We had a great weekend of swimming and parent volunteerism!

Not only did our swimmers swim well but our parents were on fire! We had the best turn out of parents working at our meets! Our Girls Champs ran very smooth and we even had one very old team record fall. Our 9-10 Girls broke a 27 year old medley relay record by almost 3 seconds! Emily Carbral, Emily Wolbert, Maggie Palaski and Alexis Kemp swam a record shattering 2:22.36 in the 200 medley relay, the old record was from 1981 (2:25.05) old record was held by K. Livingood, L. Parker, M. Doney, P. Christian (these swimmers are older than Coach Mike) The lady Piranhas also placed first breaking the record. There were many, many great swims including first place finishes from Emily Wolbert in the 100 IM and in the 100 free. We also picked up additional district qualifying times from Katherine Lutfy in the 50 breast, Irene Gendelmen in the 50 back (lead off in relay) and Lena Yang in the 100 free.

In the Boys champs there were also additional District times from Adrian Bernard in the 50 free and the 100 back and Sam Velez qualified in the 50 Free for Districts. Zack Wolbert won the 25 fly, the 50 free (District Qualifying time for 10 & Under) and he tied the 25 breast.

Here are some highlights from both meets but the full meet results can be found on our team meet schedule. (Click Here)

In the Girls meet there were the following best times:

M. Antonwich: 100 Free dropped 17 seconds, 50 fly dropped .5 seconds
A. Banks: 200 IM dropped 10 seconds
D. Bernard: 50 Breast dropped .81 seconds
H. Blum: 100 Back dropped 3.75 seconds
E. Cabral: 50 back (relay leg) dropped .84 seconds
M. Cerbone: 100 Im dropped 3.44 seconds, 50 breast dropped 1.64 seconds
K. Clifford: 50 back dropped 10.41 seconds
J. Delaney: 25 free dropped 1.55 seconds, 25 back dropped .31 seconds
K. Denniston: 25 breast dropped .66 seconds
A. Dunn: 25 back dropped 1.23 seconds
M. Dwyer: 50 fly dropped 1.30 seconds
I. Gendelmen: 50 back (relay leg) dropped .38 seconds, 50 fly dropped .45 seconds
K. Johnson: 100 Free dropped 17.94 seconds
E. Kemp: 25 free dropped 1.25 seconds, 50 free dropped 10.87 seconds
K. Konz: 50 back dropped .32 seconds
C. Leight: 100 free dropped .73 seconds
K. Lutfy: 50 breast dropped .77 seconds
L. Mezzanotte: 50 back (relay leg) dropped .48 seconds
B. Opromoll: 50 fly dropped 1.63 seconds, 50 breast dropped 2.79 seconds
A. Palaski: 100 Free dropped 3.10 seconds
M. Palaksi: 100 IM dropped 2.80 seconds
N. Parisi: 100 free dropped 7.85 seconds, 50 fly dropped 1.29 seconds, 50 back dropped .44 seconds
N. Parrish: 25 free dropped .25 seconds
B. Randal: 200 Im dropped 1.85 seconds, 200 free dropped 1.93 seconds, 100 breast dropped 1.93 seconds
A. Riutort: 100 free dropped 1.35 seconds, 50 free dropped .27 seconds
L. Riutort: 50 Back (relay leg) dropped .77 seconds
A. Slater: 50 back (relay leg) dropped .09 seconds, 200Im dropped 3.20 seconds
E. Solak: 100 free dropped 16.65 seconds
H. Storck: 100 free dropped 3.09 seconds, 50 breast dropped 3.96 seconds
S. Tepper: 50 free dropped .95 seconds, 50 back dropped 2.19 seconds
O. Wint: 25 free dropped .61 seconds
E. Wolbert: 100 Im dropped .01 seconds, 100 free dropped 2.85 seconds
L. Yang: 100 free dropped 1.63 seconds, 100 breast dropped .65 seconds

