State of the Storm

• December 15-17: Holiday Classic (all qualifiers)
  
• December 15-17: OCY Winter Classic (Lightning 3, Junior 3, Senior 4)

To all of our swimmers, good luck and swim fast!

More Information: please visit the Events Page for specific event information. The full meet schedule will also be communicated in early October.

PRACTICE UPDATES

• Please click here to view practice changes on our website.

HOTEL BLOCK BOOKING

• January 17: deadline to book a hotel room at the Hampton Inn Deptford or Courtyard by Marriott at discounted rates for the YMCA Silver Championships (qualifiers)
  
• January 26: deadline to book a hotel room at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center at discounted rates for the YMCA 12/U State Championships (qualifiers)
• February 14: deadline to book a hotel room at the DoubleTree Resort Lancaster at discounted rates for the YMCA 13/O State Championships (qualifiers)
  

Dates and deadlines may be subject to change. Please refer to communications from your practice group lead coach for the latest information.

Calling all athletes - show us your creativity! GSCY Storm swimmers have many talents, and now is the time to showcase your artistic skills! Help us design a fun and colorful logo for this year’s 8 & U Championships!

Contest Details

1. Contest is open to all GSCY Storm team members in all practice groups.
2. The logo design must include the following info:
   2024 NJ YMCA 8 & Under Championships
   New Providence, NJ
3. The logo design should be no larger than 6” x 6” square.
4. Submissions can be original artwork on paper or digital files. Send all designs to Maria Ruffer at maria.ruffer@gmail.com. Be sure to include your NAME and PRACTICE GROUP with your submission. For paper artwork, please email a photo or scan of the logo design (and save the original).

Deadline for submission is January 2, 2024!

Winning design will be one of the official logos of the 8 & Under Championships and featured on merchandise at the meet. All design submissions will be converted to AI digital files for final logo review and production.

Winner will receive a free t-shirt with the winning design and a $100 Speedo gift card! Results to be announced in the January State of the Storm Newsletter!

Congratulations to our most recent college commitments! We wish you all the best as you embark on the fun and challenging world of collegiate athletics. Continue to make GSCY Storm proud!

If you or your athlete has committed to a collegiate swim program, we would like to feature you in future newsletters! Please send the swimmer's photo and any other information to gscystormconnect@gmail.com.

As we gear up for YMCA championship events beginning in February, the following presents helpful information regarding these events.

8/U Championships (February 10)

This meet is for all 8/Under swimmers on the team. There are no qualifying times. Swimmer’s age is determined as of 12/1/2023.

NJ YMCA Bronze Championships (February 3-4)

This meet is for all 9/Over swimmers that have achieved YMCA Bronze times but slower than YMCA Silver times. Swimmers with 5 or more Silver and/or State times cannot participate. Swimmers who achieve a YMCA Silver time at this meet can then swim at YMCA Silver Championships. Coaches choose events for the swimmers where they will most likely achieve YMCA Silver times. Teams are told sessions and locations after the entries are received. All qualified swimmers are expected to attend. Swimmer’s age is determined as of 12/1/2023.

NJ YMCA Silver Championships (February 16-18)

This meet is for all 9/Over swimmers that have achieved YMCA Silver times but slower than YMCA State times. Swimmers with 5 or more YMCA State times cannot attend. Swimmers who achieve YMCA State times at this meet will be able to swim those events at the YMCA State Championships. Coaches choose the events for the swimmers that are closest to YMCA State qualifying times. All qualified swimmers are expected to attend. Swimmer’s age is determined as of 12/1/2023.

NJ YMCA State Championships (12/U February 23-25; 13/O March 7-10)

There are two NJ YMCA State Championships - one for 12/Under and another for 13/O swimmers that have achieved YMCA State qualifying times. Coaches choose events that have the likelihood of scoring the most points. All qualified swimmers are expected to attend. Swimmer’s age is determined as of 12/1/2023.

YMCA Short Course National Championships (April 2-6)

This is a multi-day meet for 13/Over swimmers who have achieved at least one YMCA National qualifying time.

Qualifying Requirements for Championships

In order for a swimmer to qualify for any of the upcoming NJ YMCA Championships Meets (Bronze/Silver/States):

• Athletes must have met the required qualifying times. To view qualifying times, please click here.
• Athletes have to compete for GSCY Storm in a minimum of three YMCA closed competition meets during the short course season (and prior to the NJ YMCA championship meet). YMCA invitational meets count as closed meets (i.e., dual meets, GMNY Harvest Haunt, RVY Spooky Sprints, GSCY Champions Classic, Westfield Devilfish Classic, HCY Autumn Challenge, Gobble Gobble, and Candy Cane Classic). Future-scheduled YMCA closed competition meets include HCY Stingray Splash and GSCY Miles to Miles.

• Athletes have to compete for GSCY Storm in a minimum of three YMCA closed competition meets during the short course season (and prior to the NJ YMCA championship meet). The following YMCA invitational meets count as closed meets:
  - Dual Meets (Green/White/Black)
  - GMNY Harvest Haunt
  - RVY Spooky Sprints
  - GSCY Champions Classic
  - Westfield Devilfish
  - HCY Autumn Challenge
  - Gobble Gobble
  - Candy Cane Classic
  - HCY Stingray Splash
  - GSCY Miles to Miles
  - SAY Deep Freeze

Please speak with your practice group lead coach if your athlete has achieved a qualifying time but may not meet the required three invitational meets.

Speedo Winter Junior Champs has officially come to a close, but not before showcasing some terrific swims from our very own athletes! Our very own Kenny Barnicle, Colleen Bull, Erica Maltsev, and Emily Thompson proudly represented our team in Columbus! We want to extend a special congratulations Emily Thompson for finishing 2nd in the 400 IM and 3rd in the 200IM. Well done, athletes! We are so proud of you!

GSCY Storm Website: http://www.gscyswimming.com (must log in to view all pages)

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Achievements: Team Records | End-of-Season Awards