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 White Plains, NY - The White Plains Family YMCA is seeking members for its “Riptides” swimming team for children and the Masters adult aquatic fitness program for people 18 and above.
Tryouts for the children’s team have started. Registration is open for the Masters adult fitness program, which is being revamped this year to put more of a focus on exercise and fitness instead of competitions. Both programs begin in September.
“Our swimming team and Masters adult program are great ways to exercise, make friends and compete against some of the top programs in the region,” said Helene Mogridge, director of the White Plains Family YMCA. “The team did very well last year and we hope to do even better during the upcoming season. It’s a lot of fun, but some of the members take it very seriously and have become among the top swimmers in the state. We dream about discovering the next Michael Phelps right here at the YMCA in White Plains.”
The White Plains Family YMCA has two swim teams:
* Junior team: The YMCA’s junior swim team introduces children ages 5 to 8 to competitive swimming. The team competes in the Westchester-Fairfield Swim League and the Empire State Swim League. The team practices Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7 a.m. Regular-season swim meets are scheduled on weekends.
* Age-group team: The YMCA’s “Riptides” traveling team fields children ages 9 to 18 in age brackets fostering competition for swimmers seeking a championship experience and looking for Olympic gold. Swimmers will compete in the YMCA swim league, the Empire State Swim League, the Westchester-Fairfield Swim League and the USA Swimming League. The team practices Monday through Friday at 4:45 p.m. and Saturday at 6 a.m.
More than 100 children have joined the Riptides team each of the past three years. The upcoming youth swim season starts Sept. 15 and ends April 10. Space on the teams is limited and tryouts are under way. To make an appointment to try out for the children’s teams, contact Coach Victor Penaloza at (914) 949-8030, extension 684.
The Masters adult aquatics fitness program has attracted members of all ages. The Masters program is open to adult swimmers of any age or skill level, offering active support for a healthy lifestyle through friendship and camaraderie. The Masters club, which is one of more than 450 across the nation, practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. The fall session starts Sept. 8. People with questions about the Masters program can contact Alan C. Mogridge at (914) 949-8030, extension 221.
YMCA membership is required to join the teams, and team-specific fees are additional; scholarships are available for eligible applicants.
The swimming teams are only part of the White Plains Family YMCA’s broad array of aquatics programs, which attract people ranging from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. The YMCA has two indoor pools offering more than 100 hours a week of open-swim time for recreational swimmers and people wanting exercise – believed to be the most time offered by any public pool in Westchester County. Its “warm pool” (one of the few in the area) is ideal for seniors and people who are rehabilitating injuries.
The YMCA’s other swimming-related activities include:
* Adult swim time from 5:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
* Family swim time Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and weekend afternoons.
* SCUBA classes for people 12 and older leading to full certification are Mondays and Fridays at 8 p.m.
* Private and group swimming lessons for people 5-years-old and above.
Reflecting the YMCA’s commitment to safety, certified lifeguards are on duty whenever the pools are in use.
Swimming programs such as adult and family swims are included in basic YMCA membership, while other activities such as group and private swimming lessons and SCUBA classes have additional fees. See www.ymca-cnw.org/content_whiteplains.htm for more information.
In addition to its aquatics programs, the White Plains Family YMCA has a well-equipped weight and exercise room, gymnasium, dance studio, squash, racquetball and handball courts, indoor track, steam room and sauna. A wide variety of classes and personal training assistance is available, and some exercise classes are tailored specifically for seniors. Public parking is a short walk away.
The White Plains Family YMCA also provides day-care and after-school programs and summer camps used by hundreds of children a year. Single-room occupancy residences provide affordable work-force housing for 167 men who otherwise might not be able to afford clean, secure homes in Westchester County.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN WESTCHESTER: Headquartered in White Plains, NY, the YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester has a long history of being an important community resource. The YMCA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone through programs and services that stress personal growth, self-improvement, self-reliance and service to others through spiritual, mental and physical development. The YMCA is one of Westchester’s largest childcare providers, serving 1,200 children who are able to build skills, values, self-esteem and a lifelong love of learning in a safe, nurturing, developmentally oriented environment. A similar number of children attend the YMCA’s summer camps. Health and wellness programs and well-equipped fitness centers and pools serve people of all ages.
The YMCA also provides safe, clean housing for 200 men who otherwise might not be able to afford homes in Westchester County. The YMCA has received the top charitable organizational standards rating from the New York State Better Business Bureau for meeting the BBB’s extremely rigorous Standards for Charitable Accountability. The YMCA provides $300,000 in annual financial subsidies to ensure that all people can benefit from its services. The YMCA of CNW has facilities in Mount Vernon, NY; the Northern Westchester Community program, based in Somers, NY, and Camp Combe, a summer camp for children in Putnam Valley, NY, in addition to its flagship center in White Plains.
More information about the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester, including addresses, hours and activities listings, is available at its website www.ymca-cnw.org or by calling (914) 287-2021.
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