SMAC brings 65 kids to Virginia Y Champs
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club, which practices at the Waynesboro Y, competed in the Virginia Y Championships held in Lynchburg on Feb. 12.
The Virginia Y Champs is open to all YMCA teams in Virginia. Y teams make up approximately 30 percent of the swimmers in the state. There are numerous teams that operate out of a public pool and several that own and operate their own pool that do not practice at a Y. Continue reading “SMAC brings 65 kids to Virginia Y Champs” »
Be heart healthy during American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month and as a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community through healthy living, the Waynesboro Family YMCA urges everyone in Waynesboro and East Augusta area to take steps to prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease, so they can lead longer, healthier lives.
To address the prevalence of heart disease in the United States, the Y made a commitment to the Million Hearts campaign, an initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. Continue reading “Be heart healthy during American Heart Month” »
The Y goes green: $103K solar project largest in state of Virginia
Sigora Solar and the Waynesboro Family YMCA are teaming up on what will be the largest thermal solar installation in the state of Virginia.
The system will consist of 40 panels covering approximately 1,600 square feet of space mounted on custom-engineered and -built aluminum rack on the YMCA’s roof. The $103,000 project is being funded by a grant from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy under a program funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Continue reading “The Y goes green: $103K solar project largest in state of Virginia” »
SMAC dominates VAST age group meet
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club, which practices at the Waynesboro Y, competed in the Valley Area Swim Team’s Odd Age Group Meet at James Madison University on Jan 7 and 8.
Generally in USA Sanctioned Age Group Level Swim Meets all swimmers compete based on their age on the first day of the meet. The age groups are broken down into 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12 13-14 and 15 and over. In this meet the age groups were switched so the swimmers competed in age groups 7 and under 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14 and over. Continue reading “SMAC dominates VAST age group meet” »
AFP builds web video promoting Waynesboro Y
Augusta Free Press debuted today a new online video promoting the Waynesboro Family YMCA.
The Virtual Tour stars YMCA Executive Director Jeff Fife, who in the video takes viewers on a tour of the Y’s fitness, swim and child-care facilities.
AFP editor Chris Graham filmed, edited and produced the video.
To inquire about AFP video services, contact us at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Medicaid incentives encourage healthy habits
The Waynesboro Family YMCA is partnering with Virginia Premier Health Plan Inc. encouraging Medicaid recipients to adopt and maintain healthy living habits. A federal grant Program approved in the Affordable Care Act, under the Obama administration, promotes incentives for medicaid recipients who make an effort to control or lose weight, keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check or stop smoking.
Chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, bad cholesterol and high blood pressure account for more than 75 percent of the $2.5 trillion the U.S. spends annually on health care, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Cigarette smoking, 10 percent more prevalent among Medicaid enrollees than the population at large, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, and is also the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Continue reading “Medicaid incentives encourage healthy habits” »
Elks Hoop Shoot at the Y
The Waynesboro YMCA is hosting its annual Elks Hoop Shoot Friday night at 7 p.m. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
Winners from the YMCA competition will have a chance to advance to the state finals in Charlottesville in February.
The Hoop Shoot free-throw contest is open to boys and girls ages 8-13. Contestant age will be determined by their age as of April 1, 2012. Continue reading “Elks Hoop Shoot at the Y” »
SMAC excels at the 19th annual TYR Capital Classic
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club qualified 11 swimmers for the highly competitive TYR Capital Classic Swim Meet held in Greensboro, N.C., from Dec. 16-18.
The 11 SMAC swimmers competing in the event were Jessie Arnold (14), Matt Bihl (16), Bobby Carey (14), Colleen Higgins (13), Norah Hunt (13), Steven Jenny (17), Justin Merritt (14), Alex Rayle (16), Brazil Rule (13), Remedy Rule (15) and Max Tempkin (14). The meet only had qualifying standards for boys and girls and no breakdown based on age so it was very impressive SMAC had so many young swimmers at the meet. The meet consisted of 18-and-under swimmers from Georgia to Connecticut. Continue reading “SMAC excels at the 19th annual TYR Capital Classic” »
SMAC has reason to cheer at Hoki Christmas Meet
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club, which swims at the Waynesboro Y, sent swimmers to the Hoki Christmas Meet in Christiansburg Dec. 9-11.
