Hi Massey Makos families,

I hope you’ve all enjoyed an amazing summer swim season—it’s been fantastic watching the swimmers improve, compete, and have fun together.

Now that our season has wrapped up, many families are looking for ways to keep swimming year-round. I wanted to share some excellent opportunities with you, whether your swimmer is interested in pursuing competitive swimming at a higher level or simply staying active and improving their skills.

🏆 SwimMAC Carolina

SwimMAC Carolina is widely recognized as the #1 swim club in the country, known for its world-class coaching and producing elite-level swimmers. It’s a program geared toward more serious swimmers who want to pursue competitive swimming at a high level.

That said, SwimMAC also offers a range of programs beyond just the competitive track. They have options for swimmers who want to stay active, build skills, and enjoy swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle, including programs focused on general youth fitness and development.

Important: SwimMAC is currently offering tryouts this week and next week. Space is limited, so if your swimmer is interested, be sure to get on their calendar as soon as possible!

Attached are several resources to help you explore SwimMAC further:

• Tryout Flyer – details about upcoming tryout opportunities.
• General Program Flyer – an overview of all SwimMAC programs, from development groups and fitness programs to competitive teams.
• Registration Packet (2025-2026 Season) – everything you need if you decide to join.

If your swimmer is interested in taking the next step toward competitive swimming—or simply wants a structured environment to keep swimming and stay fit—SwimMAC is a fantastic option to consider.

🏊 YMCA Rays Swim Team

The YMCA offers a variety of year-round swimming options for different levels and ages, with excellent coaching in a supportive, community-focused environment. It’s a great choice for swimmers looking for skill development, local competition, and an emphasis on team spirit and fun.

Important: The YMCA Rays are also holding evaluations this week and next week, and spots are filling quickly. Don’t wait to get on their schedule!

• Interested swimmers should email [email protected] to schedule an evaluation.
• Evaluations are held at FMAC and take about 20-30 minutes.
• Spots are available throughout this month and into August.
• Swimmers must be at least 5 years old and able to swim 25 yards of freestyle with rotary breathing and over-water arm recovery, plus 25 yards of backstroke with over-water recovery for entry into the Mini Rays group.
• Full team members must be proficient in all four competitive strokes.
• More info is attached on the Rays Program.

The YMCA Rays program is a fantastic option for families looking for year-round swimming in a balanced, community-centered atmosphere.

👥 One-on-One Lessons with Our Junior Coaches

In the next week or so, we’ll also be offering one-on-one swim lessons with our lifeguard-certified junior coaches. These lessons are a great way for swimmers to get focused, individualized attention to improve their skills or stay active during the offseason.

• Lessons will be offered between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM during pool hours.
• Our junior coaches are experienced team members and certified lifeguards.
• These lessons will only be available to swimmers who participated on the Massey Makos Swim Team this season.

We will be creating a swim team portal on our Swim for Mental Health website for these lessons. Please stay tuned for further information about how to sign up!

If you’re interested, please let me know so we can schedule a time that works best for your swimmer! Email [email protected]

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like help figuring out what might be the best fit for your swimmer!

Thanks again for a great season, and I hope to see many of you continuing to swim this fall!

Coach Nick