Barracuda Nation!

Sign-ups are now open in Swimtopia for the Intrasquad Time Trials on Thursday, June 18. The Intrasquad is our annual internal practice meet — Blue Ridge swimmers only, real starting blocks, real timing system, 20 events. It's a great preview of how a dual meet runs, and a low-stakes chance for newer families to see it all in action. Full details on the Intrasquad Time Trials page.

New Format This Year

We're running the Intrasquad differently in 2026. In prior years, we tried to organize events around existing practice schedules, which made the flow and sequencing harder to manage. This year, we're running it as a single all-team event with staggered warm-ups by age group:

• 5:30 PM — All swimmers and families arrive; 8&Under warm-ups begin
• 5:45 PM — 8&Under events begin
• ~6:30 PM — Warm-ups, ages 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18
• ~6:45 PM — Events begin, ages 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18

Like a regular meet, we want the whole team on deck from the start — older swimmers are encouraged to cheer on the 8&Under races before their own warm-ups begin at 6:30. 8&Under swimmers will wrap up close to their normal practice end time, and because the meet is shorter than a regular dual meet, the full event finishes well before a typical home meet would. Event order follows the same stroke-first sequence we use in dual meets — see the Intrasquad page for the full event listing.

How to Sign Up

Sign up in Swimtopia just like a regular meet, with one difference: for the Intrasquad, we only need to know if your swimmer is attending. There are no event requests and no relay sign-ups — coaches will handle event entries directly. Declaration deadline is 9:00 AM on June 18.

If your swimmer won't be there, please still log in and mark them as not attending so coaches can plan. See Signing Up Your Swimmer for Meets for step-by-step instructions.

Buddy Program — Coming Next Week

This season we're relaunching our Buddy Program, which pairs swimmers across age groups to build connections and team spirit throughout the season. We'll be introducing Buddy Groups at practice next week, and the Intrasquad will be our first opportunity to get groups together, cheer on teammates, and get to know each other. We'll share more details on the 2026 Buddy Program in a separate update next week — stay tuned!

Volunteers

Like all home meets, the Intrasquad needs volunteers on deck to run smoothly. We'll need 12 lane timers (6 lanes, 2 per lane) for each race. We won't be using Swimtopia sign-ups for this meet — just show up and find a coordinator on deck. Senior swimmers are especially encouraged to help time and cheer on their Buddies during the 8&Under races.

The Intrasquad is also a great opportunity to shadow some of our more experienced meet officials. Roles like Computer Operator and Stroke & Turn Judge are easier to learn than they look, and the Intrasquad is a perfect low-pressure setting to get started. If you're interested, let us know at [email protected] — or stay tuned for more information coming soon. You can also browse all volunteer opportunities on the Volunteer page.

As always, if you have any questions, reach out at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you on the deck for the Intrasquad on June 18!

Steph, Lulu, and Joe