JBarracudas Swim Team

Dear Barracudas Families,

As we wrap up an incredible 2026 Long Course season, we want to congratulate all of our athletes, coaches, parents, volunteers, and supporters for an amazing year.

This past weekend, our team proudly earned 6th place at the 2026 SI Summer Age Group Long Course Championships in Oceanside. This achievement reflects the dedication, resilience, and teamwork shown by everyone throughout the season.

We know this season brought many challenges. There were early mornings, long practices, difficult races, and moments that tested us. Through it all, our athletes continued to work hard, support one another, and keep moving forward. We are incredibly proud of everything they accomplished, both in and out of the pool.

This season, our athletes reached incredible milestones by qualifying for championship meets:

27 swimmers qualified for SWAGR
15 swimmers qualified for Senior Zones
14 swimmers qualified for Far Western Championships
8 swimmers qualified for Age Group Zones
5 swimmers qualified for Sectionals

Every qualifying time, personal best, and milestone is the result of commitment, perseverance, and believing in the process. It has been inspiring to watch so many dreams become reality.

A special congratulations to Elizaveta Khotimchenko for earning the High Point Award in the Girls 13–14 age group at the championship. This outstanding achievement is a testament to your hard work, determination, and commitment throughout the season. We are incredibly proud of you!

Remember, every champion starts with a dream. Today’s goal may be a personal best or a championship qualification, but tomorrow that dream can become representing your country at the Olympic Games. Keep believing, keep working, and never stop chasing your dreams. With dedication, discipline, and passion, anything is possible.

As we look back on this season, we will celebrate our team’s accomplishments, reflect on our progress, and begin preparing for the exciting opportunities ahead. Every season teaches us valuable lessons, and each year we grow stronger—both as individuals and as one Barracudas family.

Thank you to our amazing coaches for your passion and dedication, to our parents for your unwavering support, and to every athlete for representing the Barracudas with pride, determination, and sportsmanship.

Congratulations once again on a fantastic season. Enjoy a well-deserved break, recover, and get ready for an even stronger season ahead.

The journey continues, and the dream is always bigger. See you at the pool.

Go BARRACUDAS!

Dear Barracudas Families,

I am excited to share some incredible news from last week. On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, I had the honor of attending the Lawrence Family JCC Annual Meeting, where three outstanding JBarracudas families were recognized as Volunteers of the Year:

• The Saddawi-Banno Family
• The Khotimchenko Family
• The Keychenko Family

This recognition is a reflection of their extraordinary dedication, generosity, and commitment to our swim team community. Through countless hours of volunteering at swim meets, supporting team events, serving as officials, welcoming new families, and helping behind the scenes, these families have made a tremendous impact on the success of our program.

Their leadership, teamwork, and willingness to serve exemplify the values that make the JBarracudas Swim Team such a special community. They consistently go above and beyond to support our swimmers, coaches, and families, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they do.

While these three families were honored with this award, I truly believe this recognition belongs to our entire JBarracudas family. Every parent who volunteers at swim meets, helps organize events, times races, works concessions, officiates, assists with team activities, or simply steps up whenever help is needed plays an important role in our success.

This award represents the spirit of all our JBarracudas parents. Your dedication, support, and commitment create opportunities for our swimmers to compete, grow, and achieve their goals. Our team would not be where it is today without the incredible support of our families.

As Assistant Director of Sports, Fitness & Aquatics/Head Coach, I am deeply grateful and proud to be part of such a caring, passionate, and supportive community. Together, we are building much more than a swim team—we are building a family.

Please join me in congratulating the Saddawi-Banno, Khotimchenko, and Keychenko families on this well-deserved honor and in celebrating every parent who contributes to making JBarracudas such a special place.

Thank you for everything you do for our swimmers and our team.

With sincere appreciation,

Sergii Kukharskyi
Assistant Director of Sports, Fitness & Aquatics/Head Coach
JBarracudas Swim Team

Dear JBST Families,

We are excited to share some incredible news from last weekend! Our amazing team competed at the 14 & Under Championship in San Diego, and our athletes delivered outstanding performances throughout the meet.🌟

Many of our swimmers achieved new personal best times, showed great determination, and qualified for higher-level championship competitions. Their hard work, focus, and commitment in daily practices truly paid off.💪🏻

We are very proud to announce that JBST finished 5th 🏆overall with 1,154 points out of 24 teams — a fantastic accomplishment and a great reflection of our team’s strength and growth.🚀

Several of our swimmers also achieved top podium finishes, including 1st🥇, 2nd🥈, and 3rd 🥉place finishes, along with many Top-8🏅 and Top-16🏅 results throughout the championship. These results show the incredible progress and competitive spirit of our athletes.

Because of these performances, a number of swimmers have qualified for upcoming major meets:🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♂️

2026 Western Zone Short Course Senior Championships – March 19–22, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona

2026 Southwest Age Group Regionals – March 27–30, 2026 at Clovis North Aquatic Complex in Fresno, California

2026 Far Western Short Course Yard Championships – April 9–12, 2026 in Santa Clara, California

We are extremely proud of how our team continues to grow and represent our program with professionalism, dedication, and team spirit. The effort our swimmers put in every day is inspiring, and it is wonderful to see that hard work turning into success at the championship level.👏🏻🤩

Congratulations to all our swimmers! ✨Your dedication, teamwork, and perseverance continue to move our program forward. Thank you to our families for the constant support you give our athletes and our team.

