OBST Newsletter // July 2026
Hi OBST families,
It's July and it is HOT!
Please ensure your swimmer has a water bottle at practice. When the heat index is this high, water alone isn't typically enough. I definitely encourage electrolyte mixes or salt tablets.
We have a hefty July ahead: our Summer Splash home meet, championship meets, awards banquet, and more! I have included all the details I currently know about upcoming events, so please read thoroughly.
As always, thank you for being a warm community and family of athletes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
7/17 Emerson Bourg (9)
7/18 Matthew Thrasher (9)
IMPORTANT DATES
7/3 NO PRACTICE - DIVE-IN THEATRE
The OBAC is hosting a Dive-In in celebration of Parks & Rec Month featuring Moana 2! There will be pizza and popcorn served. No floats are allowed, but noodles are welcome.
If you wish to attend, register at www.orangebeach.activityreg.
7/7 OBST Summer Splash
Please take time to read all of the information below regarding the meet protocol and other details in order for Tuesday's meet to be a success.
Timeline:
3:00 - The facility closes to the public and set up begins.
3:45 - Gates will open for entry.
4:00 - The pool will open for warm-up:
4-4:20 OBST
4:20-4:40 Visiting Teams4:40-5:00 Visiting Teams
4:45 - Timer/Volunteer Meeting
5:00 - Meet begins with 6&U 25 FR
Entries:
Athletes are eligible to swim up to 3 individual events and 1 relay. Please confirm attendance in SwimTopia by Sunday, July 5th before the EOD.
I will send digital heat sheets to you for self-printing by Monday afternoon. This meet will also publish to Meet Mobile.
Parking & Entry:
Parking will be available across the recreation campus (Expect Excellence lot, Adult Fitness Center lot, and the Tennis and Aquatics Center lots). Once parked, we ask that everyone enter through either the South side gate near the retention pond or the North side gate that accesses the lawn. The gate entrances will be outlined with barricades and signage for easy recognition and clear access (see map attached). The lobby doors to the facility will be closed.
If you are bringing a tent, please set up your tent outside the fence line. You will be able to come in and out through the aforementioned gate. If you are simply bringing chairs, you may sit on deck. The area from clerk-of-course, behind the blocks, and past the timing console will be open ONLY to athletes, coaches, and volunteers. The kiddie pool area will remain closed.
Deep End:
Swimmers are welcome to utilize the deep end of the pool to cool down after races, but if swimmers linger or engage in horseplay, lifeguards will close the area to respect our racing athletes.
Food & Beverage:
We do not have a concession stand at our facility, so please bring whatever appropriate food and snacks necessary for your athlete. Please stay hydrated - IT WILL BE HOT! We do have vending machines and water fountains. We will have water bottles available/distributed to all volunteers on deck.
Bathroom Policy:
Our restrooms will be open to all attendees, however, the shower/changing rooms will be strictly available to athletes ONLY per USA Swimming Safe Sport. Please be respectful of that policy or you will be asked to leave the facility.
Volunteers Needed:
As you know, volunteers are necessary to the fluidity of this meet's function. I believe we should have most positions covered by our own parents, but please make your team aware we might need extra hands. We will particularly need timers and additional hands for clerk-of-course. Volunteers will meet with me and/or aquatic center staff at 4:45 p.m. at clerk-of-course (covered pavilion) for an intro meeting.
12 timers - OBST will supply 6 timers, visiting teams please bring 2 each
1 head timer - OBST will cover
1 runner - OBST will cover
3-4 COC - need 1-3 from visiting team if possible
2 stroke & turn officials - OBST will cover
2 admin & scoring officials - OBST will cover
Events:
We will run 10&U age groups as mixed events to move the meet along faster. 11-12, 13-14, and 15&O will compete with their gender, heats seeded slowest to fastest.
Lastly, there is going to be major traffic on the island, especially as we head into 4th of July weekend. Just be mindful!
7/11-7/12 GPAC Summer Finale
If you are attending this meet, please see your individual entries attached. You may refer to your Sportsman Web account to pay for USAS entry fees.
The meet invitation and all of its info is posted on the event calendar and the heat sheet will be distributed closer to date.
7/13 NO PRACTICE
Please utilize this afternoon to recharge your batteries after the weekend's meet!
7/14 Bay Minette Rec Meet
Please confirm attendance by Friday, July 10th. Meet info and heat sheet to come closer to date.
