Euclid Y Swimmer Advances to League Meet at Cleveland State
Euclid Y Swimmer Advances to League Meet at Cleveland State
Salvion Neal, one of the top swimmers on the newly resurrected Euclid YMCA swim team, will be competing in the Northeast Ohio YMCA League swim meet March 5 at Cleveland State University.
Salvion, age 9, qualified for the meet by anchoring a 200-yard medley relay team that also included three swimmers from the Hillcrest Y. For competitive meets, the Euclid and Hillcrest squads are combined since neither has enough swimmers to make up a full team. The youngsters compete under the banner of the “Hillcrest Hurricanes.”
The medley relay team advanced to the year-end meet at CSU by placing among the top ten in a divisional event for boys 10 and under at the University of Akron on Feb. 5th. In addition to Salvion, the quartet included Alex Neyman, Jack Buchbinder, and Seth Wise.
“In freestyle, Salvion is one of the team’s fastest closers. And Alex is our fastest swimmer in the backstroke,” notes John Graves, who is now the aquatics director for both the Euclid Y and the Hillcrest Y. “Seth Wise is a good all-around swimmer. He has picked up the rhythm of the butterfly event better than most kids his age.”
In individual events, Seth Wise also qualified in the 10-under 50-yard butterfly for the CSU meet, which will feature the top performers from three YMCA divisional meets. Alex Neyman, who has been swimming with the Hillcrest group since he was 5 years old, qualified in the 100-yard freestyle.
The Hurricanes boasted the youngest swimmer at the Akron meet--four-year-old Stefani Leopold. Stefani, who began swimming when she was less than a year old, and her sister Teresa, age 7, competed in the 100-yard freestyle relay for girls ages 8 and under.
One of the most improved swimmers in the Euclid YMCA contingent was 9-year-old Daniel Csoltko, who sliced 37 seconds off his time in the 50-yard backstroke. Daniel, and his older brother Mark, age 12, are among the newest recruits on the Euclid squad. They joined the team about halfway through the winter season, along with their friend Alex Sari. “Both Dan and Mark have shown tremendous improvement in a short period of time,” says Graves.
All of the youngsters on the Euclid squad have polished their swim techniques considerably under the tutelage of Coach Toni Bacon, who accepted the challenge of helping to reactivate the swim team last summer. She has been quite pleased with the results. “I am proud beyond words of the team’s accomplishments,” she said in a recent message to the Observer. “Not only for Salvion qualifying for the League Meet at Cleveland State, but for each swimmer performing faster throughout the year, for supporting one another as teammates, and pushing their physical and mental limits.” (Read Coach Toni’s full message in the accompanying sidebar.)
Despite combining the Euclid and Hillcrest teams, the Hurricanes are still somewhat short-handed and were unable to field entrants in many of the Akron events. However, all of the participants thoroughly enjoyed being part of the team, which celebrated the end of the winter swim session with a banquet and pool party at the Hillcrest Y in mid-February.
Following their last practice session—just before the divisional meet in Akron—the Euclid youngsters enjoyed a “cupcake party” at the Euclid YMCA. And each wrote messages on a white board thanking Coach Toni for her guidance, enthusiasm, and encouragement. The kids implored her to return next season.
Among the Euclid Y swimmers who competed in individual events at the divisional meet were: Taylor Lamar in the 50-yard backstroke and 50 freestyle for girls 10-under, Amari Dean in the 50 and 100 freestyle for boys 13-14, Mark Csoltko in the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke for boys 11-12, Dan Csoltko in the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke for boys 10-under, Sophie Sito in the 25-yard freestyle for girls 8-under, and Salvion Neal in the 50 freestyle for boys 10-under.
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A Message from
Coach Toni
When this swim season began, many of our athletes could not swim more than two laps without stopping. One would not swim in the deep end of the pool. Many swimmers had no goggles or caps. We had no starting blocks, the pool had only one lane line, and we could find pool time only 2 days per week. Yet each of them had a goal. Each wanted to be better, stronger, faster. My job was to turn their goals into realities—whatever the obstacles. Winners don’t make excuses, they get results.
Together, the parents, athletes, lifeguards, and coaches worked as a team to bring out the best in these athletes. Every practice grew increasingly difficult, building distance and building speed. When we didn’t have pool time, we did push ups to simulate pulling, wall-sits to strengthen kicking, jump rope to practice starts, and planks to harden the core. Parents created nutritious meals to fuel the athletes.
By season’s end, each athlete was able to swim more than one mile in practice, with the older swimmers finishing nearly two miles. Thanks to the lifeguards’ stroke clinics and a film session run by the team grand-dad and videographer, each now can swim multiple strokes.
I am proud beyond words of the team’s accomplishments. Not only for Salvion qualifying for the League Meet at Cleveland State, but for each swimmer performing faster throughout the year, for supporting one another as teammates, and pushing their physical and mental limits. Each of them learned that respect is not given, it’s earned. Through their continuous improvement and infectious team spirit, the team earned not only my respect, but the respect of other coaches, officials, and athletes.
On the last day of practice, one swimmer asked how they could train in the off-season without me there. Our youngest swimmer, Eric, spoke up, suggesting that they each go to open swim and repeat the practice workouts. Eric is 5. Another, who is 9, suggested doing pushups and planks every night to maintain strength. A third suggested begging [YMCA Executive Director] John Reid for more pool time. In that moment, I realized they were echoing my theme: Winners don’t make excuses, they get results. They were not waiting for an adult to find ways for them to train, they were taking responsibility for their futures. --Toni Bacon
COACH’S NOTE: The athletes all have team suits, caps, and goggles, but we still lack starting blocks and ample lane lines. If anyone is able to contribute toward resolving that problem, please contact Mr. Reid.
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PHOTO CAPTIONS – {Photos dropped off at Cheryl’s}
PHOTO 5
SEASON FINALE – Members of the Euclid YMCA swim team followed their final practice session of the winter season with a cupcake party. From left: Salvion Neal, Amari Dean, Mark Csoltko, Coach Toni Bacon, Gabi Cicerini, and Taylor Lamar. (Notice the two girls still sport cupcake frosting on their noses.)
PHOTO 6
READY TO GET SPLASHING – Salvion Neal (front, left) qualified for the YMCA League meet at Cleveland State as part of a relay team. Here, Salvion and Euclid Y swimmers Alex Sari, Mark Csoltko, and Daniel Csoltko get ready for a practice session in the Euclid Y pool.
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