Water Rat swimmers try to keep up with the "all you can eat" orders at this year's Pancake Breakfast.
This year’s annual Water Rat Swim Team Pancake Breakfast, held on Feb. 11 in the new Great Hall of Christ & Holy Trinity Church, was a tremendous success. “One of the best in years,” said Martha Corneck, an organizer of this popular fundraiser, which raises money for the Family Y’s Water Rat Y National Team.
While the Water Rats raised more than $1,000 to help our young swimmers compete on the national level, Senior Level Swim Coach Ellen Johnston points out the event’s role as a team-building exercise.
“It’s an all-team effort, with the kids doing all the food prep, service and clean-up,” says Johnston, who has been coaching and mentoring Water Rat swimmers for more than a quarter century. (Click here to read more about Ellen’s recent honors.)
“It’s a team event, but we had community-wide support,” Johnston adds, “Alumni, fellow students, their teachers — it’s amazing to see so many friendships and connections.” In all, the Water Rats served more than 250 breakfasts.
“I had to keep going out to get more supplies,” jokes Johnston. “More chocolate chips, even more pancake mix!”
See below for more photos from the day, and visit the Water Rat website for news about the team’s short-course championship season, now getting under way.
