Coach's Corner

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer, despite the heat and humidity!  

As we move into late summer/early fall, there are many items about which to inform you! 

Please take a few minutes to read ALL of the below information.

Practice Info

• Planning ahead for Labor Day (Monday, Sept 7th), note that we will have only one practice from 7:00-8:15am that morning.

• We are back to short course practices (pool set up as 25 yards) for the season, however, Christian has mentioned to me that he may surprise us with some long course (50 meters layout) days, as well.

Monthly Dues Increase

Beginning in September, as of 9/1/26, monthly dues will increase to $95 per swimmer.* 

As I have mentioned to many of you in the past year, there has long been a need to adjust our monthly dues as a result of increased costs associated with maintaining our amazing Ensworth Aquatics Masters community.  Although the new rate may seem like a large addition,  please note that our last dues increase was 5 1/2 years ago, and much has changed in the world since.  Among other reasons, this adjustment allows us to continue to have pool access and the ability to offer 9 practices per week, to pay our assistant coaches, and to cover the rising program-related costs.  

Please feel free to reach out to me or Candace Reeve in the Ensworth accounting office if you have any concerns or would like to further discuss.  I truly appreciate your understanding, and I hope you know that I am incredibly grateful for each of you, as well as the cohesiveness of our Ensworth Aquatics Masters family. 

* Staff, full-time students, and swimmers below the age of 25 years will continue  to receive a discounted rate.

Swim Cap Order

Be on the lookout for an email coming in the next few days asking you to fill out a form to order team logo swim caps. 

• You will have a number of options, including latex and silicone caps, with the team logo, as well as the option to personalize them with your name.  All details and prices will be included on the form.

Upcoming

• The annual GUS (GrownUp Swimming) All-Star Championships are planned for this November in Fort Lauderdale and include a happy hour gathering on Friday night, along with the swim meet and after-party on Saturday.  Mike and Susan Phillips have signed up to go and would love for some teammates to join them! Accommodations are conveniently available across the street from the pool.  For more info, contact me or Mike.  

• Good luck to Hayes Johnson who will be heading to Nice, France, as he qualified to compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships taking place on September 13th!

• Best wishes to Bryan Stroinski, who will be in Frankfort, Michigan, on September 20th to compete in his first Ironman 70.3!

• Mud Run/Tough Mudder Nashville 2026  will take place on Saturday, October 17th, at a location about an hour outside of Nashville.  ENSW teammate Rachel Sandoval is very involved in the annual event, and she suggests that anyone interested should do as follows: 

  • • • "You do NOT need to register or pay online- I will give my group’s names to the event organizer so we can all participate for free. Anyone who is interested or has questions can text me (615-598-7675) for more info but I’m hoping to get a big group together to do it that morning!"

BTW - If you have not received your team logo car magnet, let me know, and I will get one to you.

Be sure to peruse the event results and fun photos below!

😊 Coach Chris