MAKE A SPLASH

Southside Virginia Family YMCA Swim Team

WELCOME TO THE STINGRAY SWIM TEAM

Girls and boys ages 5 - 18yrs old are invited to join the Southside Va Family YMCA Swim Team!

Print off this registration form to sign up your athlete today, or stop by the front desk to grab and submit a copy! Alternatively, email your completed form to jamesmerinar@comcast.net, and if you are already a member, log in to your online account to complete registration and payment from your portal! Please note: all swim team athletes must be a member of Southside Virginia Family YMCA.

Check out the calendar below for updates on Swim Team practices and meets!

MEET THE COACH

HEAD COACH JAMES MERINAR

Coach Jim swam YMCA for 12 years, including in summers and High School in Lock Haven, PA. A Pennsylvania native, he attended Penn State University, Lock Haven University, and received a Master’s degree from Lehigh University. He began coaching at the Lock Haven YMCA when he was in college at Lock Haven University in 1988. He coached off and on until 1999, when he moved to Bellefonte, PA. He took over the head coach position with the Bellefonte YMCA Stingrays (yes, the Stingrays!) and coached them until 2013, when he and his family moved (returned) to Lock Haven, PA. While there, Coach Jim led his team to 2 league championships, and his swimmers earned State Championships honors as well as qualifying for YMCA Nationals. While in Bellefonte, Jim was also heavily involved in creating the first Bellefonte High School swim team, which culminated in a 3rd place finish at the high school state meet in 2013. In 2013, Jim and Whitney (along with Rebekkah and Cassie) moved back to Lock Haven, where he was appointed Head Coach of the Lock Haven YMCA Loggerheads. While there, his teams (summer and winter) earned more accolades, twice winning the league championship meet while individuals again earned state gold medals. In 2020, Jim retired from Pennsylvania teaching and the family moved to Newberry, South Carolina, where Jim became coach of the Newberry Academy High School swim team. The highlight of coaching in South Carolina was in the fall of 2022, when all swimmers finished in the top 10 at the state swim meet. Jim is married to Whitney Merinar, and together they have two swimmers on the team - Rebekkah (age 16) and Cassie (age 12) as well as adult son Josh (who is age 28 and swam age group as well as College).

STINGRAY SCHEDULE

Week 1: October 23rd-October 29th

  • Monday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Wednesday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Thursday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Friday: 5:45 (dry land)-6:15 then 6:15-7:00 in water

Week 2: October 30th-November 5th

  • Monday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Wednesday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Thursday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Friday: 5:45 (dry land)-6:15 then 6:15-7:00 in water

Week 3: November 6th-November 12th

  • Wednesday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Friday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Saturday: 11:00-11:30 (dry land) then 11:30-12:45 in water

  • Sunday: 1:15-1:45 (dry land) then 1:45-3:00p in water

Week 4: November 13-November 19th

  • Thursday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water *****

  • Saturday: 11:00-11:30 (dry land) then 11:30-12:45 in water

  • Sunday: 1:15-1:45 (dry land) then 1:45-3:00p in water

Week 5: November 20th-November 26th

  • Monday:6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Tuesday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water

  • Saturday: 11:00-11:30 (dry land) then 11:30-12:45 in water

  • Sunday: 1:15-1:45 (dry land) then 1:45-3:00p in water

Week 6: November 27th-December 3rd

  • Wednesday: 6:00 (dry land)-6:30 then 6:30-7:15 in water *****

  • Saturday: 11:00-11:30 (dry land) then 11:30-12:45 in water

  • Sunday: 1:15-1:45 (dry land) then 1:45-3:00p in water