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  • Announcements regarding our community.

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    adamA
    What Are the ORCA Awards? The ORCA Awards, presented by ISCA, recognize outstanding athletes, coaches, clubs, and contributors who help grow the sport of swimming. One of the featured honors is the Age Group Swimmer of the Year, which recognizes exceptional performances and achievements by age group swimmers throughout the calendar year. Swim Standards is proud to support the ORCA Awards by providing data analysis and independent rankings to help identify top candidates in each age group. The ORCA rankings published by Swim Standards are unofficial and are based solely on meet results available in the Swim Standards database. While we strive to provide complete and accurate data, some meet results may not yet be available or may be corrected after publication. The official ORCA Award finalists and winners are selected by ISCA. Calendar Year, Not Swim Season The ORCA Awards are based on the calendar year (January 1 – December 31), not the USA Swimming season. For example, the 2026 awards include swims achieved between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. Age Groups Each swimmer is evaluated in one of the following age categories: 9 & Under 10 11 12 13 14 15–16 17–18 (Senior) Swimmers are ranked separately within each age category. When a swimmer ages up during the calendar year, they retain eligibility for their previous age and then gain eligibility for the next age group. This means that a high majority of swimmers will have dual eligibility in two different ages each calendar year (often referred to as upper and lower eligibility). Rankings for the older age group are based primarily on swims achieved after aging up. However, if a swimmer did not have an opportunity to compete in a particular eligible event after their birthday, their best time from the previous age group may be carried forward for that event. This helps ensure swimmers are not disadvantaged simply because of the timing of their birthdate. This carry-forward applies only when moving to an older age group. Times achieved after aging up are never counted toward the younger age group’s rankings. How the Scoring Works The rankings are based on each swimmer’s best time in every eligible event with USA Swimming Motivational Standards during the calendar year. Within each age group, gender, course (both SCY and LCM), and eligible events, a swimmer receives points based on their placement on the nation leaderboards. The higher the ranking, the more points received. Bonus points are awarded for any National Age Group Records held at the end of the calendar year. At the conclusion of the calendar year, an annual TOP 10 Leaderboard will be published for both genders and for each age category. The TOP 10 will then be rescored within their leaderboard so that 5 FINALISTS are named for every category. These 5 finalists will be submitted to an established voting committee where each AGE GROUP SWIMMER OF THE YEAR will be announced at the annual ORCA Awards in April. More Than Just Speed The point rankings are designed to identify the leading candidates, but they do not determine the ORCA Award winners by themselves. After the preliminary finalists are identified, ISCA also considers accomplishments such as: State Championship titles Senior State Championship titles Open Water achievements Zones results Junior or National Team selections Other notable accomplishments throughout the year These achievements help distinguish the final winners from the top-ranked candidates. Quarterly Rankings Beginning in 2026, Swim Standards publishes quarterly ORCA leaderboards throughout the year, allowing swimmers, families, and coaches to follow the race for the ORCA Awards as the season progresses. Current schedule: Q1: January 1 – March 31 (Published) Q2: April 1 – June 30 Q3: July 1 – September 30 Q4: October 1 – December 31 These quarterly leaderboards recognize the top-performing swimmers at each checkpoint of the year. The annual January–December rankings will be used to help identify the finalists for the ORCA Age Group Swimmer of the Year Awards. Annual Final Rankings At the end of the calendar year, Swim Standards will publish the complete January–December rankings. Our goal is to provide a transparent and objective scoring system that recognizes outstanding age group performances while supporting the ORCA Awards selection process. For more information about the ORCA Awards and ISCA, visit the official ORCA Awards page. Disclaimer The ORCA rankings published by Swim Standards are unofficial and are intended for informational purposes only. They are calculated using the scoring methodology described above and are based solely on meet results available in the Swim Standards database at the time of publication. Because additional meet results or corrections may become available, rankings may change over time. The official ORCA Award finalists and winners are selected by ISCA using its complete review process, which includes both performance data and non-scoring criteria.

  • A place to talk about whatever you want.

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    I like this idea!

  • Dive into the latest news and events on swimming around the USA.

