Flying Fish News - 7/23/2021
For the calendar
  • Thursday, July 22 - Sunday, July 25 - IL Swimming Age Group Champs. See below.
  • Thursday, July 29 - Sunday, August 1 - IL Swimming Senior Champs. See below.
  • Monday, August 2 - Friday, August 13 - Flying Fish aquatics camp. See below.
  • Tuesday, August 3 - Saturday, August 7 - Speedo National Champs. See below.
  • Friday, August 6 - last day of late summer season.
Aquatics camp for young swimmers -- now open to more ages
From Monday, August 2 through Friday, August 13, we're hosting an aquatics camp for Flying Fish swim team members. Because of some requests, we're now opening the camp to ages 7-11. (We originally said 8- to 10-year-olds.)

  • You don't have to be part of the late summer season to attend aquatics camp.

  • Camp sessions will be held at the YWCA weekdays 8:30 am - noon.

  • Activities will include swim instruction, recreational swimming, organized games and even water safety instruction.

  • You can choose one week or both weeks. Cost is $175 for one week, $325 for both weeks.

If you're interested, email Pete.
Interested in a clinic in August?
If we have enough interest from swimmers, we'll run a clinic August 9-12 for swimmers ages 10-13.

Here's what we're planning:
  • 10 and unders -- 4:30-5:30 pm
  • 11- to 13-year-olds -- 5:30-6:30 pm
  • Cost: $75

If you're interested in participating, please email Pete by Wednesday, July 28. We will host this clinic only if there are enough interested swimmers.

You must be a current member of USA Swimming to participate. (If you swam with us in any season from fall of 2020 through now, your membership is likely current.)
Updates about construction, fall swim team
Construction notes:
  • The only way to enter the pool is through the awning entry on Ridge Avenue. There are no other entrances right now.
  • The small parking lot just north of the building (off of Ridge Ave.) is not for swimmers. You cannot use it for parking or drop off/pickup.
  • Parking is available on nearby streets; you also can use the lot (entry at 1800 Ridge Ave.) that abuts our north parking lot for drop off and pick up.
  • Our renovated main parking lot (off of Church Street) should be available in a few weeks, along with our new main entrance and lobby.

Specifics about the pools:
  • The big pool will be shut down beginning August 7 for maintenance and repairs.
  • The small pool will be shut down beginning August 14 for the same reason.
  • We hope to have both pools back in operation the week of August 23. (And we hope to have some locker room availability then, too!)

Fall 2021 swim team season:
  • We are planning a modified schedule for the week of August 23 and we hope to launch our fall season the week of August 30.
  • Look for information about the fall season, including group placement/registration details, during the first week of August.

Questions? Email Pete.
Marathon prizes available at YWCA
Swimmers who participated in the swim marathon in May can pick up their prizes in the pool area beginning Monday, July 26.
  • Those who raised more $100 or more are eligible for a marathon swim cap -- some of you have already received your caps.
  • Those who raised $250 or more are eligible for a marathon t-shirt.

If you're currently swimming with us, ask your coach about your prizes.

If you're not currently swimming with us, stop by the YWCA on weekdays from 4 - 7 pm or Saturdays 8 am - 3 pm to pick up your prizes (July 26 through August 6). Just ask a coach for help.
USA Swimming designates Flying Fish as a Safe Sport Recognized Club
Thank you, parents and swimmers, for participating in online training programs last fall to help the Flying Fish achieve designation as a USA Swimming Safe Sport Recognized Club.

What is Safe Sport? It's an official designation from USA Swimming, the governing body of competitive swimming, that shows our dedication to a healthy, positive environment, free from abuse.

