Y Adult Softball Schedules

Adult Softball has been one of the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA most successful programs.

Schedules for the 2010 season can be found by clicking here.

Games are played at the Grand Travers Civic Center fields.

Contact Barb Beckett, League Commissioner for more information. Call 231-933-YMCA (9622) or email by clicking here .

LUAU TEEN DANCE AT THE YMCA

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA sponsors monthly teen dances for 6th through 8th graders the first Saturday each month at its Main Facility at 3000 Racquet Club Drive in Traverse City. Dances are held from 7-10 p.m.

May’s Theme will be “Luau the Night Away” will be held on Saturday, May 1 with fun, basketball, pizza, pop, meet new friends, and more. Join us for an evening for Teens with Hawaiian Shirts, Leis, and join in the Limbo Game on the dance floor. Music is DJ led with all the favorites. A prize will be awarded to the Teen that brings the most YMCA non-members friends!

“Teen dances provide a safe environment for teens, and an opportunity to meet new friends, mingle, listen to great music, and enjoy an activity just for them!” according to Molly Brown, Y Teen Director. “Parents and other adult volunteers always help to make the dance a great event. They will see we provide a safe, wholesome environment for this dance.”

Admission is free to YMCA members and $5 per person for the public. Identification is required for entry. Parents and volunteers are always welcomed to help with dances. Dress and dancing code enforced.

People are encouraged to contact Y Teen Director Molly Brown at 231-421-3568 or molly@gtbayymca.org  for more information on the dance and volunteer opportunities.

Directing sports for 25 years – Barb Beckett

First Published in the Grand Traverse Insider

Directing sports for 25 years – Barb Beckett
By Allison Knopp, Y Guest Writer

A woman who did not have the chance to play sports like the boys in high school has channeled her passion into giving women and girls – along with men and boys – of all ages the opportunity to play almost any sport they want right here in their own community.

Barbara Beckett, Youth and Adult Sports Director at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, has been working for the organization for over 25 years. She started her career by refereeing for adult men’s basketball games three nights a week when they needed some help. From there she used her enthusiasm and creativity to create changes for the YMCA and herself.

“Occasionally at the Y they want to add new programs and I had some ideas,” Beckett said. “I started saying, ‘Hey why don’t we try this, why don’t we start a softball league, why don’t we start a women’s league, why don’t we start this and that.’”

The program that Beckett says she is most proud of, however, is the Pop Warner football program.

“That is the program that probably got me established,” Beckett laughed.

The YMCA started Pop Warner in 1995 with eight teams and 120 players and has since grown to 90 teams and more than 2,500 players in five counties. The teams have also given communities the opportunities to start cheerleading programs so that interested girls can get involved as well.

“It does a lot of good,” Beckett said. “It prepares a lot of players to play at the varsity level. Most the teams that have made the playoffs in the area have had Pop Warner teams.”

Beckett says she loves seeing the results of the program and how it changes kid’s lives.

“I see it all the time,” she said. “We have had several Pop Warner players go on to the NFL which has been great to see.”

As the sports director, Beckett is very excited about the future of the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA.

“I’m very proud that we are as close to building a new Y as we have been in the 25 years since I’ve been here,” Beckett said.

She says her duties will remain essentially the same but the new facility will make the programs much better. Basketball, lacrosse and soccer will be among many of sports that will be able to utilize the new and updated courts and fields.

“My main goal though is to have a new office with a window that I can see outside,” she joked.

Beyond sports programs and the possibility of the latest facilities, however, Beckett says one of the most rewarding parts of her jobs is the opportunities and experiences she has and that she gets to see people have every day.

Originally from Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Beckett came up to Traverse City to go to school at Northern Michigan College, then after a little time away decided she wanted to come back for good.

While in school in Mt. Pleasant, Beckett did not have the opportunity to play sports because they didn’t have women’s teams. She played intramural sports and is now glad to have the opportunity to offer the community many women’s and co-ed sports programs.

