NEWSLETTER // SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME, NEW AGUA COACHES!

We are thrilled to introduce four new AGUA assistant coaches to our staff this season: Meghan Bentley, Yul Bravo, Kate Hallex and Abbey Ketslakh. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. Over the next few weeks, we'll introduce each coach. Next up: Coach Kate!

Kate Hallex graduated from Purchase College with a degree in Sociology and Child Development, and from Manhattanville College with a Master's degree in Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy. Kate is currently the Disabilities Coordinator and Co-Senior Chair of Metropolitan Swimming, and previously served as the Age Group Chair, where she ran and led the Metro Zone Team for four years.

Most recently, Kate was the lead coach for Senior 1 and Senior 2 at the BGNW Marlins for ten years. She was also the lead assistant for the team's National Group. For the Marlins, she mentored Age Group Zone, Senior Mets, Sectionals, Futures, and Summer Junior National qualifiers. This also includes one Para National qualifier and a finalist. Prior to joining the Marlins, Kate was an age-group coach for the Ridgefield Aquatic Club in Ridgefield, CT.

TEAM UPDATES

SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING FALL VIRTUAL EVENTS

We look forward to welcoming our AGUA families at our annual fall family meetings. Attendance for these meetings is strongly encouraged, as the AGUA coaches will review our team values and philosophies, meet calendars, training breaks and more.

Sign up for your group's Zoom welcome meeting below:

All New and Returning AG3 and Senior Prep Families
- Today, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7:15pm
- Register Here
Senior II
- Today, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 8pm
- Register Here

We will also host all of our annual fall virtual events on Zoom:

College Recruiting Seminar
- Sunday, October 19, 11am
- All high school athletes and their families are encouraged to attend
- Register Here
Fall Digital Dive In
- Thursday, October 30, 7:30pm
- All families
- Register Here
Nutrition Talks Hosted by our Partner, Beine Wellness
- 14 & Unders - Monday, November 3, 7:30pm (registration to come)
- 15 & Over - Thursday, November 6, 8pm (registration to come)

UPCOMING SWIM MEETS

AGUA SEASON STARTER

Final Entries; Changes will no longer be made.

Who // Full AGUA Swim Team
When // Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12, 2025
Where // Asphalt Green AquaCenter
Service Hour Sign Up //
- Now available here
  - All families are limited to two sign ups through Monday, Oct. 6
  - This restriction will be removed on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 9am
- Service Hour Policy & Job Guidelines
Swimmer Call Times //
- 9-to 12-year-olds - Saturday and Sunday 7:30am
  - No spectators
- 13 & overs - Saturday 12:15pm
  - No spectators
- 8 & unders - Sunday 1pm
  - Spectator tickets are now available for purchase

11 & OVER OCTOBER TIME TRIALS

Preliminary Entries; Please confirm any scratches or request event changes with your lead group coach by Friday, Oct. 10.

Who // Athletes 11 and older
When // Friday, October 24
Where // Asphalt Green AquaCenter
Tentative Swimmer Call Time // 4:30pm

LIE FALL CLASSIC

Who // AG1, AG2, AG3, Senior Prep and Senior I
When // Friday, November 7 through Sunday, November 9, 2025
- Friday Evening - All ages
- Saturday/Sunday Morning -11-to-14-year-olds
- Saturday/Sunday Afternoon - 10 & under and 15 & over
Where // Hofstra University

JW THANKSGIVING CLASSIC

Who // Senior II and National
When // Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16, 2025
- Friday Evening departure
Where // Gloucester County Institute of Technology

CPAC WINTER INVITATIONAL

Register Here; Deadline: Friday, October 10

Who // Senior I and Senior II
When // Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7, 2025
Where // Chelsea Piers, Stamford, CT
Hotel Info // Available in the coming weeks

Click here to view the full 2025-2026 short course meet calendar.

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

September 30

Lucy Watts

October 3

William Tong

Ana Sofia Vucic

REMINDERS

LOCKER ROOM REMINDERS

As we kick off the 2025-2026 AGUA season, we want to remind our athletes of locker room policies and best practices:

Locker rooms are shared spaces at both BPC & UES. All AGUA swimmers should speak and behave in alignment with our team values of respect, accountability and discipline.
There are absolutely no photos or videos permitted to be taken inside the locker rooms, both on campus and during travel meets.
Swimmers should lock their belongings in a locker during practice.
Only swimmers who are members of Asphalt Green are permitted to use the member locker rooms at Asphalt Green. There are no exceptions.

REQUIRED ID CARDS

All swimmers must use their ID cards to access our facilities. Swimmers are not permitted to enter the facilities without their ID cards.

ACCESS AGUA'S SWIMOUTLET PORTAL

You can shop for team gear and the entire SwimOutlet catalog at our AGUA team store using the link below:

Click here for the link to the new AGUA Team Store. You may use your normal SwimOutlet account login. No additional instructions or details are required.