The C.W. Avery Family YMCA would like to give a shoutout to members of the Masters Swim Team who represented the Y at indoor and outdoor competitions throughout Illinois in September.

On September 6, Y swimmers Kathleen Marshall, Karen Spangler, Christa Jameson, Ramiro Guzman, and coaches Marcie Ryan Curran and Jen Hazard participated in the Big Shoulders 5K and 2.5 K Open Water Swim in Lake Michigan in Chicago. Morris Hospital YMCA member Pris Copple also participated as a member of the Joliet Park District’s Blue Tides team. 

Another highlight from the Wind City came when Ryan Goble finished second in the men’s mile during a historic Chicago River Swim on September 21. The event, made possible thanks to environmental restoration efforts, marked the first time in a century that a swim meet was held in the river.

Back in the pool, Mike Burcham and Laurie Biskie took part in the Illinois Senior Olympics on September 20 in Springfield. During the meet, Burcham broke an age-group record for the 200 individual medley that had stood since 1992. 

We are so proud of our masters swimmers, and we wish them the best as they continue their fall season!

Do you have an interest in swimming? Join the YMCA’s Masters Swim Team! Open to Y members, the team is designed for avid swimmers and triathletes (ages 18 and over) who are looking to improve their swimming endurance and technique in a team environment. Workouts focus primarily on the four competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. 

Practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 a.m.-6 a.m. and 6:15 a.m.-7:15 a.m., as well as Sundays from 7 a.m.-8 a.m. Swim Club members who choose to compete in meets can do so in one of 12 different age groups.

If you are interested in joining the team, stop by a practice to meet with coach Marcie Ryan Curran or coach Jen Hazard, or contact the Y at (815) 267-8600.