Good Afternoon, Team Seals!

As the time draws nigh, glooming, a cloud ...

Time and tide wait for no man ...

♫Our time is running out♫

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It's nearly here! THE TIMING MEET!

I know you and your swimmers are excited for the official start of the season!! You've registered your swimmers. Heat sheets are forthcoming.

This is it. Don't get scared now.

We hit the highlights earlier this week. Now let's get down to the nitty gritty. 

Please read the whole email. There are important details. Things you want to know.

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PLEASE BE ADVISED: while we are monitoring the weather, we will hold the meet barring storms that would prevent us from swimming (i.e., lightning). 

Please make the best decision for you and your swimmer - no judgments (unless you skip volunteer shifts). Don't you dare.

However, be sure to bring your parkas, blankets, ski bibs, etc. for the Kickoff Party immediately following the meet! 

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TIMING MEET LOGISTICS

OUR TIMING MEET will be this Saturday night, May 2, at 6:45 PM (first call to the Ready Bench at 6:35 PM).

OUR THEME for Saturday night's meet is ORANGE PARTY! Like an orange out ... like ... Richard's beloved Neyland Stadium on a fall Saturday night.

Again, this meet is our "dress rehearsal." Head volunteers will get together after the Timing Meet to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that our first Home Meet, on Saturday, May 16th, runs smoothly.

Please be kind to one another, especially our new families!

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MEET TIMELINE

5:00 PM: Set-up Volunteers arrive

5:35 PM: Age Group Parents check in

5:45 PM: Swimmers and all other volunteers arrive and check in

6:10 PM: Warm-ups start

6:15 PM: All Volunteer group meetings

6:35 PM: First call to Ready Bench

6:40 PM: National Anthem

6:45 PM: Enter Sandman (Meet begins)

8:25 PM: Meet ends/clean-up begins

ASAP PM: PARTAY!

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IMPORTANT LOGISTICAL NOTES:

• The entrance to the park is now in the southeast corner (by the new turn around spaces in the parking lot)
• DO NOT ENTER THE SWIM CENTER ON SATURDAY NIGHT. PLEASE STAGE IN THE PARK AND WAIT FOR THE GATES TO OPEN.
• Parking will be messy. Ensure you have enough time. As I'm sure all of you noticed this week at practice, parking at the Swim Center is chaotic. This Saturday night will be no different, especially since the Swim Center is OPEN until 6:00 PM. Parking options are along the green lines in the attached image.
• There is NO parking on Escarpment. Cars will be towed if parked in the biking lane. Please park on LaCrosse, east of Escarpment. The CDC and Kiker parking lots are open to Seals families and our guests. Also recommend: carpooling; drop-off and pick-up; biking (you're on your own for bike storage - NOT in the swimmer tents or swim complex); carriage; Uber … Parking options are highlighted (approximately) along the green lines in the attached image.
• ALSO, please do not park in the spots reserved for mail pickup!
• This is not the last note you'll see on parking in this email. (See below for your chance to win elite, ultra-primo parking for all home meets)
• DO NOT ENTER THE SWIM CENTER ON SATURDAY NIGHT. PLEASE STAGE IN THE PARK AND WAIT FOR THE GATES TO OPEN.
• For safety reasons, ONLY coaches, swimmers and meet volunteers are allowed on the pool deck. And absolutely no photos or videos from directly behind the starting blocks.
• Please put your kids’ names on all of their stuff (towels, caps, shirts, shoes, bags, water bottles, appendages, pets, toys, etc.) to make sure everything goes home with the right family.
• DO NOT ENTER THE SWIM CENTER ON SATURDAY NIGHT. PLEASE STAGE IN THE PARK AND WAIT FOR THE GATES TO OPEN

♫ CH-CH-CHANGES ♫

Due to extensive efforts by several of our highly committed parents (you know who you are, and we dearly appreciate you!), our Head Parent, Andrea, and our Board of Directors, Circle C Aquatics has agreed to several changes for our meets this year:

• We will have a clearly marked Spectator Zone (!!!) along the Escarpment fence line on the third terrace of the pool complex. Think of it like a zoo for parents between their swimmer's events.
• In this Spectator Zone, lawn chairs will be allowed <<gasp!>> All lawn chairs *must remain* in the Spectator Zone.
• No canopy tents, please.
• Similar to prior years, please flow down to the pool deck to watch your swimmer's heat, then return to the Spectator Zone. This allows all families to see their swimmers in action!
• I must emphasize that despite this new Spectator Zone, we remain guests of Circle C Aquatics. Any and all instructions provided to you by a member of Circle C Aquatics staff must be followed. Failure to do so may result in the loss of the Spectator Zone.
• With the unfortunate closing of The Dive, we are proud to introduce our own, volunteer-operated Seals Snack Shack! Swing by during the Timing Meet to preview this season's menu. We've stocked up on all your favorites to keep you and your swimmers fueled.
• New Season. New Swag. Check out our latest offerings at the Merchandise tent! Fresh designs will be available throughout the season to help you show your Seals Spirit in style!

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SPEAKING OF PARKING ...

Get your raffle tickets for your chance to win one of two (2) premier, ultra-exclusive, primo parking spots for all three Home Meets this season.

• $5 for 1 ticket
• $20 for 5 tickets
  • Cash or Venmo accepted
• Purchase:
  • Saturday at the Timing Meet (at the Merchandise table)
  • AT PRACTICE: Week of May 4th

The winning tickets will be drawn prior to our first home meet on May 16th, leaving plenty of time for the non winners to arrange ride shares.

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DON'T FORGET: Season Kickoff Party!

The Timing Meet is always our quickest meet of the season, and this Saturday night will be no exception.

Once the last heat is finished, the party begins! Que the Jamiroquai! 

Please join us in the park for a pizza party to celebrate the start of the 2026 season!! It's a great chance for new families to mingle and veteran families to catch up.

May all your wildest dreams come true! If you're incredibly lucky, maybe Richard will teach you the dance to Soulja Boy Tell'em's Crank That! 

Oh yeah, and we'll have CAKE!!!

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Thanks & Go Seals!

Joel Stubblefield, Meet Director

[email protected] | 704-451-9705

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2026 SEALS SCHEDULE

[HOME] SATURDAY, MAY 2 - TIMING MEET @ 6:45 PM (First Event)

[AWAY] SATURDAY, MAY 9 - BELTERRA @ 8:00 AM (First Event)

[HOME] SATURDAY, MAY 16 - HAYS @ 8:00 AM (First Event)

[HOME] SATURDAY, MAY 30 - SHADY HOLLOW @ 8:00 AM (First Event)

[HOME] SATURDAY, JUNE 7 - SAAB @ 8:00 AM (First Event)

[AWAY] SATURDAY, JUNE 13 - TRAVIS COUNTRY @ 8:00 AM (First Event)

[AWAY] SATURDAY, JUNE 20 - CHAMPS