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🐬 Dolphins Summer Splash – Weekly Update (July 8–13)

July 8th

DOLPHINS SUMMER SPLASH WEEKLY UPDATE

Week of July 8–13


🗓️ This Week’s Events

Wednesday, July 9 – Durham/Paradise Dual Meet
Location: Paradise Pool – 5600 Recreation Drive, Paradise, CA
Warm-Up: 5:00 PM | Start: 6:00 PM

Saturday & Sunday, July 12–13 – Plumas Rapids Invitational
Location: Pioneer Swimming Pool – Quincy, CA
Warm-Ups: 8:00–8:45 AM | Start: 9:00 AM
Campout + BBQ Dinner (Saturday) hosted by the Durham Dolphins

BBQ Info:
The team will be providing tri-tip!
A SignUpGenius will go out this week for families to bring side dishes and accompaniments.

Camping:
Available Saturday & Sunday nights at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds.
Reserve your spot here:
Plumas Rapids Camping Registration Form »
Do not contact the fairgrounds directly.


📣 Meet Signups Are OPEN — We Want to See You Race!

We encourage all swimmers to participate — from first-timers to experienced racers. These meets are excellent opportunities for swimmers of all levels to grow, compete, and have fun!

Currently open for registration:


  • Mini Meet (8 & under) – Wednesday, July 16
  • Tri Meet (all ages) – Wednesday, July 16
  • Colusa Dual Meet (14 & under) – Wednesday, July 16
  • Little Gators Mini Meet (6 & under) – Thursday, July 17
  • Oroville Otters Invitational – Friday–Sunday, July 18–20

Mini Meets and Dual Meets are an especially great starting point for beginner swimmers. They offer a fun, supportive environment to experience what racing is all about and to put the hard work from summer practices into action. Swimmers get a taste of competition while building confidence and learning how meets work.

The Oroville Otters Invitational is a great multi-day meet experience for swimmers who want to gain confidence and compete in a variety of races.

Need help choosing? Ask your coach for guidance based on your swimmer’s age and experience.

View Meet Schedule & Register Now »


🧢 Coach’s Corner – Dive Into Meet Season

It’s meet season — the most exciting time of summer swim! Whether you’re preparing for your very first race or pushing for that next PR, our focus this week is on building confidence, racing with intention, and sharpening technique.

Now is the time to focus on the details that make races faster:


  • Fast, explosive breakouts off every wall
  • Clean, tight turns
  • No gliding into the finish — race through the wall!

Dryland training:
Even 10 minutes a day helps!


  • 3 rounds of: 10 jumping jacks, 10 high knees, 20-second planks
  • Arm circles and streamline stretch
  • Focus on core stability for stronger push-offs and better body position in the water

We're here to support every swimmer — every practice, every meet. Don’t hesitate to ask your coaches questions, try something new, or challenge yourself!


🌊 Wave Makers of the Week

Our Wave Makers this week have shown standout effort, improvement, and great attitudes — both in and out of the pool. We're proud of their commitment to listening, learning, and leading by example!

Blue Group
Heath Jones – Heath brings focus and effort to every practice. He’s an attentive listener and works hard to apply feedback. His positive attitude and willingness to improve make him a standout teammate.
Grace Wilson – Grace shows up ready to go, every time. She’s always smiling, always ready to listen, and gives her full effort. Her energy uplifts everyone around her — a true joy to coach!

White Group
Quincy Watner – Quincy consistently puts in 100%. She listens to her coaches and applies feedback with purpose. Her determination was on full display when she conquered her first 100 fly in Gridley — even though she didn’t want to swim it. That kind of grit is what makes a great swimmer!
Ender Clark – Ender’s work ethic has taken off this year. He shows up, works hard, and pushes his limits — exemplified by his amazing 200-lap swim during the Dolphin Dash (1 hour, 57 minutes!). His endurance and focus are truly impressive.

Red Group
Zoe Shorter – Zoe is all business at practice — in the best way. She shows up ready to learn, works hard every lap, and is driven to improve. Her focus and coachability set a strong example for her lane.
Jacob Walker – Jacob’s progress this season has been tremendous. He’s been laser-focused on his technique and it's paying off with new best times and improved strokes. He’s also a fantastic teammate, always cheering others on at meets and lifting team spirit.


🗞️ Updates & Info

Lava Flow Invitational – Susanville Highlights:
Our small but mighty crew of 9 Dolphins made waves last weekend!


  • Nathan Brady – 1st place high point (15–16 boys)
  • Samantha Brady – 2nd place high point (11–12 girls)
  • Evie Tamagni – 2nd place high point (8 & under girls)

Haven’t been to Lava Flow before? Put it on your list for next year — it’s quickly becoming a team favorite!


👩 Meet the Coach: Cari Tarter

Coach Cari Tarter has been part of the Durham pool community nearly her entire life. She’s been around the pool since the age of 2 — taking swim lessons, teaching lessons, and eventually diving into competitive swimming at age 14 for both Chico High and the Durham Dolphins.

With over 30 years of coaching experience, Cari brings a wealth of knowledge to the deck. As a former distance freestyler and butterflyer, she understands the grit and focus it takes to power through long races — and she brings that same energy to her coaching today.

When she’s not on deck, Cari continues to lead an active lifestyle. She swims Masters with Durham, teaches fitness classes at Animal House Fitness here in Durham, and runs in local races with her gym community. Most recently, she earned her certification as a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, adding to her deep expertise in performance, health, and recovery.

Her combined background in swimming, fitness, and nutrition makes her an incredible resource for our team. We’re so lucky to have her — both in and out of the pool!


🔗 Quick Links

Go Dolphins!

Bridget Abifadel

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