Stillwater Starz Swim Team

🏊⭐ Time Trials Are Almost Here! ⭐🏊

This Saturday marks our first swim meet of the season, and we can’t wait to see our Starz hit the water!

A few tips to help make your morning smooth and stress-free:

✅ Arrive early for Positive Check-In and to find your family’s spot in the team area.

⛺ Bring a tent, chairs, blankets, and anything else you’ll need to stay comfortable throughout the meet.

🎒 Pack your meet bag with:
• Team suit, cap, goggles, Sharpie marker and towel
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Healthy snacks
• Extra clothes
• Card games, coloring books, or other quiet activities for downtime between events

📱 Download the Meet Mobile app before Saturday! It’s the easiest way to follow events, view heat sheets, and check official results and times throughout the meet. Download app here: https://apps.apple.com/app/id422154977

💙 Most importantly, remember that Time Trials are all about learning how swim meets work, setting baseline times, and having fun with teammates. Cheer loudly, meet new friends, and enjoy the start of another amazing Starz season!

Who’s ready for their first race of the summer? ⭐🏊❤️

✨ Starz Weekly Update! ✨

We’ve officially kicked off regular season practices and are gearing up for our first meet of the summer—Time Trials this Saturday! 🏊

Be sure to:
⭐ Check declaration deadlines
⭐ Send swimmers prepared for both swimming and dryland activities
⭐ Park in marked spaces only during drop-off and pickup
⭐ Watch your inbox for Time Trial information and team store pickup details

Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers for helping make the season possible. We can’t wait to see our Starz shine this weekend! ❤️⭐💙

Pre-Season Practices are officially here, and we can’t wait to welcome our Starz back to the pool! 🏊‍♂️💙❤️

This week, practices are divided by age group, and all AM, PM, and Club Swimmer Flex swimmers are welcome to attend their scheduled session if available.

✨ During pre-season practices, swimmers will:
• Get familiar with practice routines
• Meet coaches and teammates
• Complete swimmer independence & skill evaluations

📍 Parents: Please drop swimmers off with coaches, then head to the fenced patio area or west end of the pool so swimmers can stay focused and confident during practice.

⏰ Swimmers should arrive 10 minutes early in suit, cap, goggles, and ready to swim! Team latex caps will be distributed at practice.

We are so excited to kick off another amazing summer with our Starz family!

We are the Starz, we couldn’t be prouder!!!

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Stillwater Starz ⭐🌊

Founded in 1997 and growing stronger every single year — the Stillwater Starz are proof that when you build something with the right values at the center, people show up. And they keep coming back.

🌟 GROWING LIKE CRAZY — FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS
Over the last seven years, summer registration has grown by more than 70%. That's not a marketing campaign. That's word of mouth. The Starz offer something for everyone — from first-time swimmers to seasoned competitors chasing personal bests all summer long.

🌟 THE ONLY TEAM IN THE NSC WITH EVENING PRACTICES
Busy kids. Working families. Real life. The Starz get it — which is why they're the only team in the conference to offer an evening practice option alongside their standard five-day morning schedule. Great swimmers shouldn't have to choose between the pool and everything else on their plate.

🌟 A 2025 TO CELEBRATE
A winning record in dual meet competition AND the first-place girls trophy at the Southside Invitational at Ashbury — for the very first time. First place. First time. That's a moment this team will remember. ⭐

🌟 FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
Every year the team packs meals at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora as a reminder that a fun-filled summer of swimming is a gift, not a given. They want their swimmers to understand how fortunate they are — and how good it feels to give back. That's not just a great swim team. That's a great community.

🌟 A TEAM FOR EVERYONE — AND WE MEAN EVERYONE
Culturally, ethnically, and in terms of swimming experience — the Stillwater Starz are one of the most diverse teams in the NSC. Families from every walk of life, neighborhoods across the southwest side, and club swimmers from four or more USA Swimming clubs all call this team home in the summer. No matter who you are, you will be warmly welcomed and you will find your people here.

No membership required. No neighborhood restriction. Just open arms and a star on your cap.

Stillwater Starz, the NSC is so glad you're here. Keep shining. ⭐💙

Help us give a warm Starz welcome to new Junior Coach, Adam Pruszynski!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I want to make sure the next generation of swimmers enjoy the sport as much as I do

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬?
Even if a set hurts in the moment you will make it through

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥? 
Kind bar

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
I would have teleportation to finish instantly

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤? 
Ariel from a little mermaid, aquaman, and the flash

Welcome to new Volunteer Coach, Mithun!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I’ve had a passion to swim since a young age and the compassion, kindness, and time my coaches have given me inspired me to do the same for others

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬?
Compare your performance to yourself not others and then improve from there

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥? 
A banana

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
Super speed that will allow my legs to kick faster and swim faster or the ability to breathe underwater

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤? 
Donald duck, perry the platypus, and sonic the hedgehog

Say hello to Henry, a long time Starz swimmer and new Volunteer Coach!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?
The thing that inspired me to start swimming was my mom pushing me to do it. She made the right move. I have loved swimming since I was a six and under for Stillwater Starz. It is the best thing in the world.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬?
I like breaststroke, and I notice a lot of the time swimmers don’t keep their heads down—especially my sister—so I always tell her to do that.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥?
I take creatine gummies before every workout and meet, and I eat a very nutritious meal beforehand.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
The superpower that I would choose to help me swim faster would be being able to breathe underwater.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤?
The three that I would pick would be Roadrunner, because he could run on top of the water, Goofy, from Mickey Mouse, who would probably be a strong swimmer because he’s tall, and Flounder, from The Little Mermaid, because he’s a fish.

We are delighted to welcome Elena as a Volunteer Coach this summer!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I’ve always had a love for swimming, so being able to teach and share that love of swimming with others, was like a dream.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬?
Never give up and keep swimming your hardest till the very end.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥? 
A Starbucks breakfast sandwich.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
Super speed.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤? 
Starfire, Darwin, and Ash Ketchum

A big Starz welcome to Volunteer Coach, Sam!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I heard that I could be a volunteer coach for Stillwater and I wanted to be able to take what I know about swimming and use my experience to help other swimmers.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬?
Keep your head down and breathe as little as you can because the less you breathe, the less drag that your head creates, making you go faster.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥? 
A banana about 15-30 before my race because it gives me a boost of energy for my race and it’s small enough so I don’t get sick in the pool.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
The ability to breath under water because then I could keep my head down for the entire race making me go faster.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤? 
Nemo, bugs bunny, sonic

We are so excited to have Caroline as a volunteer coach this year!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I want to share how fun and how amazing swimming is. I want to share the love I had for swimming as a little kid to others.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬?
Even if you have a bad race or a bad practice, they don’t define you and sometimes there will be bad races. You just need to try your hardest and keep going.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥? 
Protein bar and fruit snacks

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
Be able to glide through surfaces, it would be so much easier to ride through water.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤? 
Bluey, Donald Duck, Donkey from Shrek