Let’s keep the momentum going, GO BARRACUDAS!!!💙

Dear JBarracudas Families,

We hope this message finds you well and excited for the upcoming year. As we look back on an incredible season of hard work, perseverance, and achievements, we are thrilled to invite you to our 2024 Annual Awards Ceremony to celebrate our swimmers and their remarkable accomplishments.

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, January 19th, 2025

Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre

This event is an opportunity to come together as a team, honor the dedication of our swimmers, and recognize their exceptional efforts in and out of the pool. There will be awards, special presentations, refreshments, and plenty of moments to cherish and share with our JBarracudas community.

Thank you for being an integral part of the JBarracudas family.

We look forward to celebrating this memorable occasion with you and your loved ones.

Go Barracudas...

Dear Barracudas Families ,

I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our incredible swimmers, Elizaveta Khotimchenko, Emily Fang, Mariya Dlugokanska,Mason Huang, Timothy Keychenko,and Eliseo Berdeja-Narvaez for their remarkable achievements at the 2024 Southwest Age Group Regional in Fresno, CA.

Your participation in the event was nothing short of extraordinary. Not only did you showcase incredible talent and dedication, but you also achieved amazing records that truly demonstrated your exceptional skills in the water.

Furthermore, I am immensely proud to share that our team from Northern California stood out among 68 teams and 670 swimmers from different clubs. Your collective efforts contributed to our team's success, highlighting the strength and depth of talent within our group.

Each day, you have shown incredible commitment and perseverance, resulting in outstanding results and qualifications for the finals. Your determination serves as an inspiration to us all and exemplifies the spirit of our team.

I would like to extend a special congratulations to Mason Huang for his outstanding performance, securing the 3rd place in the 50 backstroke event. Mason, your dedication and hard work have paid off, and your achievement is truly commendable.

On behalf of everyone, I want to express my sincerest congratulations to each of you for your outstanding performance at the Southwest Age Group Regional. Your achievements are a testament to your hard work and dedication, and I am confident that you will continue to excel in your future endeavors.

Once again, congratulations, and thank you for representing our team with such excellence and pride.

Best regards,

Head Coach Sergii Kukharskyi

Dear Barracuda Family,

I am thrilled to announce that our athletes, coaches, and parents have once again demonstrated the true spirit of teamwork and dedication. With immense pride, I share the news of our team securing the 5th place out of 20 teams in the 2024 SI 14U Age Group Championship!

This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to the hard work, perseverance, and passion exhibited by each and every member of our Barracuda family. Your relentless commitment to excellence has not only earned us this prestigious placement but has also inspired us all.

Let us continue to fuel our journey with unwavering determination and enthusiasm. Together, we will pave the way for even greater triumphs in the future!

Congratulations to all of you! Your achievements are a source of immense pride for us all.

Go Barracudas!

Hello everyone,

We're excited to invite you to the upcoming JBST Beach Party, and we can't wait to have a blast together by the waves! Here are the details you need:

Date: September 10, 2023 Time: 1:00pm - 6:00pm Location: La Jolla Shores Beach

This is going to be a fantastic opportunity to soak up the sun, enjoy some great company, and have a ton of fun in the sand,ocean and surf. To make the most of the day, here's what you need to bring:

Surf Board / Body Board: If you have your own board, bring it along for some awesome wave riding. Don't worry if you don't have one - there's plenty of beach fun for everyone.
Swimsuits: Get ready to make a splash! Don your favorite swimwear and get ready to jump into the refreshing waters.
We've got a lineup of exciting beach games and activities planned to keep the energy high and the smiles wide. Whether you're a seasoned surfer or just looking to dip your toes in the water, there's something for everyone.

Food, drinks, and good times are all on the agenda, so make sure to bring your beach vibes and a great attitude. Feel free to bring along any beach games or beach-friendly gear you might have.

Join us for a day of sun, sea, and endless memories. We're looking forward to seeing you all there!

If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out. Let's make this beach party one to remember!

See you on the beach!

Congratulations to all JBarracudas Swim Team on our incredible achievements at the 2023 SI LC Summer Age Champions Long Course event! It's amazing to see the team's progress and securing 8th place out of 22 teams is a remarkable accomplishment!
Every single meet - another history for the team! We are so proud of you all!

Congratulations to the coaches, parents and swimmers for their amazing performances in every meet! It's evident that evervone put in a lot of hard work and this weekend's achievements are a testament to that dedication!
Keep up the excellent work!

Special shoutout to Liza, ranking 2nd highest, and Emily, ranking 4th highest among 10Under Girls!

Go Barracudas!

Hello JBarracudas Families,

We want to notify that our Head Coach Sergii K. and Senior Coach Alex B. will take part in the 2023 USMS Spring National Championship April 27-30 2023, Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, California .

Sergii and Alex will be out of the city April 27th-30th.

Below is the list of our events and the link to watch the competition live stream https://www.usms.org/events/national-championships/pool-national-championships/2023-pool-national-championships/2023-spring-national-championship

Sergii K. Events:

Friday 04.28.2023

Event 9 100 Breaststroke Heat 27 Lane 6

Event 15 200 IM Heat 22 Lane 4

Saturday 04.29.2023

Event 25 200 Breaststroke Heat 23 Lane 6

Event 27 100 IM Heat 47 Lane 5

Sunday 04.30.2023

Event 47 50 Breaststroke Heat 28 Lane 3

Alex B. events:

Saturday 04.29.2023

Event 27 100 IM Heat 57 Lane 2

Sunday 04.30.2023

Event 37 50 Free Heat 62 Lane 10

Event 47 50 Breaststroke Heat 32 Lane 2

Thank you for all the good wishes and support!