Y Swimming Team Wins Regional Competition, Goes Onto Nationals

Aug. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- The swimming team representing the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA recently won first place in the Upper Southeast Regional YMCA championship. This is the first time the Y’s team has won this competition.

Children ranging in age from eight to 18 comprised the team of 42 swimmers participating in the championship meet that took place in Hickory, N.C. Twelve members of the team are traveling to Georgia Tech in Atlanta this week to compete in the Y’s national competition.

“This has been our most successful year,” says Lori Riegler, director of competitive swimming and head coach for the Y. She notes that the team finished in the top 10 in the Y’s meet for swimmers under age 14 in February. Then they placed second in the short course regional championship this spring. “We never finished that high before, so it’s very exciting. And even though some teams had more swimmers than us, it is clearly the quality and skill of the kids, not the quantity that matters.”

Riegler says the Y’s swimming team program has been steadily growing during her three-and-one-half-year tenure. In 2009, there were 117 members and this year there are 155. The skill level of individual swimmers is also on the rise, according to Riegler, who says that numerous team records have been bested in 2012 across all age groups. In addition, based on their swimming times and achievements with the Y’s team, several swimmers have been selected to attend the prestigious Select Camp and IMX Camp.

“This is a big year for swimming – particularly as the Olympics are set to begin – and we’re very proud of our program here at the Y,” Rieger says. “We have great kids, great families and lots of support for the Y. That’s a recipe for success!”

For further information about the Y’s swimming and aquatics program offerings and to register, visit http://www.chcymca.org/locations/chapel-hill/aquatics/.

About the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA strengthens the foundations of its community by nurturing children’s potential, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. Whether developing skills or emotional well-being through education and training, welcoming and connecting diverse demographic populations, or preventing chronic disease and building healthier communities through collaborations with policymakers, the Y fosters the care and respect that all people need and deserve.

Media contacts:
Greg Lee
Senior Membership & Marketing Director
Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA
980 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: 919.442.9622    
Email:  GLee@chcymca.org

Libbie Hough
Public Relations
Comma
5401 Hough Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: 919.967.8070
Email: libbiehough@cmatters.org