McGaw Y Swim Team Breaks Records at YMCA National Long Course Championship

News /

Eight swimmers from the McGaw YMCA Swim Team are pictured wearing black t-shirts. They are standing in front of a large background that reads, "National Long Course Championships." Two of the swimmers are holding a sign that says, "Illinois."

Eight McGaw YMCA Swim Team (MYST) swimmers competed in the YMCA National Long Course Championship, the highest level of competition among YMCAs across the nation.

EVANSTON, IL. — Eight swimmers from the McGaw YMCA Swim Team (MYST) recently competed in the 2024 YMCA National Long Course Championship in Ocala, FL, achieving top finishes and setting both team and personal records.

This elite competition brought together over 1,000 of the nation’s most talented young swimmers, representing 98 YMCA teams from across the country. After months of dedicated training under the guidance of Coach Michael Fleming, the MYST swimmers showcased their talent and perseverance, emerging as strong contenders in various swimming disciplines and securing 20th place overall.

Rayburn Kohl finished with five Team Records and five Top 6 finishes in the 50-100-200 backstroke, 100 butterfly, and 100 freestyle. Nina Gatchell reached the finals in the 50-100-200 breaststroke. Additional team records were set by Finch Shewfelt in the 200 butterfly, Logan Eaton-Strong in the 1500 freestyle and Samantha O’Hara in the 200 butterfly. Georgia Stoolmaker, Frankie Lang and Shauna Kohl also participated.

The YMCA National Long Course Championship emphasizes the Y’s core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring. The event provides an opportunity for young athletes to build character, sportsmanship, and lasting friendships while representing their respective YMCAs and communities with pride.

“I’m incredibly proud of our swimmers and their performances last week,” Fleming said. He noted that although the meet can be overwhelming, especially for many of the MYST swimmers competing for the first time, most of them achieved personal bests. “These young athletes have been particularly inspired by the performances of the 2024 Olympic swimmers, and I’m excited to see them return to Nationals next year and build on their success.”

MYST’s participation in the championship meet is made possible by the unwavering support of parents, volunteers, donors, and the larger community. Their contributions of time and resources have been essential in helping these young athletes reach their full potential.

Registration to join MYST is open for the 2024-2025 school year. For more information and to register, visit the MYST website.

SHARE:
Skip to content