Who, What, When – and Y

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Fitness ‘Boot Camp’ for Families and More at Healthy Kids Day, Saturday, 9-12

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 by:Family Y
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Adventure Gym in the Y's Gymnastic Center is a popular activity on Healthy Kids Day.

Adventure Gym in the Y’s Gymnastic Center is a popular activity on Healthy Kids Day.

Midge’s Membership Blog:

Although my children are now older “kids” (ages 17 and 21 ), they still think like younger kids when it comes to eating healthy – basically “healthy foods” are synonymous with yucky foods; good nutrition is boring.  cheeseburgers and french fries are yummy, broccoli and veggie snacks are not.  The same is true with so-called “healthy activities” that pale in comparison with more daring and perhaps unsafe activities.  Ask any eight-year-old boy if he’d rather learn to swim a butterfly stroke or skateboard down a huge hill and you’ll probably get the answer that would require a safety net.

We are hoping to change this perception on Healthy Kids Day at the Y – Saturday, April 27, from 9 am – 12 noon. Our annual free community event encourages kids in Westport, Weston and surrounding areas to get moving and learning, and families living healthier. Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, takes place at 1,900 Ys and kick-starts healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer, a critical out-of-school time for children’s health.

Many U.S. children do not get the daily recommended hours of physical activity and reading, and daily amounts of healthy foods. According to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot – a survey of parents that gauges their children’s activity levels during the school year – only 19 percent of children get 60 minutes of physical activity, only 17 percent read books for fun, and only 12 percent eat at least eight fruits and vegetables daily.

HKD Flyer for classes 2013We will have a number of activities for children to participate in, from Adventure Gym for toddlers in our Gymnastics Center to a terrific Family Boot Camp class for older children.  While your six-year-old is having her face painted, your three-year-old can get a tour of a Westport fire truck or EMS ambulance van.  We will have everything from water safety class to learning how to plant seeds and garden in conjunction with Earthplace, our summer-camp partner.  Play ring toss and basketball; learn all about what to expect with your child’s first dental exam; explore different ways to be energy efficient with New England Smart Energy and enjoy healthy, non-boring snacks from Whole Foods. (Click on the flyer at right for the complete list of activities and the times they take place.)

Parents, while your children are having a good time, you can talk to NY Life Child about making sure your precious cargo is ID’d in their database.

We will also have streaming photos and pamphlets about our new Y facility that is being built now at our Mahackeno campus, and we will be happy to answer any questions you have about Building What Matters, our campaign to fully finance our modern new home.  This would be a great time to talk to us about including a photo of your family in our photo mosaic that will be on permanent display in the new Y.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Y on Saturday morning! For a glimpse at what’s in store, take a look at the photo gallery below from last year’s Healthy Kids Day…

Family Y Swim Programs Offer Mix of Fun, Physical Activity and Safety

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 by:Family Y
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A young swimmer has fun taking the plunge at the Y's Splash! Week learn-to-swim program.

A young swimmer has fun taking the plunge at the Y’s Splash! Week learn-to-swim program.

As swim season approaches, the Westport Weston Family Y encourages local children and parents to explore the many benefits of swimming, while also keeping safety top of mind. In the Y’s swim programs, participants can enjoy water sports, enhance or learn new techniques, meet new friends and develop confidence, while also learning safety skills that can save lives.

“Swimming is a fun and enjoyable activity for children and adults alike, and it’s an easy way to stay physically active and improve strength, flexibility and stamina,” said Nicole Turechek, Aquatics Director. “The Family Y is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for everyone to swim and learn water safety practices – a vital life skill in a community like ours, blessed with so many beaches, inland streams and lakes and backyard pools.”

“We’re also fortunate to have the support of community partners like the Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities, which sponsors Splash! Week, our newest learn-to-swim program,” Turechek adds. “With their help, we were able to offer children daily half-hour lessons during the April School Vacation at a cost of only $20 for the entire week.” (See below for a  photo gallery of fun images from Splash! Week.)

