Calling all swimmers -- Returning Swimmer Registration
NORTH BALTIMORE AQUATIC CLUB
2026 - 2027
RETURNING SWIMMER REGISTRATION
TO: NBAC Swimmers and Parents June 25, 2026
FROM: Tom Himes – Head Coach/CEO
RE: 2026 – 2027 NBAC Registration
NBAC enters it 60th Year of providing the highest level of competitive swimming for all who chosen to be part of one
of the top teams in the USA. Year after year NBAC swimmers have performed at the highest level. NBAC as a team
and NBAC swimmers had another great year to continue our dominance of Maryland Swimming as well as remaining
one of the Top 20 Club Teams in the USA.
Some of the 2025 – 2026 NBAC accomplishments are as follows:
*USA SWIMMING 2025 SILVER MEDAL CLUB AWARD.
NBAC is the only team in the country to have achieved the GOLD or SILVER Award every year since the beginning of
the program in 2003.
*SCY SEASON - USA SWIMMING VIRTUAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS: 255,180 POINTS GOOD FOR 15TH IN THE USA and
the most points ever scored by NBAC.
*LCM SEASON – USA SWIMMING VIRTUAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS – 234,972 POINTS – Currently 10TH IN THE USA.
Anticipate more points and a higher ranking with the addition of points earned at the remaining LC Championship
Meets.
*American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) TOP 50 Age Group Teams – NBAC Ranked 4th in the Large Sized
(176 swimmers – 350 swimmers) Teams. NBAC had 262 swimmers during the 2025 – 2026 seasons.
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Some of the 2025 - 2026 NBAC accomplishments are as follows (CONT’):
*FIRST PLACE ISCA 2026 JANUARY CLASSIC SWIM MEET.
*FIRST PLACE 2026 MARYLAND SWIMMING SENIOR SCY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
*FIRST PLACE 2026 MARYLAND SWIMMING 14 & U SCY CHAMPIONSHIPS
*FIRST PLACE 2026 MARYLAND SWIMMING SR and 14 & U COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIPS
*FIRST PLACE 2026 EASTERN ZONE SPRING LC SECTIONALS COMBINED TEAM
*FIRST PLACE 2026 EASTERN ZONE SPRING LC SECTIONALS MEN’S TEAM
*FIRST PLACE 2026 EASTERN ZONE SPRING LC SECTIONALS WOMEN’S TEAM
*FIRST PLACE ISCA 2026 ELITE SHOWCASE CLASSIC COMBINED TEAM
*FIRST PLACE ISCA 2026 ELITE SHOWCASE CLASSIC MEN’S TEAM
*SECOND PLACE ISCA 2026 ELITE SHOWCASE CLASSIC WOMEN’S TEAM
*36 NBAC SWIMMERS RANKED IN THE TOP 50 IN THE USA IN MORE THAN 200 EVENTS IN THE SCY SEASON.
*4 USA NATIONALS QUALIFIERS (Daniel Branon, Shannon Conway, Maddie Dixon, Willa Kulp)
*11 USA SWIMMING SPEEDO JR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS.
*29 USA SWIMMING FUTURES QUALIFIERS
*59 USA SWIMMING SECTIONALS QUALIFIERS
*NUMEROUS STATE & TEAM RECORDS
*NUMEROUS NEW ALL TIME NBAC TOP 25 TIMES
*MARYLAND SWIMMING SENIOR COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR (2024 – 2025)
(PAUL YETTER, CHARLES NYASAE, AMELIA BOTHWELL)
*MARYLAND SWIMMING AGE GROUP COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR (2024 – 2025)
(TOM HIMES, BRIAN HORAN, WILL WILLIAMS, DAVE LINSON, CHRISTOPHER BLEY)
I would like to thank all the families, swimmers, coaching staff and board of directors that contributed to the
outstanding success of the team during the 2025 – 2026 seasons. This is a TEAM effort, and we need assistance and
contributions from all to remain on top. THANK YOU! to all the families that assisted and contributed over and
above throughout the year. Your efforts behind the scenes at both meets and the day to day operation of the team
are critical to the survival and success of NBAC. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
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2026 – 2027 Coaching Staff
NBAC has the most experienced coaching staff in the Maryland Swimming LSC as well as one of the most experienced
staff’s in the USA. The Coaching staff makeup and the continued quality of coaching that NBAC offer’s year in and
year out is unmatched by any other team in Maryland. Every year we look to improve in the following years. Always
have plans on the drawing board to provide the highest level of coaching and providing the NBAC swimmers the tools
needed to become the best they can be. Stay tuned for coaching assignments, additional coaching hires, etc.
