WATER RATS SWIM TEAM

The Westport Weston Family YMCA is proud home to the Water Rat Swim Team, our nationally recognized competitive swim program and USA Swimming Club celebrating its 75 year history.

The Water Rats train year-round and compete against Connecticut YMCA teams in dual swim meets state wide along with USA Swimming sanctioned meets at the regional, state and national levels. Our experienced and dedicated coaching staff are passionate about the personal development of each individual swimmer, in the water and out, having repeatedly trained swimmers into perennial state champions and beyond with Olympic medaling alumni.

To learn more about the Water Rat Swim Team, news and schedules, you can visit their website.

VISIT WATER RATS

Group of smiling Water Rat Swim team members from Westport Weston YMCA

Smiling female members of the Water Rats swim team from Westport Weston YMCA

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

Westport Weston YMCA Water Rats meet our coaches

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.