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    adamA
    The 47th Annual Maryland State Long Course Championships returns to Rockville at the end of May, bringing together top swimmers across the state for a three-day championship meet. [image: 1777989174609-77774cc4-c2cc-4bf8-8f3b-5fbce1d18a7c.png] 📍 Meet Overview Dates: May 29–31, 2026 Location: Rockville Swim & Fitness Center (Outdoor 50m pool) Host: Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC) Sanction: PVI-26-112 This is a long course (LCM) championship meet held in an 8-lane, 50-meter outdoor pool, with limited warm-up space available in adjacent pools. ⏱ Key Deadlines Entry Deadline: May 19, 2026 (6:00 PM) 👉 Note: Most clubs set earlier internal deadlines. 🗓 Session Schedule Friday, May 29 13&O Warm-up: 2:00 PM Start: 3:00 PM 12&U Warm-up: 6:10 PM Start: 6:50 PM Saturday & Sunday (May 30–31) Morning (15&O) Warm-up: 8:00 AM / 8:30 AM Start: 9:10 AM Midday (13–14) Warm-up: 12:30 PM / 1:00 PM Start: 1:40 PM Evening (12&U) Warm-up: 4:30 PM / 4:55 PM Start: 5:30 PM 📋 Meet Format & Rules All events are timed finals (no prelims/finals format) Qualifying meet required (times since May 1, 2023) No deck entries Pre-seeded meet Event Limits 13–14 & 15&O: Max 6 events total Max 2 Friday, 3 per day Sat/Sun 12&U: Max 6 events total Max 1 Friday, 3 per day Sat/Sun ⚠️ Important Notes 400 Events (Free & IM) May be capped by top seeds: Top 40 (15&O) Top 32 (13–14, 11–12) 50s of Stroke (13&O) Must be qualified in the 100 of that stroke Otherwise entered as bonus event Bonus Events Allowed only if swimmer has a qualifying time 400s cannot be bonus events 🏊 Event Highlights Friday Distance + Sprints 400 Free (all age groups) 50s of stroke (13&O) 50 Free Saturday Focus 200 Fly / 200 Breast / 200 IM 100 Back / 100 Free Mixed relays Sunday Finish 100 Fly / 100 Breast 200 Back / 200 Free 400 IM Final relays 📱 Additional Info Results: Available on Meet Mobile No awards or team scoring Automatic timing (touchpads) Outdoor meet – plan accordingly 🧠 Quick Take Classic timed finals championship format → every swim matters Heavy event load allowed (up to 6) → strategic event selection is key 400 events could be cut → seed times matter more than usual

  • Performance analysis and record tracking for age group swimming.

