Wells Branch Armada

We’ve reached the finish line of the 2025 swim season, and what a season it has been! In this season-closing newsletter, we celebrate the incredible achievements of our swimmers, wrap up a successful Divisionals and NWSC Invitational Meets, and look ahead to our End-of-Season Awards and community celebration at FourthFest.

Inside you’ll find record-breaking swims, Fast Fishies highlights, volunteer opportunities, and a heartfelt thank-you from our board and coaches.

See you at the Awards Ceremony!

by Genevieve Bales, President

As we close the chapter on our 2025 season, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every swimmer and family who made this summer so special. From early morning practices to thrilling relays, record-breaking swims, and countless cheers from the deck, your energy and commitment have made the Armada community stronger than ever.

This season's success would not have been possible without the incredible support of our parents, volunteering, encouraging from the sidelines, and stepping up in every way. To our swimmers: your hard work, sportsmanship, and team spirit were the heartbeat of this season. You should be so proud of everything you accomplished.

Let's come together one more time to celebrate! Join us for the End-of-Season Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, July 1 at 6:30 PM at Wells Branch Community Church. We’ll recognize achievements, honor our swimmers, and close the season with gratitude and pride.

And don't forget, the Wells Branch FourthFest Parade is this Friday, July 4! Wear your Armada shirt, grab your red, white, and blue, and march with us to celebrate both our team and our community.

As we look ahead to next season, we invite parents to consider joining the Armada Board for 2026. Being part of the board is a rewarding way to support the team and shape its future. If you’re interested, please fill out the Board Member Self-Nomination Form or speak to any current board member. We would love to have you on the team.

Thank you, Armada families, for a truly unforgettable season.

by Maddie Wright, Head Coach

Armada family, what an extraordinary season. I can hardly believe it has come to a close already. 

To our swimmers: the coaches and I are so proud of each and every one of you. We saw improvement from everyone this summer. Whether it was finally nailing that dive, getting a legal time in a challenging stroke, earning those triple-drop ribbons, or even setting a record, each of you has something to be proud of from this season. You all brought incredible heart and determination to our final meet at Divisionals, and we ended on a high note with everyone giving it their all one last time. For those of you who wrapped up your season at Invitationals - congratulations! We saw so many strong, focused, and inspiring performances.

To our parents: thank you for your dedication and support this summer. Thank you for trusting the coaches with your kids and allowing us to guide and cheer them on throughout the season. Thank you for getting them to those early practices and volunteering at those long, early morning meets. We truly couldn’t do this without you.

The love, spirit, and pride for Armada always amazes me. I love seeing how much everyone loves this team! Thank you, everyone, for another wonderful season.

Armada 2.0

I just don't want the season to end ... so we've decided to keep it going! Armada 2.0 will run from July 7th to July 30th and practice three days a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Please check your email for details, and contact either me at [email protected] or Coach Gina at [email protected] if you have any questions or are interested. I can't wait to see everyone who signs up for another month!

Join us as we celebrate a season of hard work, team spirit, and incredible swims at the Wells Branch Armada Awards Ceremony on July 1st.
We’ll recognize swimmers for their achievements, present High Point Awards, and enjoy one last gathering as a team.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
🕕 Time: 6:30 PM
📍 Location: Wells Branch Community Church
2113 Wells Branch Pkwy #500, Austin, TX 78728

Mark your calendars - this is a special evening you won’t want to miss!

The Wells Branch 4th of July Parade is a favorite neighborhood tradition, and Armada is marching again this year!
Swimmers and families are invited to walk with the team and show off their Armada pride. Wear your team shirt, bring festive decorations, and help us make a splash in red, white, and blue!

🗓 Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
🕘 Time: 9:00AM
📍 Location: Katherine Fleischer Park 2110 Klattenhoff Dr Austin TX 7872

Bring your spirit and help represent the Armada in the community!

by Juli Thatcher, Volunteer Coordinator

Sending all of you a huge "THANK YOU!" For volunteering all season long. Our meets and events could never happen without your help and support..I'm especially grateful that I only had to bug you a little bit. 🥰 You made this a successful season.

We still have a couple of volunteer opportunities coming up: Wells Branch Fourth Fest float and parade set-up, Wells Branch Fourth Fest concessions booth, and the Wells Branch Trunk-or-Treat booth the week of Halloween. Any and all help is greatly appreciated! Sign-up spots can be found on Swimtopia or you can email me to let me know you're available. [email protected]

Thank you again for all you do for our swim team community. This team has meant a lot to my family over the years and this season I really learned how much it means to all of you. See you next year! Go Armada!

by Summer Smith, Armada FC Coordinator

Support the team AND earn credit toward your WBA sponsorship!

How it Works:

• Volunteer at Austin FC home games
• Earn $50+ per shift toward your sponsorship fee
• Credit can be earned by you, a family member, or a friend (age 18+)

Volunteer Perks:

• Free WBA volunteer shirt and hat
• Free lunch at check-in
• Free parking and shuttle to Q2 Stadium
• Enjoy the electric game-day atmosphere!

📢 Get signed up and start volunteering at the next game!

Austin FC 2025 Home Schedule:

📋 Important:

• Must be 18+ years old
• Training certificates must be uploaded 10 days before game day
• Learn more or sign up here: https://wellsbranch.swimtopia.com/Austin-FC-Volunteer

Congratulations to all swimmers who earned top finishes at the Divisionals V: Georgetown Aquadillos and Pflugerville Piranhas and Wells Branch Armada at Rattan Creek Hurricanes meet on June 28, 2025!

Each week, we recognize the swimmers who made the biggest splash by improving their times the most in each age group and category. These Fast Fishies worked hard and it showed in the pool, great job!

* Swimmer repeated Fast Fishy

We’re thrilled to celebrate some incredible swims that have etched their way into the Armada record books! Breaking a club record is no small feat, it takes dedication, grit, and serious speed.

Please join us in congratulating:

🏆 Darrell Christmas - Boys 11-12 50yd Breast - 42.58 Old: 43.10 set by Lucas McGuire in 2025

These swimmers crushed it at our last meet, improving their personal bests in three separate events, an impressive display of hard work, focus, and determination!

🎉 Please join us in congratulating this meet’s Triple Drop Swimmers:

What an incredible finish to the 2025 season! At our very last event of the year, the Northwest Swim Circuit (NWSC) Invitational Meet, our Armada swimmers brought the heat and left it all in the pool. We are thrilled to announce that new team records were set during this highly competitive meet, capping off a summer full of growth, grit, and unforgettable moments.

Breaking a club record is no small achievement, it takes focus, dedication, and the courage to push beyond limits. These swimmers have etched their names into Armada history, and we could not be prouder.

Please join us in congratulating our record breakers and every swimmer who gave their all this weekend:

🏆 Darrell Christmas - Boys 11-12 50yd Breast - 40.30 Old: 42.58 set by Darrell Christmas in 2025
🏆 Olivia Loberg - Girls 11-12 50yd Breast - 39.68 Old: 39.84 set by Emilia Helgesen in 2025
🏆 Emilia Helgesen - Girls 11-12 50yd Breast - 39.24 Old: 39.68 set by Olivia Loberg in 2025
🏆 Ayme Leos Trevino - Girls 11-12 50yd Back - 35.93 Old: 35.93 set by Emilia Helgesen in 2025
🏆 Olivia Loberg - Girls 11-12 50yd Back - 35.62 Old: 35.93 set by Emilia Helgesen in 2025

You made waves all season long, and this final meet was the perfect ending to an outstanding year.

Go Armada, see you in 2026!