish strong, support each other, and keep showing everyone what it means to be a Marlin! Go Marlins!

- The Marlins Swim Committee

From the Coaches:

All the hard work you've been putting in at practice over the past few weeks is really starting to shine at our meets. We saw some amazing time drops, stronger technique, and even a few fun and competitive swim-offs — it was such a joy to watch you push yourselves and support each other! Let’s carry that same heart, energy, and team spirit into next weekend’s meets as we head into the final stretch of the regular season. We’re so proud of how far you’ve come — let’s finish strong!

We also want to give a special shout-out to a few swimmers who, as of last week, have earned spots on the Top 25 Times Across the League list — what an awesome accomplishment! Congratulations to Kaz, Carlos, Dale, Frankie, Olamipo, and Bethie — we’re cheering for you and proud of all you’ve achieved!

Let’s keep it up, Marlins!

- Mercedes & Vanessa

From the Officials:

You may have noticed the backstroke flags being adjusted at the beginning of our meet on Saturday. Just a quick note to share why that’s important! The placement of those flags is especially crucial for our backstroke swimmers — they rely on them to time their turns and finishes. In a 25-meter pool, the flags must be exactly 5 meters from each end. Accurate flag placement ensures a fair and safe race for everyone.

As part of running a well-managed meet, teams have the right to double-check and correct flag positions if needed — and we did just that! A big thank-you to Andy for catching the discrepancy and helping get the flags properly placed so our swimmers had the right visual cues. Thanks to Andy and everyone for helping us keep our meets running smoothly, fairly, and safely. We appreciate your support and enthusiasm every step of the way!

 - Mandi Armand

From the Meet Manager

What a day! Our Marlin families showed up in full force and created a little village of team spirit — Marlins Canopy Town! It was the perfect haven of shade for our swimmers, and a true reflection of how our community comes together to support one another.

A heartfelt thank-you to all the parents who helped shift and rearrange canopies throughout the day. It was hot, and with limited host shade available, your flexibility and teamwork made a real difference in keeping everyone as cool and comfortable as possible! I appreciate your patience as we got things settled — it wasn’t always smooth, but we made it work together.

To our incredible officials — Mr. Wade, Mr. Osifade, Mrs. Armand, and Mr. Kposowa — thank you for standing in the heat to ensure a fair and well-run meet. Your time, energy, and dedication are deeply appreciated!

And to our timers — thank you for hanging in there under the sun with limited shade and pushing through a long, hot day! Your commitment to our swimmers means so much, and your effort didn’t go unnoticed.

It takes a village to run a meet, and we’re so lucky to have one filled with heart, hustle, and Marlins pride!

Thank you all!

- Andy Reeves