We wanted to post our upcoming season information ASAP. We are so excited that the pool has been repaired – the sun is shining, and spring has sprung! This isn’t ALL of the information you will need for the season, but A LOT of it! We are getting a head start in prepping for the season and wanted to let you know what we know so far…. Please read so you don’t miss out 😊.

COACHING
I am excited to announce the hiring of Ben Whiteside as the new Head Coach of Gulf Park Blue Sharks. Ben has been the head coach of Hardin Valley Aquatics since 2018. This year he led the High School Hawks to third place overall and Middle School Hawks to second place in the 2020 city meet. Ben has been a part of Knoxville swimming for twenty-five years and is a Knoxville native. Aside from a two-year stint in New York City, he has coached in Knoxville for ten of the past twelve years. Stay tuned as we finalize staffing and introduce our complete coaching staff soon! If any senior swimmers are interested in working with shark school or swim lessons, please complete the application(s) available on our website – or email me at [email protected]

WEB SITE https://gulfpark.swimtopia.com. Webpages for swim lessons, shark school and swim team have been updated with tentative days/times for the season. As dates are confirmed, they will be added. Email communication will come from this site.

SOCIAL MEDIA

If you haven’t already – make sure to follow us through Facebook: www.facebook.com/GPBlueSharks If you would like to help us with incorporating twitter/Instagram to further improve communication this season, please let me know ASAP.

SWIM LESSON, SHARK SCHOOL and SWIM TEAM FEES
Are the same as in years past. Check out our website for the details

If you do plan to join the pool, do so ASAP to get in on the Early Bird special (sign up by March 31^st and SAVE $50 on any of the below). Here are those rates. I'm happy to collect any swim team fees from you at our family/planning nights coming up and give membership fees to the pool, if desired.

Pool Membership Fees are also the same as last year – here are the Details:
New Family Membership $290 (special intro rate)
Family Membership $390
Two Person Pack $290
Individual Membership $200

Still not sure? New this year – TRIAL MEMBERSHIP - The trial membership is $50 for 2 weeks of pool and tennis access, and is only for new members who are also eligible for the new member discount (i.e. brand new or nonmember for at least 5 years).
*For more information about Gulf Park Recreation Association visit http://gulfparkrecreation.org/become-a-member/

SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION
COMING SOON! We are finalizing our merchandise and will get the registration forms online ASAP – so stay tuned!

POOL WORK DAYS
If you want to pitch in or need service hours, we'd love to see you at our pool work days, where we help Gulf Park get ready for the summer. Stay tuned as we have these scheduled –

Pre-season EVENTS, SWIM TEAM 101 and KICKOFF PARTY

We have some important pre-season dates to keep in mind as we gear up for the 2020 season.

• SAVE THE DATES – Pending Approval (will post on FB when approved)– we will hold the following FUNDRAISER nights AND Team Planning Opportunities:

• Wednesday March 25 - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
• Jason's Deli 133 N Peters Road, Knoxville, TN 37923
• 5:00-6:00pm – Please come if you are interested in being a part of the swim team board, committees, fundraising or event planning
• 6:00-7:00pm – Please come to hear our updates for the season, ask questions, pre-register with fees, or just to hang out 😊.
• Saturday, April 4^th - 1:00pm - 6:00pm
• Tomo Poke Bowl 10756 Hardin Valley Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932
• 4:00-5:00pm – Please come if you are interested in being a part of the swim team board, committees, fundraising or event planning
• 5:00-6:00pm – Please come to hear our updates for the season, ask questions, pre-register with fees, or just to hang out 😊.

• Sunday, April 5^th 2:30-4pm - FREE Community EASTER EGG HUNT

– Need some community service hours? We could use some volunteers!

• Friday, May 8^th 6-8pm - at the pool – stop by drop off payment or ask

questions!

