Did you know that only 10% of the world can swim? You would never guess that by the way the GO (Geauga Otters) Swim team at the Geauga Family YMCA is taking over the Chardon, Hillcrest, Warrensville Heights, and the North East Ohio Ymca League. “Everywhere I look in the community, I see GO SWIMMING t-shirts with giant Otter paw prints. I see familiar faces, and receive “hellos, man your team is looking better, or wow you guys sure are improving”, said Matt Parrish, Geauga Family YMCA GO Swimming Coach.
“It is so great to see the sport that I love with such a passion, bringing smiles to so many people and bringing many communities together. I’ve always said that if you want to change the world, affect the young and they will help shape your community into a better place, thus having an effect on a much bigger picture”, says Parrish.
Although the team members are spread out over many community, including Warrensville Heights, Hillcrest, Chardon, Perry to name a few, the swimmers and the parents always manages to come together at swim meets with one focus, one goal, on dream… and that is to provide the children with a means to better themselves as people, through sport and competition. When the swimmers get on that pool deck they become a bonded team.
The 2015-2016 GO Swimming really improved overall. Last year, the team did not qualify in the top 10 at the North East Ohio League Meet, which is an area stretching from Ashland/Wooster to Sandusky, to Ashtabula. This year the Geauga Otters placed 7th overall, just ahead of Willoughby West End Ymca. They qualified over 2/3rds of the team for the meet making it a huge improvement from years past.
This qualification leads them to the YMCA Zone Meet, which is the best YMCA swimmers from Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana (part of), and Kentucky.
Parrish is especially proud of the GO Swim Team this year. “In years past we typically qualify 6-8 swimmers for this meet, with few relays, and very few points scored. This year that changed, with a top 50th team finish. We had 22 individual qualifiers, some individual top 10 finishers with Sarah Bennett and Katherine Jerry leading the charge. We had many top 20 relay finishes in the 15-18 age group both boys and girls. We had a 9yr old boy make it to the meet, which is the bottom of his age group. Most importantly we had a blast down in Canton that weekend. We built friendships with people from all over the region, swimmers, coaches and parents. When it is all said and done, isn’t that what sports should be about… making friends and bettering your-self through competition. I know that’s why we are having success, and will continue to do so. Our swimmers and swim families love the sport, they love competing, and they love building a team that helps support our communities.”
Thank you GO Swimming for all the great memories and dedication you put forth for this team and community.
This article is brought to you by Geauga Family YMCA
