Wells Branch Armada

IT'S THE FINAL WEEK of our 2023 Swim Season!!!!!

Topics include: Information about upcoming team events, Meet Wrap Up, Coach Appreciation Day, our 3rd Annual Final Fun Friday, and Awards Night! Please read through the entire newsletter!

by: Deanna Johnson, President

This week is jam-packed with all things ARMADA! Continue reading for a list of fun and exciting events to finish out our season.

Before we get to the fun, a few critical reminders....

• Please check your family file boxes! They will be available at Awards Night on Thursday. Once the season finishes, we will have the file boxes in the lifeguard office for you to claim your ribbons, awards and other items.
• Don't forget to review the lost and found box. All unclaimed items will be donated next week.
• Please add any photos you have this season to our Google Photo Album 2023 Team Photos, and check out all the amazing photos our team photographers have already posted. Our team album will be the slideshow on Awards night, so get those pictures in now.  
• We have many families that still owe for the Swim-a-thon. Please submit payment in the board folders by Wednesday or contact [email protected] for PayPal or Venmo information.

Our new Armada Records sign arrived on Friday. I can't wait for you to see it. We are working with the Wells Branch MUD to get it hung. It looks amazing, and seeing the excitement from the kids as they check it out has been so much fun. We will host a ribbon-cutting for everyone on the sign later this year after we have had a chance to reach out to all the families. Before the start of each new season, we will update the sign with the records and plan some fun photo ops.  

Lastly, thank you to all our families for all their help during these away meets.  I am so excited for our swimmers to have a great divisional meet back at our pool this weekend. Remember, everyone should register to swim. Let's have fun during our last home meet. It's one of my favorite meets of the year. Seeing the littles finally crossing the pool and celebrating with our aging-out swimmers on their final swim. We have worked all year for this, and now it's here. 

by: Jake Tolfa and Maddie Wright, Head Coaches

Armada swimmers and parents, we are entering our final week of the regular season and it is a big one! With 4th of July on Tuesday and Ultimate Family Fun Friday to end the week that only leaves us with three days of practice. We will be focusing on perfecting the technical details of each stroke along with a lot of sprints and dive practice.

Ultimate Fun Friday is the biggest party of the season and an opportunity you will not want to miss! We will have relays of all kinds, including the favorite family relay where parents and siblings of swimmers have the chance to show off their skills as they all race together against other Armada families. There will also be the very competitive end-of-the-season Parent/Coach relay that comes with trophy rights. There will be games, contests, snowcones, and many, many memories made. Don't miss it!

Last week of clinics! Since we will not be having practice on Tuesday due to the 4th of July, we will only have clinics on Thursday :( 

Thursday sessons:

11:30-12:00pm, 12:00-12:30pm and 12:30-1pm

MEET THEME: ARMADA SPIRIT/USA

Lets see everyone's Armada and USA spirit!

by: Justin Anderson, Volunteer Coordinator

Howdy all! Thank you to everyone who endured the crazy early start and participated in this past Saturday's Tri Meet. I especially appreciate those of you who jumped in unexpectedly to help as a lane timer. We always try to make sure we have the volunteer roles fully accurate ahead of time, but I was so thankful to see our team jump into action when we realized we were short. 

This Saturday we are hosting our Divisional meet with the Rattan Creek Hurricanes, Steiner Ranch Stars Blue, and Pflugerville Piranhas. The meet will have 3 shifts, and because there are 4 teams, less volunteers are needed. Please log in and grab a shift if you haven't already.

Also, there are plenty of other opportunities to volunteer this week. FourthFest is Tuesday, Wednesday is Coach Appreciation, Thursday is Awards Night, and Friday is Final Fun Friday. Please help us out if you can.

Thank you all for a great season and always being willing to work double shifts if needed, and just all around pitch in where you can.