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    SSEditorS
    A 13-year-old's IM swim topped the entire board this week, backstroke dominated four of the eight age groups, and the 10&U girls leaderboard saw two nine-year-olds crack the top three. Here's a full breakdown of the top performances by Power Points from June 25 through July 1. 10 & Under Girls Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Iris Liu UN (PC) 9 50 Breast 39.13 1037 2 Adeline Farrier CAT (FL) 10 100 Fly 1:10.24 978 3 Kensington Jones PASA (PC) 9 100 Fly 1:18.12 954 Iris Liu leads the group by a comfortable margin, her 39.13 in the 50 breast worth 1037 points at just 9 years old. Adeline Farrier holds down second with a 100 fly swim, and Kensington Jones joins her in that event to round out the top three. Two of the three spots here belong to 9-year-olds, a sign of the depth building in this age group early in the season. Boys Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Robert Legg PLS (PC) 10 400 Free 4:37.57 1067 2 Austin Ren KATY (GU) 9 200 IM 2:44.18 1020 3 Isen Wolfe SPA (FL) 10 400 Free 4:49.11 977 Robert Legg posted the top swim of the entire 10&U board with a 4:37.57 in the 400 free, good for 1067 points. Austin Ren, still just 9, backed it up with a 200 IM worth 1020, and Isen Wolfe joined Legg in the distance free to close out the group. 11-12 Girls Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Penelope Chao NCAC (NC) 12 400 IM 5:02.68 959 2 Victoria Gu THSC (OR) 11 400 IM 5:27.43 938 3 Erica Wang LAC (NT) 11 50 Breast 35.95 920 The 400 IM headlined this group, with Penelope Chao and Victoria Gu going 1-2 in the event. Chao's 5:02.68 leads at age 12, while Gu's 5:27.43 is a strong showing for an 11-year-old across all four strokes. Erica Wang rounds things out with a sprint breaststroke swim. Boys Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Nicolas Lahre BGNW (MR) 11 200 Back 2:26.86 1049 2 Scotty Thieman PAAC (MA) 11 1500 Free 18:46.55 1037 3 Jax Torba QNS (MR) 11 200 Fly 2:31.35 1009 An all-11-year-old top three here, and a deep one. Nicolas Lahre leads with a 2:26.86 in the 200 back, while Scotty Thieman turned in one of the week's most grueling efforts, an 18:46.55 in the 1500 free, for 1037 points. Jax Torba closes the group out over 200 fly, giving this age bracket three different strokes at the top. 13-14 Girls Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Lauren Lonsdale DART (SN) 14 200 Back 2:13.10 990 2 Lillie Dirito YY (MA) 13 100 Back 1:03.87 989 3 Abi Cowart AHAC (ST) 13 200 Back 2:16.99 958 Backstroke swept the 13-14 girls board. Lauren Lonsdale and Abi Cowart both scored in the 200 back, while Lillie Dirito slotted between them with a 100 back that came within a single point of Lonsdale's top mark — as tight a 1-2 finish as this leaderboard sees. Boys Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Ayden Tan SRVA (PC) 13 200 IM 2:09.39 1076 2 Johnny Kucek DYNA (GA) 13 100 Breast 1:08.93 988 3 Calan Buss TG (SC) 13 50 Free 24.51 980 Ayden Tan's 2:09.39 in the 200 IM is the top-scoring swim on the entire board this week, worth 1076 points at just 13 years old — a mark that would stand out in any age group. Johnny Kucek backed it up with a breaststroke swim of his own, and Calan Buss contributed the week's fastest sprint entry, a 24.51 in the 50 free. 15-18 Girls Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Anna Bennett Curtis BAY (SE) 16 100 Back 1:01.79 961 2 Thea Bike SCST (IL) 16 100 Back 1:01.97 954 3 Louise Vidarsson MSA (NC) 15 200 Back 2:13.38 954 Anna Bennett Curtis and Thea Bike went head-to-head in the 100 back, separated by just 0.18 seconds at the top. Louise Vidarsson tied Bike on points with a 200 back swim, giving the senior girls board a full backstroke sweep this week. Boys Rank Swimmer Team Age Event Time Points 1 Robbie Rosenbaum BSC (IL) 16 100 Back 56.14 981 2 Remington Angerer AUB (SE) 16 200 Breast 2:18.79 961 3 Evan Pan-Wang MTRO (NT) 16 100 Fly 54.31 960 Robbie Rosenbaum tops the senior boys with a 56.14 in the 100 back, while Remington Angerer and Evan Pan-Wang finish within a single point of each other across breaststroke and fly, respectively. Three different strokes, three swimmers all age 16 — a good snapshot of how competitive this class has become. Key Takeaways Top swim of the week: Ayden Tan's 200 IM (1076 points), the highest-scoring performance across all eight groups. Stroke of the week: Backstroke, which claimed the top spot in four of the eight groups — 11-12 boys, 13-14 girls, and both 15-18 divisions. Closest finish: Anna Bennett Curtis over Thea Bike in the 15-18 girls 100 back, decided by 0.18 seconds. Age note: The 10&U girls board featured two 9-year-olds in the top three, Iris Liu and Kensington Jones. Rankings reflect the top three swims by USA Swimming Power Points among times added between June 25 and July 1, 2026, one entry per swimmer per age group. All standards shown are AAAA. Data via SwimStandards.com.

  • The simple guide to all things swimming.

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    SSEditorS
    USA Swimming publishes Maximum Sectional Time Standards to set a national cap on how fast qualifying times for Speedo Sectional meets are allowed to be. These are meet-host rules, not swimmer limits. They exist to keep Sectionals nationally consistent and accessible to the intended level of athletes. 2026 Maximum Time Standards These are the maximum allowed cuts for 2026 Speedo Sectionals. Individual meets may use these times or slower (easier) cuts, but not faster ones. Swimmers qualify by beating their meet’s posted standards. What “Maximum” Means “Maximum” means the fastest (most stringent) time standard a Sectional meet may require for entry in a given event. Individual meet hosts and Zones can choose to use: The published maximum standards, or Slower (easier) qualifying standards They cannot set standards that are faster than the USA Swimming maximums. In other words: Host rule: Meet cut time ≥ USA Swimming maximum standard Swimmer rule: Swimmer’s time < Meet cut time to qualify A swimmer who is faster than the maximum time standard is not excluded; they are simply well under the qualifying time and fully eligible to enter. Why These Standards Exist USA Swimming uses Maximum Sectional Time Standards to: Keep Sectionals aligned with a national performance target (roughly just below Junior Nationals level). Prevent any individual Sectional from becoming too exclusive by setting “super‑fast” local cuts. Provide a consistent expectations framework for coaches, swimmers, and parents across all Zones. Maximum vs. Actual Sectional Cuts Each Sectional meet will publish its own qualifying time standards in the meet information. Those are the times swimmers actually have to beat to enter. Maximum standards (USA Swimming): National cap, same for all Sectionals in that season “May not be faster than” limit for hosts Meet/Zone standards (host): Actual cuts used for entries Must be equal to or slower than the maximum standards

  • Unleash Your Aquatic Style: Dive into the Discussions!