Swimmers participating in the Hoki Christmas Meet were Alexis Brooks (15), Peyton Brooks (11), Chris Carmagnola (11), Lindsey Carter (15), Mackenzie Carter (12), Maya Chatterson (8), Nate Chatterson (6), Hailey Cook (10), Alice Elkins (8), Braelin Fauber (10), McKinna Fitgerald (12), Miles Fitzgerald (8), Margo Flanders (11), Alexander Flowers (13), Grace Hardiman (8), Colleen Higgins (13), Caleb Johnson (11), Ethan Johnson (9), Sarah Loomis (11), Justin Merritt (14), Jordan Miller (13), Cody Niles (16), Ella Pickering (10), Abby Prucha (6), Ben Prucha (8), John Prucha (7), Clara Riggan (9), Maggie Riggan (12), Charlotte Rumsey (11), Savannah Scarbrough (13), Hanna Shifflett (10), Tate Snyder (10), Robin Taylor (15), Madison Tegen (14), Logan Terrell (13), Elizabeth Terrell (13), Nick Wade (14), Evelyn Wade (9), Kaleb Wade (11), Kristen Wagner (9), Gannon Willcutts (14), Emma Woodworth (9), Ben Young (8), Libby Young (11) and Luke Young (9). Continue reading “SMAC has reason to cheer at Hoki Christmas Meet” »
Set New Year’s Resolutions that strengthen your life and your community
The New Year is a time for new beginnings! For the Waynesboro Family Y – a leading nonprofit that strengthens community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility – one of the most important resolutions is to resolve to make positive changes that strengthen individuals as well as entire communities.
Following are five New Year’s Resolutions the Waynesboro Family Y recommends for 2012:
1. Live Healthier: Achieving greater health and well-being is all about taking small steps. Take care of your health by eating nutritious foods and being physically active each day – experts recommend 30 minutes of daily physical activity for adults and 60 minutes for kids. This can be achieved throughout the day by incorporating physical activity into your daily routines (i.e., taking stairs instead of elevators, walking instead of driving, etc.) The Y offers many fun opportunities for individuals and families to be active. Visit www.waynesboroymca.com to learn more or contact MaryBeth Robb at 540-943-9622 ext. 211. Continue reading “Set New Year’s Resolutions that strengthen your life and your community” »
SMAC leads the way at the SMAC Fall Invitational Swim Meet
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club, which practices at the Waynesboro Y, hosted the annual SMAC Fall Invitational Nov 19 and 20 at the Waynesboro YMCA. This meet was open to all, but the focus of the meet was for the younger swimmers from Charlottesville to Roanoke.
The following SMAC swimmers participated in the meet: Alexis Brooks (14), Peyton Brooks (11), Chris Carmagnola (11), Lindsey Carter (15), Mackenzie Carter (12), Maya Chatterson (8), Nate Chatterson (6), Hailey Cook (10), Megan Cross (6), Violet Cross (6), Gabby D’Alessandro (4), Rece D’Alessandro (8), Alice Elkins (8), Braelin Fauber (10), McKinna Fitgerald (12), Miles Fitzgerald (8), Margo Flanders (11), Grace Hardiman (8), Maddie Harris (8), Kristen Holman (11), Norah Hunt (13), Alexander Flowers (13), Caleb Johnson (11), Ethan Johnson (9), Sarah Loomis (11), Hunter McMillion (14), Justin Merritt (14), Jordan Miller (13), Cody Niles (16), Ashley Painter (8), Ella Pickering (10), Abby Prucha (6), Ben Prucha (8), John Prucha (7), Alexander Randolph (14), Clara Riggan (9), Maggie Riggan (12), Brazil Rule (13), Charlotte Rumsey (11), Morgan Ryalls (10), Rebekah Ryalls (13), Eli Scarbrough (7), Savannah Scarbrough (13), Jackson Sherman (7), Hanna Shifflett (10), Tate Snyder (10), Madison Tegen (14), Logan Terrell (13), Elizabeth Terrell (13), Mattie Tindall (10), Sam Tindall (7), Ben Vincent (8), Nick Wade (14), Kristen Wagner (9), Emma Woodworth (9) Ben Young (8), Libby Young (11) and Luke Young (9).
