Barracuda Nation!

Swim season is almost here — and it’s going to be a great one. The pool opens this Saturday, May 2nd, our introductory programs (Mini Barracudas and Intro Swim Camp) kick off Monday May 4th, and regular swim team practices start the following Monday, May 11th. We can’t wait to see returning swimmers and welcome a lot of new faces to the pool this summer.

There’s still time to register for all programs — head over to Swimtopia to sign up, view the full practice and meet schedule, and more.

We have a lot of fun on the calendar to kick off the season, including a few new additions this year:

Pool Open House (Friday May 1, 10:00–11:30am): Before the pool officially opens, come get a first look at the upgrades — a beautiful new fence, expanded seating, rebuilt equipment sheds, a new filtration system, and improvements throughout designed to keep the pool running better all season long. Tour the facilities, meet some of the people behind the project, and see it all before opening day. A huge thank you to Karen Bombino, Phillipa Dugaw, Jae Kim, Ryan Carlisle, Sarah Salentine, and the many others who put countless hours into making this happen.

Pool Opening Day (Saturday May 2): The pool is officially open! Lap Swim runs 10am–12pm, Water Aerobics 10–11am, and Open Swim 12–8pm. Come enjoy the new facilities and reconnect with neighbors to kick off the summer.

NEW — Pool Opening Party (Sunday May 3): The weather is looking great and we’re ready to celebrate — join us Sunday during Open Swim (12–8pm) for free treats (including candy, popsicles, and ice cream), fun games, and a raffle for a Funboy Pool Float. We’ll also have Levantine Cuisine food truck on site from 2-6pm serving delicious Mediterranean food. Swing on by!

Ice Cream Social (Thursday May 7, 6:30pm): A Barracudas tradition to kick off the season — swing by the pool for a sweet treat, catch up with friends old and new, and stick around for fun and games in the pool. We’ll also have a swimsuit fit kit on hand so swimmers can find the right fit before buying new suits, and families are encouraged to bring gently used suits to pass along to others. And stay tuned — we’ll be launching the 2026 team apparel and gear store soon!

NEW — Welcome Back Parent Social (Thursday May 14, 5:30–8:30pm): The kids are in the pool during practice, so why can’t the grown-ups hang out too? Join us upstairs in the clubhouse for light appetizers and drinks while your kids swim. A great chance to meet or reconnect with other swim team families. (Reminder: no glass on the pool deck please.)

Pancake Breakfast (Monday June 22, 8:00am): A beloved Barracudas tradition — we kick off morning practices with a pancake breakfast, then launch into our revamped 2026 Buddy Program with an all-ages practice and games to get ready for our first dual meet later that week.

Theme Nights: Coach Dom and the senior swimmers are planning special themes for each of our four home meets, including the epic Senior Night and Lifeguard Show to close out the season. More details to come!

We’re also so excited to have Coach Dom back for his second season, alongside an incredible group of assistant coaches — Sophia Salentine, Cooper McKenny, Matthew Williams, Olivia Kim, and Adam Walker — all of whom grew up swimming right here at Blue Ridge. We can’t wait to see what this summer has in store.

If you have ideas for other events or want to help with planning, reach out at [email protected]. And if you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time — head to Swimtopia to sign up.

Go ‘Cudas!

2026 Swim Team Coordinators

Lulu, Steph, and Joe