Championship Meet Information Short Course 2025

Lauren Nesbitt

As our team grows in both size and competitive nature, we are excited to offer multiple championship level meets for our swimmers to attend. Championship meets require qualifying time standards which simply means these meets require a minimum speed of swim proven by the swimmer's sanctioned entry time to be allowed to swim. Swimmers are welcome and encouraged to swim any event they have a qualifying time standard in! If your swimmer has multiple events qualified, our recommendation would be to look at last year's meet results via MeetMobile and choose the events your swimmer would place highest in. Our coaching staff is also more than happy to make these selections for you! We've seen a lot of swimming over the years and we almost always know which events are best for your swimmer given their current performance in the pool. If you'd like us to help with event selection please leave a note during sign-up letting us know! 

In this email I'm going to list basic info for each championship level meet so that your family can plan for the months of February, March, and April:

Illini Junior District Championship

  • This is the ONLY championship level meet that does not require qualifying time standards - the only qualifying rule for this meet is that swimmers are not allowed to enter an event that they already have the Illini District Qualifying Time Standard in. 
  • This meet is highly recommended for our YDSC swimmers who have not earned a District Qualiying Cut yet or those looking to add to their existing District Qualifying Cuts. 
  • Location: Knox County Family YMCA in Galesburg, Illinois
  • Date: One day meet on February 23, 2025
  • Timed Final Format - All swims will be one time swims

Illini District Championship (YMCA Swimming)

  • Qualifying Time Standards Required: **Swimmers are not allowed to enter an event that they already have an Illinois Swimming Championship Qualifying Standard in!
  • This meet is highly recommended for our YDSC swimmers who have earned one or more Regional Qualifying Cuts. Swimmers who have earned both Illini District Qualifying Cuts and Illinois Swimming Regional Qualifying Cuts are encouraged to look at last year's results of both meets via MeetMobile and choose the meet that will give your swimmer the best competition (again our coaching staff is more than happy to help with this.) Swimmers who have qualified to both meets are also welcome to race one day at Districts and one day at Regionals. We will provide coaching staff at both meets.
  • Location: Gus & Flora Kerasotes YMCA in Springfield, Illinois
  • Date: Two day meet on March 1-2, 2025
  • Timed Final Format - All swims will be one time swims

Illinois Swimming Regional Championship (USA Swimming)

  • Qualifying Time Standards Required - https://www.gomotionapp.com/ilspy/UserFiles/Image/QuickUpload/24-25-illini-district-times_083011.pdf 
  • This meet is highly recommended for our YDSC swimmers who have earned one or more Illini District Qualifying Cuts. Swimmers who have earned both Illini District Qualifying Cuts and Illinois Swimming Regional Qualifying Cuts are encouraged to look at last year's results of both meets via MeetMobile and choose the meet that will give your swimmer the best competition (again our coaching staff is more than happy to help with this.) Swimmers who have qualified to both meets are also welcome to race one day at Districts and one day at Regionals. We will provide coaching staff at both meets.
  • Location: Central Park Pool in Peoria, Illinois
  • Date: Two day meet on February 28 - March 2, 2025
  • Timed Final Format - All swims will be one time swims

Illinois Swimming Senior State Championship (USA Swimming)

Illinois Swimming 10&Under State Championship (USA Swimming)

YMCA Swimming Illinois State Championship (YMCA Swimming)

  • Qualifying Time Standards Required - https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/maysc/page/information/qualifying-times
  • This meet is highly recommended for our YDSC swimmers who have earned one or more YMCA Illinois State Qualifying Cuts. 
  • Location: Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana
  • Date: Three day meet on March 14-16, 2025
  • Formats:
    • 10U and 8U swimmers will be Timed Finals Format - All swims will be one time swims
    • 11-12 swimmers will be Prelim/Finals Format with the exception of the 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Butterfly, and 500 Freestyle. The top 10 in each event will move on to swim again in Finals for all other events.
    • 13-14 swimmers will be Prelim/Finals Format with the exception of the 500 Freestyle. The top 10 in each event will move on to swim again in Finals for all other events.
    • 15&Over swimmers will be Prelim/Finals Format with the exception of the 200 Backstroke, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 1650 Freestyle, 400 IM, and 500 Freestyle. The top 10 in each event will move on to swim again in Finals for all other events.

YMCA Swimming National Championship (YMCA Swimming)

  • Qualifying Time Standards Required - https://www.gomotionapp.com/yusa/UserFiles/Image/QuickUpload/2025-sc-qts-v5_091635.pdf
  • This meet is highly recommended for our YDSC swimmers who have earned one or more YMCA National Championship Qualifying Cuts. 
  • Location: Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Date: Five day meet on March 31 - April 4, 2025
  • Prelim/Final Format with the exception of designated distance events which may be swum as Timed Finals