Join our nationally ranked swim program for our Fall/Winter swim season!
At the Y, we strive to encourage swimmers to grow as individuals, achieve their goals as swimmers and expand their overall potential in a nurturing, safe, yet competitive environment. Swimmers in the GSCY Storm Swim Team practice at the Bridgewater, Somerville, Hillsborough and Somerset Hills YMCAs as well as some other local pools.
Our team has over 400 swimmers ages 7-18 and compete in YMCA and USA-sanctioned meets.
Please review the following information outlining the 2023-2024 GSCY Storm short course season tryouts.
Interested in joining the team mid-season? Please click here for more information.
To view the tentative Fall 2023 practice schedule, please click here.
| Age as of 12/1/23 |
Tryout Time |
Tuesday, September 12th |
| 10 & Under Cost: $50 |
5:00pm-5:45pm |
Check-in at 4:45pm Swimmers will be timed for one lap (25 yards for 8/Under and 50 yards for 9/10) in the competitive strokes of freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke. Openings in the following groups: Pre-Team 1&2, all Waves North & South, all Thunder North & South (Pre-Team ages 6 & up, Waves 7-8, Thunder 9-10). Tryouts will be conducted for ages 6 and up, but 6-year olds will be considered for the Pre-Team only. |
| 11-12 years old Cost: $50 |
6:00pm-6:45pm | Check-in at 5:45pm Swimmers will be timed for two laps (50 yards) in the competitive strokes of freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke. Openings in the following groups: all Lightning North, Lightning 3 South |
| 13 & Over Cost: $100 |
7:00pm-7:45pm | Check-in at 6:45pm Swimmers will be timed for two laps (50 yards) in the competitive strokes of freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke. Openings in the following groups: Senior 2, Senior 4 (Senior groups age 15 & up). We are near capacity for our 13/14 age group swimmers and will review all applications (see 13/Over Tryouts note below) submitted to Coach Evan Graziano as space allows. |
*8/u swimmers – Swimmers ages 8/under must be able to swim 1 lap of freestyle and backstroke without stopping and have knowledge of both butterfly and breaststroke. Swimmers will also need to be comfortable swimming in the deep end of a pool where they cannot touch the bottom.
13/Over Tryouts – Athletes attending tryouts should submit the following to 13/Over Head Age Group Coach Evan Graziano ([email protected]): (a) brief summary of your competitive athletics history, (b) an updated current list of top times LCM/SCY, and (c) one character reference (email and phone). Athletes that will be considered for the GSCY 13/Over programs should have a minimum of 3 NJ YMCA State qualifying times. Those standards can be found here.
Pre-registration is required. Please register for tryouts online via the links above. In addition, tryout forms will be emailed prior to the tryout date that need to be brought by the swimmer.
Tryout Details & Tips
- All tryouts will take place at Somerset Hills YMCA.
- Please attend the tryout for the swimmer’s age as of December 1, 2023.
- Swimmers must be at least 7 years old as of December 1, 2023.
- Tryout is required to be considered for placement.
- Swimmers should arrive 15 minutes PRIOR to the start of the tryout and are expected to participate during the entire tryout time listed. Individuals who arrive more than 5 minutes late will not be permitted to try out.
- Swimmers must demonstrate appropriate practice readiness skills, stroke technique, speed and endurance for team consideration.
- A numbered swim cap will be provided. Goggles are strongly recommended.
- Swimmers who are successful will join the team in September 2023.
Contact Information
- For general tryout questions for 13/over tryouts, please contact 13&Over Head Age Group Coach Evan Graziano ([email protected]).
- For questions regarding 12/under tryouts, please contact 12&Under Head Age Group Coach Jason Brauer ([email protected]).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you use the swimmer’s age as of 12/1/2023?
This is the age the swimmer will swim as for a majority of the season. For example, if a swimmer turns 13 on November 22nd, they will swim 13 for the entire season, including September and October.
If I was on the 2022-2023 Storm Short Course Team but did not swim 2023 Storm Long Course, do I need to try out?
Yes, you will need to try out.
If I swam Spring ONLY 2023 Long Course, do I need to try out?
No, you don’t need to try out.
If I swam 2023 Long Course and my attendance fell below 70%, do I need to try out?
No, not meeting the attendance requirement does not require you to try out, but it will inform your group placement for Short Course. In some instances with very low attendance you will be required to try out. Those swimmers will be notified by email.
If I was on the Pre-Team last Fall/Winter, do I need to try out?
If you were on the pre-team last season and you wish to move to the GSCY Storm Competitive team, you will need to attend a tryout.
If I was on the Hillsborough Hurricanes or Bridgewater Blue Dolphins this summer, do I need to try out?
Yes you will need to try out, unless you were on the GSCY Storm team in the spring and/or summer.
If I make the team, what is the commitment?
The swim season begins approximately September 20th and runs through February or March depending on the swimmer’s ability and last meet. Practices are from 3 to 6 days a week depending upon age and will be weeknights and weekends. Swimmers aged 13 and up will have practices from 1.5-2 hours with added dryland several days a week. Swimmers 12/under will have practices from 1-1.5 hours with several days of dryland.
Will I have to travel for practices?
Our practices are held throughout Somerset County. Somerset Hills YMCA and Bridgewater YMCA function as our main hubs. In addition, we utilize Hillsborough YMCA and Somerville YMCA pools.
What are the costs to join the team?
All swimmers on the team must be members of the Greater Somerset County YMCA. The fees for the fall/winter season range from about $1000-$2000 depending upon age. In addition to the fees, there will be fees for attending meets, team gear, caps and suits.