In the Boys Meet below are the meet best times:

S. Bartlett: 100 free dropped 2.67 seconds, 100 breast dropped 2.84 seconds
A. Bernard: 50 free dropped .65 seconds, 100 back dropped 15.81 seconds
B. Cavanaugh: 100 free dropped 2.22 seconds, 50 free dropped .28 seconds
J. Clifford: 50 free dropped 1.59 seconds, 50 back dropped 4.70 seconds, 50 breast dropped 8.48 seconds
C. Cruz: 200 IM dropped 2.67 seconds, 100 fly dropped .24 seconds, 100 breast dropped 1.50 seconds
B. Denniston: 50 free dropped .19 seconds, 100 breast dropped 2.42 seconds
N. Denniston: 100 free dropped 5.47 seconds
K. Donovan: 200 free dropped 32.60 seconds (has not swam the event for a while in YMCA)(WOW)
L. Dunn: 50 free dropped 1.79 seconds
B. Fair: 25 back dropped .60 seconds, 25 breast dropped 3.54 seconds
C.J. Fair: 50 free dropped .99 seconds
C. Fair: 50 free dropped .16 seconds
C. Metzgar: 100 IM dropped 13.22 seconds
C. Orlowski: 50 back (relay leg) dropped .35 seconds, 50 free dropped .39 seconds
J. Rios: 50 back dropped 2.54 seconds
C. Rodriguez: 50 back (relay leg) dropped .70 seconds, 100 back dropped .68 seconds
B. Shaw: 25 free dropped .82 seconds
Braedon Shaw: 50 free dropped .39 seconds
C. Strunk: 100 free dropped .25 seconds, 100 back dropped 6.44 seconds
S. Velez: 50 free dropped .84 seconds, 50 fly dropped 1.24 seconds, 100 free dropped 1.50 seconds
T. Walton: 50 free dropped 2.67 seconds
K. Wint: 50 fly dropped 4.35 seconds, 50 free dropped 2.52 seconds, 50 back dropped 2.35 seconds
Z. Wolbert: 50 free dropped .87 seconds
E. Wolf: 100 IM dropped .89 seconds

PFY Girls win the League!!!!

The girls team has officially won the Over-All Penn Del League title! The lady Piranha's swam away with the Over-All League title (4-1 record), 8 & Under League title (4-1 record), 9-10 (Undefeated) League title and are also Tri-Champs for the 13-14 (3-2 record). Our season is not over but this has been a great season so far. I did expect to be in the running for the League title but you never know what will happen until the meets are swam. Our 11-12 girls did fight a hard battle losing the league title with HATY by tying the meet. If we had just one more 3rd place finish we would have tied the title with HATY and be co-champs as well.

The Boys team had a great showing with a 3-2 record with an over-all and the following age groups placed second in the league: 8 & Under (2nd place), 9-10 (2nd place), 11-12 (2nd place), 13-14 (2nd place) & Opens (2nd place). It was a close season for the boys.

GREAT JOB PIRANHAS!

GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND AT CHAMPS! I DO EXPECT TO SEE SOME FAST SWIMMING!

Another great practice at PMW

Here is some video of the practice using the FINIS Swimmer's Snorkel which our team members can purchase on our online store http://store.pfyswim.org



The practice was well attended and all swimmers worked very hard!

If it happens to Michael, it can happen to you

I was reading an on-line version of Sports Illustrated, and found a very interesting quote from Michael Phelps as he was talking about his most recent performance at the Southern California Grand Prix [click for results]. After finishing his 400 IM at finals, Michael was quoted as saying "It was all right,I would've liked to have gone a little faster." The six-time Olympic gold medalist had an impediment, though. His goggles filled with water after he dived in. "I was struggling to see the walls. You have to deal with trying things that come your way," he said. Michael Phelps's goggles falling off? Can this really happen to a guy that almost won 7 gold medals at an Olympic Games?? A guy who is the most well known swimmer in the entire world?? Well it did. If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.

How many times have you been in a swimming race or at practice and your goggles fill up with water or they have come off? Have you prepared yourself for when it happens. What will you do?? Will you stop (I have seen that done), or will you continue to remain focused on your race? One day at a practice your goggles may fill up with water, and instead of standing on the bottom to fix them, you swam the set, and then made the adjustment AFTER the set was complete.

We have less than 6 weeks until many of you have finished your (Fall/Winter) swimming, and in that 6 weeks, how will you be preparing yourself for the championship meets such as this weekend?? Will you be rehearsing every race every day at practice?? Will you make every streamline count as you were in your final race of the year. It is all up to you, but when it is race time, there should be no surprises, IF you have rehearsed it ahead of time you should have no problems that you can not handle.

Now go be sure your goggle straps are tight!!!

Practice Notices for the week of Jan 21st - 25th

There will be practice at Pocono Mountain West but NOT at LEHMAN on Monday January 21st even though there is no school.

There will be NO PRACTICE AT POCONO MOUNTAIN on Tuesday January 22nd.

Great Practice at Lehman

Tonight Lehman was hopping! We have 5 new swimmers from DV swim team that have joined our Take Your Mark Program and several Pre-competitive returns from last winter.

Practice was very hard with a giant set of 20x100 Free for the Falcons and the Eagles. The interval was set at a pace I thought would be a little too fast and to my delight I was able to drop it by 5 seconds and finish the night off with a smooth kick set. Remember there is no practice or meets this weekend and even though there is no school on Monday we will have practice.

Enjoy your weekend!

Coach Mike

Friday January 18th Practices are on as Scheduled

As of 8:30am Friday morning all Practices are on as scheduled. Since we did have a day off yesterday make sure you attend practice today. Champs is only 1 week away and this the time we need to make some fine tuning to technique.

Coach Mike

Champs is Just Around the Corner

Are you ready for Champs?

Swimmers - make sure you are attending practices and working hard so you can do your best!!

Parents - make sure you have confirmed your worker positions

NO PRACTICE ALL LOCATIONS Jan 17th, 2008

There will be no practice at all Locations on Thursday January 17th due to a Winter Storm is expected. All local schools cancelled all after school activities as well. Keep warm and do your dry-land to stay in the grove.

Push Ups, Crunches, V-Ups and Core Body are always good to do on days off.

Coach Mike

Girls 9-10 Team Undefeated League Champs

Girls 9-10 Team Undefeated League Champs.

It looks like the girls team has a lot to be proud of this season! Our Girls are currently in 1st place with a overall record of 4-1 with all of the other teams in the B North Division having at least 2 loss the lady Piranhas look like they will swim away with the following league titles. Over-All Team Champs, at least 8 & Under co-Champs, 9-10 Undefeated League Champs, 11-12 possible co Champs (Depends on the out come of this weekends meet with HAZY and BYST, possible 13-14 co Champs (Depending on the outcome of this weekends meets with UBY and Lionville YMCA.


This is the first League Title since our girls were in the C North Division back in 1990 and it is the first undefeated 9-10 girls team in our history.

Piranhas Swim 112.7 miles for Autism

31 Pocono Family YMCA Swimmers swam a total of 198,300 yards which is 112.7 miles on Sunday for Autism. Swimmers ages ranging from 6 years old to 14 swam for 3 hours and many did not even stop for breaks.

