Meet Recaps

RSA Warm Up to Long Course

311 YOTA swimmers took over the Pullen Aquatic Center over the weekend of April 24-26 for the RSA Warm Up to Long Course meet. This was the first long course meet of the season so we took full advantage of the long warm up sessions to get some long course practice in as a team before each session of racing. It was great to see how much our swimmers have improved since their best long course races last summer. Overall, the foundation we are building for this long course season is looking really strong!

NCS Spotlight

Diversity Camp

YOTA Coaches Stanley Bass, Jamie Bloom, and Eva Penny traveled down to Charleston, South Carolina for the annual North Carolina Swimming x South Carolina Swimming Diversity Camp! This camp was an opportunity for select swimmers from North and South Carolina to come together to connect and elevate their skills in a new environment. Our coaches were joined by Josh Jones (West Senior 1 Athlete) who served as an NCS Athlete Representative and guest speaker that day. Thank you for representing YOTA so well!

Carolina Crown

Over 200 swimmers from North Carolina and South Carolina came together in Charleston, South Carolina to compete in the 11th Annual Carolina Crown Swim Challenge! Josh Jones (Black Diamond), Aubrey Mitchell (Sapphire), Freddie Stuart (Sapphire), Kaitylyn Davis (Emerald), and James Kreel (Emerald) represented YOTA and their respective teams. Congratulations to Josh Jones and the Black Diamond Team who took home the Crown!

NCS Age Group Select Camp

A “Golden Ticket” is what it takes to get an invitation to the NCS Age Group Select Camp! Miles Ayres, Lee Lowther and Leo Stevens were among the 139 athletes who finished in the Top 5 of their events to earn their spot at camp on April 19 at TAC. Coaches Jamie Bloom and Jonathan Watson were part of the coaching staff as well. Swimmers participated in a full day that included swim training, goal setting, dryland, and a nutrition session. USA Swimming National Team member and UNC swimmer Ben Delmar was a special guest coach at camp. Among the things he taught the swimmers, he also shared that he remembered when he earned his Golden Ticket to NCS Select Camp!

Open Water Zones

North Carolina Swimming (NCS) had an incredible showing at Open Water Zones in Houston, Texas (April 24–26)! Bringing together 48 athletes from across the state, NCS finished 2nd in our LSC. Along with YOTA’s Coach Rachel Muller who served as the NCS Head Coach, YOTA had 3 athletes attend and compete. Congrats to Paige Snyder, Payton McNutt, and Blake Zimmermann for representing YOTA and placing in the top 24 for their age group. Beyond the results, this trip was about so much more. Our athletes embraced the challenge of racing in open water and discovered a new level of fun competing beyond the pool. More importantly, NCS was easily the loudest and most enthusiastic on land and built lasting friendships with teammates from all over North Carolina, making this a truly special and impactful trip for everyone involved. We’re excited to carry this momentum forward and encourage all YOTA swimmers to consider participating in the NCS Open Water State Championship on Saturday, May 30 in Pinehurst, NC.

Mental Health Awareness Month

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, check out the YMCA’s new Teen Mental Health Resource Hub! This tool provides quick resources for our teens to learn more about mental health and enhance their mental wellness. Additionally, check out this article written by Coach Macy for a deeper dive into mental health and swimming.

Why Swim Through the Summer?

As summer approaches, many swimmers are thinking about joining summer league teams. While these can be fun and social, it’s important to stay committed to YOTA practices to ensure steady progress in your swimmer’s long-term development. Here are three key reasons to maintain consistent practices and competitions with YOTA this summer:

Consistent and professional coaching: YOTA coaches are professionally trained and understand your swimmer’s development plan. In contrast, summer league coaches may lack experience or familiarity with your swimmer’s needs, and often habits develop that take months to unlearn. Staying with your YOTA training group ensures that your swimmer continues progressing safely and effectively throughout the summer
Continued development through long course training: Summer is the only time of year we train and compete in 50-meter pools. This requires specific skills and conditioning. Practicing consistently through summer builds endurance, stroke efficiency, and confidence in the long course setting, giving your swimmer a real edge heading into the fall.
Long-term Growth: We’re committed to helping every swimmer reach their full potential, whether that's local competition, college swimming, or beyond. The summer season is a crucial part of that journey. Summer league is great for fun and community, but it’s designed for short-term participation. YOTA offers the structure and consistency needed for long-term success.

We encourage those who enjoy summer league to participate—but make your YOTA practices and meets a priority. Staying engaged through July ensures your swimmer is ready to take on the next level. Here’s to an IMPACTful summer ahead!

Reporting Resources

YMCA Red Flag Reporting: The YMCA of the Triangle utilizes Red Flag Reporting as its confidential reporting system. If you see or suspect abuse within a YMCA program, or you see or hear about something that doesn't feel right, you are encouraged to report your concern immediately. Reports can be made anonymously, 24/7 and help ensure the safety of everyone in our care.

US Center For SafeSport: The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit 501 (c)(3) committed to building a sport community where participants can work and learn together free of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and misconduct. Explore our site to learn more about our work and read reports detailing the support we provide to athletes through response and resolution protocols, policies and prevention education frameworks promoting safer sport environments across the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

Looking Ahead

May 14-17: Martha McKee Charlotte Open at Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center (Qualified Senior Athletes)
May 15-17: EAC Memorial Invitational at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (All YOTA Athletes not at Martha McKee)
May 30: NCS Open Water Championships at Seven Lakes, NC (Coaches Discretion)

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