“It is very important that girls get the same opportunities,” she said. “If we can add a woman’s program we do.”

Beckett remarked that another one of her favorite parts of the YMCA is that that the organization collaborates with schools, counties and other outside organizations.

“Making that network, that’s fun to me, I always want to know everybody,” she said. “The Y does that very well.”

More than anything though, Beckett loves seeing the happiness and difference the YMCA makes in people’s lives.

“People that come in here to play sports are always happy,” she said. “I never get tired of it.”

She said that people remember their time at the YMCA and keep coming back. She has had people in her sports programs and then years later have their children join.

Nevertheless, the most important part of Beckett’s job is what the YMCA says right it in its vision statement: “We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.”

“We accomplish our mission,” Beckett said as she smiles. “I see it every day.”

Allison Knopp is a 2010 Michigan State University graduate in Journalism and is a free lance writer. The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA thanks her for this profile. More information on the Y can be found at http://www.gtbayymca.org/  .

Help Wanted: Campaign & Membership Coordinator

Grand Traverse Bay Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-YMCA (9622)
http://www.gtbayymca.org | info@gtbayymca.org | http://newsgtbayymca.blogspot.com

Apply via email with resume, writing samples, 3 references to dave@gtbayymca.org or Dave Eitland, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, Michigan 49684. Qualified applicants need only to apply. No phone calls. Applications will be taken until April 30, 2010.

Campaign & Membership Coordinator

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is in the midst of its first major capital campaign seeking $12 million in donations from the region to build the Essential Phase of a New YMCA located on its property in Garfield Township, Michigan. The campaign will continue to raise major and other gifts of $6.6 million over the next 18 - 24 months and heighten the community awareness of the need for the New Y. The YMCA is hiring a Campaign & Membership Coordinator to fill a temporary, full time position for the duration of the Campaign. The position will assist in all aspects of implementation and marketing of the Campaign to its successful completion. In addition this position will work to enhance and retain membership for the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA in anticipation of the New YMCA. This position reports directly to the Director of Development and Marketing.

The Coordinator will:
• With Campaign volunteer committees, coordinate, design and implement all media, materials, mailings, marketing, and communications as it relates to the Campaign’s donors, prospects, and the regional community including a monthly campaign newsletter in whatever form.
• Plan, design and implement designated special events including all event logistics and support, internal and external mailings, and event invitations.
• Provide logistical support in planning and executing capital campaign meetings and programs.
• Help in the stewardship of relationships with donors and maximize giving potential.
• Support capital campaign committees by maintaining committee rosters, taking and distributing materials, preparing materials, reserving meeting space, and other general administrative support.
• Provide assistance for capital campaign grant requests, including coordinating supplemental documents, preparing proposal package, tracking proposals, and compiling updates to funders.
• Maintain campaign electronic communications in all its forms.
• Assist in supervision data management.
• Maintain an inventory of campaign materials and presentation packets.
• Provide logistical support for the Campaign Director, YMCA staff related to the Campaign and Campaign volunteers and leaders.
• Develop and implement a plan and procedures to increase membership.
• Develop and implement a plan and procedures to retain membership.
• Create and publish publicity and materials that increases and retains membership.
• Inform and enforce the plan and procedures with staff to increase and retain membership.
• Conduct tours.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree and five years experience in philanthropy or marketing.
• Must have a passion and ability to work with a broad spectrum of people.
• Must be committed to and be able to articulate the mission, values and programs of the YMCA.
• Must be committed to changing the regional community by building a New Y.
• Expertise in the English language in speaking, writing and editing.
• Expertise in using computers, software and databases to create materials, letters, minutes, thank you notes, etc.
• Expertise in producing materials and communications from inception to final product.
• Expertise in dealing with volunteers and the public at large.
• Expertise in working on multiple tasks concurrently in order to achieve a goal.
• Experience implementing marketing campaigns.
• Experience in capital campaigns a bonus.

