Erin Johnson, The Citizen Special
With Olympic swimming trials starting in June, followed by the Summer Olympics, we wanted to take the time to highlight and celebrate our local swimming teams. The Auburn YMCA-WEIU Stingrays are a competitive swimming team that competes from October through March. Affiliated with YMCA and USA Swimming, swimmers ages 5 to 18 are encouraged to participate.
The Stingrays have a long history within the YMCA, with participants joining or trying out for the team for a variety of reasons, many of whom continue to compete throughout their childhood. The team competes against seven to eight area YMCA teams throughout the season, as well as a large invitational swim meet. There are 5 different age groups each for girls and boys. There is a league (district) championship to conclude the season, and then, if you qualify, you can compete in the New York State YMCA Swimming Championships.
This season has given us plenty of reasons to celebrate. The team was a dual meet winner all season, and the Auburn YMCA Stingrays also won his February district swim meet with a number of wins. The relay team of Casey Harling, Daniel Johnson, Lucas Jensen and Quinn DiDio broke the district record in the 200 free relay. There were also winners in multiple age groups. The hard work and dedication of our swimmers and coaching staff really pays off at such a fun event.
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The team qualified 72 swimmers to compete in the state championships in March. There, the team competes against her YMCA teams from across New York State. The Stingrays represented her YMCA well. There were 13 wins and three team records were broken. The E boys, made up of Hunter Janisch, Jackson Guerret, Evan Argott and Jasper O'Connor, won the state championship for their age group, as well as the 100 free relay, with Jackson winning two individual events. . Both C Girls and C Boys (ages 11-12) placed second overall as a team. The relay teams of Naya Bates, Kylie Johnson, Colleen Witten and Quinn Yusey worked together to win the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay. Naya, Colleen, and Kylie won a total of five individual events throughout the weekend. The 200 free relay team of Daniel Johnson, Quinn DiDio, Lucas Jensen and Casey Harling took second place, breaking the 1991 team record. Quinn took home three individual championships. Kylie Johnson and Quinn DiDio broke the 50 breaststroke record while qualifying for the U.S. Regional Swimming Zone Meet.
It took hard work and great swimming from everyone on the team to finish fourth in the state. Congratulations to all the team members who swam!
This season we have five seniors who should be recognized for their time and dedication to the program. Riley Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Lentini, Carla Lattimore, Braydon Mitchell, and Sophia Soprano have all combined been swimming for Stingrays for more than 30 years. Thank you and the team wishes you the best of luck in the future!!
There is also a group of dedicated coaches who should be recognized. Brian House, John Dalziel, Maggie Janisch, Jody Lentini, and Mike Solan all spend countless hours at the YMCA each week. They are knowledgeable, disciplined, fun-loving and great role models for swimmers of all ages. The Stingrays would not be able to function without this coaching staff.
The Auburn Stingrays are a community-based organization focused on the lifelong activities of healthy living and swimming. The emphasis is on sportsmanship and celebrating all swimmers and their individual successes. Let's enjoy next fall together! Be safe at the waterside and enjoy summer and the Olympics!
Erin Johnson is the senior program director at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU, 27 William Street, Auburn. For more information about the Auburn Stingrays, visit auburnymca.org/facility/stingrays or call (315) 253-5304.
