It's our final meet of the season! We need all Sharks to swim as we host Divisionals against our Red Division rivals the Bridlewood Bwaves and the Wellington Dolphins. Please declare your swimmer for this event and sign up to volunteer. This is a big meet with 3 shifts and we need all hands on deck. Every family MUST work at least one shift during Divisionals. Please note that the deadline for declaring your swimmer is SUNDAY 7/19 at 11:59PM. This is earlier than usual. There will be no option to add you if you miss the deadline.

There will be three shifts for volunteers:

1st Shift - Events 66-67, 1-19 - ending approximately 9:15 am

2nd Shift - Events 20-47 - ending approximately 11:30 am

3rd Shift - Events 48-65 - end of meet approximately 1:30 pm

GO SHARKS!

We need all swimmers against our rivals the Piedmont Tsunamis! Every splash counts! Please declare your swimmer for this meet and sign up to volunteer. Sign up will close 7/14 at 11:59PM. Remember your swimmer must compete in 2 dual meets in order to be eligible for Divisionals. 

This is our final dual home meet! We hope to see all Sharks there! Please declare your swimmers by 7/7 at 11:59PM. We also need many volunteers and concessions donations. 

The Stars and Stripes Invitational is an exhibition All-Star style meet. The sole purpose of Stars and Stripes is to be a FUN event for all teams involved. It is held annually on July 4th (or the observed holiday) and is designed to be exciting, quick, and FUN.

We will select the top four available swimmers from each gender and age group to represent the Dominion Valley Sharks. Please make sure your swimmer has declared their interest in swimming in SwimTopia by June 20 at 12:00pm if they are available. Selected swimmers will be notified by June 22.

The Sharks have a strong history at this meet, winning 5 of the last 11 Stars & Stripes Invitationals, and we are excited to compete for our sixth championship this summer!

MEET INFORMATION PACKET:
https://d1nmxxg9d5tdo.cloudfront.net/85119/files/Stars_and_Stripes_-_Meet_Program_Title_-_2026_%28Final%29.pdf?1781019861

THE EVENTS

This is an exhibition meet that features all four swimming disciplines, medley relays, and a crescendo freestyle relay. Each team is allowed to bring one medley team for each age group and gender to swim in the relay and individual events. Swimmers will participate in their assigned discipline for both the relay and the individual event. For example, a swimmer competing in the backstroke event will also swim the backstroke leg of the medley relay. The crescendo relay will include one swimmer from each age group to swim freestyle regardless of their specified discipline.

The Stars and Stripes meet will adhere to PWSL rules and regulations and the events will be standard PWSL meet events with the following exceptions:

• The Crescendo Relay will be swam in lieu of age group freestyle relays. 8&U and 9-10 swimmers will swim a distance of 25m, while 11-12, 13-14, and 15&O swimmers will swim a distance of 50m, for a total of 200m. There will be a boys and a girls crescendo relay event.
• 8&U medley relays will not be a mixed event. There will be a boys event and a girls medley relay event for all age groups.
• Medley relays will be swam after the individual events.
• Event numbering and scoring will not follow PWSL standard formatting.

COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE

While there is no fee to participate, the host team requests that families bring canned or non-perishable food items to support the local food bank. Suggested donations include:

• Canned vegetables
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Cereal
• Canned fruit
• Canned meats
• Cleaning supplies
• Toilet paper and paper towels

PARKING

There is limited parking available at the pool and it fills quickly. Additional parking is available at Minnieland and on surrounding streets. Please do not block driveways, mailboxes, or intersections, as improperly parked vehicles may be towed.

MEET DAY INFORMATION

Swimmer Check-In: 7:40 AM
Swimmers should bring their donation items, check in upon arrival, pick up their commemorative t-shirt, and then report to the Sharks team area.

Warm-Ups: 8:05 AM
Warm-up time is limited, so please arrive on time.

Meet Start: 8:30 AM

This is one of the most exciting and memorable meets of the summer season, and we encourage all eligible swimmers to declare their availability. We look forward to representing the Sharks and competing for another Stars & Stripes championship!