The Campaign and Membership Coordinator is a temporary position lasting only for the duration of the Campaign. This position does not provide any benefits.

Apply via email with resume, writing samples, 3 references to dave@gtbayymca.org or Dave Eitland, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, Michigan 49684. Qualified applicants need only to apply. No phone calls. Applications will be taken until April 30, 2010.

TC Pop Warner Signup TONITE!

There will be a Traverse City League Pop Warner Sign Up TONITE April 19 at the YMCA Main Facility, 3000 Racquet Club Drive in Traverse City at 7:00 pm!


More about Y Pop Warner ...
Fall football season seems very far away, but signup begins in April for the upcoming 2010 YMCA Pop Warner Football League!

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA started the Y Pop Warner Football league in 1995 and began with 10 teams and 120 players. The league has grown each year and in 2009 the YMCA expects close to 90 teams with over 2500 players with over 300 volunteer coaches participating in the tackle football.

Presently 25 different northern towns will offer YMCA Pop Warner Football. With nearly 300 kids enrolled Traverse City has the largest number of participants. Each association handles their own registration, has their own board of directors, coaches, and volunteers.

YMCA Pop Warner presently offers two divisions of play for participants. The Junior Midget division is offered for kids age 10-12 weighing between 85-135 pounds. 13 year olds may play but must not weigh more than 115 pounds. The Junior Peewee division is for 8-10 years olds weighing between 60-105 pounds. 11 year olds may play in the Junior Peewee but may not weigh more than 85 pounds. August 1st is the cutoff date for age division.

YMCA Pop Warner Football is a travel league, held Saturdays in September and October, and area associations host an all-day slate of games. Y Pop Warner is safe, fun, and a great way to learn the skills of tackle football.

Traverse City will be hosting three signup dates at the YMCA for interested players. The first is the “early” signup, April 19th at 7:00pm. May 19th at 7:00pm and July 12th at 7:00pm are the two final signup dates. These dates are for Traverse City players only.

If you live in another area and need registration information, please go to the website www.ymcafootball.com to find your local representative. For more information call Barb Beckett, Y Pop Warner Football League Commissioner at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA main number, 933-YMCA (9622), or check out the main YMCA website, chick here.

Y Youth Soccer

Y Youth Soccer Schedule can be download by clicking here.

May Family Nights

Family Fun Nights are an opportunity for families to get together will others to enjoy themselves and the program and facilities of the Grand Travere Bay YMCA. We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. Family Fun Night for May 7 & 21 will be "Luau Party" with bonfire (weather permitting), Limbo, make, leis & Hawaiian projects, create your own Fruit Kabobe! Both events are from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.. Always there is all you can eat pizza.. These events are free to YMCA members and are $15 per family for the public.. Contact Molly Brown at 421-3568 or email at Click here. . This program and all of the YMCA’s 65 program information is available at our website at click here May 7 @ Main Facility & May 21 @ Y Child Care Center, 1100 Woodmere Ste B, TC After May events, the family nights takes a break for the summer and will start again on September 10 & 17

GARFIELD TOWNSHIP APPROVES Y PLAN

NEWS AND INFORMATION from the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA

3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684

info@gtbayymca.org | http://www.gtbayymca.org/  | 231-933-YMCA (9622)
http://newsgtbayymca.blogspot.com/

CONTACT: Tom Van Deinse, CEO, 231.933.9622, tvd@gtbayymca.org

Thursday, April 15, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
GARFIELD TOWNSHIP APPROVES Y PLAN

At its April 14 meeting, the Garfield Township Planning Commission approved the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA amendment request for the New YMCA site on 3700 Silver Lake Road.

This amendment allows for the building of a 3,200 square-foot pole building that will be used for storage and equipment to support the maintenance of the new Meijer Athletic Fields for the coming soccer, lacrosse, and football season this fall. The building will be set back 160 feet from the northern property line. A revised light plan and expanded landscaping will block parking lighting to neighbors and comply with the Township’s dark sky standards.