TOM HIMES
HEAD COACH / CEO
(Baltimore & Coppermine Bel Air Sites)
(High Performance / Performance / Challenge / Imagination / Discovery / Explorer / Stroke Clinics)
CHRISTOPHER BLEY
AGE GROUP COACH (Coppermine Bel Air Site)
(Imagination / Discovery / Explorer / Stroke Clinics)
BRANDON FLYNN
AGE GROUP COACH (Baltimore sites)
(Imagination / Discovery / Explorer / Stroke Clinics)
CHRIS GIBEAU
SENIOR COACH (Baltimore Sites)
(Performance / Challenge / Stroke Clinics)
BRIAN HORAN
SENIOR COACH / AGE GROUP COACH (Baltimore Sites)
(Challenge / Imagination / Stroke Clinics)
DAVE LINSON
AGE GROUP COACH (Coppermine Bel Air Site)
(Imagination / Discovery / Stroke Clinics)
WILL WILLIAMS
AGE GROUP COACH (Baltimore Sites)
(Imagination / Discovery / Explorer / Stroke Clinics)
PAUL YETTER
LEAD SENIOR COACH (Baltimore Sites)
(High Performance / Performance / Stroke Clinics )
NBAC is actively looking for additional quality coaches. We expect to add additional coaches in all areas of the
program. Announcements will be made as new coaches are hired.
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2026 – 2027 Facilities
NBAC will be adding one additional practice site for the 2026 – 2027 seasons. NBAC will be returning to
Meadowbrook Swim Club, Now the Coppermine – Meadowbrook Swim Club. NBAC trained and ran meets previously
from 1988 – 2021 at Meadowbrook. We are excited to return and be able to run practices (Both SCY and LCM) at
Coppermine – Meadowbrook.
NBAC will remain having practices and meets (where applicable) at Loyola University, Goucher College, Gilman
School and The Coppermine - Bel Air Facilities.
2026 – 2027 Dues / Fees
Expenses have continued to grow in the last few years. NBAC has only increased dues two times in the past 10 years.
This coming year’s dues will be increased but only by a small amount (Generally 1% - 3%).
NBAC will again give a 10% discount to the 3rd, 4th, 5th etc swimmers from a family. This discount will be applied to
the swimmer in the lowest group and the discount will appear as a credit to the March 1 payment or NLT the May 1
billing.
Entry Fees, Equipment Purchases (Caps, etc) are additional to the Activity/Registration Fees, USA / Maryland
Swimming Fees and NBAC Dues. We will also continue to add a small NBAC surcharge (For some meets) to swimmers
meet fees to help defer some of the NBAC costs in attending some meets, whether NBAC hosted or hosted by
another team.
2026 – 2027 NBAC REGISTRATION FOR RETURNING NBAC SWIMMERS:
It is time to get registered for the 2026-2027 seasons (See the Registration process on the last page – Page 8).
Please review the attached NBAC Mission and Vision Statements. NBAC believes in providing the opportunity for all
members/swimmers to be the best they can be. That requires a TEAM effort from Coaches, Swimmers, and Families.
To get the most out of NBAC and to become the best you can be, requires both consistant practice attendance as
well as participation in meets. In addition, it requires ALL families to assist and volunteer as needed at ALL NBAC
functions and hosted swim meets. We look for each NBAC member (Swimmers and parents) to strive for 100%
participation and eliminate, as much as possible, missed practices, meets and chance to volunteer.
We look forward to having you all back for the 2026 – 2027 seasons. Registration is now open, please go to the NBAC
website and get registered. Press on the information button, then “join the team” and follow the prompts. Once
you have registered NBAC will need to accept you on the team and then once regsitration has been completed we
will put the practice groups together. IF YOU ARE A RETURNING SWIMMER....DO NOT START A NEW NBAC
ACCOUNT. Register for 2026 – 2027 under your existing NBAC account.
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Those swimmers who do not intend on returning for the 2026 – 2027 swim seasons, please send Coach Tom
(thimes@nbac.net) and Cathy Bennett (cplears@aol.com) an email stating you will NOT be returning.
All NBAC returning swimmers have priority over new swimmers. All returning swimmers should complete the
registration process NO LATER THAN FRIDAY JULY 3, 2026 AT 9:00 PM. If you register after the FRIDAY JULY 3, 2026
deadline, a $100.00 late registration fee will apply and will be applied to your account. On SUNDAY JULY 5, 2026 we
will begin the process of regrouping swimmers and adding new swimmers to open spots. You must be registered to
be placed in a practice group. I anticipate we will fill all of our groups this year.
Once you have registered, you are committing yourself to being obligated to pay the full dues for the year. While you
are responsible for the entire year, once you have registered we will continue to offer the option to spread the
payments over 7 months (beginning September 1 and ending March 1). The payment at the time of registration
($600.00) is non-refundable.
