“At the beginning of the season, some of the kids were uneasy and unsure if they could do it. By the end of the year, they’re confident swimmers.” -Beth Gaskill
For the Gaskills, swimming is a family affair. Beth Gaskill started swimming at the YMCA when she was eight years old. Now married with children of her own, she’s passed on her love of swimming to her daughters, Leah and Ellie. Beth registered her daughters in the Y’s swim program when they were very young. The program helped her kids become more confident swimmers, teaching them life-saving water safety skills and techniques. “It’s an excellent way to get them into the water,” says Beth. “The instructors are really good and it’s a nice way to meet other families.”
Now, Beth coaches the Stingrays Swim Team at the Lockport Family Branch YMCA. The team is committed to helping youth develop and value teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal accomplishment while having fun. Beth’s two daughters are also members of the team. “It’s been a really fun experience, especially coaching my children and their friends,” says Beth. Beth says what she enjoys most is that children of all abilities can take part in the Y’s swim team. “We have people of all levels and skill come in. At the beginning of the season, some of the kids were uneasy and unsure if they could do it. By the end of the year, they’re confident swimmers, they know how to compete against other kids at a swim meet, and they learn about good sportsmanship,” says Beth.
The YMCA Stingrays Swim Team has been a positive experience for 8-year-old Leah and 7-year-old Ellie, too. Beth says the team helps develop her daughters’ work ethic and teaches them the importance of building positive relationships. “This program helps the girls learn that they have to work for the things that they want,” says Beth. The girls’ hard work has paid off, too. Both Leah and Ellie qualified for the state meet in March. They’ve also made great friendships along the way. “What’s neat is that these girls are from the area so they’re going to go through middle school and high school together,” says Beth. “It’s encouraging to see the more experienced swimmers mentor their younger teammates. At our first meet, the older girls took the younger girls and boys under their wing and encouraged them to cheer for their teammates at the ends of the lanes.”
The YMCA Stingrays Swim Team is open to anyone. Beth encourages anyone who may be interested in the program to come out and give it a try. “We have a trial period in September where kids can try the team for two weeks. It’s a very flexible thing,” says Beth.