The amendment further allows for a revised phasing plan for the building of the New Y and a 6 foot bituminous pathway along Silver Lake Road.

“If we get lucky and the grass grows strong, we will be using the fields for soccer, lacrosse and football this fall,” according to Tom Van Deinse, CEO of the YMCA. “We built these fields now because of the community need and the success of our programs. Construction of athletic fields, parking, and site preparations was completed this last summer. We only need another $6.6 million donated from people to build the building,” says Van Deinse.

Additional information about our over 65+ programs can be found at www.gtbayymca.org contact our Front Desk at 933-YMCA (9622) or our blog site at http://newsgtbayymca.blogspot.com for more information.

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is a faith-based charity that served last year more than 10,000 members and program participants including over 6,400 kids and 2,800 members each year through 65+ programs that build body, mind, and spirit. The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is part of the largest charitable group in the country, received over $200,000 in donations and granted financial assistance to 500 families in 2009. Nearly 500 volunteers donated nearly 33,000 hours of their time to ensure the Y could fulfill its Judeo-Christian mission of building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

Day Campers at New Y site in Summer 2008

Marketing and Media Intern

Grand Traverse Bay Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684
231-933-YMCA (9622)
http://www.gtbayymca.org/  | dave@gtbayymca.org  | http://newsgtbayymca.blogspot.com/  

Marketing and Media Intern

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is seeking a Marketing and Media Intern to further expand our presence on the web as a mechanism to communicate to our members and friends. This internship is based at our main facility at 3000 Racquet Club Dr, Traverse City. Intern must be a creative writer, fluent in English and grammar, fluent in current technology of communication including Facebook, Twitter, Internet, etc. Intern will help to implement electronic newsletters to various YMCA constituencies. Intern will write profiles, news releases, and update various on-line media. Content will vary as with all of our 65 different programs. Experience in layout, design, and digital photography a plus. There also might be an opportunity to produce a public access television show for the Y. Intern will feel comfortable to work in both classical media and forms of communication as driven the new technology. Intern must interact with a variety of people in a professional manner and represent YMCA mission, values, and vision at all times. This is an uncompensated internship. Intern will be responsible for all arrangements for academic credit. Length of internship will be negotiated.

Start Date: 6/1/2010 End Date: 9/1/2010 negotiable

Organization Description: Your Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is a faith based charity that primarily serves the five county region.

• Our Mission: "To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all."

• Our Values: "Through programs that foster honesty, respect, caring and responsibility, at the YMCA we build character one kid at a time."

• Our Vision: "Strong kids, strong families, strong communities!"

• The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA shall be nondenominational and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, disability, color, religion, or national origin.

Your Y at a glance:

o 65 plus programs for 2 week olds to 90 + year olds

o over 2,500 members of 21,000,000 nation wide

o 8,698 program participants including 6,416 kids

o 494 volunteers contributing 32,864 volunteer hours

o In 2009, received $223,705 in donations

o 560 received $112,000 scholarship and financial assistance

o 2,282 adults program users, 360 senior users, 80 military families

Send Letter of Interest, resume, and 3 writing samples or web work.

The New Y – Some Answers

First Appeared in the Grand Traverse Insider, Sunday, April 11, 2010

The New Y – Some Answers
By Tom Van Deinse, CEO

Since 2007, the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA has been attempting to raise some $12 million in donations to build a New YMCA. To date we have raised over $5.3 million. In a recent study, we found there were some questions by community leaders about the project. Here are some answers to some of the question raised by the study about the New Y.

“I’ve seen the facility plans, and they look very nice. I know the current building is old, but do they really need such a nice, new facility?”

There is no doubt that the current YMCA facility needs to be replaced. It has hosted more than a quarter of a million usages each year for almost 30 years, and has served the community beyond the typical lifespan of a metal shell building of its type. Further, it is literally sinking into the swamp on which it was built.

