Team Member Chosen for National Diversity Camp
SHREWSBURY, NJ (Nov. 2, 2021) – The nationally acclaimed YMCA of Greater Monmouth County Swim Team has been recognized with two distinguished honors from USA Swimming, the governing entity for the sport of swimming in the United States.
USA Swimming recently announced that the Y swim team has once again earned bronze status in its National Club Excellence Program, which recognizes the highest-performing member clubs in the country.
This marks the third year in a row that the Y swim team has achieved bronze level status.
“I am so proud of our team,” said Head Coach Jack Caucino. “They have put heart and soul into training at the highest level and competing among the best swimmers in the country.”
The Y team has captured five national championships under the guidance of Caucino and his team of coaches. The most recent first place finish was at the YMCA National Long Course Festival this past summer in Raleigh, North Carolina.
USA Swimming selected 201 teams for the Club Excellence program after adding points gained at the YMCA national festival where 38 Y swim team members competed.
The Y swim team is also proud to announce that one of its newer members was chosen to participate in USA Swimming’s 2021 National Diversity Select Camp, which took place Oct. 21-24 in Chula Vista, California.
Marcella Figueroa, a 17-year-old senior at Middletown South High School, was one of 55 swimmers across the country selected for the camp based on her swim times at USA Swimming-sanctioned events, including the YMCA National Long Course Festival in July.
Marcella, one of the top swimmers in her age group, spent four days at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. The camp is reserved for top athletes from different swimming categories who come from an underrepresented community and/or ethnically underrepresented population in current USA swimming membership.
A goal of USA Swimming’s diversity camp is to demonstrate the viability of cultural success in swimming and develop positive leaders and role models that others from diverse backgrounds can emulate.
Marcella said she was honored to be selected for the diversity camp, which has hosted many top U.S. swimmers, including four 2020 Tokyo Olympians. “It was a great opportunity to attend the camp and to represent the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County Swim Team,” said Marcella, who joined the Y team in April when her family relocated from Jersey City to Lincroft.
Caucino said he looks forward to seeing Marcella continue to grow and excel, “not only in the pool, but also as a leader in her community.” The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County Swim Team is a blend of swim teams from the former Community YMCA and YMCA of Western Monmouth County, which merged in 2019 to create the new countywide YMCA. The team has 520 swimmers, ages 6 to 18, from the Freehold, Old Bridge and Red Bank YMCAs.
Its mission is to “provide a positive team environment that promotes respect, integrity, perseverance and accountability, which enables optimal health and athletic development through swim training, instruction and competition in a safe and supportive environment.”
Photo Caption: The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County Swim Team captured first place at the YMCA national meet in July, contributing to bronze medal status from USA Swimming.
Photo Credit: YMCA of Greater Monmouth County
Photo Caption: YMCA of Greater Monmouth County Swim Team member Marcella Figueroa was selected to attend USA Swimming’s 2021 National Diversity Select Camp, which took place Oct. 21-24 in Chula Vista, California.
Photo Credit: YMCA of Greater Monmouth County
About YMCA of Greater Monmouth County
YMCA of Greater Monmouth County is here for all – to empower youth and teens, improve health and strengthen community. A leading nonprofit charity, the Y unites 36,000 people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. During the pandemic, we responded to vital community needs, providing more than $735,000 in relief services. Our life-changing programs and services are anchored in 10 communities: health and wellness facilities in Freehold Township, Old Bridge and Red Bank; outdoor day camps in Millstone and Wall; a community center in Freehold Borough; counseling and social service centers in Eatontown, Matawan and Middletown; childcare centers in Freehold Township, Matawan and Red Bank; and integrated in nearly 100 schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties. We’re based in Shrewsbury, NJ. Learn more at www.ymcanj.org.
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