Swimmers included:

6 & Under Girls
Lauren Fenn - 2,950 yards (New Team Record)
Elizabeth Kemp - 2,600 yards

8 & Under Girls
Kailey Burns - 4,300 yards
Nadine Parrish - 2,700 yards
Alora Cruz - 2,500 yards

8 & Under Boys
Zack Wolbert - 5,950 yards (New Team Record)
Ben Shaw - 2,500 yards

9-10 Girls
Emily Wolbert - 10,950 yards(New Team Record)
Irene Gendelmen - 8,550 (Also broke old team record)
Emily Cabral - 7,600 yards
Alexis Kemp - 7,300 yards
Kimmie Konz - 7,300 yards
Mary Cerbone - 7,100 yards
Meaghan Dwyer - 6,700 yards
Holly Storck - 6,200 yards
Maggie Palaski - 4,850 yards

9-10 Boys
Chris Metgar - 5,450 yards (New Team Record)
Jacob Clifford - 5,450 yards (New Team Record)
Teddy Walton - 4,900 yards
Braedon Shaw - 4,850 yards

11-12 Girls
Katherine Lutfy - 10450 yards (New Team Record)
Alex Burns - 8,750 yards
Alana Slater - 8,750 yards
Emma Solak - 8,000 yards
Abby Palaski - 3,950 yards
Kodi Clifford - 2,950 yards

11-12 Boys
Ben Gendelman - 11,400 yards (New Team Record)

13-14 Girls
Corey Light - 5,100 yards

13-14 Boys
Colin Cruz - 11,500 yards (New Team Record)
Carlos Rodriguez - 10,200 yards (Also broke old team record)
Sean Bartlett - 6,550 yards

Pocono Piranhas hosted The Annual Swim Marathon to benefit Autism Research.

On Sunday January 13, 2008 at 12:00 pm the Pocono YMCA Piranhas Swim Team hosted thier annual Swim Marathon, this year to benefit Autism Research. Last year the piranhas raised over $3500. The Benefit began as an annual event to honor a graduating swimmer, Onel Ramirez. Who has been afflicted with Spina Bifida his entire life but has not let it stop him from achieving a world record in swimming.

This year the swim team would like to support in the early detection and the research for a cure to Autism. Many people and their families are affected with this condition and the reason is still unknown. Yet the numbers of children born with autism has been increasing annually.

Team Director, Mike Wolbert says he is proud to be able to help further the research for Autism, an affliction that strikes so many families. The Marathon will be held at Pocono Mountain West.

Donations are welcome and can be sent to the Pocono Family YMCA Swim Team, 809 Main Street, Stroudsburg PA 18360.

Contact Mike Wolbert at 570 421-2525 ext. 320 with any questions.

Download PDF Information and Pledge Forms

Pocono Swimmers Win the Team Trophy at the Scranton Holiday Meet

Pocono Swimmers Win the Team Trophy at the Scranton Holiday Meet

On Saturday December 29, 2007, twenty-five swimmers from the Pocono Family YMCA Swim Team traveled north to the Greater Scranton YMCA and came home with 7 meet records, 3 high point trophies and the overall team high point trophy.

Swimmers could enter a maximum of 5 individual and 2 relay events and were awarded points based on their order of finish. As a team, the Piranhas earned 1829 points, beating 7 other area swim teams; individual trophies were won by Zack Wolbert (7-8 Boys), Emily Wolbert (9-10 Girls), and Colin Cruz (13-14 Boys).

Along the way, Pocono swimmers set seven meet records in the following events:

8&Under Mixed 100 Medley Relay: Nadine Parrish, Alora Cruz, Zack Wolbert & Kailey Burns (1:23.98)

7-8 Boys 25 Fly - Zack Wolbert (17.09)
7-8 Boys 25 Breast - Zack Wolbert (20.51)
9-10 Mixed 200 Medley Relay - Emily Cabral, Emily Wolbert, Maggie Palaski, Colin Naturale (2:30.47)
9-10 Girls Breast - Emily Wolbert (40.40)
13-14 Mixed Medley Relay - Carlos Rodriguez, Lena Yang, Colin Cruz, Mary Cerbone (2:25.81)
13-14 Mixed Free Relay - Mary Cerbone, Carlos Rodriguez, Colin Cruz, Lena Yang (2:07.46)