YMCA facilities, however, are just that – “facilities”. The New Y will be built NOT as a marvel of architecture, but as a functional building to facilitate programs. During the planning process the board of directors took great care to match community need with building size and function. For example, the pool is sized to accommodate 2,000 kids in learn-to-swim programs each year because that is the amount of need that was identified. The tennis center, gyms, fitness center – all were planned to the specifications of need identified by independent market studies. Those needs, and the facilities planned to solve them, are summarized here:
________________________________________

Need: 40% of 7th graders surveyed could not swim 25 yards to save their life or the life of a friend

Solution: The New Y Aquatics Center

Impact: 2,000 kids in the five county region will learn to swim each year at The New Y

________________________________________

Need: There is no family-oriented full-service recreational facility in our entire five county region

Solution: The New Y pool, gym, youth fitness, adult fitness, senior fitness, tennis center, teen & family center

Impact: 4,000 additional families from throughout the region will enjoy The New Y

________________________________________

Need: Youth obesity, leading to Type II diabetes, is on the rise, and regional health is on the decline

Solution: The New Y fitness center with dedicated youth fitness, adult fitness, and senior fitness areas

Impact: 1,000 families categorized as “not yet fit” will participate in health & fitness services at The New Y

________________________________________

Need: Teens need a fun, safe, positive place to grow

Solution: The New Y teen center

Impact: 1,000 additional teens from the Grand Traverse Bay area will have a place of their own at The New Y

________________________________________

Need: There is no regional full-service facility where everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay

Solution: The Y’s “No One Denied” financial assistance policy will carry forward to The New Y

Impact: 1,000 additional families will benefit from the expanded charitable services of the YMCA

________________________________________

What all of these statements have in common is that the need is real, vital, and urgent. The YMCA is the most qualified organization to solve these community needs, with the expertise already in hand, but what is lacking are facilities. For example, the YMCA is nationally the largest provider of swim lessons, so because so many local kids can’t swim, we began teaching in hotel pools, but we have to close down during the summer because of lack of availability, and even during the off-peak season we are limited to less than 100 kids among the thousands that lack adequate life-saving skills. We need The New Y now!

“I would like to see the YMCA act more like a Christian organization – put the ‘C’ back in YMCA.”

The Young Men’s Christian Association began as a bible study group for wayward boys in London in 1844. Soon after the first Y opened in Boston in 1851, YMCA leaders realized that an attractive, real-life, and hands-on way to instill Christian values was through programs such as camping (did you know that the Boy Scouts grew out of the YMCA?), swimming, child care, and youth sports.

That same emphasis on Christian values is alive and well at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA today, and is at the heart of all of our programming. Our board of directors opens each meeting with prayer (we have a retired pastor on board), and we use Christian values to guide our decisions, which are ultimately based on our mission statement – “to put Judeo Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all”. Our sports teams pray before each competition (gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, tennis), and our camp kids are taught to pray each day. All of our programs are focused as much on values education as on sports skills training. Our new Y Day Care Center features a Christian curriculum, and The New Y will feature a chapel as a further sign to all who participate that we are a people and a place of faith.

Nationally, the YMCA has recognized its subtle slide toward secularism, and is taking steps to amend that through its brand revitalization campaign, but at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA we have always sought to capitalize the ‘C’ in YMCA.

The New YMCA Capital Campaign is seeking more donations from the community in order to build. Online donations can be received at http://www.4good4ever.org/.

Child Care: Open House on Wednesday

Y Soccer Teams Still Being Formed

Contact: Barb Beckett, Y Sports Director, 231-933-9622 or Bill Sparks, Y Soccer Coordinator, 231-933-9622, bsparks@gtbayymca.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Y Soccer Teams Still Being Formed

“With the way that Easter and Spring Break fell on the calendar this year, there were many people who did not have the opportunity to sign up for Y Soccer,” according to Barb Beckett, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Sport Director. “These coed recreational leagues emphasize fun and safety for grades K-12. Six games are on Saturday mornings with two games played midweek. We play on local fields. Teams are made by school and special request so you can play with your friends. Coaches are volunteers.”