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    swimdealsS
    Know a swimmer who's always bringing home medals? Instead of letting those hard-earned medals sit in a drawer or pile up on a desk, give them a place to proudly display every achievement. The CREATCABIN Swimming Medal Hanger is a thoughtful gift for swimmers of all ages. Whether they're just starting their swim journey or have been competing for years, this display helps showcase the memories they've worked so hard to earn. 🏅 Display Every Achievement This medal hanger features 15 sturdy hooks that can hold over 70 medals, making it perfect for swimmers who compete year after year. There's also a built-in display shelf, giving swimmers a place to showcase trophies, ribbons, photos, or other awards alongside their medals. Every race tells a story—and this display lets them share those memories with everyone who visits. 💪 Built to Last Made from high-quality iron, this medal holder is designed to handle years of accomplishments. Features include: Durable metal construction Smooth finish with no sharp edges Holds up to 11 pounds (5 kg) Strong enough for dozens of medals and trophies Whether it's one medal or seventy, it's built to grow alongside every swimmer's journey. 🛠️ Easy to Install Everything needed for installation is included: Medal hanger Display shelf Screws Wall anchors Installation hardware Simply mount it to the wall, and it's ready to display years of hard work and dedication. 🎁 A Meaningful Gift Looking for a unique gift that isn't another swim cap or pair of goggles? This medal display is perfect for: Birthday gifts Christmas presents End-of-season awards Senior Night gifts Championship celebrations Graduation presents Swim team recognition It's a gift that continues to grow as more medals are earned. 🏊 Celebrate Every Milestone Every medal represents early morning practices, personal bests, team victories, and countless hours in the pool. Instead of hiding those memories away, give them a place of honor. Price at the time of writing: $20.99 (Prices may change over time.) 🛒 Check It Out Looking for a gift that every swimmer will appreciate? This medal hanger is a great way to celebrate their dedication and display every accomplishment with pride. 👉 View the Swimming Medal Hanger on Amazon

  • Fuel, hydrate, and recover the smart way.

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    swimdealsS
    Summer swim season means early mornings, long days at the pool, and spending hours cheering on your teammates. Whether you're racing one event or five, having a quick snack between events can help keep your energy up throughout the day. If you're looking for an easy snack to throw in your swim bag, this Frito-Lay Fun Times Mix Variety Pack is a great option. With 40 individually wrapped bags and 8 different snacks, there's something everyone on the team will enjoy. 🥨 What's Inside? 🧀 Doritos Nacho Cheese (8 bags) 🌮 Doritos Cool Ranch (6 bags) 🥔 Lay's Sour Cream & Onion (4 bags) 🥨 Rold Gold Tiny Twists Pretzels (4 bags) 🧀 Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn (4 bags) 🐆 Cheetos Crunchy (6 bags) ☁️ Cheetos Puffs (4 bags) 🌾 SunChips Harvest Cheddar (4 bags) That's 40 single-serve bags that are perfect for: 🏊 Swim meets 💪 After practice 🚗 Road trips 🎉 Team parties 📚 School lunches 🏕️ Summer adventures ✅ Why Swimmers Love It Individually wrapped so they're easy to pack in your swim bag. A variety of snacks means everyone can find a favorite. Great for sharing with teammates and family. Perfect for long days at the pool. Tip: These are a convenient snack for busy meet days. Pair them with water, fruit, and a protein-rich meal to stay fueled throughout the competition. 🛒 Grab Yours Here Price: $23.79 👉 Shop the Frito-Lay Fun Times Mix Variety Pack on Amazon

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    adamA
    @Shiny_Walrus408 Thank you for the explanation. Your club name has been corrected to CAC Boulder Riptide

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    epic_dolphin208E
    Hi Adam, thanks so much for looking into this. The NMA meets are club/USA-S meets, 2019 sunbelt champs a USMS meet, but the rest were indeed High School meets. I think this is a really great idea, especially if it could lead to a results file generation to preserve older meet results on a limited basis, since PDF results tend to be what remains over time. AI sounds like a very interesting approach!
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