Hi OBST,

Today marks the last Monday of the 2025 summer season! The summer months always fly by. I have thoroughly enjoyed this summer and am so proud of the work and accomplishments made in a short eight-week period. I am even more proud of the team we have shaped to be in a year's time and the sportsmanship we embrace--which is evident on the pool deck!

FYI: We have practice through Wednesday 7/23 followed by our banquet on Thursday evening. Additionally, if you haven't registered for Fall 2025 please do so sooner than later as it is officially open to the public as of this morning.

A couple things to wrap my last newsletter of the summer... 

1. OBST AWARDS BANQUET 7/24 (Multiple Parts)
If you have not done so already, PLEASE make plans to attend our annual awards banquet this Thursday, July 24th at 6 p.m. We will hold this end of year (swim year) celebration at the Orange Beach Community Center right across from the Adult Fitness Center. The dress is semi-formal or "beach formal," (i.e. sun dresses or dress shirts and jeans/kahkis) by no means are ball gowns and suits required -- haha!

The banquet will consist of a pot luck dinner in which we need everyone attending to partake in. Please refer to the following link to RSVP for your swimmer, the number in the party, as well as sign up for a dish to bring: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14e82HE__Aj...

Also, there will be a slideshow encompassing the entire past year of OBST! I encourage all families to send their 5 best/favorite shots from the season/year to my e-mail so that I may incorporate in the slideshow. 

(For those with a rising senior, be prepared for next year! Our seniors will have a special part of the slideshow encompassing 10-15 photos from growing up/swimming/senior photo paired with a song of their choice. Seniors will also be able to bid-farewell with a senior speech.)

*** If you cannot attend the banquet, please mark "no" on the sign up sheet. I will have items for your athlete. ***

2. RESULTS
Please see the attached results from this past weekend's GCAAL summer championship! All medals and ribbons have either been distributed or are in your athlete's mailbox at the pool. If your athlete received some awards at the meet, there are most likely more in their mailbox, so do not go home empty-handed today.

A special shout out to our high-point winners:
Lennox Drummond (6)
William Buck (7)
Isla Slay (11)

...with honorable mention due to Penelope Key (8), Lizzie Key (10) and Emma Hang (13). Their scores did not count at the championship meet due to the GCAAL transfer rule, but these ladies definitely would have earned high-point in their age group!

All athletes will also find an athlete report card in their mailbox! These are just for fun to see how much each swimmer has improved personally over the season or year. I have all best times highlighted. Swimmers should be familiar with their times for goal setting, time standards, and future purpose! :)

I think that's it. Let's soak up the last couple days and get ready to celebrate the best group of athletes around!

Best,

Coach Dakota