Season Opening Reminders!!!

Benicia Stingrays

I hope you are all enjoying your Spring Break with your swimmers!  Here are some reminders as we prepare for the start of our season!

 

Practice for Competitive Stingrays Begins Next Week!

Try to show up a few minutes early for your practice time.  The first week of practice, particularly for the younger swimmers, is a lot of shuffling around to assign the correct lanes to the swimmers.  Remember to have your swimmer in their suits, goggles on, hair capped, and bring your fins and boards if your swimer has their own.  There is also a bin of team fins and boards for your swimmer to borrow; do not take these home with you.  

For the first month, we will share practice space with the Benicia High School Swim Team.  As their season winds down, the pool and deck space will open up and swimmers will be much less squished into lanes.  

Practice Schedule

  • Spring Practice:  Monday through Thursday For Competitive Stingrays
  • Monday, April 6 - Thursday, June 11
  • Little Rays will begin practice on Monday, June 15th
    • 6/unders:  4:30-5:00 pm 
    • 7/8:  5:00-5:45 pm
    • 9/10: 5:45-6:45 pm
    • 11-18:  6:30-7:30 pm
    • No practice Monday, May 25th in honor of Memorial Day​ 

 

Team Suit Fittings

  • Every season, we learn new things about the team suits.  There were things with last year's brand that we didn't love, so we are trying something new this year! 
  • Through Swim Outlet, we will offer two team suits, a more economical suit made by Sporti and a higher end suit made by TYR.  Both brands look very similar.  You choose which brand you want.  The design of the suit is substantially different from the past several years.  Your swimmer is not required to purchase a new suit and plenty of swimmers will be wearing previous seasons' designs.  
  • Fitting Dates and Times:  Tuesday, April 7 - Thursday, April 9 from 4:00-6:30 PM
  • Location:  James Lemos Pool
  • Come to fittings before practice as your swimmer should be dry when they try on their suit. 
  • You need to place your order online (link to be provided) by Sunday, April 12th.  This will guarantee arrival by May 11th before team pictures and Time Trials
  • You can order suits later, but they will not be guaranteed to arrive in time for Time Trials.    
  • Little Rays do not need a team suit as these are only worn during meets.  

 

Welcome Swim Party--Save the Date!!

  • Sunday, April 19th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Location:  James Lemos Pool (different location from last year!)
  • Come and enjoy free swim, free snacks, meet the coaches, meet the borad, and get your questions answered!  If you are new to the team, we can help you sign up for volunteer shifts, sign up for meets, and just make your first season so much less intimidating!

 

One More Lap

  • One More Lap still has some prior season's suits and other gear available for free.  Many of the suits are 6/under size.  If you have a Little Ray, this is a fun way for your swimmer to have a prior year's team suit for free and they can feel more like a Stingray!  
  • To sign up for free gear, visit the signup genius to see what is available and claim an item!

 

Stroke and Turn Clinic​

  • Date and Time: Saturday, April 25, 2026:  9:00am to 12:30pm (note a prior splash incorrectly stated the date as Sunday, April 26th)
  • Location:  American Canyon High School Aquatic Center - 3000 Newell Drive, American Canyon
  • Who
    • Any parent interested in serving as a stroke and turn judge who is not yet certified
    • Any parent who just wants to learn the rules of competitive swim!
  • Please RSVP to this email if you plan to attend and have not yet done so.  

 

Graduation Leis

  • If you would like to order a graduation lei in school colors (all Benicia elementary, middle, and high schools), reply to this email. 
  • $20 for a single tri color lei; $40 for a bundle of 3 leis (tri color, solid color, solid color).  See sample of 3 lei bundle below for Robert Semple.  
  • They will be delivered at Time Trials and payment accepted there.