Walnut Creek Family YMCA
948 73rd Street
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 224-1888

Head Practice Site Coach
Damon Garrison
[email protected]

Walnut Creek Assistant Coaches
Angie Harrington, YMCA
Josh Doolittle, YMCA & USA
Mark Wachendorf, YMCA
Laura Phelps, YMCA
Sarah Crane, YMCA & USA
Tara Kettles, YMCA & USA

Joining our Team

Registration for the Fall/Winter 2025-26 season will open to returning members on August 4 and new members on August 25 with practice opportunites starting as early as September 8. Returning members do not need to tryout.

Fall/Winter 25-26 meet schedules will be posted and updated as available.

Walnut Creek Evaluations Fall/Winter 2025-26

Potential new members are asked to complete an evaluation before registration. During the evaluation process, your child will be expected to swim freestyle with side breathing and backstroke. They will also be asked to attempt breaststroke and butterfly if they know those strokes. 

Evaluation Sessions:

Wednesday, August 27 5:30pm at Walnut Creek Pool

Sunday, September 7 11:00am at Wellmark YMCA Pool

To Register click here.

Evaluations can be requested by emailing Coach Damon at Walnut Creek pool.​​​

Questions? Please email Coach Damon. 

Walnut Creek Parent Meeting Fall/Winter 2025-26

Tuesday, September 16 @5:30pm at Walnut Creek Family YMCA. 

Walnut Creek Practice Schedule

September Start Date: Monday, September 8

October Start Date: Monday, October 6

November Start Date: Monday, November 3

*Combined Silver practice times held at Wellmark YMCA.

To help with the transition of the single practice time, we will offer a lane (or 2) of Blue during Bronze Group and vice versa for families with multiple children, etc. You must make these arrangements with Coach Damon.

Fifth practices will be at the Wellmark YMCA (when available):
Purple 9:30-10:15 AM
Blue 9:30-11:00 AM
Bronze 9:30-11:30 AM
 

Practice times are subject to change.

Season Meet Schedule

Click HERE for 2025-26 USA Swimming Meet Schedule.  YMCA Schedule is drafted in late September.
Click HERE for event calendar. (Must be logged-in to view.)

 Season Fees*

Due to space and time limitations, some practice sites will fill their available roster spots. Swimmers are encouraged to register early to ensure a roster spot.

The DSMY Marlins are a competitive swim team:

• Training fees after the season championship meet will be prorated for athletes qualified for additional competitions.
• Future roster spots are not guaranteed. Priority is given to athletes competing in a minimum of three meets and families with completed volunteer hours.
• A minimum number of volunteer hours is set before each season depending on the number of team hosted events on the schedule. 

The Marlin Swim Team is NOT a monthly program. Installment billing is available as a convenience to our families only. The entire season minimum fee will be collected regardless of start date. Installment billing is not available for registrations after the start of the regular season.

Refunds, partial credits, or discounts on registration and meet fees are not available for missed practices and/or meets due to vacations, absence due to temporary illness, voluntarily leaving the team early, lack of attendance, or involuntary separation due to misconduct.

Membership in the YMCA of Greater Des Moines is required for all DSMY Marlin members during their season. Athletes must be current on both their YMCA and Marlin fees to participate in meets.

*Season fees do not include YMCA memberships, USA Swimming membership, or meet fees. Multi-Swimmer Discounts are available at the Practice Site locations only when registering all family members at the same time. (Discount does not apply to or with Senior Competitive Gold/Silver swimmers.) Alternatively, the YMCA offers financial assistance to those in need. Contact your practice site Welcome Center for information.         

** This is the minimum fee to participate in the Marlin swim team program. Swimmers starting after November will still pay this entire amount.

High School Participation Fees (Fall/Winter season only)

High school aged swimmers in grades 9-12 are eligible for a special rate schedule when they choose to participate in their high school swim team. Junior high/middle school team participants are NOT eligible.

ALL high school swim team participants must register for the season by September 22, 2025 to ensure their roster spot and maintain their eligibility for competition in USA and YMCA meets as well as DSMY Marlin team functions. 
 

Open to all parents of active team members, the Walnut Creek booster club welcomes you to attend our meetings! Please come to learn about the fun and service events we have planned for the upcoming season and how you can help. Our next meeting is Monday, June 9th, at 5:30 PM in the Walnut CreekY Social Center. Hope to see you there!