Upcoming Meet Information

• Sat. July 8th: Division 4 Meet: WBA vs Steiner Blue, Pflugerville, and Rattan Creek (HOME) - All swimmers can participate in this meet. 
• Sun. July 9th: Invitational Meet (qualified swimmers only)

Upcoming Team Events / Spirit Nights / FUN!!!

• Tues. July 4th: (NO PRACTICES): Wells Branch FourthFest (details below)
• Wed. July 5th: Coach Appreciation Day! (details below)
• Thur. July 6th: Armada Awards Night (details below)
• Thurs. July 6th: Elect 2024 Board of Directors (details below)
• Fri. July 7th: Final Fun Friday! (details below)

by: Catherine Kamenicky, Meet Director

Our Division 4 Championship meet is Saturday against our friends from Steiner Ranch Stars Blue, Pflugerville Piranhas and Rattan Creek Hurricanes. The Division meet will run longer than a normal meet so please plan accordingly - lots of water and sunscreen!

We need ALL our eligible swimmers to sign up!

The old adage that every swimmer matters to the team is truer than ever at the Divisional meet, where depth matters even more.

Scratch: After we close the meet online, please email or text Catherine, our Meet Director ([email protected] or 956-802-2253) if you have to scratch.

Key Information:

Meet Set-up: Friday, July 7th at 8:00 pm & Saturday, July 8th at 5:00 am
If you signed up as part of the setup team for your volunteer assignment, or if you'd like to lend an extra hand, please be at the pool by 8:00 pm on Friday, and by 5:00 am on Saturday.

Parking: Please allow extra time to find parking. Late arrival could result in your swimmer being scratched from their relay. The lot next to the pool will be limited to those with parking passes to ensure that those transporting equipment have better access to the pool for set up. Additional parking will be along Sauls Dr., the adjacent streets, and the nearby elementary school. Please DO NOT park along Bratton or in any of the parking lots for businesses (see exception below) you see along Bratton and Long Vista, as you will risk being towed. Long Vista itself now has no parking signs along it for the half-block nearest the pool. There will be overflow parking at the Rec Center on Shoreline Dr., but it is a small hike from there to the pool.

Exception: We have been given permission to use the parking lot of the business that is caddy-corner from the pool. We will have parking attendants there to show you where you can (most of the lot) and cannot (the rearmost section) park.

Note: Parents may drop off swimmers in front of the pool gate and then go and park. Please allow extra time for parking and walking to the pool.

Swimmer Pits: Parents, kindly remember that the swimmers need to STAY in the swimmer pits. The pit parents are responsible for organizing and bringing the kids to the ready bench in time for their races. This Saturday's meet will have double or more the amount of kids and our swimmers need to be organized and on time. If kids need to leave the pit area, parents MUST inform the pit parents.

Clean Up: We ask everyone to clean up the pit and pool areas before they leave. We must return the pool area to its original condition. The more people who help, the sooner everyone can leave. Pit parents should not release swimmers until their area is restored. 

Tear Down:  We have a great tear down team, however anyone who is able to stay late and help clean up will be greatly appreciated. This is the final time we will be at Willow Bend as a team and have to have everything cleaned up and put away until next season. Thank you in advance!

by: Catherine Kamenicky, Meet Director

Congratulations to those swimmers who qualified for the NWSC Invitational Meet. This meet will be held at Round Rock Aquatic Center on the Cedar Ridge High School Campus. For those attending, please check your email regarding additional important meet information.

Key Information:

Parking: Parking is available on site and at the adjacent High School. Please do not park in reserved spots with cones unless you have been assigned one of these spots due to your volunteer position. 

Seating: Swimmers will be in their pits outside the natatorium except when swimming. Family members may observe the meet from the side of the pool closest to the main entrance of the facility. There will be no reserved seating

The Meet: Your swimmer can leave after they swim their event(s), unless they are in a relay. Parents/guardians who want to pick up their young swimmers after they swim, but BEFORE the meet ends, will need to exit the natatorium and come around to the swimmer tent city. At the end of the meet, parents need to connect with their swimmers at the swimmers tent city. 