2026 – 2027 NBAC PRACTICE GROUPS:
Once we have the numbers of returning swimmers we will be able to re-group those swimmers for the 2026 – 2027
swim seasons. The 2026 - 2027 NBAC Training Group assignments will be finalized once we have the returning
swimmers registered and know who will be returning. We have continually evaluated swimmers throughout the
year. In a number of ways the swimmers have selected the up coming year’s training group by what they did during
the past seasons. Many things go into making the determination as to what NBAC Training group a swimmer should
be placed in. Practice Attendance, Practice performance, Meet Attendance, Meet Performance, maturity, work
ethic, listening and learning skills, male / female, age, coaches’ professional evaluation and instinct etc. etc. etc. All
these areas have an impact on the NBAC Training group placement determination. As always, we will arranged the
NBAC Training Groups in a way that will give each and every swimmer their best opportunity to, safely participate
and continue advancing toward reaching their highest level. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support
of our experienced staff in developing our practice groups for the 2026 – 2027 seasons.
Keep in mind that not all swimmers progress at the same rate. Not a problem, but it does require patience for all
involved with the swimmer. We have a very experienced staff of coaches at NBAC and working with us as we do
what is best for each swimmer for their long term development and success.
Once we send out the 2026 - 2027 Practice Group Assignments, we also realize that we may have to make an
adjustment or two (Moving swimmers up or down a group) either prior to or once the season begins. As always, we
will continue to analyze each swimmer’s placement throughout the 2026 – 2027 seasons and, as needed, will make
adjustments as necessary at virtually any point in the year. We have nothing but the swimmer’s best interest in mind
and appreciate your cooperation with this process.
NBAC will be welcoming all the , soon to be former, Meadowbrook Swim Team swimmers who choose to become
part of the NBAC swim family. Those swimmers will also soon become part of the registration process and will also
have priority over other new swimmers.
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NBAC is beginning to receive interest from new and transfer swimmers. We will be running tryouts and evaluations
thru the end of July. We will cease doing tryouts/evaluations once we have filled our training groups. Invitations, to
join NBAC, will be sent out to new/tryout swimmers beginning July 10, 2026.
We have had a large amount of interest over the last few weeks and will begin extending invitations to join NBAC
once we have evaluated the new swimmers. Invitations to join will begin on Monday July 21, 2025 (or Earlier) to fill
open spots as well as vacated spots on the team.
SPECIAL NOTE: While NBAC certainly has interest in any aged swimmer who whishes to join NBAC but in particular 9
year old and younger swimmers. We have a number of different levels for these swimmers and would like to get
more of that age on the team. We have stroke clinics and 2 day, 3 day and 4 day per week training groups for 9 year
old and younger swimmers. Spread the word at your summer pools and have them email me (Tom –
coachtom@comcast.net) if they are interested in getting an evaluation.
FINAL DAY OF THE 2025 – 2026 SEASONS:
(Applies to ALL Locations)
SWIMMERS NOT ATTENDING A CHAMPIONSHIP MEET: THURSDAY JULY 23, 2026
SWIMMERS ATTENDING THE USA SWIMMING FUTURES CHAMPIONSHIPS: SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 2026
SWIMMERS ATTENDING THE MD LSC LC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: SUNDAY JULY 26, 2026
SWIMMERS ATTENDING MD LSC LC CHAMPIONSHIPS: SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 2026
SWIMMERS ATTENDING THE USA SWIMMING JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2026
NBAC TOTAL SHUTDOWN: SUNDAY AUGUST 9 – SUNDAY AUGUST 23, 2026
TENATIVE FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE FOR THE 2026 – 2027 SEASONS:
(Applies to ALL Locations)
High Performance (HP) and Performance (P) Practice Groups: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 2026
Challenge (CH) Practice Groups: THURSDAY AUGUST 27, 2026
THERE WILL BE NO PRACTICES ON SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2026 & SUNDAY AUGUST 30, 2026
Imagination (IM) Practice Groups: MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2026
THERE WILL BE NO PRACTICES ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6 & MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2026
Discovery (DI) Practice Groups: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Explorer (EXP) Practice Groups: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
NBAC TEAM DAY: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
NBAC Stroke Clinic: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 AND SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
A full schedule will be out once the registration process is complete, if not before.
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2026 NBAC TEAM DAY:
1. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 @ THE COPPERMINE – GREEN VALLEY SWIM CLUB in Resiterstown,
Maryland. Time will tentatively be 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Additional details to follow.
Feel Free to email me (Tom – coachtom@comcast.net / thimes@nbac.net) with any questions with regards to the
2026 – 2027 season. I will do my best to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Thanks to all of you that assisted in making the 2025 - 2026 NBAC year a huge success. We need everyone’s support
to make the 2026 - 2027 an even greater success. Thank you in advance for that support!
Sincerely,
Tom
NBAC
Tom Himes
Head Coach/CEO
North Baltimore Aquatic Club
coachtom@comcast.net
thimes@nbac.net
