HISTORY of the PARKERSBURG YMCA SHARK SWIM TEAM

The Parkersburg YMCA Shark Swim Team was started in 1969 through the efforts of three swimming parents – Ned Walters, Chick White and Kevin Free.

The first coaches were Andy Berky and Tom Phillips and, the first pool was a 5-lane by 20-yard one located at the St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary, now OVU.

Through the efforts of the swim team parent’s organization, a fund drive was started in 1971 to build a quality competitive facility on the sight of the current YMCA. Through the generosity of the parents, the community and Bernard McDonough, the current pool was completed in 1972.

In 2012, another fund drive allowed the team to upgrade the starting blocks to the current track-start style and to add a 6-lane Colorado Timing System scoreboard. Much of this money came from former swimmers of the Sharks.

The program has always been a year-round program with two seasons - Fall/Winter/Spring (September-May) and Summer (June-July).

Over the years, the team has had …

• 1 Olympian & World Record Holder,

• 3 USAS National Champions,

• 4 YMCA National Champions,

• 7 Olympic Trial Qualifiers, and

• 1000’s of area kids who learned to swim, developed life-long discipline skills, and grown to contribute to their communities. Many of those have earned scholarships to college.