FUN – DEVELOPMENT – TEAMWORK
Our Swim Team offers a fun summer experience! The Parklawn Piranhas Swim Team is a developmental and competitive swim team in the NVSL. We welcome swimmers up to age 18. We are a member of the Northern Virginia Swim League and take part in meets in June and July. The League schedules meets in accordance with team strength, so every event is hotly contested. The swim team’s coaches provide youngsters the training needed to develop strength, skill and stamina in the water, while allowing them to compete in a truly nurturing environment. An added benefit is the tremendous bond of friendship that develops, not only among kids of similar ages, but across all age groups, as older swimmers act as positive role models, providing assistance, encouragement and lessons in good sportsmanship to their younger teammates.
Our team focuses on:
- Cultivating a love of swimming
- Providing a supportive environment where swimmers can do their best and improve their swimming skills
- Encouraging sportsmanship and teamwork
- Presenting leadership opportunities
- Offering team-building experiences through pep rallies and social events
Swim Team registration will open by May 1. The Swim Team Representatives will host a registration and parents’ meeting on Tuesday, May 28, at 7 pm. New families who are interested in joining the team should attend our low-key swim assessments that will be held on Tuesday, May 28, between 6 and 7 pm.
The Parklawn Piranhas welcome members who are 18 years old and under to join the swim team. Swimmers are evaluated before joining the team. Swimmers need to swim at least 25 meters (1 lap) of the pool unassisted and with a minimum stroke proficiency. Swimmers must also be able to listen, pay attention, and focus on our coaches’ instructions for a 45-minute or longer practice, participate in weekly “B” swim meets throughout the season, and be available to participate in “A” swim meets when requested by the coaches.
Questions? Contact us at parklawnpiranhas@gmail.com.
Gypsy is returning for her fifth year as Head Coach. She began swimming at the age of four at Parklawn and swam competitively for USA Swimming clubs and high schools in the area. She is the Lead Coach for Arlington Aquatic Club (AAC)’s Age Group Prep program and an Assistant Coach for AAC’s Sunday Gators program. Gypsy loves coaching the summer swim team because everything about summer swimming is fun! It gives kids of all ages and abilities the opportunity to improve and feel team camaraderie. It also builds a sense of community among the kids, parents, volunteers, and supporters.
John grew up in the Mount Vernon area where he swam at Mansion House and the Mount Vernon Yacht Club. Later, he swam at FBST, AAC, Mount Vernon and West Potomac in addition to Club Swim & Water Polo at James Madison University. Also known as Mr. G. in Alexandria, Coach John teaches K-8 PE at St. Mary’s School and is the Varsity Head Swim, Dive and Water Polo Coach at Bishop Ireton High School (in addition to coaching club with the Potomac Marlins). With 30+ seasons of coaching experience, Coach John is looking forward to working with the Piranhas this summer and having a fun, fast and exciting team time!
Armi Mack has 57 years’ experience as a swimming instructor and coach. She holds master’s degrees in both German and Education. She retired from Alexandria City Public Schools after 30 years of teaching high school, middle school, and community college. Armi taught swimming at Competition Swim Clinic from 1983 – 2016, where she was a teacher, director and administrator of the Developmental Program. In 1985, as a teacher and parent, Armi lobbied for and started the T.C. Williams Swim and Dive Team, which she coached for seven seasons. For the past two years, she has taught 4th grade swim lessons for ACPS. Armi has coached both NVSL and Colonial League summer teams, including Parklawn where she was head coach for the Parklawn Porpoises (now Piranhas) from 1989 – 1992. As Assistant Team Rep in 2011, Armi started the Piranhas Swim Lesson Program. Summer league is her favorite coaching environment, and she enjoys working with the Parklawn swimmers and being part of the team and community.
Our regular summer season is approximately 9 weeks starting after Memorial Day and ending July 27. We celebrate the season’s end with a swim team banquet on Saturday, July 27. Swimmers who advance to NVSL Individual All Stars will practice for one more week and have a meet on Saturday, August 3. Every year, we have swimmers who advance to All Stars!
We offer both evening and morning practices to accommodate your family’s busy schedule. Evening practices start on Wednesday, May 29, and the swim team practices Monday through Thursday. Starting June 17, we offer both morning practices Monday through Friday and evening practices Tuesday through Thursday. Swimmers attend only one practice time – morning or evening, but not both.
- We have approximately 5 “A” Meets and 5 “B” Meets against other NVSL swim teams:
- “A” Meets are held Saturday mornings and “B” Meets are held Monday evenings.
- Our team also participates in an NVSL Relay Carnival where swimmers compete in relay races with their team members.
While coaches select who swims at NVSL “A” Meets and Relay Carnival, all of our swimmers can and are encouraged to participate in “B” Meets. Our swimmers select the events that they would like to swim at our “B” Developmental Meets (with recommendations from our coaches)
Our Piranhas know how to have fun! Every Friday night during the swim season, we host pep rallies at the pool. Past pep rallies included a Water Balloon Fight, Crazy Hair, Pentathlon Pool Games, Lip Sync/Karaoke, and Cake Bake.
The Parklawn Piranha Swim team runs the Parklawn Pool snack bar offering light snacks, drinks and ice cream for all pool members, team members, and guests at the pool. The snack bar is open daily and for swim meets. Proceeds from the snack bar go to support the swim team.
Every SWIM TEAM family is responsible for staffing the snack bar for 3 shifts (4 hours each) during the summer or paying to opt out ($200). Other Pool members DO NOT have to work at the snack bar.
SWIM TEAM FEES
- Fee: $100 (one child) / $175 (two children)
The fee includes a team T-shirt and a swim team cap. Only registered Parklawn Pool members may join the swim team.
If you are interested in our Mini-Piranhas developmental team and swim lesson program, please visit our Lessons & Classes page. The Mini-Piranhas developmental team and swim lesson program has different fees, depending on the level of instruction and number of sessions enrolled.
STAYING CONNECTED
PRIVATE GROUP: includes contact info, schedule, and much more, so everyone involved can stay up to date!