RCY Sending Five Lehigh Valley Swimmers to Nationals

River Crossing YMCA has announced they are sending five qualifying Lehigh Valley swimmers to the national YMCA swim competition in Greensboro, NC.

Adam Barlow, a sophomore at Liberty H.S. in Bethlehem, achieved the top seed nationally in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke for the Bethlehem YMCA. Barlow and his teammates will compete for national titles March 30-April 3 at the YMCA National Short Course Swimming Championship being held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

“It’s so exciting just to get invited to the party,” said Barlow, who is making his third consecutive appearance at the national meet. “We learn that quality practice plus effort equals success, so I try to give 110% at every practice and competition, and look forward to giving it my all again at nationals.”

River Crossing YMCA Senior Director of Competitive Aquatics Lou Petto shared that along with Barlow, Jonah Korpics, Theodore Shang and Darren Nguyen will represent Bethlehem in team relay events at next week’s competition. Wylie Maier from the Nazareth YMCA has also qualified for national competition. The Bethlehem Y team practices at Liberty H.S. and the Nazareth team practices at the Y branch in downtown Nazareth.

“I’m incredibly proud of our athletes heading into nationals this year,” Petto said. “They work very hard to get here, and we can’t thank our coaches and parent volunteers enough for all the support they provide to make it happen.”

The annual national YMCA swim competition brings together more than 1,200 elite YMCA swimmers, ages 12–21, for five days of competition across 38 individual and relay events. More than 30 YMCA championship alumni have gone on to compete in the Olympics, many earning medals and global recognition. This year’s event will feature notable alumni and leaders in the swimming community. Expected attendees include U.S. National Team Member Skylar Smith, who will be the guest speaker at the athlete dinner on March 30. The YMCA will also be honoring 
the first class of the YMCA Swimming Hall of Fame and YMCA Swimmer of the Year, Thomas Heilman.

Photo Caption:  Theodore Shang, Darren Nguyen, Adam Barlow and Jonah Korpics will represent Bethlehem YMCA in team relay events at YMCA national competition in Greensboro, NC, Mar.30 – Apr. 3. (Photo courtesy Lauri Barlow)