Day 2 of the YMCA National Championships was highlighted by DCST’s Women’ 400 yard Freestyle Relay of Emily Launer, Katie Hallenbeck, Casey Jepsen and Emily Waller who set the DCST Team Record by a whopping 4.56 seconds with a time of 3:37.03. With this relay’s performance and considering Emily Waller’s 2.5 second time drop in her 200 yard Freestyle (1:54.47) and Casey Jepsen’s 3.70 time drop in the time trial 200 yard Freestyle (1:56.08), DCST is looking for bigger and better things on Wednesday (Day 3) of the National Championship...

The Kishwaukee YMCA / DeKalb County Swim Team (DCST) got off to a good start on the first day of the YMCA National Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida by setting 5 new team records. Emily Launer set two team records on Monday. She began her day by lowering her team record in the 500 yard Freestyle, and then she lead off the women’s 200 medley relay with a new team record in the 50 Backstroke. Grant Alef also set a team record in the 50 backstroke with his lead off...

21 DCST Swimmers Compete at ISI Age Group Championship Meet DCST had a strong showing at the ISI Age Group Championship Meet with 22 swimmers qualifying for this meet. Emily Launer led DCST by placing 9 th or better in all 6 of her events including her first place finish in the 13 – 14 year old girls 200 yard Backstroke. She also placed 4 th in the 200 yard Backstroke, 5 th in the 500 yard Freestyle, 6 th in the 200 yard Individual Medley, 8 th in the...

DCST’s Daniel Hein Sets National Record At the IL / MO Area Boys Championship Meet, DCST swimmer Daniel Hein Set the YMCA National Record for the 9 – 10 year old boys 50 yard Backstroke. His time of 29.86 broke the previous record of 30.20 set in 1992 by B. Best form Howard County, Maryland. Congratulations Daniel!

Prior to the start of Boys Area Championship Meet, DCST swimmer and coach, David Gordon, gave the opening devotion. The following is a copy of his devotion: Boys Area Meet Devotion David Gordon It is said that we are products of our environment—whether this is good, or bad, may be debatable. However, when one is the product of an environment such as the YMCA, it is certain you will be a success. At the YMCA we have 4 core values instilled in us—Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. These YMCA core...

Gracecast According to Jacque, Grace’s surgery today went as the doctors had expected. In addition to having a complete knee replacement, the doctors removed 6 inches of bone and 10% of her quadriceps muscle. She is now tumor free! She will begin rehabilitation on her knee on Wednesday. They hope to come home on Thursday or Friday. I am sure Jacque will have more detailed and up to date information on the care page in the next couple of days.

DCST Takes 3rd in Boys Area Meet The Kishwaukee YMCA / DeKalb County Swim Team (DCST) took third place in the 2009 Boys IL / MO Area Championships. DCST finished with 708.5 points which was just 13 points behind second place Leaning Tower YMCA (Niles, IL) and 177.5 points behind Area Champion Edwardsville. The DCST Boys team has shown great improvement in the past year. This year’s team scored 82 more points than the 2008 team, and cut the gap between themselves and 1 st place Edwardsville from 384.5 in...

DCST Girls Win IL / MO Area State Title The Kishwaukee YMCA / DeKalb County Swim Team (DCST) won the 2009 IL / MO Area Championship for the second time in three years. DCST finished with 891.5 which outdistanced second place finisher Edwardsville by 52.5 points. The IL / MO Area Championship meet consisted of 55 teams from the entire state of Illinois and the eastern half of Missouri. One of the DCST coaching staff’s slogans is to “Always swim faster in finals,ý and that is exactly what the team...

IL / MO Area Entries Posted The entries for this weekend’s IL / MO Area Championships have been posted. After seeing the entry lists, DCST has an excellent chance of reaching our goal of winning both the Girls and Boys Championships. Listed below are the top teams based on number of entries in the meet: Saturday – Girls Championships DCST – 68 Individual Entries and 10 Relays Edwardsville (EDWY) – 62 Individual Entries and 10 Relays Northwest Dupage (BRRY) – 59 Individual Entries and 9 Relays Sunday – Boys Championships...

DCST Looks for Improved Placing at Area Meet After a strong showing in their District Championship Meet, DCST is looking to improve in the team standings from a year ago at the IL / MO Area Championships. The Girls Area Championship Meet will be on Saturday, March 7. A year ago in this meet, DCST finished fourth in a close race behind Northwest Dupage (BRRY), Edwardsville (EDWY) and Tri City Area (TCAY). This year DCST, looks to move up and challenge for the top spot with a significant increase in...