Darien YMCA Gymnastcis |
For Gymnasts Only: |
Click here to log onto the Darien YMCA |
Gymnastics Photo Gallery. View pictures and upload your own. |
Darien YMCA Gymnastcis |
For Gymnasts Only: |
Click here to log onto the Darien YMCA |
Gymnastics Photo Gallery. View pictures and upload your own. |
The Piranha Swim Team incorporates seven training groups: House, Maia, Poseidon, Nautilus, Junior I & II, and Senior. The group a swimmer trains with is determined by commitment, age, ability and experience. Coaches place all swimmers in training groups.
Specific attendance requirements and suggestions for each training group are included in the training group descriptions below. A swimmer’s promotion and improvement is contingent on commitment; age and ability are a distant second and third on the list of reasons for promotion. Although we try to keep swimmers grouped by age, eventually a swimmer’s lack of attendance and dedication to the Team will catch up with him/her in many ways. Swimmers who are committed and attend practice as outlined for their group will find themselves rewarded in their advancement through the training groups, their development as a swimmer and improvement in their times.
The Greek goddess of growth. The Maia level consists of swimmers who are between the ages of 7-9 and have some competitive swimming experience. Swimmers must be able to legally complete at least 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke and butterfly or breaststroke. Maia swimmers will focus on stroke technique and learn the basics of competitive swimming, team spirit and fun. The Coaching Staff recommends that Maia swimmers attend at least 2 practices per week.
Greek word meaning sailor. Nautilus I & II swimmers have competitive swimming experience and are usually between the ages of 9 and 11, depending on ability. This group will focus on stroke technique, swimming all four strokes and simple sets. The goal of the Nautilus group is to have fun while learning about competitive swimming. The Coaching Staff recommends that these swimmers attend 3 workouts per week. Nautilus II swimmers are 9 years old who have opted to join the Team for the winter season only. These swimmers are offered practice 4 days per week. Nautilus I are full year swimmers and are offered practice 6 days per week.
The Greek god of the sea. The Poseidon group is swimmers usually between the ages of 11-14. They are experienced swimmers who will focus on stroke technique, interval training, discipline, competition and fun. Poseidon swimmers be ooffered dry lands once per week through the Y. The Coaching Staff recommends that these swimmers attend 4 workouts per week to receive optimal training and have the opportunity to develop the necessary strength and skills for continued development.
To earn promotion into the Junior training group, a Poseidon swimmer must demonstrate he/she is committed to the Piranhas year round and has shown the coaching staff he/she can handle Junior level training and the commitment that comes with this level of training.
Junior I & II Training Groups
The Junior training groups are reserved for our 13/Overs (12/Unders aging up to 13 before the end of season may be eligible for one of the Junior groups.) To earn promotion into one of the Junior training group, a Poseidon swimmer must demonstrate he/she is committed to the Piranhas year round and has shown the coaching staff he/she can handle Junior level training and the commitment that comes with this level of training.
Junior II
This group will focus on building an aerobic training base, continued work on technique and building strength. The Coaching Staff recommends that these swimmers attend 5 workouts per week to receive optimal training. This group will also have dry lands at least twice per week. The goal of the Junior II group is to demonstrate the necessary dedication and skills development to become a Junior I swimmer.
Junior I
This group of athletes are experienced swimmers who are focusing on attaining the necessary skills to become a Senior Swimmer. Conditioning will become more of a focus for these swimmers and stroke technique will continue to play a major role in this training group. Dry-land sessions will be available along with morning workouts. The Coaching Staff recommends these swimmers attend 5 workouts per week to receive optimal training and have the opportunity to develop the necessary strength and skills for continued development.
To earn promotion into the Senior group, a Junior swimmer must demonstrate he/she is a dedicated member of the Piranhas, can handle the dedication and commitment necessary for Senior level training and have multiple CT Senior cuts. As a prerequisite for joining the Senior group a swimmer must be able to swim 30 x 100 Free @ 1:20, 15 x 200 IM @ 3:00, have a Freestyle threshold of 1:15 or better and have swum following events either short course or long course; 1650/1500 or 1000/800, 500/400 Freestyle, 400 IM and all 200’s of stroke and IM.
The Senior training group is reserved for year round swimmers who have dedicate themselves to the sport of swimming and the Piranhas. A swimmer in this group must demonstrate he/she is socially, mentally and physically mature enough to handle demands of an elite swimming program. This group is the highest level of swimming offered by the Darien YMCA. These swimmers receive the most practice time, and resources the Piranhas have to offer and they work directly with the Head Coach. Senior swimmers are 13 years of age and older. Criteria to be promoted to the Senior group and detailed expectations to remain in the Senior groups can be viewed by clicking on the link.
