Waukegan Y Swim Team Hosts Invitational Meet

Posted November 07, 2011 10:00 pm

Patti Flesher

Although they failed to defend their first-place finish from 2010, the Northern Lake YMCA Seahorse Swim Team had a successful third-place showing at the Seahorse Invitational swim meet they hosted Nov. 6. Hastings Lake YMCA took first-place honors, followed by Foglia YMCA from Lake Zurich in second place. The Vernon Hills-based Central Lake YMCA Turtles team finished fifth.

In all, seven teams from Cook and Lake counties participated.

The Seahorses were led by Carley Steres (8 & under girls) and Bradley Howard (15 & over boys) who earned the high point awards for their age groups.

“This was a great team effort with nearly everyone having at least one personal best time of the season,” Head Coach Mike Hewitt said. “We had a bunch of really great swims and continue to add to the district qualifying times at each meet.”

In fact, the first Seahorse of the year posted a state-qualifying time at the Nov. 6 invitational: Ella Spratt-Szarzynski in the 11-12 girls 200-yard freestyle. So far this season, a total of six swimmers have achieved district championship qualifying times for 22 events. The YMCA District Championship meets are held in March.

Next up for the Seahorse team is the BR Ryall Thanksgiving Invitational in Naperville, Nov. 19-20.

The Lake County Family YMCA swim program, which includes the Seahorse and Turtles competitive teams, is well-rounded in that it also includes fund raising, volunteering and social responsibility development.

All Lake County Family YMCA programs are designed to encourage the four core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. For more information, visit www.ymcalakecounty.org.

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The Lake County Family YMCA is a cause-driven nonprofit that strengthens the community through programs and services that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Founded in 1892 as a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit, our association is comprised of the Central Lake YMCA in Vernon Hills, Northern Lake YMCA in Waukegan and Early Head Start in Waukegan.

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