7/17-7/19 Southeastern Swimming LC Championship
This is a USAS meet for qualifying athletes only. The last chance to qualify for a SES cut will be at the GPAC Summer Finale the week before.
See the attached meet information.
7/20 NO PRACTICE
Please utilize this afternoon to recharge your batteries after the weekend's meet!
7/20 Fall Registration Opens for OB Residents & Returning Athletes
Registration for Fall 2026 will open first for OB residents and returning athletes ONLY. If you plan to swim in the Fall, I recommend registering sooner than later as spots will be limited. The system will not open to the public until next Monday, 7/27. If you have any questions regarding the practice and meet schedule, you may find all of that information on SwimTopia as well as the Sportsman Web activity homepage (https://orangebeach.
* Remember, if you are a returning athlete that lives outside of OB, you will have to either call the OBAC front desk or register in person.
7/23-7/25 MCAL City Championship
A coaches meeting will cover all the fine details of the City Meet on July 13th. I will have more information on the championship's flow then, however, please see the attached document that includes all the current details I am aware of, including theme/spirit contests, the daily flow of events, etc.
Please confirm attendance by Friday, July 17th.
THURSDAY 2/23
8&U 25s Only
FRIDAY 7/24
Age Group 13-18: 50 Fly, 50 Back, 100 Free, 200 Medley Relay
Age Group 9-12: 50 Fly, 50 Back, 100 Free, 200 Medley Relay
SATURDAY 7/25
Age Group 13-18: 50 Breast, 50 Free, 100 IM 200 Free Relay
Age Group 8&U-12: 200 Medley Relay, 50 Breast, 50 Free, 100 IM, 100 Free, 100 Medley Relay
7/27 OBST Awards Banquet (End of Season)
If you haven't already notcied, on the calendar for Monday, July 27th, we will be having our annual awards banquet at the Orange Beach Community Center from 6-8 p.m. This will be a semi-formal celebratory event with a potluck dinner, slideshow, music, awards, and team photography. Please make every effort to be present; we are celebrating our athletes' accomplishments! All athletes will receive a trophy for 2026 and a certain few will be recognized for extra efforts.
As for the potluck dinner, please RSVP your swimmer and family, and sign up for a dish to bring for the occasion (describe in the notes section). I'll most likely create a spreadsheet for the potluck sign up for everyone's ease, but you can actively mark attendance in SwimTopia now.
Slideshow Submissions:
I am also requesting photo submissions from the past year from families. If you can email/text images to me by July 17th, that would be super appreciated!!!
7/27-8/7 Fall Registration Opens to the Public
Registration is open to the public through these dates! I encourage all who plan to swim this Fall to register BEFORE this date as groups will fill quickly. If you have any questions regarding the practice and meet schedule, you may find all of that information on SwimTopia as well as the Sportsman Web activity homepage (https://orangebeach.
LOOKING AHEAD...
8/10 Fall Season Begins
10/2 CMSA Fall Invitational
10/11-10/12 Coast Aquatics' Rick Buyers Invitational (Tentative - Depends on participation as these dates include OB's Fall Break.)
10/24 OBST Spooktacular
11/6-11/8 CMSA November Invitational
11/20-11/22 GPAC Gravy Bowl
11/23-11/27 Thanksgiving Break
11/27-12/2 Coach Dakota Out of Town - No Practice!
12/14 Registration for Winter/Spring Season Opens
12/18 Last Day of Practice
SWIM & TELL
A handful of people have asked about ordering additional team apparel. You are more than welcome to log into your Agon Sport account and order new swimsuits, sweatshirts, backpacks, etc. at any time. It's our team store!
If you are specifically looking to purchase the classic OBST orange tee or the "Got Grit?" longsleeve tee, we sell both of those at the front desk of the OBAC. We also have additional team caps and bumper stickers available.
Spread pride for the 
and 
!
MAKO OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to July's Mako of the Month, Zackary Lester!
Zack is one of our senior swimmers who embraces his true self without reservation - bleached hair and hot pink cheetah print swimsuits - and we adore him for it! He is a great example to our age group athletes on how to spread positive morale, maintain work-ethic even when no one is watching, and balance all the facets of life as a teenager and the eldest of nine!
We're so proud of his hard work and recent time achievements in 50 Fly (27.41) and 50 FR (25.06). 
Best,
Coach Dakota