We generally have two invitationals that we strive to qualify for. They are usually scheduled 1-2 weekends after Divisionals. Swimmers must meet certain time thresholds on events in order to compete at the Invitational Meets. Divisionals is the last meet that your swimmer can qualify for an invitational.

Please note, once qualified, you don't "un"-qualify (if you swim slower in a subsequent meet, it doesn't matter).

2026 Trinity *and* Ponderosa entries due Saturday, Jun 13th @ midnight (after Divisionals!!).

Time Standards: are attached to today's email

• Ponderosa time standards are the cut-off times for this meet (if a swimmer qualifies for Ponderosa in an individual stroke then swimmer is not allowed to swim that stroke at Trinity, whether in individual event or relay)
• 3-event bonus rule: If the swimmer has achieved a Trinity (or better) time in at least 3 events, the swimmer will be allowed to enter any remaining events in his/her age group (with the exception of 100Free, 100IM, & 10U 50Free). Likewise, the swimmer can not swim an event that he/she has achieved a Ponderosa time.
• Qualifying times include times at Dual Meets or Divisionals. Trial Times and NT or DQs are not qualifying times.
• Once you qualify, you don't "un"-qualify. Example, if you qualify for backstroke on Dual Meet #2, but swim slower in Dual Meet #3, you are still qualified. The only thing that "un"-qualifies you is swimming a Ponderosa qualifying time.
• Go to website --> Swim Meets --> Trinity to view the Time Standards & entire Meet Announcement

Where: Conroe ISD Natatorium, 19133 David Memorial Dr, Shenandoah

• Two 25-yard, 8-lanes, indoor pools with electronic timing system (touch pads) and scoreboard. 1 electronic button & 2 stopwatches/lane are used as backup.
• Team Set Up area outside – see map on Meet Announcement
• No set up in the stands. 

When: see Time Standards pages

• Meet Entries due Sat, Jun 13th @ midnight (after Divisionals)
• Amber submits entries Sun, Jun 14th @ 8pm
• Entry Fees due Tues, Jun 16th (payable to Brenham Dolphins)

3-day, timed finals meet (there are no prelim sessions)

1. Sat, Jun 20 (10&U events in 1 pool): warmups TBD (6:30-7am or 7-7:30am); 8am meet start
2. Sun, Jun 21 (11-18 events; boys in 1 pool, girls in the other, simultaneously): warmups TBD (6:30-7am or 7-7:30am); 8am meet start

Heat Sheets: via Meet Mobile app 

Warmup Times & Lane Designations will be posted 3 days prior to meet on website

Individual Events: A swimmer may enter as many individual events as he/she is qualified for. Ponderosa times are cut-off times.

Relays: A swimmer is limited to 1 Free Relay. Swimmers that have reached a cut-off time in an individual stroke are ineligible to swim that stroke in a relay. Teams can enter up to 2 relay teams per relay event.

Entry Fees: Individual Events are $10 each. Checks payable to Brenham Dolphins (due by Tues, Jun 16th). Then Dolphins sends ONE check to Pack Swimming). Dolphins pays for relays ($16 each).

Volunteers: Teams are asked to furnish timers based on team size.

Officials: Signup Genius -- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B4BA9AE22A7FE3-64243515-2026#/ 

Awards:

• 1st-3rd place medals and 4th-8th place ribbons for individual & relay events 
• While age groups will compete similarly to a Dual Meet (for example, 7-8 yr olds swim together), they are scored & awarded separately.
• Awards are grouped as:
  • 6&U yr olds
  • 7 yr olds
  • 8 yr olds
  • 9 yr olds
  • 10 yr olds
  • 11 yr olds
  • 12 yr olds
  • 13 yr olds
  • 14 yr olds
  • 15-18 yr olds
• Individual High Point: 1st & 2nd place trophies awarded to the above age groups (in individual events only). 
• Team Awards: 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place trophies awarded to each of the three groups (groups are determined by participant size). Small, Medium, & Large team. 
• Awards are given to Team Reps at the end on Sunday. Meet announcement hints that swimmers will be able to pick up their awards day-of.

