🐟 HCY Stingrays Scoop

Autumn Challenge Recap

The Hunterdon County YMCA was truly at its best this past weekend at the Autumn Challenge Invitational. Our swimmers showed up and delivered from start to finish. Across all age groups, athletes posted outstanding performances—earning new Bronze, Silver, and State Championship cuts throughout the meet, and even adding a brand-new YMCA National qualifying time to our team achievements.

Even more exciting was seeing so many swimmers step outside their comfort zones and take on longer, more challenging events. Last year, in 2024, we had just one swimmer compete in the Friday night distance session. This year, we had fifteen. That growth speaks volumes. It reflects the commitment our athletes show every day at practice and the trust they have in their coaches and training. This hard work is paying off now—and it will continue paying dividends as the season progresses.

Equally impressive was the phenomenal effort from our parents and volunteers who made this event run at such a high level. Hosting nine visiting teams is no small task, and thanks to your professionalism, teamwork, and enthusiasm, we delivered a well-organized, positive, and efficient meet experience from start to finish. HCY has a long history of running top-tier swim meets, and once again, we upheld that reputation with pride.

Thank you to every swimmer, parent, volunteer, and coach who contributed to this weekend’s success. Keep up the great work, keep supporting one another, and keep setting the example that continues to make us one of the strongest and most respected teams in the region.

Go HCY Stingrays!

Boys Dual Meet vs Ocean County YMCA
Saturday, Nov 22nd
@ RVCC
2:00 PM Warm-Up – 1:45 PM Check-In

Be on time. Early is always better than on time—arriving by 1:45 ensures we are organized, focused, and able to start warm-ups together as a team. Checking in with the HCY coaching staff right away helps us confirm attendance, make any lineup adjustments if needed, and keep the meet running smoothly. When everyone shows up promptly, it sets the tone for a strong performance and shows respect for your teammates and coaches.

Make sure you are wearing your HCY team apparel. Representing our colors creates unity, shows pride, and lets other teams see the professionalism and spirit we bring to every meet.

And above all, be a great teammate. Cheer loudly, stay engaged, support one another between races, and help keep the team area positive and organized. Great teams aren’t just built on fast swims—they’re built on athletes who encourage each other, celebrate each other’s successes, and lift each other up after tough races.

Let’s show up, show out, and bring the Stingray energy!

🎯 30 Visit Challenge: Holiday Edition 

Swim Team should take full advantage of this and all get the 30 days in!!!!

Don’t let the holidays sideline your goals! Stay active and motivated during the busiest season of the year with our 30 Visit Challenge: Holiday Edition.

How It Works:

• Visit the Y 30 times in 9 weeks (November 1 – January 2) to earn fun prizes and keep your wellness routine strong.
• Just like our Summer Visit Challenge, large poster boards in the Wellness Centers let you add a sticker for each visit, creating a visual tracker to celebrate your progress together!

Dates:

• Saturday, November 1, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026 (9 weeks)

Registration:

• Free to join
• Members only
• No minimum age — everyone is encouraged to participate! [REGISTER HERE]

Prizes:

• 10 Visits: RCY sticker (great for water bottles, laptops & more!) or bottled water
• 20 Visits: Protein bar or sports drink
• 30 Visits: Celebrate your success with a Y Ice Scraper or Festive Y Ornament*

*Prefer more flexibility? Choose 2 of the 10 or 20 visit prizes instead!

Prizes will be available for pick-up at the Welcome Center and recorded in Daxko upon receipt.

Stay active, have fun, and let’s make this holiday season one full of movement and celebration! 🎉

📱 Stay Connected with GroupMe

Join your swimmer’s GroupMe chat to stay updated. We recommend both parents and older swimmers join:

• Seniors: Join Here
• Pre Seniors: Join Here
• Junior 2: Join Here
• Junior 1: Join Here
• Little Stingrays: Join Here

🏅  Meet/Event Schedule

🚨 Important Practice Updates – Fall 2025 🚨

Nov 22 - Boys Dual Meet

• Canceled: J1, J2, Pre-Senior Boys
• Senior Boys: 7:00–8:30 AM @ Deer Path
• Girls: Normal schedule for J1, J2, Pre-Senior & Senior Girls @ Deer Path

Nov 26th - Early practice in lieu of Thanksgiving

• Senior 1 and Senior 2 will swim combined from 4:15-6:15 (There will still be dryland for both groups after)

Nov 27th - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

• The YMCA is closed for Thanksgiving - Enjoy the day with your families.

💡 Tip: Mark your calendars now! These changes affect all groups—especially during meet weeks.

See you on the pool deck,
Coach Lou & Coach Ruby