Stewie the Duck, the Leonard Charities’ ever-popular mascot, will be back at the Y during the Y’s Hafaday Summer Swim Lesson Program. Now in its 36th season, Hafaday provides children ages 4 to 8 weekly sessions throughout the summer. Held from 8:45 am to 12:30 pm each day, Hafaday has both a lesson and free swim, with arts & crafts, music and gym time rounding out each morning of fun. Enrollment is under way at www.westporty.org; parents are encouraged to sign up their children soon, as most sessions fill to capacity.

Registration for the Y’s Summer Session begins Monday, May 6, with new classes starting on June 24. There are a variety of programs to choose, including parent-child swim classes, pre-school and youth swim lessons, as well as semi- and private swim lessons, at any age, with or without a parent.

Kim and Stew Leonard read from their Stewie the Duck book, a kids' favorite.

Kim and Stew Leonard read from their Stewie the Duck book, a kids’ favorite.

The Family Y also offers a wide range of Aqua Fitness classes, from Ruth Sherman’s treasured Senior Aqua Fitness classes in the warm-water Brophy Pool to Patty Kondub’s energetic sessions in the Stauffer Shallows. Those looking for even more of a challenge can try our Deep Water Workouts, held Friday evenings from 6:30-7:30 pm.

May is National Water Safety Month, an opportune time for the Family Y to recommend that all adults and children in their care practice the following safety tips when in and around the water:

  • Only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty; never swim alone.
  • Adults should constantly and actively watch their children.
  • Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  • Parents or guardians of young children should be within an arm’s reach.
  • Children and adults should not engage in breath holding activities.

In addition to learning lifesaving water safety skills, children can increase their physical activity by swimming. Only 19 percent of U.S. children get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, according to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot – a survey that gauges children’s activity levels during the school year

Swimming motivates children to strive for self-improvement, teaches goal orientation, and cultivates a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem. It also teaches life lessons of sport and sportsmanship, so that children can learn how to work well with teammates and coaches and how to deal with winning and losing.

A young Water Rat at the annual Blue-Red meet this winter, a fun event featuring kids and parents.

A young Water Rat at the annual Blue-Red meet this winter, a fun event featuring kids and parents.

The Family Y is also home to the Water Rat Swim Team, a nationally competitive group of 200-plus young swimmers, as well as the Y Masters, an equally accomplished team of adult swimmers who participate in organized workouts throughout the week and compete in national meets.

There is a place for everyone at the Y – anyone at any skill level can take swimming lessons. It is never too late to learn how to swim and to enjoy the water. The Y offers two levels of adult instructional swim classes, for beginners and intermediate swimmers, and private lessons.

As a leading nonprofit committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y has been a leader in providing swim lessons and water safety for more than 120 years. Since its founding in 1923, our local Y has taught more than 33,000 local children how to swim! And to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in our Y’s swim programs, financial assistance is available to those in need to help cover the costs.

To learn more about the Westport Weston Family Y’s swim programs, please contact Nicole Turechek at 203-226-8981, ext. 128, or nturechek@westporty.org.

Categories: Community, Fitness, Hafaday, Spotlight on Staff, Westport Water Rats

The Y’s Healthy Kids Day, Saturday, Apr. 27

Monday, April 22, 2013 by:Family Y
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The Tooth Fairy always brings a smile to kids at Healthy Kids Day, thanks to our friends at Kids First Dentistry.

On Saturday, April 27, 9 am to 12 noon, the Westport Weston Family Y is celebrating YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event that encourages children to get moving and learning, and families living healthier. Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, takes place at 1,900 Ys and kick-starts healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer, a critical out-of-school time for children’s health.

Many U.S. children do not get the daily recommended hours of physical activity and reading, and daily amounts of healthy foods. According to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot – a survey of parents that gauges their children’s activity levels during the school year – only 19 percent of children get 60 minutes of physical activity, only 17 percent read books for fun, and only 12 percent eat at least eight fruits and vegetables daily.

“At the Family Y, we know parents struggle to keep their kids physically and intellectually active every day. We want to help ensure fewer kids are at risk of childhood obesity and more kids excel in school,” said Meaghan George, Camp and Youth Director. “YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will get kids moving and learning while also helping families get a jump on creating a healthier summer, and ultimately a healthier future.”

Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. On April 27, YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to grow and achieve all summer long.

The Family Y’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at the Y’s facility at 59 Post Road East in downtown Westport from 9 am to 12 noon and features fun, active play and educational activities.

The Westport Weston Family Y is proud to host representatives from Earthplace, Whole Foods, NY Life, Kids First Dentistry and New England Smart Energy as well as First Responders from Westport, who will be sharing their talents and running various activities for the children and families visiting. We are also excited to be hosting a Water Safety talk at 9:30 am and a YMCA Family First Boot Camp at 10:30, free of charge.

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is supported by national media partners Sprout and Lazy Town, who are committed to encouraging kids to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Saturday, April 27, is also the day of the Westport Mini Maker Faire, a community-organized event that brings together science, crafts, arts, engineering, technology, music and workshops. This family friendly event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm at the Westport Library and on Jesup Green, just a short stroll from the Y, and will showcase the work of a variety of makers from Westport and beyond.

So make a healthy day of it for body, mind and spirit for the entire family, starting off with a visit to the Westport Weston Family Y for Healthy Kids Day! For more information, contact Meaghan George at 203-226-898 or visit www.westporty.org.

Categories: Community, Early Learning, Gymnastics, Strong Kids Campaign

5 Reasons Why Kids Should Attend Summer Camp

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 by:Family Y
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Find out more at Camp Open House, 1-3 pm, Saturday, Apr. 20 at Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center


Campers explore Earthplace’s 62-acre nature sanctuary.

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center and the Westport Weston Family Y’s Camp Mahackeno are teaming up to give kids and teens in our community an adventurous, active and healthy summer.

Our joint summer day camp, Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp 2013, will offer youth fun and unique experiences with an opportunity to explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime.

Nearly 50 percent of U.S. parents say technological distractions, such as television, cell phones or video games, make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle for their children, according to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot, a survey that gauges children’s activity levels during the school year.

With more free time in summer, ensuring that kids practice healthy habits could be a greater challenge. The Y and Earthplace encourage parents to help their kids unplug from technology and explore all this collaborative day camp has to offer from the first weekly season on June 24 to the last day of camp on August 23.

The joys of summer camp!

With so much new in store this summer, our camp co-directors invite prospective camp families to attend Earthplace-Mahackeno Open House on Saturday, Apr. 20, 1-3 pm, at Earthplace’s 62-acre nature sanctuary at 10 Woodside Lane. The best way to learn about Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp 2013 is to come by and talk to us!

“Attending Earthplace-Mahackeno summer camp is a wonderful opportunity for kids to keep their minds and bodies active,” says Meaghan George, the Family Y’s Camp and Youth Director. “Kids get to learn about nature, take on new responsibilities, gain independence, and develop essential social skills and new relationships. We really encourage parents to give their kids the gift of camp so that every child can benefit from the experience.”

Becky Newman, Senior Naturalist at Earthplace and with Meg George, the co-director of Earthplace-Mahackeno Camp this summer, says there are five reasons why children and teens should attend summer camp:

  1. ADVENTURE: Summer camp is all about a wide variety of fun adventures and new experiences, and especially exploring the outdoors. With its spacious facility, natural history museum, outdoor bird exhibits and animal “ambassadors,” Earthplace makes an ideal setting for exploring and learning about nature and the environment.
  2. HEALTHY FUN: Day camps offer stimulating activities that engage the body and mind. In addition to taking part in a wide range of sports and recreational activities at Earthplace, campers this summer will have the opportunity to swim at the Y four days a week under the supervision of their counselors and Y lifeguards.
  3. PERSONAL GROWTH: While being away from the routine back home, youth have a chance to learn new skills, and develop confidence and independence by taking on new responsibilities and challenges.
  4. NEW FRIENDSHIPS: Amidst the fun of camp games, songs, swimming, field trips and talent shows, campers meet new friends and strengthen existing friendships.
  5. MEMORIES: Summer camp is an unforgettable experience that will give each camper memories (and campfire stories) that will last a lifetime. Youth return to school with plenty of camp stories to share!



And, to ensure that all youth have the chance to experience camp, Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp 2013 offers financial assistance to those in need, as well as a Special Cares Camp program for children with physical or mental challenges.

Earthplace will also be running its Pre-school program for ages 3-K through the summer months starting June 17. Registration for children ages 3-5 can be completed online at www.earthplace.org.

For more information about Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp 2013, or to ask any questions, please contact either of our co-directors: Becky Newman at 203-227-7253, ext. 107, or b.newman@earthplace.org; Meg George at 203-226-8981, ext. 179, or mgeorge@westporty.org.

Categories: Camp Mahackeno, Community, Early Learning

At the Family Y, Early Years Are Learning Years

Monday, April 15, 2013 by:Family Y
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Making washing hands a habit -- and fun!

Making washing hands a habit — and fun!

The Westport Weston Family Y’s Early Learning Programs are celebrating the 2013 Week of the Young Child, Apr. 14-20. This annual celebration, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is designed to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families — and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

The theme of this year’s Week of the Young Child is Early Years Are Learning Years, and Director Tasha Dennison and her teachers are celebrating the week with activities designed to enhance and teach our students life skills that will carry over to their home life. Just one example is the “working as buddies” art project, examples of which you see in the photo gallery below, showing recent photos of the kids and their artwork on display throughout the Y’s Child Care Center.

The Family Y’s Early Learning Program is accredited by the NAEYC – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals. A mark of excellence held by just 8 percent of programs in the country, NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.

The Family Y Early Learning Program offers developmentally appropriate care to meet the needs of families who live and work in Westport, Weston and surrounding communities. For more information about the Family Y’s Early Learning and School Age programs, please visit www.westporty.org, or contact Tasha Dennison directly, 203-226-8981, ext. 113, or ldennison@westporty.org. For more information about NAEYC accreditation, visit www.naeyc.org/academy.

Categories: Early Learning

Get a Jump on Summer Camps at the Family Y

Friday, April 12, 2013 by:Family Y
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Earthplace gangRegistration is under way for all of the Westport Weston Family Y’s camps and special programs taking place this summer. Don’t delay; sign up today! Click on the subhed links below to get started or visit www.westporty.org for more information.

Earthplace-Mahackeno

Since 1938, the Mahackeno Outdoor Center has been the setting for our Family Y’s summer day camp. For the 2013 season, Camp Mahackeno will be collaborating with another Westport institution, Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center, so we can continue to serve our campers and families during the construction of our new Y facility at Mahackeno.

This wonderful opportunity will allow us to have yet another great summer in a beautiful outdoor setting here in Westport. Earthplace and the Family Y are working together to plan a summer with fun activities and themes, great staff and many opportunities for campers to make new friends and memories.

The program is for campers who are entering 1st grade through 8th grade. Earthplace will continue to welcome preschoolers age 3 to Kindergarten to camp. You can also find more information about this summer’s camp by visiting www.earthplace.org.

The Y offers a wide variety of swimming programs and water-safety clinics.

The Y offers a wide variety of swimming programs and water-safety clinics.