** 6/5/26 The ponderosa site has been down for about a week. They let the domain lapse, so the home page is inaccessible. The store link for merchandise is live at https://ponderosainvitational.company.site/. I recommend anyone that wants to get anything, do so ahead of time because it will be sold out if you try to purchase it at the meet.**

Download Meet Mobile (they won't email heat sheets). They will generally sell programs, but the 1 year I had a qualifier, they ran out....

Please see the Ponderosa Invitational Meet Invitation posted on the website (pdf file is posted under Swim Meets → Ponderosa). The following is a summary:

When: (Sat-Sun) Jun 20-21, 2026

• 7:00 am facilities open for Prelims
• 9:00 am Prelim start time
• 4:00 pm facilities open for Finals
• 5:30 pm Finals start time
• Three days prior to meet: warm-up times, lane assignments, & heat sheets become available (on NWAL & PI websites)

Where: Cy-Fair ISD Natatorium, 12550 Windfern Rd, Houston, TX 77064

Qualifying times: times from an official NWAL meet (dual meet or divisionals – timed trials don’t qualify).

New for 2026: BONUS EVENT QUALIFYING TIMES & ENTRIES:

• Swimmers that obtain one (1) hard cut individual event qualifying time may enter two (2) Bonus events provided they have achieved the bonus event qualifying time in the events entered.
• Individual swimmers that obtain two (2) hard cut individual event qualifying times may enter one (1) Bonus event provided they have achieved the bonus event qualifying time in the event entered.
• Individual swimmers that obtain three (3) or more hard cut individual event qualifying times will not be allowed any bonus event entries.

Entries through Swimtopia app; Dolphins entries close Sat, 6/13/2026 @ midnight (after Divisionals!!!). This gives Amber enough time to verify & submit entries to Ponderosa ASAP. If relays are possible, we will submit them.

There are no qualifying times for relays, but seed times are required on the entry list

• Progressive Medley Relay: Enter the relay in the following order and provide manual entry time. 11-12 (50Y Back); 13-14 (50Y Breast); 15-18 (50Y Fly); 9-10 (25Y Free) and 8 &U (25Y Free)
• Progressive Free Relay: Enter the relay in the following order and provide manual entry time. 8 and under (25Y); 9-10 (25Y); 11-12 (50Y); 13-14 (50Y) and 15-1

Entry fees: $12.50 per individual event (Dolphins will pay for any relays @ $18.00 each); Checks written to Brenham Dolphins; Payments due Tues, 6/16/2026. {The team will write one check for all the individual entries & relays.}

Team setup outside (none in the stands & stadium seats not allowed) - bring canopies

Electronic timing with automatic data acquisition (touch pads); 2 backup stopwatches per lane

NOTE about prelim / finals: All qualified swimmers will compete in preliminaries of their event. If they place in the top 8, they move on to championship finals that afternoon. If they place 9th-16th, they move on to consolidation finals that afternoon. During finals, if your swimmer is racing in consolidation finals, and beats a championship finals swimmer’s time, your swimmer will still only be placed in the consolidation finals (9th-16th place).

Meet results will be posted on the NWAL Web Page within two days after the conclusion of the meet. Unofficial real time results will be available on MEET MOBILE.

Merchandise: www.PonderosaInvitational.org (online store will open in June for preorders – towels, caps, programs, etc)

Meet website: https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/gulsst/page/pond...

Officials interested in working at the Invitational should email the meet referee, Rob Morris, at [email protected]. Please include a short description of your experience

Coaches: Set up limited to 1 coach per 20 swimmers (up to 3) – bring your chair, badge, clipboard, pen – take your stuff when you leave for the day, otherwise it will be thrown out. Coach packets including 2 breakfast and 2 lunch meal tickets per packet may be purchased during registration for use in the designated Coaches’ Hospitality Area. Coaches must present a ticket to obtain entrance into the Coaches’ Hospitality Area and obtain one (1) meal per ticket. Meals must be consumed inside the Coaches’ Hospitality Area. Absolutely no food may be taken outside the Coaches’ Hospitality Area. Only water may be taken upon leaving the Coaches’ Hospitality area

AMBER:

• Build any relays
• Entries may be submitted Sun, 6/14/26 8am-5pm to [email protected]
  • Swimtopia Entry File (zipped HY3)
  • Registration form: fillable pdf available on website
  • Meet Entry Report w proof of times
  • Entry Summary Page
• Entry fees: check payable to Lone Star Swim Team or Zelle 281-858-7946