• Wednesday, May 20^th 6-8pm at the pool – meet the coaches, stop by drop off payment or ask questions!
• Pending confirmation – will also have a GKAISA officials training session this evening. We always need officials, if you are interested, check out this website for more information: https://gkaisa.swimtopia.com/officials-certification

• Saturday May 16^th - 1-6pm - Free to swim - Open House at Gulf Park 1pm-6pm
• 1pm at the pool - Swim Team 101 for new parents
• 1pm-3pm at the pool – Come and register, drop off fees, ask questions, etc…
• 3pm – at the pool - Swim Team Kickoff Party
• Sunday May 17^th -1-6pm Open House – Free to swim –
• Thursday May 21^st - First Day Pool Opens AND Afterschool Bash @ 1pm
• $5 admission for non-members

FUNDRAISERS

• Stay tuned for a Swim And Tri BUY day – we have partnered with them on our suits this year and are excited to raise money for the team. All you have to do is buy your suit and supplies on a specific day and a percentage of all team sales comes back to our swim team…
• Saturday June 13^th – 8am-10am: – AUBREY’S BREAKFAST- Our favorite fundraiser is BACK! We are having our Aubrey's pancake breakfast. This is a super fun event, our swimmers age 12&up are the servers and a few adults help out behind the counter. We ask that every family buy at least 4 pancake tickets at $5 each - you can either use them for yourself or sell them to someone else. Buying/selling more is great!
  
  SPONSORSHIP INCENTIVE!
  There is no one more convincing than a SHARK, so we thought YOU could bring in some sponsors! Our next expense is $1500 in order to copy and distribute flyers to local schools and neighborhoods before April. The sponsorship information is posted on the sponsor page on our website. If your family brings in a new Silver sponsor or higher ($250 and up), that will cover one of your swimmer's fees for this summer! Plus the team and pool will get the remainder for improvements and parties, and the sponsor will reach a great new audience of families... it's a win-win-win! Let me know at [email protected] if you have a sponsor to sign up or have questions.

  PROJECTED PRACTICE SCHEDULE - Schedule is subject to change depending on group sizes!

  Beginning Tuesday - May 26th at Gulf Park 528 Pensacola Road, Knoxville, TN 37923

  Morning: Monday - Friday

  8&under: 8:15am-9:15am (warm ups at 8:15, in water by 8:30)

  Ages 9-12: 9:00-10:00am (warm ups at 9:00, in water by 9:15)

  13&up: 9:45am-11am (warm ups at 9:45, in water by 10)

  Evening - Monday - Thursday

  Ages 10 & Under: 7:00pm warmups 7:15-8:00pm in water

  Ages 11&Up: 7:45pm warmups 8:00pm-9:00pm in water

  SEASON SCHEDULE

  Sat May 16^th – Swim Team 101, Swim and Tri and Swim Team Kick Off 1-5 – see above for specifics

  Wed May 20 – 6-8pm Meet and Greet your coaches, 1^st Merchandise order due –

  Once confirmed – probable GKAISA officials clinic at the pool – 6pm

  Tues May 26^th – FIRST SWIM PRACTICE – FULL SCHEDULE

  Thurs June 4 – Blue and White Meet (possible practice scrimmage at home with Crestwood) Times TBA

  Thurs June 11^th – Holston Hills (Home) – Warm ups at 5:00

  Sat June 13^th

  – AUBREYS PANCAKE BREAKFAST 8am-10am

  Thurs June 18^th

  – NFC (home) – Warm-ups at 5:00

  Tues June 23^rd – Concord Hills (Away) – Warm-ups at 5:30

  Tues July 7^th

  – Fox Den (Away) – Warm-ups at 5:30

  Sat-Sun July 11-12– Smoky Meet @ Springbrook park in Alcoa

  Wed July 15^th

  – Gettysvue (Away) – Warm-ups at 5:30

  Tues July 21^st – Last night practice

  Wed July 22^nd – Last morning practice

  Wed July 22^nd – Poster and Pasta/Pizza night

  *THUR July 23^rd (10 and under beginning in afternoon), Fri July 24^th (11 and up beginning in am), Sat July 25^th (finals beginning in am)– City Meet @ AJAC (UT)

  Sun Jul 26^th – End of season party

  WHEW! Spring is in the air – Summer is on its way! Go Sharks!

  Thanks,

  Jennifer Manrod

  Swim Team Director

  Gulf Park Blue Sharks