Hafaday Summer Swim Lesson Program

Sessions fill quickly for this amazing summer program, which gives children the vital chance to build swim skills, regardless of previous experience, and have a lot of summer fun. Designed for children ages 4 to 8 and held each weekday from 8:45 am to 12:30 pm, Hafaday is primarily a swim program, with both a lesson and a free swim period each day. It’s the best way to learn to swim. Arts and crafts, music and gym time, including yoga, karate, and games round out each morning of fun.

We have 9 weekly sessions, beginning Monday, June 17 and continuing on through the week of August 12. Students in swim lessons are grouped by age and ability. The cost for Y Members is $270 per week; $295 for non-members.

Stewie’s Splash! Hour
The Family Y has partnered with Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities to promote water safety throughout the community. During each week of Hafaday, Wednesday’s from 12:30 to 1:15 pm, there will be a special opportunity to meet Stewie the Duck and participate in water safety activities outside of the water. Plus, each child will receive a book, a sing-a-long CD and a Personal Floatation Device.

Because Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities is underwriting this event, the cost is only $20/child. Be sure to sign up early to get your first choice of weeks.

Click HERE  to add Stewie’s Splash! Hour to your child’s Hafaday experience.

February 20, 2013 057Summer Gymnastics Camps

The Family Y’s Gymnastics Center is the setting for a range of summer camps. In the afternoons, there’s Gymnastics & Swim Camp: Gymnastics, Free Swim and Games, all in our air-conditioned Gymnastic Center! This camp runs from 12 to 4 pm each day throughout the summer (8 sessions in all). Your child must be able to swim without flotation device and must be 6 years old by June 1, 2013.

We also offer a Summer Fantasy Gymnastics & Art Camp in the mornings, for young gymnasts ages 4-7, as well as a summer program geared to competitive gymnastics: Specialty Competitive and Pre Competitive Gymnastics Camp Week takes place Aug. 19-23. The fee is $280 for the week; Y membership is required. For more information, email Sally Silverstein at ssilverstein@westporty.org.

Dancing, and drawing, like a princess...

Dancing, and drawing, like a princess…

Dance Camps

Our Dance Center has several fun summer programs, starting with Princess Dance Camp. This popular camp focuses on a different Disney princess each day to give dancing divas ages 3 to 5 a fun introduction to ballet and jazz. Led by Dance Center Director Lillian Cenatiempo, campers will also enjoy a craft that helps bring our princesses to life, with a story about one of our princesses each day during snack time. The week session are June 24-28 and July 15-19 and cost $180 per session for Y members and non-members alike.

July 15-19 is “Future Stars Dance Week,” for ages 6-10, which includes dance techniques, learning of choreography, lunch, dance routines plus a free swim. And this summer we have two week-long sessions for Broadway Bound Dance Week. It’s designed for young dancers ages 7-10, who will spend the week learning dances to music from the Broadway musical Newsies. The week includes costume making, a visiting instructor from New York and a fun in-studio presentation the final day for friends and family. The first session will be held June 24-28 from 12:30 to 3:30 pm and the second takes place July 8-12.

Summer Basketball, Lacrosse & Floor Hockey

The Family Y offers a host of week-long morning programs designed to keep young kids active and give them the chance to develop basic skills in lacrosse, hockey and basketball. Click on the link above for more information and to register.

We’re also offering Elite Basketball Academy Weekend Clinics on June 22 and 29 for 6-8 Graders and on June 30 for 9-12 Graders, both girls and boys. Improve your individual skills and team play at both ends of the court with the help of top-quality coaching and a highly competitive environment. The Coaches are Tod Shofield, former professional basketball player and currently coaching and on staff at Greens Farms Academy and Paul Groves, Director of Middle School Athletics at GFA. Avid young hoopsters will get individual workouts,  intensive conditioning drills and skills stations and group lectures about strategy and playmaking.

