Hello CMA Families -
Welcome to our Summer 2026 season!
This is a LONG email but please read it all, as it contains important Need-to-Know information regarding summer season!
This is week 1 of 9
Every week you will receive a weekly email update regarding the upcoming week and what to expect. Typically this email is sent out Sunday evenings during the summer season. Each weekly email will include a PDF quick glance update. The quick glance pdf includes all important updates such as quick team updates, practice changes for that week, upcoming meets & deadlines, helpful links, other approaching deadlines, and practice plans for the week. Please make sure you are checking your emails on Sundays for updates and if you are not receiving emails from the team please let Denise know ASAP!
Attached to this email is:
An 'at a glance' weekly update for this week
June Practice Calendar (PDF)
Quick notes:
- Please review the practice calendar for times & locations
- Location Reminders -
- AM Shark Groups: Sartell Middle School
- PM Shark Groups: College of Saint Benedict
- AM Senior Group: College of Saint Benedict
- AM Senior Elite and National Team: Apollo High School
- PM Senior+ Practice: Apollo High School
- On Fridays Senior + level athletes have practice at Apollo (NO CSB practice)
- On Fridays we also have LCM practice available. Denise will be emailing out more information about this on Monday.
- This is our first week of our 2026 Summer Season! Please be patient with our coaching staff as we adjust to new schedules, new athletes, and new pools. The first week can be a little chaotic for everyone so please extend grace to our staff as we will do the same in return for our athletes and families.
- New athletes to our summer season (did not participate in Spring) will receive a new latex team cap the first week of practice.
- Please make sure you update (or Register if you have not done so) your athlete’s USA Team Registration. Our Team Link can be found here: https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/C5FDCDF50CA449
What athletes need for practice every night:
- Swim Suit (one-piece for girls, jammers or speedo preferred for boys)
- Swim Cap
- Goggles (and a back up pair in case the first pair breaks)
- Water bottle - NO GLASS
- CMA Coaches are working on an equipment list for Senior level athletes, Apex Predators, and Quarry Sharks.
Reminders for the new season:
- Athletes should plan to arrive to practice 10 min prior to the start of their practice. If you are earlier please expect to have to wait for a coach before being able to enter the pool area.
- Athletes will have access to locker rooms to change but they should plan to bring all their bags/items back out to the bleachers for safe keeping. We do share the locker rooms with other sports.
- Parents are welcome to observe practice but please remain in the bleachers.
- We ask that parents use the restrooms that are NOT the locker rooms:
- At Apollo the restroom is located in the hallway near door 11 (entrance door to Apollo for practice).
- At Sartell Middle School, restrooms are located outside the pool area to the right
- At CSB, restrooms are located either across the hall from the pool and up the half stairs if the double doors are open, or down the hall nearing the commons area (past the wall of windows).
- Any time there is a change in our practice schedule you will receive an email update.
- Email updates will include practice time changes, location address, and access door points.
- Reminder - as MN weather is often unpredictable and we do have to comply with ISD742 and ISD748 school closures & early releases. If there is a school closure/early release due to weather our practice will be canceled for the evening. Scheduled two hour early outs and delays do not affect our practice schedule.
- Severe Weather Safety Guidelines: In the event of severe weather during practice athletes will be removed from the water and head into the locker rooms to take shelter until the threat has passed. Parents are allowed to take their athletes with them if they deem that to be the safer option.
- Air Quality for outdoor practices: CMA reserves the right to cancel any outdoor practices should staff deem the Air Quality Index be at an unsafe rate for our athletes. We will be unable to refund practice rates due to an AQI cancellation as the team is still responsible for the pool rent regardless of our usage status of the pool.
- If you download the Commit Swimming app you will have access to your athlete’s attendance, meet performance, and push notifications from the team.
Meets / Events Updates:
- Tuna Meet Registration CLOSES TONIGHT!
- MN Regional Championships are posted and open for registration
- All State Meets are posted and open for registration
- If your athlete qualifies for Summer Speedo Sectionals and they would like to attend please email Denise at denise.lenarz@swimcma.com ASAP
- Please note many Summer meet deadlines have passed already, this is because summer meets are limited and fill FAST. We may be able to re-open some registrations (Sioux Falls & BAC) after we get confirmation of our initial entries and if the host team determines there is still room. However this is not guaranteed.
- We may also be adding a Friday evening meet in July (10th) geared towards our newer athletes. This will be a one session, Friday evening novice championship meet at an indoor SCY pool (same size pool we practice in). However this is not guaranteed.
With our website being hosted through Commit Swimming, our coaches are able to take attendance and access the workouts for the day via the commit app on their phones. You may notice our coaches on their phones more often to access the workout for the day. We are closely monitoring this and have set expectations regarding mobile devices on the pool deck. If you have concerns regarding this please reach out to either Coach Annika (Annika.Bordak@swimcma.com) or Coach Mack (Mack.Sathre@swimcma.com) via email.
A look ahead:
- On Fridays we will have LCM practice available for athletes. Each Friday will be open to specific training groups to give our athletes opportunities to train long course during the LCM Championship season. Which groups are eligible is noted in the registration for the week as well as in the weekly update.
- On Friday, July 3rd we will host a team lake swim at Warner Lake! This event is open to River Sharks, Quarry Sharks, Apex Predators, and All Senior Level practice groups. Registration will be posted as we get closer to July.
Please reach out with any questions throughout the season - Email is the easiest way to reach out. Reminder if it is a ‘Dry-side’ Administrative question please reach out to Denise at Denise.lenarz@swimcma.com All ‘Wet-side’ Coaching/Practice/Meet participation questions should be sent to either Coach Annika at Annika.Bordak@swimcma.com or Coach Mack at Mack.Sathre@swimcma.com
We are looking forward to a great Summer season!
CMA Staff