Space is still available on Y Soccer teams.

The spring season begins on Saturday, April 24 and runs through Saturday, June 5. The league is open to all kids in grades K-12. All of the divisions are co-ed and all games are played on local fields.

If you would like more information about YMCA spring soccer, please contact Barb Beckett or Bill Sparks, Y Soccer coordinator the Y at 933-9622. Or visit our website at www.gtbayymca.org.

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA through programs that foster the Judeo-Christian values of honesty, respect, caring and responsibility, we build character one kid at a time.

Y CHILD CARE OPEN HOUSE

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA’s Y Child Care Center will have an open house on Wednesday, April 14, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 pm. Members of the public—including parents, employers and staff, and friends of the YMCA—are invited to attend to tour the facility and find out about this values-based program.

From the outside of the Y Child Care Center on Woodmere in Traverse City looks like a big building. On the inside some 30 children experience an expansive facility and Judeo-Christian based child care and pre-school program curriculum that changes their lives.

“We have been fortunate to have 30 children experience our child care in the past year,” said Molly Brown, YMCA director of Y Child Care programs. “Our teachers are experienced child-care providers who incorporate the YMCA’s Christian values-based approach in care and teaching. The result is a fun, happy atmosphere where infants, toddlers and preschoolers can really thrive.”

The YMCA is the nation’s largest provider of day and child-care services in the country. Its family-centered philosophy is geared to the individual needs of children.

The Y Child Care Center is located in Traverse City at 1100 Woodmere, Suite B. The Center is fully licensed by the State of Michigan for 53 children, from newborns through pre-kindergarteners. Kindergarten enrichment and after-school programs for school-aged children are offered, as well. The facility is a 9,600 sq. ft. of space including a gymnasium. The Center is ideal for the care needs of working women. Scholarships are also available.

For more information on Y Child Care or to RSVP to the April 14 open house contact Molly Brown at 421-3568 or email her at childcare@gtbayymca.org. Detailed information is available at www.gtbayymca.org.

Healthy Family

The YMCA of the USA offers a website and monthly newsletter for the family. Here is this month's message:

Happy Spring,


We hope you enjoy your Healthy Family Home Newsletter.

Use the link below to read this month’s newsletter.

http://www.ymca.net/healthyfamilyhome/newsletter.html

Have a wonderful and healthy weekend.


Valerie A. Lawson, MS, RD, LDN

Activate America

YMCA USA
101 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606

YMCA POP WARNER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2010

By Barb Beckett, Y Director of Sports, and Y Pop Warner League Commissioner

Fall football season seems very far away, but signup begins in April for the upcoming 2010 YMCA Pop Warner Football League!

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA started the Y Pop Warner Football league in 1995 and began with 10 teams and 120 players. The league has grown each year and in 2009 the YMCA expects close to 90 teams with over 2500 players with over 300 volunteer coaches participating in the tackle football.

Presently 25 different northern towns will offer YMCA Pop Warner Football. With nearly 300 kids enrolled Traverse City has the largest number of participants. Each association handles their own registration, has their own board of directors, coaches, and volunteers.

YMCA Pop Warner presently offers two divisions of play for participants. The Junior Midget division is offered for kids age 10-12 weighing between 85-135 pounds. 13 year olds may play but must not weigh more than 115 pounds. The Junior Peewee division is for 8-10 years olds weighing between 60-105 pounds. 11 year olds may play in the Junior Peewee but may not weigh more than 85 pounds. August 1st is the cutoff date for age division.


YMCA Pop Warner Football is a travel league, held Saturdays in September and October, and area associations host an all-day slate of games. Y Pop Warner is safe, fun, and a great way to learn the skills of tackle football.

Traverse City will be hosting three signup dates at the YMCA for interested players. The first is the “early” signup, April 19th at 7:00pm. May 19th at 7:00pm and July 12th at 7:00pm are the two final signup dates. These dates are for Traverse City players only.

