I hope you all had a great time Saturday, and I hope you realize how spoiled we are with our National Anthem performers. THANK YOU Kyra Blunck for a fantastic classical rendition!

This week's meet sees our beloved Seals departing the friendly confines of the Circle C Swim Center for a trip to idyllic Stars Hollow, where the temperature never exceeds a comfortable 78 degrees, the EVs sound like a chorus of angels singing, and everything always works out for the best for our heroes and heroines.

[Checks Notes]

Sorry, that's SHADY Hollow, home of a massive fever of Stingrays, a pool with only five lanes for competition, and temperatures approaching a balmy 100.

If you're keeping score at home, add 275 eligible Stingrays to 303 eligible Seals, multiply by 3 events per swimmer (plus a multiple of your choosing for relays) and divide by 5 lanes. What do you get? Heat exhaustion.

It's going to be a very long meet. You've been warned.

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FIRST THINGS FIRST

BE SURE to declare your swimmers before 6:00P CDT, Wednesday. You can declare your swimmers here:

https://ccrseals.swimtopia.com/swim_meets/706247/swim_meet_entries

• As previously mentioned, both teams are huge. We are limiting the number of individual events to three (3)
• As always, if there is any risk in your Saturday plans, do not sign up for relays. There is no other way to say it: rescheduling relays is about as much fun as listening to Smash Mouth's All Star on repeat
• The event order will be: 1. IM (fly/back/breast/free) / 2. Butterfly / 3. Backstroke / 4. Freestyle Relay (the point where you've exhausted all Gilmore Girls reruns on the tablet) / 5. Freestyle / 6. Breaststroke / 7. Medley Relay (back/breast/fly/free)

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SHADY HOLLOW MEET LOGISTICS

The meet theme will be Crazy Hats. Richard Spencer promised me he would wear one of these if some enterprising individual managed to obtain one.

Nearly every question you could ask regarding the Shady Hollow complex can be answered here: https://shadyhollow.swimtopia.com/visiting-team-info

ADDRESS: 3902 Capistrano Trail, Austin TX, 78739

Meet Timeline:

6:00A: Set-up Crew begins

6:30A: Age Group Parents check in

6:45A: Age Group Parents ready to check in swimmers

7:00A: Swimmers and all other volunteers arrive and check in

7:25A – 7:50A: Circle C Seals warm up

7:30A: Head Volunteer meetings on the pool deck

7:50A: First call to Ready Bench

7:57A: National Anthem

8:00A: Meet begins

11:00A: Volunteer shift change

2:00P: Meet ends

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IMPORTANT LOGISTICAL NOTES

• Parking: Most of the parking complex will be in use as Seals zoo. Parking is available along adjacent streets. Please DO NOT PARK in front of anyone's driveway, in front of the neighborhood mailboxes, or inside any coned-off area. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
• Zoos: We again respectfully ask that parents do not set up their chairs in age group tents (adjacent to the tents is great). Parents in tents, who are not Age Group Volunteers, make it harder for Ready Bench and others to know who to speak to. Our zoo will be located in the back parking lot area west of the pool. I have been told to consider tarps or blankets for your swimmers. Consider bringing bug spray as well. Welcome to the jungle.
• Parental Supervision is requested to keep kids off the two diving boards, out of the deep end, and out of the baby pool. The complex does have 2 playgrounds, but understand your swimmers play at their own risk.
• Concessions: Bubbles Cafe opens at 7:30a. Their menu includes coffee, breakfast tacos, donuts, hamburgers, and other lunch items. There will also be a large variety of snacks to meet the needs of hungry Seals.
• Chairs: No outside chairs are allowed inside the pool area. The meet is standing room only. As with meets at the Circle C Swim Center, parents are respectfully asked to leave the pool deck after watching their swimmer's heat.
• Water: The water fountain at the pool isn’t working at present, and may not be fixed by Saturday. There will be large water jugs around the pool area that kids can use to refill their water bottles. It's going to be hot ... please ensure your kiddos bring their water bottles.
• Parents/Coaches relay: They are planning a parent/coach relay. If you would like to participate, please assemble a team of four participants and come find me at the meet. I presume they will announce when you need to proceed to the ready bench.
• PATIENCE: Shady Hollow's pool is not a large complex. It is not made to host 450+ swimmers and families. Its concession stand line will be long. The bathrooms (and porta potties) will have long lines as well. Be kind to everyone. Be patient. Thanks in advance.

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VOLUNTEER REMINDER

Any volunteer changes/additions should be made before the job sign up closes on Wednesday at 6P. If you have any last minute changes, please contact Bethany Pendleton via email at [email protected]

*NEW* for 2025: Volunteer sign ups are limited to 15 points per FAMILY per MEET. For this meet (again) ... and all meets to come.

If you sign up for more than 15 points, we assume it's an oversight and give you a chance to remedy the error. If you fail to rectify your signups, we resolve the situation for you.

PLEASE NOTE - The volunteer sign ups are being monitored by multiple members of Seals leadership, and the limits are being enforced.

SECONDARY PLEASE NOTE - If your child is a committed swimmer, and you *know* you'll be attending Champs, please plan to obtain some volunteer points from that meet and consider leaving opportunities at earlier meets for other families.

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SUPPORT OUR COACHES!

Please visit our Sign Up Genius to volunteer for a date to provide cold drinks and treats to our wonderful coaches during practices (dates available through the end of the season). Your participation is both welcomed and encouraged!

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SEALS SPIRIT

By now, you all know to wear any form of ORANGE. When orange is unavailable, go with black. Do not wear blue and support our foes.

Our team store remains OPEN. Please click here: https://stores.inksoft.com/circlec/shop/home

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Thanks & Go Seals!

Joel Stubblefield, Meet Director

[email protected] | 704-451-9705

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2025 SEALS SCHEDULE

[HOME] SUNDAY, MAY 4 - TIMING MEET @ 9A (First Event)

[HOME] SATURDAY, MAY 10 - BELTERRA @ 8A (First Event)

[AWAY] SATURDAY, MAY 17 - SHADY HOLLOW @ 8A (First Event)

[HOME] SATURDAY, MAY 31 - TSD @ 8A (First Event)

[HOME] SATURDAY, JUNE 7 - SAAB @ 8A (First Event)

[AWAY] SATURDAY, JUNE 14 - WESTERN OAKS @ 8A (First Event)

[AWAY] SATURDAY, JUNE 21 - CHAMPS