This was the largest contingent of SMAC swimmers (59) in many years to participate in our Fall Invite. It is great to see this many young swimmers competing in a sanctioned USA Swimming event, many for the first time, and all showing remarkable improvement. The highlight of the meet was when the girls 10-and-under relay team won the 200 medley relay beating the teams from Charlottesville and Carter Center Aquatics from Roanoke. The girls on the relay team were Maya Chatterson, Ella Pickering, Braelin Fauber, and Kristen Wagner. The individual highlight of the meet was 8-year-old Chatterson. She won five events and came in second in two other events and set seven new SMAC records in the following events (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 25 fly, 50 fly, 50 back and 100 IM). Miles Fitzgerald Kristen Wagner also set new SMAC records in the 50 fly and 1000 free respectively.
SMAC won many races throughout the weekend and placed in the top three in numerous events. Congratulations to the following swimmers who had first-place finishes:
L. Carter (15-16 girls) mile, Nate Chatterson (6 and under boys) 25 back and 100 free, Hunt (13-14 girls) mile, C. Johnson (11-12 boys) mile, 200 fly and 400 IM, Merritt (13-14 boys) 50 free, 100 free, 200 free and 100 back, Niles (15-16 boys) 500 free, mile and 100 breast, McMillion (13-14 boys) mile, Randolph (13-14 boys) 1000 free and 100 breast, Maggie Riggan (11-12 girls) mile, Rumsey (11-12 girls) 400 IM, Scarbrough (13-14 girls) 100 breast and Snyder (10 and under boys) mile.
SMAC swimmers will be competing at meets in Christiansburg and Greensboro the next two weekends. Excellent results are expected as the swimmers have been practicing diligently leading up to the highly competitive meets before Christmas.
For more information regarding SMAC swimming contact Coach Norm Wright, Director of Competitive Swimming at the Waynesboro Y at 540.942.5107 or email him at normw@smacswimming.org.
For more information about SMAC, please visit their website: www.smacswimming.org.
Diabetes Awareness: Your life matters
In support of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the Waynesboro Family Y – a leading nonprofit for strengthening community through healthy living – is encouraging individuals to learn how to assess their risks for developing type 2 diabetes and take steps to prevent the disease.
Nearly 26 million Americans currently have diabetes and a staggering 79 million people have prediabetes, a condition in which individuals have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People considered high risk for developing type 2 diabetes or who suffer from prediabetes can develop a number of other chronic diseases, including heart disease and stroke.
Who should be tested for pre-diabetes and diabetes?
The American Diabetes Association recommends that testing to detect pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes be considered in adults without symptoms who are overweight or obese and have one or more additional risk factors for diabetes. In those without these risk factors, testing should begin at age 45.
Risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes-in addition to being overweight or obese or being age 45 or older-include the following:
•being physically inactive
•having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
•having a family background that is African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander
•giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds or being diagnosed with gestational diabetes-diabetes first found during pregnancy}
•having high blood pressure-140/90 mmHg or above-or being treated for high blood pressure
•having HDL, or “good,” cholesterol below 35 mg/dL, or a triglyceride level above 250 mg/dL
•having polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS
•having impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) on previous testing
•having a history of cardiovascular disease
If results of testing are normal, testing should be repeated at least every three years. Doctors may recommend more frequent testing depending on initial results and risk status.
Act now! Consult your physician and get tested. Make changes in your diet and increase your level of physical activity. Consult one of the Waynesboro Family YMCA’s knowledgeable Fitness Staff members to set up an appointment for Personal Training. Your life matters and small changes can mean a healthier and more meaningful quality of life in your future. Start now!
More on the Waynesboro Y at www.WaynesboroYMCA.com.