Snacks and Drinks: Please pack snacks and drinks for your swimmer to have during the meet.

Awards: Medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places. Nice participation ribbons are awarded to every swimmer in every event. Awards will be given to the Armada board at the end of the meet and we will distribute them via the file folders. Emails will be sent when they are ready for pick up. 

The WB Armada SwimTeam will have a team float in the parade. If you want to participate, please be at the KF park by 9:00 am to help decorate the float. Line up begins at 9:30 am, and the parade will begin promptly at 10:00 am. Swimmers - come dressed in your most spirited 4th of July attire and/or wear your Armada t-shirts! There is limited seating on the float. Swimmers are welcome to bike, scooter, or walk behind the float as float participants. If participating, please do not forget to bring candy to toss to the crowd.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: To give back to the WB community, the Armada Swim Team will be manning the Spirit Station. We will need volunteers to work one-hour shifts (hairspray) from 11 am - 2 pm. If you plan to enjoy the day's festivities, please consider picking up a 1-hr shift. The Spirit Station will have temp spray hair color, starry body glitter, patriotic bracelet making, and hair tinsel! 

Wells Branch is famous for its Fourth of July celebrations, and this year should be no different. The traditional parade begins at Katherine Fleischer Park at 10 a.m. on July 4th. When the parade returns, there will be an afternoon of music, food, and games in Katherine Fleischer Park, a Concert at the Shoreline Soccer Complex that culminates with fireworks above the Willow Bend Pool and Recreation Center. Event details and parade info: 2023 Wells Branch Fourth Fest Parade and Activities

We will be celebrating and thanking our coaching staff for their hard work this season during practices Wednesday, July 5th! The Armada Board will provide breakfast items and snacks for the Coaches and Junior Coaches. Please feel free to add any food items you’d like to donate. Fresh fruit is always appreciated.

We have also compiled a list of “Favorite Things” from the Coaches and Jr. Coaches. This is helpful if you are looking for gift ideas for your child's coach. There will also be a binder with the printed forms at practices near the family file boxes. Each Coach and Jr. Coach will have a "goody bag" that will be set out for your convenience on Coach Appreciate Day!

*Homemade thank you cards are always enjoyed and appreciated*

Coaches: Maddie, Jake, Beck, Ephraim, Fox, Frank, Lisa, and Rebecca

Junior Coaches: Bella, Caden, Cailyn, Carra, Connie, Emily, Haley, Hallie, Hannah, Hayden, Jack, Jonathan, Joy, Parker, Reese, Richard, Teagan, and William

The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Wells Branch Community Church located at 2113 Wells Branch Pkwy., Austin, TX 78728 on Thursday, July 6th at 6:30 pm. Each swimmer will be recognized for being a part of the 2023 Wells Branch Armada Swim Team, perfect attendance, age group high-point winners, record breakers, scholarship winners, and more! 

Raffle sales will be available for final sales at the beginning of the awards ceremony before they conclude this evening and winners will be announced! 

Swim-a-thon prize winners will also be announced.

A day of ULTIMATE FUN, Snow Cones, Family and Friends!

Congratulations to the below swimmers for breaking an Armada record this past Saturday!

Relay Swimmers

Individual Swimmer

These WB Armada swimmers excelled by placing first in one, two, or three events at the meet this past Saturday. Congratulations!

Each week the WBA honors the swimmers in each age group who record the largest time improvement. Fast Fishy times are based on times from the current season only. In swimming, the goal is to try to beat yourself each week by recording a personal best.

The following swimmer(s) achieved a Triple Drop (improved their time in all three of their individual events) at the meet this past Saturday:

Scarlett Jessani

These WB Armada swimmers and their teammates excelled by placing first in the Medley or Freestyle Relays against the Pflugerville Piranhas. Congratulations Swimmers!

This past week we had one swimmer who had previously posted Invitational times, qualify in an additional event which is noted below in bold-italic. (alpha order by last name)