Name | Type | |
David Oulighan |
Referee |
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Gigi Kearney |
Referee | |
Erica Merrill |
Starter |
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Tom Ryan |
Starter |
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Pat Begos |
Starter |
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Charlie Hom |
Stroke & Turn |
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Nancy Grune |
Stroke & Turn |
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Craig Lovegrove | Stroke & Turn | |
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The Piranha Swim Team is the Darien YMCA’s year-round competitive swimming program. The goal of the Piranhas is to create an environment for developing not only the finest of athletes but also the finest of citizens. We strive to teach life lessons and skills through the sport of swimming and to create lifelong swimmers. We offer swimmers 7 years of age and older the opportunity to train and reach the highest level of swimming available in the US. As a member of the Piranhas, your family will join a first class organization. As an age group swimmer (7-12 years), focus is on stroke technique, simple sets and having fun. As swimmers get older, the level of commitment increases; longer and more challenging workouts, early mornings and more meets. Invaluable life lessons are learned and friendships are made throughout the journey. The Piranhas compete in both USA Swimming and the CT YMCA Swimming League. The Team is under the leadership of Head Coach Henk Jansen.
The Piranhas compete in two courses over the year. The short course (SC) season begins in September and ends in March. SC season meets are held in 25 yard pools. The long course (LC) season begins in April and ends in July. LC meets are held in 50 meter pools. All 10/over swimmers are expected to participate fully in both seasons. All swimmers must participate in at least two swim CT USA Swim meets during the SC season and at least one CT USA Swim meet during the LC season to qualify for a USA CT Championship meet (Piranha Intrasquad, Y dual meets and Y Invitational Meets do not count towards this requirement). Some high level meets may require more. Also, swimmers’ parents must time in at least two meets over the course of the season in order for thier swimmer to be eligible for a Championship meet. Please check the schedule carefully to make sure you are attending the necessary number of meets.
The Piranhas compete as members of USA and YMCA Swimming. USA Swimming is recognized as the highest level of swimming available to athletes at the amateur level, providing regional, National and international levels of competition. YMCA swimming primarily provides the Piranhas with their dual meet competition and some invitational type meets. Both USA and YMCA swimming meets are offered throughout the season, culminating with championship meets. All swimmers are expected to swim in the respective Championship/ end-of-the-season meet.
Registration is open to all returning swimmers in good standing (all swimmers must be current on all fees). New members are admitted to the Team after participation and evaluation in the Fall stroke clinic. Eligibility is based on both ability and space in age group. Piranha Swim Team members must maintain current full Darien YMCA memberships.
The Piranha Swim Team is under the leadership of Head Coach, Henk Jansen.
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Along with the YMCA core values of respect, caring, honesty and responsibility, we the Piranha Swim Club are committed to excellence and dedicated to developing the finest of athletes as well as the finest of citizens through the sport of swimming and our swimming program.
The Piranhas is a competitive swim team. Because we are a competitive Swim Team, all members of the Darien YCMA Piranha Swim Team will be expected to attend meets faithfully. The major difference between Piranhas and swim lessons is that Piranhas do compete in swim meets. All Team members will need to attend at least two CT USA in-season meets for the winter season (meets between September and the end of February) and one CT USA in-season meet for the summer season (April-July) to be eligible for any CT USA Championship meet, Piranha Intrasquad meets and Y meets do not count towards these requirements, but time achieved at those meet do count. Also, any swimmer who does not meet these criteria will risk losing his/her spot on the Team the following Fall.
Swimming in meets is a part of the developmental process for swimmers. Learning how to race, how to split races properly, how to ‘win’ and how to ‘lose’, is as much a part of swimming as learning proper stroke technique. A swimmer is missing a huge part of the sport if they do not compete. Please make time for swim meets.
Henk JansenHead Coach
Henk, an ASCA Level IV Coach, starts his 9th season with the Piranha Swim Team. Before joining the Piranhas,he was an Assistant Coach with the OMNI Swim Club of New Haven from 199-2004, Head Coach at East Haven from 1997-98, and a Volunteer Assistant at Southern Connecticut State University for the 1997-98 season while working full-time as a Computer Analyst for SNET (now AT&T) in New Haven. Henk graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communications and a minor in Computer Science. Over the course of his 15 year coaching career Henk has sent numerous swimmers to compete at the collegiate level and has developed multiple USA Senior and Junior National qualifiers and in 2008 coached Piranha Peter Geissinger to the 2008 USA Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2006, for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport of swimming, Henk was inducted into the East Haven High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2007 he was honored by his alma mater, Southern Connecticut with the Bruce Hutchinson Alumni Award. From 2006-2010 Henk severed as Connecticut Swimming’s Senior Chair and he is currently a member of the CT Swim’s Technical Planning Committee. Henk resides in Shelton with his wife, Michele, daughters Olivia and Avery and his son Zach. |
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Jason CochranHead Assistant Coach
