Welcome Tornado families!  I am so excited to welcome you to the 2022 season -- 132 swimmers strong!  Our coaches have been planning our first week of practice, and we can't wait to get started!  Just a few logistics...

Swimtopia

From this point forward, all team communication will either be stored on or sent from SwimTopia.  If you have not yet downloaded the app to your devices, please do so!  In addition to general team information, we also will use it to send real-time alerts about weather delays, practice updates, and whatever else happens to come up.  It also stores the practice and meet schedules, the team store, and will be used for volunteer signups.  Please download it asap and reach out to me if you have any questions!

https://thornhilltornados.swimtopia.com/

Coaches

Our awesome 2022 coaches are a combination of Thornhill residents and alumni. Head Coach Grace Pilcher is completing her master's degree at UNC Wilmington this week, and she is super excited to lead our Tornado team before she leaves to spend a year teaching English in Spain! Grace has a long history of summer league and participated on her neighborhood team in Columbia, SC, since age 7. She will be assisted by one of our beloved Tornado alums, Eli Pilcher, who also happens to be her (not so) little brother. Eli was a member of the Thornhill Tornados since he moved to Thornhill at age 14, and he currently is studying and playing soccer at Rhodes College in Memphis. Also returning for a second season is Anna Ludwiczak. Anna started as a Tornado at 5 years old, and she is excited to share her love for the Tornados with our younger swimmers as they work on swim technique.   In addition, we are elated to have former head coach Joanne Paulsen returning to help our coaching staff and swimmers be the best they can be! 

Practice Schedule

Practice begins next week!  We will kick off our season with a coach meet & greet at the pavilion on Tuesday, May 17th.  This will be an opportunity for both the kids and parents to meet our coaches, and the kids will also participate in a brief dry-land workout.  Tuesday is not mandatory, but Coach Grace and her assistants are looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible!   

Our schedule for the first week is as follows:

• Tuesday, 5/17 -- Meet & greet  and dry-land workout (no bathing suits)
  • 4 - 4:30 p.m. -- ages 5-6
  • 4:30 - 5:15 p.m. -- ages 7+
• Wednesday, 5/18 - Friday, 5/20 (daily until CMS lets out) -- In-water training (wear a suit)
  • 4 - 4:30 -- Shrimps (ages 5-6)
  • 4:30 - 5:15 -- ages 7-10
  • 5:15 - 6:00 -- ages 11+

Once CMS is out, we will shift to morning practices, beginning Thursday, 6/9:

• 8:30 - 9:00 -- Shrimps (ages 5-6)
• 9:00 - 9:45 -- ages 7-10
• 9:45 - 10:30 -- ages 11+

Please come to practice prepared with bathing suit, towel, goggles and a cap.  All swimmers will receive a Tornados swim cap as part of their registration.  We will hand them out the first day for anyone who needs them!

We are beyond excited to get back to a traditional swim team season, and to see our swimmers back in the pool!  Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.  Otherwise, we will see everyone next week!

Go Tornados!

Michelle