If you live in another area and need registration information, please go to the website www.ymcafootball.com to find your local representative. For more information call Barb Beckett, Y Pop Warner Football League Commissioner at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA main number, 933-YMCA (9622), or check out the main YMCA website, http://www.gtbayymca.org/. News and information about the YMCA can also be found on its blog site at http://newsgtbayymca.blogspot.com/.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from your friends at the

Grand Traverse Bay YMCA &

the Y Child Care Center!

Level 6 Y Gymnastics Team Finishes Season With 13 Gold Medals

Flores, Flores & Davis Lead YMCA Team: Level 6 Y Gymnastics Team Finishes Season With 13 Gold Medals

The Level 6 YMCA Girls Gymnastics team continued their statewide domination with a win last weekend at Hartland Gymnastics Academy, their final meet before the state championships later this month. The team captured first place in each event, and individually won the gold medal All Around in every age division in which they competed.

Olivia Flores, Francie Flores, and Amy Davis led the team with three individual gold medals each, closely followed by Kendra Benak with two gold medals, and Rachel Ovalle, reigning Level 5 state champion and winner of the 2009 Y Strong Kids Award, with one gold medal.

Davis’s 36.575 All Around score was a meet high. Her other two first place finishes came on Bars and Beam. Twin sister Patricia Davis tied with Amy for second place on Floor with a 9.175. Olivia Flores won the 13-14 year old division by claiming first place on Bars and Floor, both events also won by younger sister Francie in the 11 year old division. Olivia scored a 36.025 All Around, while Francie turned in a 36.225.

Kendra Benak won Vault and Floor in the 12 year old division, and placed second on Beam. Rachel Ovalle’s 9.3 Beam routine won her a gold medal on that event, and she placed second All Around.

“The girls have continued to improve all year long,” commented coach Jennifer Van Deinse, “and they’re definitely peaking at the right time.” Co-coach Gina Van Deinse added, “It’s really great the way the girls have stepped up without Annie [Gerstner] and Suha [Augenstein].” Gerstner and Augenstein were moved up to Level 7 mid-season after leading the team at Level 6 early on. Gerstner’s 35.875 catapulted her to 4th place in the Level 7 All Around scoring, but the real story was her first place Vault. “It didn’t take Annie long to make her mark at Level 7,” added Coach Jennifer, “and though this year’s state meet will be only her third Level 7 meet, she’s got a real shot at the championship.”

As Gerstner and Augenstein reach higher levels, other gymnasts are moving up to Level 5. Eight year olds Jade Turner and Annemarie Jenkins won red and yellow ribbons, respectively, for their performances at the Hartland competition.

Other high scorers for the YMCA Level 6 Gymnastics team included Samantha Neddo (2nd place on Beam and 3rd on Vault, Bars and All Around), Kayla Jackson (2nd place Vault, 3rd place Beam, and 4th place Bars), Kalyn Peterson (3rd place Floor, and 4th place on Bars, Beam, and All Around), and Amanda Gardner (4th place Floor).

The Level 6 state championship meet will be held in Holland April 30 through May 2, and the Level 7 state meet will be held in Midland April 23 – 25.

Contact Betsy Van Deinse, gymnastics supervisor, at 929-2869 for more information about the program. Our website displaying our over 65+ programs is at www.gtbayymca.org. Contact our Front Desk at 933-YMCA (9622) or our blog site at http://newsgtbayymca.blogspot.com for more information.

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is a faith-based charity that served last year more than 10,000 members and program participants including over 6,400 kids and 2,800 members each year through 65+ programs that build body, mind, and spirit. The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is part of the largest charitable group in the country, received over $200,000 in donations and granted financial assistance to 500 families in 2009. Nearly 500 volunteers donated nearly 33,000 hours of their time to ensure the Y could fulfill its Judeo-Christian mission of building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.