Meet Recaps

Martha McKee Charlotte Open

15 YOTA swimmers swam at the Martha McKee/Charlotte Invitational in early May. To qualify for this meet you must have achieved a Speedo Sectionals Cut. Our team came together with strong energy and support for one another. In this early season long course test of our abilities, everyone contributed their best efforts. As a group we achieved 46% best times and 16% new time standards. We cheered each other on from the pool deck, shared advice between races, and experienced a strengthened bond that reminded us that success isn't just about winning—it's about growing together and supporting each other every step of the way.

EAC Memorial Invite

246 YOTA swimmers took over the Greensboro Aquatic Center over the weekend of May 15-17 for an awesome weekend of long course racing! This meet was a great opportunity for all of our swimmers to swim a wide range of long course events. Our swimmers explored new races, new race strategies and found new ways to challenge themselves throughout the weekend. The foundation for this long course season is looking stronger and stronger every day!

NCS Open Water Championships

Congratulations to the 101 YOTA athletes who competed at this year’s North Carolina Swimming Open Water Championships at Seven Lakes! It was inspiring to see so many of our athletes take advantage of the opportunity to participate in this facet of our sport. From racing open water for the first time, to resiliently completing the Poseidon, our swimmers showed a lot of grit across the board. BIG congratulations to the following swimmers who placed in the Top 8 and to our Poseidon finishers:

Top 8: Paige Snyder (Open 3K, Open 2K), Payton McNutt (Open 3K), Freddie Stuart (Open 2K), Poppy Fishburn (Open 2K), Redd Dreifuss (Open 800), Jackson Tidwell (Open 800), Antonio Caparoso (Open 800), Lenore Cook (Open 800)

Poseidon Swimmers: Paige Snyder (6th), Payton McNutt (7th), Poppy Fishburn (9th), Keenan Olson (10th), Daniel Puckett (17th), Anna Muttillo (18th), Peyton Cossey (19th), Aubrey Lewis (21st), Kaitlyn Davis (23rd), Aiden Gajowski (23rd), Katie Wilson (24th), Shivam Gupta (28th), Evie Metz (29th), Maggie Villareal (30th), Ben Valeriote (30th), Madalyn Gutierrez-Kasbohm (33rd), Miles Ayres (33rd), Natalie Hinde (34th), Owen Meehan (35th), Nikita Avery (36th), Nate Jordan (39th), Tate Jewett (42nd), Annalisa Volpe (43rd)

Class of 2026

To the YOTA Class of 2026,

You didn’t just show up — you showed what it means to commit. Day after day, you chose early alarms, tough sets, long meets, and the relentless pursuit of becoming better than you were yesterday. You embraced the grind, the expectations, and the responsibility of carrying forward a tradition built long before you arrived.

This year, you proved that greatness is never accidental. It’s built in the quiet moments when no one is watching, in the resilience you showed after setbacks, and in the courage you brought to every challenge. You’ve grown into athletes who race with purpose, teammates who lift others up, and leaders who understand that excellence is a choice you make again and again.

In these lanes, you found more than training — you found belonging. You learned how to trust each other, how to compete for each other, and how to celebrate every breakthrough, big or small. You created a culture defined by effort, accountability, and heart. You reminded everyone around you what it looks like to be all-in.

As you prepare to step into the next chapter, carry with you the lessons that only this sport can teach: how to stay steady when life gets choppy, how to breathe through the hard moments, how to stay focused when the path ahead isn’t easy, and how to finish strong — always.

The Class of 2026 leaves behind a legacy of character, connection, and commitment. You will forever have the respect of YOTA, the gratitude of your coaches, and a family that will stand with you long after your last race. Thank you for everything you’ve given to this program. We are proud to welcome you into the distinguished community of YOTA Alumni.

Check out the Class of 2026 Slideshow HERE!

Looking Ahead

June 12-14: SwimRVA Invitational in Richmond, Virginia (All White Level Athletes and Above at Coaches’ Discretion)
June 20: YOTA 1500 at NC State University (All YOTA Athletes at Coaches’ Discretion)
June 26-28: MOR LC Qualifier at Pullen Aquatic Center (All Age Group & Senior Athletes at Coaches’ Discretion)
June 27-29: USRY at the Goldsboro Family YMCA (All Senior 1 Athletes)

Quick Links

YOTA Swim Team | YMCA of the Triangle | USA Swimming | YMCA Red Flag Reporting | SafeSport

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