PRE-COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM TRYOUTS
Interested in swimming in the big leagues someday? Get started with our Pre-Competitive Swim Team Tryouts on March 25-27, 2025 for ages 5-8! Run by Water Rat coaches, swimmers will develop their competitive strokes and learn the necessary skills to take it to the next level of the swim team.
Swimmers are only required to sign up for one try-out session.
BE A WATER RAT
Competitive Swimming Director and Head Coach, Ellen Johnston and Assistant Senior Coach, Omar Cruz talk about the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Water Rats Swim Team, its history, and YMCA core values.
MEET THE BOLANDS
WRAT Swim Team parent and kids talk about Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Water Rats Swim Team, learning life skills, achieving goals, building friendships, and YMCA core values.
OUR STAFF
Our experienced and dedicated coaches and directors are passionate about the personal development of each individual swimmer, in the water and out. The coaching staff has repeatedly trained swimmers that have been perennial state champions and beyond with Olympic medaling alumni.
ELLEN JOHNSTON, Head Coach
OMAR CRUZ, Assistant Senior Coach
KRISTEN FINNEGAN, Age Group Coordinator
MICHELLE KOUBECK, Assistant Coach
JAMIE GREMP, Assistant Coach
JOHN WHITESIDE, Assistant Coach
RICH CARTER, Associate Coach
ADRIENNE WILLIAMS, Team Administrator
TRYOUTS/TEAM EVALUATIONS
Tryouts are held at in late summer for the upcoming competition year and pre-registration is required. Check back for upcoming tryout dates. Check the official Water Rat Swim Team site here or contact our coaches with any questions.
ELLEN JOHNSTON | AGES: 13 & OVER
KRISTEN FINNEGAN | AGES: 12 & UNDER
PRACTICE GROUPS
WHITE GROUP (8 & Under Pre-Team, Non-Competitive) – Swimmers are evaluated before being placed in the White Group.
BLUE GROUP, RED GROUP (8 & Under Competitive) – 8 & Under programs are a great way to introduce a young swimmer to a competitive swimming program. Fundamental instruction is the focus, and the goal is to build a foundation that encourages all 8 & Under swimmers to complete the journey through Age Groups and into the Senior level. Red and Blue Groups will have the opportunity to compete at swim meets.
DISCOVERY I, II & III (9-10 years old) – Building on what swimmers learned in their 8 & Under program, DISCOVERY swimmers are proficient in the four primary strokes: freestyle, back, breast, and fly. Stroke and technique development are is the main focus of practices. Introduction to racing “strategies” as the swimmers expand the events for which they race.
CHALLENGER (11-13 years old) – The highest levels of the Age Group program, CHALLENGER swimmers practice to refine their technique in the four strokes as well as starts and turns. This is a full training program that includes “dryland” which encompasses body weight exercises to help develop balance, flexibility and strength.
SENIOR I, II & III (13 years & older) –
Senior III: Desire to learn new training techniques to take their swimming to the next level.
Senior II: Capable of handling increase in volume and intensive interval training
Senior I: Extensive competitive swimming experience as well as a daily commitment to a high level of training.