Yesterday was a great meet for the Poplar Run Penguins vs the Tanglewood Tigers! This week we have three more meets, with the first on Wednesday with the Annual Intrasquad Meet - Heroes vs. Villains, and a weekend full of meets, Saturday vs. Twinbrook Ducks and Sunday’s Division O Relay Carnival.

Friendly Reminders to Parents:

• Make sure you take a look at our Penguin Post ~ Linked Here = Penguin Post Edition 13
• PLEASE don’t forget to RSVP in SwimTopia for ALL OF OUR MEETS! If we don’t know that your swimmer is attending, our coaches are unable to put them into our meet entries and they won’t be able to swim during the meets.
• We need OURS PARENTS’ SUPPORT - please encourage your swimmer to put away their phones and cheer on their teammates during meets. We were disappointed to see some of our swimmers glued to their phones during our last few meets and not cheering on their teammates.
• PLEASE be sure to check with a coach &/or a team rep before you &/or your swimmer leaves a meet!!! Every swimmer has the potential to earn points for our team. When a swimmer is marked to attend, but doesn’t show up or leaves before an event, we miss the opportunity for another swimmer to have a chance, and also lose the chance to earn points. If something comes up or you know you have to leave early, please talk to a coach or a team rep so that we might have a chance to adjust the lineup. We’d love for everyone to stay and cheer through the last event. EVERY SWIMMER is important to the team!

This week, we will have regular Morning & Afternoon Practice on MONDAY, TUESDAY, and THURSDAY with morning practice on WEDNESDAY. Our afternoon practice on WEDNESDAY will be our fun Intersquad Meet, starting at 5pm ~ see details below.

PLEASE NOTE THE UPDATED Poplar Run Penguin Practice schedule:

• Morning Practice - Emperor & Macaroni: 7 - 8am
• Morning Practice - Rockhoppers 1: 8 - 9am

• Afternoon Practice - Emperor & Macaroni: 5 - 6pm UPDATED TIME
• Afternoon Practice - Rockhoppers: 6 - 7pm UPDATED TIME

• Afternoon Practice - Little Blues Groups as Scheduled

Please note: We will NOT have swim practice on Friday, July 4th. Instead, come join us for a Team Fundraising BBQ at the Poplar Run Pool!

WEDNESDAY’S INTRASQUAD MEET STARTING AT 5PM

For the Annual Penguin Intrasquad Meet, the Penguins will be split up into two opposing waddles, one led by Izzy & Yusef with the other led by Reagan & Oliver. Not forgotten, our Little Blues will have a kickboard race in the middle of the Intrasquad Meet. If your Little Blues is ready to try the 25M Freestyle and 25M Backstroke, please make sure that you note that on your Little Blues’ RSVP in Swimtopia.

• The theme for the Intrasquad Meet will be Heroes vs. Villains. Reagan & Oliver’s waddle should come dressed with their favorite Hero and Izzy & Yusef’s waddle come dressed as their favorite villain. Check here which waddle your swimmer has been assigned = 2025 Intrasquad Meet Waddles
• ALL Penguins meet at the Poplar Run Lap Pool, ready to swim at 4:30pm on Wednesday.
• Bring lots of sunscreen, water, swim cap, goggles, and towel.
• After the Intersquad Meet, swimmers will be rewarded with PIZZA from the team.
• Parents - please bring drinks and other dinner items with you for your family and swimmer(s). Donations to help cover the pizza cost will be greatly appreciated & collected at the meet.

Here are a few reminders for Saturday’s Dual Meet vs. Twinbrook @Home:

• Saturday’s meet will be held at HOME at the Poplar Run Lap Pool.
• The theme for this Saturday’s Swim Meet is Black & White! Come to the meet representing the Penguins by wearing Penguin colors, black & white!
• Parents and swimmers should arrive no later than 7:30am.
• Your swimmers should wear their swim meet suit - for girls, a one-piece suit with no zippers or other fastening devices & for boys, a jammer-like suit. Exemptions to the MCSL rules for swim suits will be granted only for religious beliefs, medical conditions, etc. Please see one of the team reps if this is the case.

• What to bring for your Swimmer:
  • Goggles + Extra 2x Spare, Penguins Swim Cap + Extra Spare Cap, towel, something warm to wear in between events & after the meet, something to sit on, and a water bottle.
  • Healthy snacks - fruit, good carbs, and healthy proteins are perfect to bring to the meet. We will have concessions open as well - Cash & cards are accepted :)
  • REMIND SWIMMERS TO PUT THEIR PHONES AWAY - OR BETTER YET, LEAVE THEM AT HOME!
• Parents = Please remind your swimmer to use their listening ears on Saturday. They need to keep an ear & eye out for the events they are swimming in. Remind them to keep track of their Swim Cap & Goggles and make sure they are ready to go for their events.
• Please encourage your swimmer to stay in our Team area if not swimming and/or cheering on their teammates.
• Meet lineups will be available in SwimTopia by Friday. Please note: Availability does not guarantee every swimmer will be swimming on Saturday due to our large team size, various skill levels. We do have many opportunities for our swimmers to show their skills; our next meet is on Wednesday at the Intrasquad Meet. So make sure that you have RSVP’d your swimmers as soon as possible for any and all of the meets via SwimTopia. To learn more about the meet lineup process, please check out the Meets Overview from the Handbook or the FAQ

Here are the details for Next Sunday’s Divisional Relay Carnival @ Kemp Mill:

• Kemp Mill Swim Club Address ~ 11805 Stonington Place, Silver Spring, MD 20902.
• The theme for the Sunday Relay Carnival is Comfy Cozy! Come dressed in your comfy clothes - think PJs and sweatpants.
• Parents and swimmers should arrive no later than 7:45am.
• More additional details to come later this week!

DON’T FORGET TO RSVP & PURCHASE YOUR END OF SEASON BANQUET TICKETS!

June 19th at 5pm at the Poplar Run Clubhouse

Join us to celebrate the end of our inaugural season and all of its highlights! The evening will start with the Team Award Ceremony, followed by dinner from our wonderful sponsor, Marathon Deli, and then of course, fun in the pool!

Adults tickets are $10 and Child (17 & under) tickets are $7.

Link to RSVP & purchase your family’s tickets by July 1st: https://praquatics.square.site/product/end-of-season-banquet/45?cs=true&cst=custom

As always, if you have any questions and/or need any additional information, please email your friendly Team Reps - Tobii & Kristin at [email protected] or find one of us on the pool deck.

Sign Up Genius for Friday’s Pep Rally Link ~ https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45AEA922A2F5C34-57292059-penguins

Link to this week’s Penguin Post ~ Penguin Post Edition 13

Link to Poplar Run Penguins Swimtopia Site for Calendar, RSVP, and Team Information ~ https://poplar-run-penguins.swimtopia.com/