YMCA of the Twin Tiers

Barracuda Swim Team

Learning Values One Lap At a Time

The YMCA of the Twin Tiers Competitive Swimming Program participates in the Northwestern PA YMCA Swim League.

NWPA - League Championship 2024
(Barracudas, Warren, Franklin, Titusville, Corry, Oil City, Jamestown, Eastside, County YMCAs)

DATE & TIME: Feb. 17 &Feb. 18 7AM - 5p
LOCATION: SUNY Fredonia
Steele Hall Natatorium, 280 Central Ave #1127,
Fredonia, NY 14063

2023 - 2024 Season: September - February

Swimmers of ages 6-18 years old participate in our Swim Team. Led by caring coaches, we emphasize individual improvement through stroke technique. Swimmers compete locally with the opportunity to advance to the district, state, and national level. Please come to our open house on Aug. 31st or Sept 2 between 5pm and 6pm to register for the team and receive season information. If you are new to the team please bring a swim suit, cap and goggles to swim a couple lengths for our coaches. Swimmers will meet with a coach and be placed in the correct practice level. The competitive swim team program is offered at the Bradford YMCA, and the pre-competitive swim team program is offered at the Olean YMCA.

Contact:
Pre-Competitive and Competitive Swim Team: [email protected]

- Registration Form TBA
- Barracuda Competitive Team Schedule TBA
- Parent Handbook TBA

Swimmers Compete in the following age Categories for both Boys and Girls

Midgets: Age 8 and under
Cadets: Age 9 – 10
Preps: Age 11 – 12
Juniors: Age 13 – 14
Seniors: Age 15 – 18

Practice Groups

In order to provide an effective instructional/competitive swimming practice, swim team members will be organized into three practice groups according to the individual swimmer’s swimming ability. Coaches will assign practice groups for each swimmer. Check bulletin board for assignment.

Orange Group – Midget Age Swimmers/ New Swim Team Members/Swim Team members with a lack of overall skill in any of the four competitive swimming strokes – focuses on basic competitive swim skill development and improvement.
Yellow Group – All nine and ten year old's, and eleven and up – focuses on refinement of swimming skills, as well as strength and endurance training.
Green Group – Ten and up – While swimmers will still work on stroke improvement, this group focuses primarily on strength and endurance training, as well as sprint and distance workouts depending on the individual’s strengths.
Silver Group – Advanced – group will focus on increased intensity, endurance workouts to prepare for YMCA National Goals.

* Swimmers will be assigned to Practice Groups during the first week of practice. The Swim Team Coaching Staff may move a swimmer into a different Practice Group during the season based on skill improvement. The Swim Team Coach has the final say on the assignment of swimmers to Practice Groups at all times.

Barracuda Competitive Team Program Fees

$450/season - Family Members
$480/season - All Other Membership Types
Swimmers must have a Y Membership to participate on the Barracuda Swim Team.

Note: All participants are encouraged to purchase a team swim suit.

OPTIONAL EXPENSES:

YMCA Locker Rental = $60 per year*
Warm-up suits = Approx. $60 per swimmer
Goggles = $5 – $10 per pair
Invitational Entry Fees = $4 – $7 per event
Swim Team Banquet Fee = $5 – $15 per person
Travel, Food, Lodging, Championships, District and States = Varies

* Lockers are for day use only unless rented; $5 per month on bank draft. Any locks left on non-rented lockers will be cut off.

NOTE: Financial assistance is available. Please contact Emily Rhoades at 814-368-6101 ext. 214 or [email protected].

About the Coach

Patrick Hollenbeck, Head Coach 2022-Present

Patrick started as a swimmer for the Barracudas in 1999 and ended his swimming career with the team in 2013. He could not stay away for too long, after swimming for Allegheny College for four years, he rejoined the team as an assistant coach in 2017. He then took over the reins from 18-year head coach Caren Barnes in 2022. Since taking over as head coach, the team has established 31 new team records, 7 new North Western PA YMCA Swim League Records, and 2 Western PA District Championship Meet Records. The success of the team continues with 19 NWPA YMCA Swim League Champions, 7 Western PA District Champions and 2 Pennsylvania State Champions.

When Patrick is not around the pool, he is currently on the finance committee for the United Way of Bradford, the Past President for the Rising Leaders of Bradford, on the Advisory Board for the Olean YMCA, on the finance committee for the Olean YMCA, on the executive board for the Tuna Valley Trail Association, on the advisory board for the Downtown Bradford Revitalization Corporation and he helps teach swimming with Special Olympics.

In his free time, he enjoys swimming, golfing, playing tennis, playing pickleball, snow skiing, attending Penn State Football games and being around a lake.

Team Safety Rules and Regulations

The Bradford Barracuda Swim Team protects every one of our athletes. The team follows all safety rules and regulations provided by USA Swimming. USA Swimming’s top priority continues to be keeping our athletes safe. No form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, has a place in our sport. As a part of our continued commitment to safeguarding our athletes, USA Swimming has enacted enhancements to our Safe Sport policy requirements.
For more information please see USA Swimming's Code of Conduct.

The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) addresses one-on-one interactions, social media and electronic communications, travel: local and team, locker rooms and changing areas and massages, rubdowns and athletic training modalities. Every USA Swimming club is required to implement the MAAPP in full.

Click here to view the New Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP).
Remember all athletes 18 & over must complete APT Training every year. Athletes 18 & over must complete all 3 courses AND the survey. Click here to get for more information and to complete the courses.

For more information on all the USA Swimming SAFESPORT guidelines, please visit the US Center for SAFESPORT website.

Please contact Emily Rhoades with any questions or concerns: [email protected].