Saturday, June 22, Grades 6-8 (as of Sept. 2013), 9 am – 4 pm
Saturday, June 29, Grades 9-12 (as of Sept. 2013), 9 am – 4 pm
Sunday, June 30, Grades 6-8 (as of Sept. 2013), 9 am – 4 pm

Fee: $85/day (no Y membership required); please bring drinks, lunch and snack. To register click on the links above or contact Sally Silverstein, Sports & Recreation Director, at ssilverstein@westporty.org or 203-226-8981, ext. 118.

And, of course, the Family Y also offers a full schedule of Summer Session classes and programs. To review our Summer Brochure, please click here. Registration for the Summer Session of classes and programs begins Monday, May 6.

The Family Y also schedules open time in the Upper Gym for pick-up games and individual practice.

The Family Y also schedules open time in the Upper Gym for pick-up games and individual practice.

 

Categories: Camp Mahackeno, General, Hafaday

Y Members Step Out of the Winter Doldrums

Thursday, April 11, 2013 by:Family Y
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Linda Pressman, one of the Y's nationally certified personal trainers.

Midge’s Membership Blog:

Hello Friends!

It’s been a while since I wrote my blog, and I’ve truly missed doing it.

The birds are chirping, the sun is out and the temps are rising.  I’ve also noticed that many of our members are stepping out of the doldrums of winter cold and pale and “into the light.” Our fitness classes are buzzing, and the cardio room is full of accelerated heart beats, treadmill stomping, bike pumping — getting ready for those bikini-clad bodies on the beach.  Our personal trainers, Matthias, Gerardo, Linda, and Michael are also working overtime to provide super workouts to those lucky enough to sign up with them.

Fitness Director Shelley Moll is constantly trying ways to keep you on your toes adding new exercise classes, and hiring innovative instructors.  Do yourself a favor and try something different this Spring.  If you’ve never done pilates or yoga or Zumba, taken a spin class, TRX, etc., just DO IT!  You might even see me off my arc trainer and on the recumbent bike.  LOL

Ruth Sherman’s seniors are getting younger everyday … making waves in the 91-degree Brophy Pool.  These gals, the “Golden Girls”  (including Golden Boy Woody Klein), enjoy their aqua fitness class and their bagels at Oscars afterwards.  Meanwhile Patty, Shelly and Carla are making sure that the rest of us are “hard body”worthy with their high-energy Stauffer Pool workouts.  Here again, if you haven’t taken an aqua fit class with any of these lovely ladies, JUST DO IT!

Spring is a time of re-birth.  Let’s all try to give it that extra push to get ourselves in shape physically and mentally and shed our winter skin.

The stretching room in the Y's two-level fitness center is where "spring training" starts for many Y Members.

Categories: Fitness, Midge's Membership Blog

Water Rat Duo Swims for Elite CT State Team in Zones

Tuesday, April 9, 2013 by:Family Y
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Lily and Esme with Coach Betsy.

Family Y Water Rat Swim Team members Esme Hunter and Lily Kernaghan were among 70 swimmers representing the State of Connecticut at the 2013 Eastern Zone Short Course Championships held in Webster, N.Y., March 28-30. There were nine teams, from Maine to Maryland, participating in this elite swimming competition.

Esme and Lily, both competing in the 9/10 Age Group, were selected after placing in the top three in their events at the recent Connecticut Age Group Championships or for having one of the top three times in their events in the state.

Lily swam the 50 and 100 Backstroke at “Zones” and placed 7th and 12th. She also swam the lead-off Backstroke leg of the 200 Medley Relay, which came in 4th place.

Esme placed 10th in the 50 Backstroke and 50 Freestyle, swimming her best time in both events. She was also a member of two relays that came in 4th place. Her split of 27.9 in the 200 Freestyle Relay was the second fastest.

“I am extremely proud of what Esme and Lily have accomplished this year,” said Betsy Matheney, Junior Age Group Coach for the Water Rats, and 2012 CT Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year. “Both girls have worked really hard to become the top swimmers in the state. Not only are they fierce competitors in meets, but they are great friends and good leaders on the Water Rat Swim Team.”

Categories: Westport Water Rats
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