Our History
FAST has been around for over 30 years at the Fremont Family YMCA. In 2013, Former Head Coach David Struble came to Fremont and helped build the FAST swim team. In 2015, FAST became dual-affiliated with the YMCA and USA Swimming, allowing the team to compete in the two leagues of Nebraska, the YMCA of Nebraska Aquatic League and Midwestern Swimming, a region of USA Swimming. This dual affiliation allows the team to compete annually in several regional and national championships. In the Spring of 2022, Head Coach David Struble stepped down, and current Head Coach Shane Ahrens took over. Under his leadership, FAST has won the 2023 YMCA State Meet and placed 2nd at the 2023 East Conference Championship for Large Teams.
The FAST team is located at the Fremont Family YMCA's Dillon Family Aquatics Center in Fremont, Nebraska. The Dillon Family Aquatics Center was completed at the Fremont Family YMCA in 2018 and is the newest pool in Nebraska since 2005. The prestigious Myrtha Pool Company constructed the pool. They are one of the top pool companies in the world and have built the last 4 Olympic Trials and the Olympic pools. They created a modifiable swimming pool, which can run 12 lanes of short course yards (25 yards) or switch to 6 lanes of long course meters (50 meters). It is one of the few 50-meter pools in Nebraska. This adaptability and space allow many teams and FAST to practice and host swim meets at the facility, such as the Fremont High School Swim Team, Fremont Masters Swimming (FASTERS), Fremont Special Olympics Swimming, and Midland University Swim Team.
The mission of the FAST swim team is to get as many swimmers involved in Fremont and the surrounding area as possible to learn the proper skills and techniques of swimming. With a lot of help from a parent-run board, FAST has been able to accomplish this and build from only 20 swimmers in 2013 to close to 60 swimmers currently. We aim to continue supporting and developing swimmers of all ages to their fullest potential in Fremont and its surrounding regions. Through rigorous practice and competitive events, we provide opportunities for the growth of athletes physically and mentally. These can lead to both indivdual and team achievements. These achievements are thanks to our dedicated board of directors, parents' involvement, and a capable staff of coaches.
FAST has 4 coaches - Head Coach Shane Ahrens, Assistant Coaches JJ Pelikan, Shea Ahrens, and Georgia Androy. To learn more about them, follow this link.
FAST has four levels of groups: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Senior. To learn more about the requirements and goals of each group, follow this link here. To learn about the cost of each group, follow this link.