Jason, a graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and an ASCA level III coach, starts his 5th year of coaching with the Piranhas. He was promoted to Head Assistant Coach of the Piranhas in 2008 and currently an assistant coach with the Darien High School Girl’s Swim Team. Before joining the Piranhas, he was an Assistant Coach for the Whippany Waves of Whippany, NJ for three years working with all levels of swimmers from developmental and novice to senior athletes. Over his 5 years with the Piranhas, Jason has coached every training group on the Team. In 2008 his 8/Unders won the New England Championship and in 2010 his 9/10’s won the same title. Also in 2009 his 9/10 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle relay Teams broke CT State records. He works primarily with the Junior and Poseidon groups, but often coaches the Nautilus swimmers as well. He currently resides in Stamford. |
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Liz BlauAssistant Coach
Liz Blau, is starting her 3rd year of coaching with the Piranhas and her 2nd as a full-time coach. Liz brings a wealth of coaching experience and knowledge to the team. Before joining the Piranhas, Liz was the Men’s and Women’s Head Swim Coach at Rutgers University, an Assistant Coach at the Red Bank YMCA and an Assistant Coach with Scarlet Aquatic Club of New Jersey. She will working primarily with the House, Nautilus and Poseidon groups. Liz resides in Stamford with her husband Fritz and their three children, Ashley, Billy and Haley. |
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Jim MatthewsAssistant Coach (YMCA Aquatics Director)
Jim Matthews, the Darien YMCA Aquatics and Waterfront Director is the longest tenured Piranha Coach on staff. Before joining the Darien YMCA in 2000, Jim was an Aquatics Director at the Wilton YMCA. He has taught hundres if not thousands of kids how to swim in the Fairfield County Area. He brings decades of coaching and teaching experience to the Piranhas. His duties with the Piranhas include working primarily with the Maia group. He is a native of Rainbow Lakes, NJ, and currently resides in Stamford with wife Susanna. |
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Amy D’AndreaAssistant Coach (YMCA Assistant Aquatics Director)
Amy, starting her 8th year of coaching with the Piranhas, is the Darien YMCA Aquatics Programming Director. Before joining the Darien YMCA, Amy coached and taught swim lessons at the Merrimack Valley YMCA in Andover, Mass. She was a competitive swimmer, diver and synchronized swimmer and is a graduate of Springfield College with a degree in Psychology. With the Piranhas, she works primarily with the Maia group. She resides in Stamford with her husband Dan and their children Jessie, Mia, Samantha and Daniel. |
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Jessica JohnstonAssistant Coach
Jessica starts her 5th year of coaching with the Piranhas. She was a full-time Piranha Assistant from 2010-11 before she moved back to Syracuse for a year. She is a graduate of Lemoyne College in upstate New York with a degree in Psychology. While at Lemoyne she was a four year member of the Lemoyne Varsity Swim Team and captain her senior year. Since coming to the Piranhas she has coached every group on the Team and has assisted on many of the Senior travel meet trips. She works primarily with the Nautilus and Poseidon groups. She is a native of Syracuse, New York and currently resides in Norwalk. |
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Timea LibertinyAssistant Coach
Timea, a teacher for the Montessori School in Greenwich, is starting her 7th year of coaching with the Piranhas. She is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University in upstate New York where she studied History and was a collegiate swimmer for four years. Before joining the Piranhas, Timea was Assistant Coach with the Iona Gaels Swim Team in New Rochelle, New York for a year as well as a coached at the New Canaan Country Club for two summers. Over her tenure, Timea has coached every group on the Team except the Seniors. She currently works primarily with the House group. Timea resides in Norwalk. |
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Chris McCabeAssistant Coach
Chris, a former Piranha parent, will be starting her 3rd year as Piranha coach. She was an instructor with Joan LaClair Swim School for over 10 years. Chris was a varsity swimmer while at St. Lawrence University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Math and Economics. She lives in Darien with her two children James and Caroline, who at one time swam for the Piranhas and her husband Jim. Chris will works primarily with House. |
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Michelle KrizniAssistant Coach
Michelle, a long time Pre-School teacher at the Darien Y, starts her 3rd year with the Piranhas. She graduated in 2005 from Roger Williams College with a degree in Art History. Before joining the Piranhas, Michelle has taught every level from swim lessons to swim team the last 9 years. With the Piranhas, she will work primarily with the Nautilus and Poseidon groups. Michelle is an accomplished artist and plays clarinet in the New Canaan Community Band. She lives in Danbury with her husband Anthony and their Siberian Husky, Sasha. |
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Gym Center |
203-655-4584 |
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Gymnastics Director’s Office |
203-655-7753 |
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Gymnastics Director |
John Schwartz |
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Travel Team Head Coach |
Vladimir Kovalenko |
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Travel Team Coach |
Valentina Kovalenko |
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Travel Team Coach |
Yury Vasilyev |
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Travel Team Coach |
Antonina Surmenko |
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House Team Coach |
Erin Hunter |
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House Team Coach |
Nicole Kapitan |
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House Team Coach |
Anatolie Vartosu |
The annual fee is broken into 12 equal monthly payments for your convenience and will be deducted monthly from either your credit card or debit card. We are no longer accepting a “pay-as-you-go” method of payment.
Travel Team Tuition
3 days a week / level 3 & 4: |
$340 per month |
4 days a week / level 5: |
$360 per month |
5 days a week / levels 6-10: |
$385 per month |
6 days a week/ levels 9-10 (optional): |
$410 per month |
House Team Tuition
2 days a week / levels 4-6: |
$225 per month |
New: Level 6 Only – A 3rd day option now available |
$275/ month |
Travel Team
September Fee |
$225 |
January Fee |
$225 |
House Team
September Fee |
$175 |
January Fee |
$175 |