VISION STATEMENT

The vision of the Hockomock Area YMCA Lightning Swim Team (HAY Lightning) is to provide a competitive swimming program that allows all interested swimmers to develop their abilities in an environment that stresses the overall growth of the individual in a way that is consistent with the YMCA values and principles. HAY Lightning will follow the Hockomock Area YMCA's Child Safety Absolutes and provide a safe and supportive environment for child protection. HAY Lightning provides a program that meets the diverse needs of beginners to nationally ranked swimmers. Our program is designed not only to facilitate each swimmer's development but also to provide an orderly progression from one level to the next. The HAY Lightning Swim Team offers a year-round opportunity for competitive swimming in both YMCA and USA Swimming as well as seasonal clinics for aspiring competitive athletes. HAY Lightning is comprised of girls and boys from age 6 through high school.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable community service organization of men, women, and children of all ages, ethnic origins, religious affiliations, and socioeconomic levels united in a common effort to positively influence the quality of life of its members, families, and community. Based on the foundation of Judeo-Christian values, our programs and activities emphasize the development of the whole person in spirit, mind, and body and are available to all individuals regardless of their ability to pay.

COACHING STAFF

David Estrada

Head Coach

A long-time member of the New England Swimming community, Dave grew up as a swimmer, competing for both Milford High School and HAY Lightning. He raced successfully at Age Group, High School, and Senior levels. He went on to compete at Old Dominion University, where he graduated with a degree in education and childhood psychology.

Dave began his coaching career in 2005, while in college with the Old Dominion Aquatic Club. Upon returning to New England, Dave began coaching at both club and high school levels, earning the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Co-Coach of the Year accolades in 2011. While with Crimson Aquatics, where he coached for over six years, his swimmers reached numerous levels of success, from best times to championship meet cuts to New England records.

In addition to the work he has done with swimmers, Dave has invested time and energy into becoming a personal trainer and CrossFit coach. He has helped clients in both one-on-one and group fitness settings and has brought this expertise to the pool deck, writing the dryland programming for the athletes and teams he has worked with.

Dave is passionate about his daughters, and fitness and his coaching is rooted in fundamentals and hard work. He is excited about this new opportunity and can't wait to bring new and different challenges to HAY.

Aidan Devers

Assistant Coach

Aidan is a long-time swimmer who swam in college for Central Connecticut State University. She particularly likes the middle distance events of 200 Back, 400IM and 500 Free. After college, she went on to coach Bryant University Men's and Women's swimming for 2 years.

She has her Bachelor's degree in marketing and a Master's in Communications and is currently working towards a Master's in Education. Aidan currently works at an elementary school in Sharon.

Fun fact, she likes sharks, arts and crafts and enjoys seeing the progress of swimmers from meet to meet.

Zoe Plumb

Assistant Coach

Zoe began her coaching journey with HAY in 2010 after 9 years teaching swimming lessons at the Y, bringing a passion for swimming and sports to the pool deck. Zoe has been in the water with the Y since she began taking lessons at 4 years old in Franklin.

Zoe holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, combining analytical thinking and problem-solving skills with a deep appreciation for the environment. This unique background helps her emphasize holistic development in athletes, both in and out of the pool.

Since transitioning into coaching, Zoe works to create an encouraging, focused, and fun environment for young swimmers. She believes that swimming is not just a sport but an opportunity to build confidence, discipline, and resilience—traits that can last a lifetime.

When Coach Zoe isn't on deck, she enjoys spending time outdoors and finding new books to read.

Steve Pohnert

Assistant Coach

Steve started swimming in 1984 in Indiana with the Kokomo YMCA team. He swam at Kokomo High School and Culver Military Academy, being a captain his senior year at CMA. Steve went on to swim at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH, where he was All-conference NCAC, All-American in the 1650 free and team captain his last year.

Steve began coaching in the 1990s with the Kinston Wahoo swim team in Kinston, NC, while pursuing his PhD in biochemistry. Steve returned to coaching with Crimson Aquatics in 2021, before joining the HAY staff in 2024. Steve is a certified coach through USA Triathlon, USMS, ASCA and Road Runners Club of America. Steve has been racing triathlons for over 30 years.

Steve currently works as a patent examiner for the USPTO on genetic testing patent applications. When not coaching or working, he likes to keep bees, run, bike, swim and spend time with his wife, Annie, and weimaraners, Hans and Pilsner.

Anne-Marie Estrada

Assistant Coach

Anne-Marie is a college graduate holding a BS in Science and has worked as an RN for 40 years. Anne-Marie spent many years as a swim lesson instructor and began coaching in Woonsocket in 1995 as the "little kid" coach, and has coached at different levels since. Anne-Marie currently holds a Level III E&E through ASCA. This certification emphasizes education and experience.

Anne-Marie has a strong connection to those swimmers who may have different needs and was recently certified by Swim Whisperers as an adaptive swim coach. We hope to involve kids who have different learning styles and needs in the team.

Aside from swimming, Anne-Marie loves to garden, visit Aquariums and sew. She has 5 children and 6 grandchildren, the youngest of which is 1. Many family activities involve meets and swimming, and she hopes that continues for many more years!

HOURS:

If you send an email to either [email protected] or [email protected] you should expect to receive a response within 24 hours between normal business hours Monday-Friday.

Dave Estrada, Head Coach, is unavailable to respond to emails while he is actively coaching on-deck during the evening hours, or at swim meets over the weekend

Heather Plumb, Team Admin, is contactable via email and does her best to reply the same day.

HAY HANDBOOK:

Available here

MINOR ATHLETE ABUSE PREVENTION: