June calendar Junior Jag: June 6th-7th (Registration closed) Augusta, GA. Long Course Meet, open to Varsity, Gold, Teal and Black. SGSL Tidal Wave Splash: June 14th (Registration deadline: June 7th) Tifton, GA. Short Course. Open to all FST swimmers, but geared toward our Aquanaut, Bronze, Silver, and JV swimmers - this is a fun opportunity for short course racing! Juneteenth: June 19th Macon: All afternoon/evening groups will practice as usual. Teal & Black will practice from 8:00-10:00 (dryland at 7:20) Warner Robins: The aquatic center will be closed. See practice adjustments below. Gold/Teal/Black/Homeschool - Practice at usual times, in Macon Silver/JV/Varsity - Practice at usual times, in Macon Bronze: T/Th Bronze will have a make up practice on Wednesday, June 18th, at 7:15 PM Aquanauts: T/Th Aquanauts will have a make up practice on Wednesday, June 18th, at 5:30 PM. FST June Invite: June 27th-29th* (Registration deadline: June 19th) Warner Robins, GA. Prelim/Final long course meet. Open to all Intermediate & Advanced Homeschool, JV, Silver, Varsity, Gold, Teal & Black swimmers, as well as 10&Under Bronze and Aquanauts who have previously attended a meet (this is not an appropriate first-meet for new swimmers) sWIM LESSONS: Our summer lesson program is off to a great start in Macon! For those who don't know, FST is now a SwimAmerica Swim School. Swim America is a nationally-recognized curriculum, developed by top swim coaches at ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association). The curriculum is safety and technique focused, proven to help develop strong, confident swimmers. Classes are structured around 10 skill-based stations, and each swimmer is allowed to advance through the stations at their own pace. Class sizes are small, with an average 1:4 instructor-to-student ratio, so every swimmer gets the attention they deserve. Shout out to our awesome instructors who are dedicating their summer to teaching middle Georgia to Swim! Swimming is such an important life-skill, and we are excited to offer lessons to the community. If you know any aspiring swimmers, ages 4-15, please check out the information on the Group Lessons page of our website, or register at the link below. Our upcoming sessions start on June 16th and July 7th. Group lesson registration If you have any questions about our lesson program, please email Amanda at admin@swimfst.com A Note from the Coach: Why Racing Matters in Our Training Cycle We’re deep into our long course training cycle, and with three long-course meets already behind us (Warner Robins IMR/IMX, the Opelika Invite, and the FST LC Invite), it’s time to zoom out and talk about the why behind what we do: Specifically, why meet attendance is a crucial part of the training process, not an optional add-on. WE NEED TO PRACTICE RACING Meets aren’t just a reward for hard work, they are part of the hard work. Racing often throughout the season, especially when tired, teaches skills you simply cannot master in practice: learning how to pace under pressure, managing adrenaline, starting strong, finishing stronger, and adapting in real time. These are racing skills, and they are built through repetition. We don’t expect swimmers to go best times at every meet. In fact, the early part of our training cycle is designed to challenge athletes mentally and physically. We’re building a base, grinding it out, and laying the groundwork for peak performance later in the season. Time Comparisons: SEASON OVER SEASON When evaluating progress, the right question isn’t, “Did I go a best time?" It’s, “How am I doing at this point in the season compared to the same time last year?” If last May’s 100 Free was 1:10 and this May’s was 1:08, you’re right on track. We’re not trying to peak in May or June. We’re training through fatigue with July in our sights. So, keep perspective. We want to see seasonal progression, not a constant string of personal records. UPCOMING MEET SCHEDULE: Here’s what’s left on our summer calendar: June 6-8 - ASL Junior Jag (Augusta) June 14 - SGSL Block Party (Tifton, SCY) June 27-29 - FST LC P/F Invite (Warner Robins) July 11-12 - GCAT Last Chance (Savannah) July 13 - SGSL Championship (Macon, SCY) July 17-20 - Age Group State (Columbus) July 24-27 - Senior State (Athens) Spotlight: GCAT Last Chance - Not Just a “Last Chance” The GCAT Last Chance Meet (July 11-12) is more than its name suggests. It’s important for everyone: Your Season Finale: For many, it’s your last swim of the season - your shot to race hard and walk away proud. Your Last Opportunity to Qualify: If you’re close to State cuts, this meet matters a lot. It’s the final window to punch that ticket. Your Final Tune-Up: If you’re already going to State, GCAT is your race rehearsal. You check in on your body, your mindset, and your race strategy one more time. remember this: Training matters. The meets matter. The attitudes matter. Let’s stay locked in, show up, and keep the big picture in focus. Let’s train with purpose, race often, and trust the process. We’re building something here - one swim, one meet, one step at a time. -Coach Wes This month we are in cycle 2 and entering cycle 3. Read more about the training cycles at this link . UPCOMING EVENTS Click here for the full long-course season schedule . GCAT Last Chance Savannah July 11-12 SGSL Championship Macon July 13 ...see more Committee Corner: Officials Want to get more involved in the sport? Become a USA Swimming official. We promise it's fun! Our team needs additional Admin Officials, as well as new stroke and turn judges. Officiating is a great way to make new friends, learn more about the sport, and support your swimmer! Start the process at this link , or email Amanda for more details and help getting started. U.S. Masters Swimming Parents: Do you love swimming and wish you could train and compete with a team? Our Masters team in Warner Robins is growing, and looking to add new team members! Email masters@wraswim.com for more details.