Swimming Can Help Solve Part of this Problem!

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported that more than half of U.S. adolescents ages 12-15 are physically unfit.  The full report can be read here or at Time magazine here. 

Swimming might help solve part of this problem as 82% of households live within 10 minutes of a swimming pool (according to research by USA Swimming).

Central Mountian Swimmer Profiled in Lock Haven Newspaper

Pools Are Not Just for Swim Teams

Williamsport's Public Pool Might Be on the Chopping Block

The May 14, 2014 edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette (see here) reported that there are many facilities in the city that need fixed and the leaders question 'whether the city still can invest $200,000 in Memorial Pool'. 

Somewhat interesting that the city also pulled the basketball hoops in the park right next to Memorial Pool (see here and here).  Is there an agenda to youth recreation at this end of town?

Save a Life, Give a Child the Gift of Swim Lessons (Williamsport, Muncy area)

We Do a Lousy Job of Promoting the Sport of Swimming

Swimming usually doesn't appear in many sport's pages except for a two week interval every four years (Summer Olympics).  So it is always interesting when it shows up during the off-cycle (the other 206 weeks during those 4 years).  Swimming news was in the Friday, May 9 edition of The Wall Street Journal, but it was a bit of a downer.  It highlighted the fact that "almost 80% of parents overlook swimming when choosing organized sports activities for their children" (from USA swimming).  This is in light of the fact that according to USA Swimming research,  82% of households live within 10 minutes of a swimming pool (see article below).

Save a Life, Give a Child the Gift of Swim Lessons (Lock Haven Area)

Jersey Shore Swimmer Named Lions Club Cictizen of the Month

Lock Haven Summer Swim Team Sign-up Info

It Takes a Community To Raise a Pool

Take Action To Save Community Pools In Pennsylvania (It Is Just A Simple Survey)

Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is developing its Outdoor Recreation Plan, which will help to guide future recreation investments, policies and facilities across the state.  They are currently conducting a survey to determine what is needed and where resources should be directed. 

It is a short survey of 13 questions but one of the questions asks the survey taker to rate the level of priority your local community should place on investing in certain facilities over the next five years.  First facility mentioned is ‘swimming pools/water play parks’ (see picture at bottom of blog).  Pools can be expensive to maintain and at times, public and local funding is needed to rehabilitate the structures.  These pools have many benefits; such as adding to our community’s recreational value and attracting people to our communities, become social outlets and bring families together in the community, they can be source of employment for area teens to lifeguard, teach swimming lessons, water safety, and other fitness and therapeutic activities for children, adults, and seniors.

If public swimming pools are important to you and your family, show your support by filling out the short survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/paoutdoorrec.  

Looking For A Swim Camp?

Lock Haven University, located in beautiful central Pennsylvania, is holding an intensive overnight swim camp for intermediate to advanced swimmers.  Three sessions a day, that includes pool time and dryland training, will jump start your summer swim season.  For more information, see brochure below.  Registration form can be located here and medical clearance form can be found here.

Lock Haven YMCA Pool Used For More Than Swim Lessons

Awards Banquet Caps Off Successful YMCA Swim Season

The Lock Haven YMCA swim team celebrated the end of the 2013-2014 season with an Awards Banquet at the Lock Haven Elks Lodge this past Sunday.  While the two seniors (see program below), 32 swimmers that made YMCA Districts (here), and the 8 members that advanced onto States (here) were recognized for their high achievements, head coach Jim Meriner spent much of the afternoon on the swimmers who made contributions to the cohesiveness and camaraderie of the team throughout the whole winter.

Every year, swimmers leave the sport because they age out or spend time concentrating on another sport.  Those empty slots are readily filled by swimmers of all age groups, young and old.  To acknowledge the effort of new swimmers, the ‘Rookie Award’ was given to first year swimmers who competed at most home and away meets.

Jonathan Hughes was one of nine who earned this award.  “He attended our meets and never allowed all the confusion and excitement to get to him,” said Meriner.  “In fact, he was more like a seasoned veteran out there, not an unexperienced first year swimmer.”  In addition to Hughes, the other swimmers that garnered rookie awards were Joseph Caimi, Logan Edmonston, Kylie Garman, Autumn Garman, David Lindsay, Brody Rhine, Chrissy Smith, and Julian Wilt.

Coach Meriner then moved onto the Coach’s Award.  These are given to those swimmers who are the glue that holds teams together, always at practice and practicing correctly, great attitudes and work ethic, and cheer and encourage others.   Loren Glossner was one of the recipients of the award.  “At the second practice (9-12 year olds), the kids are still learning to listen and behave to some extent,” Meriner told the crowd.  “Loren is the exception.  She hears what we say the first time, goes and does it, and never needs to be told twice what to do.”  Nash Berfield, Ethan Dale, and Madison Bair also received the award.

First place finishes and numerous placings helped the YMCA team to a 10-1-2 regular season record but some swimmers were recognized at the banquet for more than just their ability to score points.   Emily Bartlett was just one example of several swimmers that earned the Extra Effort Award.  “Emily is a good swimmer, who does everything she can for our team:  practices hard, listens well, swims any event without complaint, swims well, and scores points,” said Meriner.   “She is more than just a person who can score points; she is a big help to the coaches with her attitude and effort.”  Other swimmers that populated the list for the Extra Effort award were Emily Bartlett, Elise Cygan, Anna Drouin, Madison Myers, Sam Rockey, Leslie Shadle, Maia Crowell, Loren Glossner, Carter Drouin, and Josie Lins.

All Lock Haven YMCA swimmers dropped time at some point throughout the season in at least one event.  Special acknowledgement occurred at the banquet, in the form of the Most Improved Award, for those few, such as Jack Drouin, that moved into a higher level of competition by their hard work.  “From last summer to spring, Jack has made tremendous improvement in every stroke, especially breaststroke,” said Meriner.  “He was able to qualify for the district meet in the freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, and was very close in the IM.  That illustrated steady improvement across the board, with Jack now competing with swimmers who are looking to be state qualifiers, which is a much higher level of competition that before.”  Swimmers Morgan Brian, Rebekkah Meriner, and David Orndorf were also recipients.