Welcome to our 2026 swim season! We are all looking forward to a fun summer! This is quite long, but full of information, so please read all the way to the end. My name is Rachel Owens and I am the Parent Board President for the Fighting Fish. Other parent board members include Matt Phillips (treasurer), Michelle Hamilton (head official), Danielle Phillips, Jessica Burke (apparel coordinator), Vonda Keane, Heather Edwards, Nicole Stewart and Danielle Shepherd (volunteer coordinators). 

Coaches: Mark Keane and Guosong Maokhamphiou are returning as coaches this year. We are also welcoming back Miaya Green after she took a few seasons off. Ilana Webber is joining us this season and Taze Owens & Collin Hart have both been promoted to Assistant Coaches to help out when the other coaches are unavailable, but they will also be earning volunteer hours as junior coaches during some practices and meets. All coach bios are posted on our website.

Swimmer Evaluations: If you have a swimmer that is new to the team, we do ask that they attend one of our evaluation sessions. This helps our coaches place swimmers in appropriate practice groups. Our evaluations are scheduled for Friday, May 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm and Sunday, May 17 from 1:30-4:00 pm at the Groveport Recreation Center (indoor pool). Please schedule an evaluation here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A4AC28A1FCC16-63260781-newswimmer#/ If you have a returning swimmer that swam competitively over the winter, please send an email to [email protected] with your swimmer's most recent times. We will be using the evaluations and current times to form practice groups. However, practice groups are fluid and coaches may move kids around during the first couple weeks of practice.

Team Suit: You can order our team suit on our Swim Outlet team store. The team store can be found under the "Shop" tab on our website. We have fit kits to try on suits. If you are unsure about what size to order your swimmer, you can come to either new swimmer evaluation date at the Groveport Recreation Center on Friday, May 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm and Sunday, May 17 from 1:30-4:00 pm. Anyone can come to try on suits, not just new swimmers. You can also order goggles on the team store. I've linked some of my family's favorites. The Fighting Fish receives commissions on all sales processed through our Team Store that we use to buy gear for the team.

Apparel: Each registered swimmer will be getting a FREE team t-shirt courtesy of our team sponsor, Angela Geoghegan of e-Merge Real Estate Excellence. We will be getting an apparel shop set up soon for other shirts, sweatshirts, etc. Look for more info soon. Each registered swimmer will be receiving a FREE swim cap this season as well! We will also have extras to purchase.

Practices: Practices will begin on Tuesday, May 26. We will send out practice groups by Wednesday, May 20. The morning practice times for Crush & Marlin will be from 9:15-10:45 am and Dory & Nemo will be from 10:45-11:30 am. Evening practices are Dory & Nemo 7:15-8:00 pm and Crush & Marlin 8:00-9:15 pm. We ask that swimmers come to at least 3 practices a week, but we also understand that there are scheduling conflicts, camps, and vacations.

Parent Meeting: We will have a parent meeting on May 28 at 7:15 at the Groveport Aquatic Center in the concession area. This is mainly intended for new families, but everyone is welcome! The handbook can also be downloaded on our website under the "About" tab.

Officials: If you are interested in becoming a new official, the league will be holding a training on May 17 at 1 pm at the Reynoldsburg Columbus Library branch (1402 Brice Rd). Please let me know if you plan to attend. The league will also be offering a refresher course via Zoom for returning officials at a later date TBD. I will send that info out and post it in the Facebook Private Group when I receive it.

Pictures: Our team pictures are scheduled for June 4 from 4:00-7:30 pm. You can sign up for a time slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A4AC28A1FCC16-63261075-swim Please sign up for only time slot per family. Bob Urban is our photographer and he creates a team picture from each individual picture in front of a green screen. These will be held in the "Kiddin' Around" room at the Groveport Recreation Center. Swimmers will wear their team shirt and a pair of shorts for the team picture.

Raffle Tickets: All families prepaid $25 for 25 raffle tickets. I will have the tickets at both evaluation dates as well as the first week of practice. Please make sure you pick them up from me or one of the board representatives. All tickets are due by June 21. The winner of the raffle receives $500!

Meet Schedule: The meet schedule has been posted on our Facebook page and website. it will be posted on Swimtopia soon. Swimmers must swim in 3 meets in order to swim in TCAL Championships.

Swimtopia: If you haven't yet, please download the Swimtopia app. This is how we communicate practice and meet updates. This is also how you will declare your child to swim in a meet and sign up for volunteer credits. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Most questions can be answered by viewing our handbook here. Looking forward to a fantastic season!