WOODLANDS

It’s a time-honored tradition for our Woodland Swim Team to support and cheer on each other throughout the swim season and beyond. The WST Buddy Program is one of the ways our swimmers can get social and let their teammates know we are there for them!

A WST Buddy is more than your teammate, he/she is your person! He/she will be poolside cheering you on as you race. If you get bored in between swims, find your buddy to make downtime a bit more fun. He/she is there for you when you need some words of encouragement.

We do our best to pair the buddies off with one of their teammates that will support, cheer, and enjoy the swim team experience. Typically, we pair buddies based on their age, personalities, and swimming needs.

Throughout the swim season, we’ll have buddy events where the swimmers are encouraged to reach out to their buddy and do something fun. Buddy events are typically at home meets and WST social events. Buddy events are designed to be fun and lighthearted way to tell your buddy “You’ve got this!”, you can pick and choose what you want to do as everything is fun, but optional!

Buddy Events for 2026

6/6 – REST @ WST
Swim Ready: Come get swim ready with your buddy! We will provide temporary tattoos and colorful sunscreen to get you decked out for your race! This event will begin at 7:35 AM and close right before the team cheer at 8:20 AM.

6/10 – Livorna @ WST
Scavenger Hunt: Pick up a scavenger hunt from the picnic tables from 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM and complete it with your buddy! Once it is finished, turn it in at the green social tent by the pool before 7:30 PM for candy!

6/17 – Larkey @ WST
Kindness Challenge: Each buddy pair/trio will complete 4 acts of kindness during the meet. Keep track, and once you have completed four, come to the green social tent near the pool for a prize! This buddy event will begin at 4:30 PM and can be completed until 7:30 PM.

Examples: Cheer for another teammate together, thank a volunteer for working the meet, encourage a swimmer, help pick up trash, etc. Get creative and be kind!

6/24 – IVST @ WST
Swim Buddy Bingo: Buddies, come pick up a swim bingo card by the picnic tables from 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM. You can complete bingo in any direction. When finished, come to the green social tent near the pool for a popsicle by 7:30 PM.

6/27 – 6/28 – City Meet @ Heather Farms

Saturday 6/27: Make a Sign
Come make a sign to hold up while your buddy swims! We will provide colorful pens, paper, and stickers. This event will be held in the social tent, location TBD. If you are unable to make this event we still encourage you to make a sign at home to cheer on your buddy!

Sunday 6/28: Make a Keychain
Come make a keychain with your buddy! We will provide beads and a keychain (one per swimmer) to keep as a memento from the event. This event will be held in the social tent, location TBD.

7/1 – Sycamore Stingrays @ WST
Candy Exchange: Bring your favorite candy to exchange with your buddy! This activity does require some prep work ahead of the meet, so please plan ahead! Exchange anytime during the meet.

7/15 – Scottsdale @ WST
Team Quilt: Buddies can meet at the picnic tables from 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM to decorate a colorful square with drawings, favorite events, memories, goals you reached, times you popped, and things that made you smile this season. Add your name to the square and turn it into the white basket. The social team will turn these squares into a big team quilt and place it on the Kermit shed to be enjoyed during the awards ceremony.

Once the meet starts, the picnic tables will be cleared, but you can still pick up a square from the green social tent near the pool before 7:30pm.

7/25 – 7/26 – Conference Meet @ Heather Farms

Saturday 7/25: Cheer Card Exchange
Buddies will create encouraging notes for each other to read before their races! We will have paper and pens available. Exchange with your buddy at any time!

Examples for your card: Thank your buddy, encourage them to finish the season strong, highlight a favorite memory, tell them how proud you are!

Sunday 7/26: Make-a-Face or Scratch Art
Stop by the social tent during warm-ups to pick up a Make-a-Face frog sticker or frog scratch off art. Work on this activity with your buddy during the swim meet!