In addition to the training programs, as part of our Safe Sport commitment, we have updated and clarified our policies and codes of conduct. You'll find these and other updated information on the swim team page of our website.
Good luck, Flying Fish high school graduates -- continued
Best wishes to all of our 2021 high school graduates. See below for another grad update and reflection. (We will continue to share info as we receive it. Grads: It's not too late to send your info to Pete!) If you missed previous grad reflections, you'll find them in the July 8 and June 27 editions of the Flying Fish News.
Emily Ernst
When did you start swimming at the YWCA?
I started swimming at 4 or 5, so I have been swimming for 13 or 14 years. I joined the Flying Fish my second half of 1st grade, so I have been swimming competitively for 12 ½ years. Fun fact, I was part of the first ever Purplefish with Coach Oz.

What is your favorite Flying Fish memory?
I have a lot:
  • All the swim marathon prizes, like the ice skating party and the bowling party. 
  • My first meet at the RecPlex where I did my first 50.
  • Writing “Eat my bubbles” and drawing on each other in Sharpie at meets.
  • The Michigan Shores meet where I had my very first meet, literally the best place to have a meet (in my opinion when I was 8).
  • Going to Holland, MI, for a swim meet and getting to stay in a hotel with my teammates. Doing cart wheels in the hotel hall, throwing snow into the pool and watching it dissolve, and playing chicken fights.
  • Getting to swim at the JCC, even though it was super hot.
  • Getting to swim outside at the Coho meets.
  • The two years of being in the Evanston 4th of July parade.
  • When Anne let us have a float party at the end of practice with the lights out for like 10 minutes.

What will you miss most about swimming at the YWCA?
Definitely the special connections with the coaches, seeing my swim friends every practice, goofing around with my teammates at meets, the friends and memories I made, the overall swim community, and lastly it was my 2nd home.

What are your plans for next year?
Next fall, I will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in Environmental Science and hopefully swimming for the U of I’s club swim team!

Anything else you want to say to young swimmers, parents, coaches or anyone else?
I would like to thank my coaches, specifically Mike, who has been there since I first started, who encouraged me every time I was scared to jump in the pool even if I couldn’t stop crying (sorry Mike I gave you such a hard time); Terry, for tolerating me being late A LOT and his funny jokes and practices; Pete, for being supportive in that quiet Pete way; and Anne for the fun laughs with her funny corny jokes and Disney song blasts; Nancy and Julie for making Whitefish so fun; and Kim for his funny jokes!

For the young Flying Fishies, even if you don’t like going to practices and don't like having to jump in the cold water, in the end it’s worth it and you feel so happy afterwards.
Upcoming swim meets
IL Swimming Age Group Championships @ FMC Natatorium, Westmont
Thursday, July 22 - Sunday, July 25
You'll find our entry here.


IL Swimming Senior Championships @ FMC Natatorium, Westmont
Thursday, July 29 - Sunday, August 1
You'll find our entry here.


Speedo National Summer Championships @ William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
Tuesday, August 3 - Saturday, August 7
More info to come.
Meet results
Central Zone Speedo Sectionals @ RecPlex, Pleasant Prairie, WI
Thursday, July 8 - Sunday, July 11
You'll find complete meet results here, We'll post Flying Fish results soon. Way to go, swimmers!


GSC "A" Champs (Regionals) @ Glenbrook South High School, Glenview
Friday, July 16 - Sunday, July 18
Results will be posted soon. Congratulations to all who participated, including the 12-under group pictured.
Masks still required if you haven't submitted a vaccination card
Read the most recent update about YWCA Covid protocols here.

You can submit proof of vaccination by emailing a copy of your vaccination card to Pete or bringing a hard copy to your coach. You do not need to wear a mask if you have submitted this card.

If you have not submitted proof of vaccination, you must wear a mask in the building at all times, except when swimming. All swimmers under the age of 12 must wear a mask upon entering the building.
In other YWCA news. . .
YWeb Career Academy, a free program designed to help women enter the tech field, is hosting an informational open house July 29. Learn more here.

Interested in other happenings at YWCA Evanston/North Shore? Read the latest e-newsletter here.

For more information tailored to your interests, sign up for emails below.
YWCA Flying Fish | 847-864-8445 | flyingfish@ywca-ens.org| www.ywca-ens.org