Blue Dolphin
Swim Camp

for boys and girls

Camp Fitch
On Lake Erie


North Springfield, PA

Call: 330-744-8411 (Camp Office) or 724-458-8048 (Coach Longnecker's Home Phone)
1814 Kocher Dr.
Grove City, PA 16127

EMAIL: mailto:campfitch@hotmail.com

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Staff Facilities-Recreational Activities
Typical Day Registration Form Location

Camp Director-Jim Longnecker

Regarded as one of America's greatest collegiate swimming and diving coaches of all time, Jim Longnecker remains a leader in his field since retiring from Grove City College in 1997. Simply put, the records, honors and awards garnered by Coach Longnecker in his 40 years at Grove City College have been and will be matched by few others. Named both "Master Coach" and "Distinguished Coach" by the American College Coaches Association, Longnecker's contributions in the area of swimming and diving are unrivaled. With 366 wins against 93 losses, Longnecker retired as the winningest swimming coach in NCAA Division III and among the top five in all NCAA classifications. He is believed to be the first swim coach in the nation to record 40 consecutive winning seasons and the first to win 40 consecutive meets (1993-1997). His lengthy list of credits includes 25 conference championships, 44 NCAA All-Americans, and three national championships. An accomplished swimmer himself, Longnecker was national champion in the 200 yard butterfly and 50-yard backstroke at the YMCA Master's Swimming Championships. He has been inducted into the Mercer County Sports Hall of Fame (1999) and Grove City College Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame (2002).




Toby Boedeker is entering his 27th year of coaching. He has coached at the Kettering YMCA, Beavercreek YMCA, Wright State University and several area high schools. Toby has coached numerous YMCA All-Americans and Mid-Continent Conference champions. In 1999 he was inducted into the Southwest Ohio YMCA Swimming Hall of Fame. He was a member of the National YMCA Competitive Swimming and Diving Committee and chaired the values committee. Toby will be at camp June 17-23.


Paul Riesmeyer is entering his seventh year of coaching. He lives in Pittsburgh and is an assistant coach at Peters Township Swim Club. For the past several years, Riesmeyer has been in charge of all levels of swimmers, from learn to swim to the most competitive high school and college-level swimmers. He swam at Grove City College where he set records in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle. He is currently a level 1 ASA Coach. Paul will be at camp June 17-23.

Karen Wendeischaefer is returning for her third year at Camp Fitch and will assist during the week of June 24-30. She is the age group swimming coach at the Grove City YMCA and for the Grove City High School Swimming Team. During the 2005 Long Course Season, Wendelschaefer had her first swimmer earn three National Age Group Reportable Times. This will be Wendelschaefer's seventh season as the Head Coach for the YMCA and High School. The YMCA team earned runner-up honors during its 2004-2005 season while competing in the W.C.P.S.L. Championships.




It is exciting to be coached by a winner, and Jim Longnecker has plenty of proven experience to help young men and women reach their fullest potential. The Blue Dolphin Swim Camp has been designed as an ELITE STROKE CAMP to develop proper starts, turns, and stroke mechanics in the four competitive strokes. This translates into maximum efficiency and better swimming performances. Practice does not make perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect. Coach Longnecker hopes that you will be able to join him and his staff for an exciting week.

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Objectives

Qualifications

An individual with experience in high school, USS, Country Club, YMCA or YWCA swimming.

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Facilities-Recreational Activities

Camp Fitch, owned and operated by the YMCA of Youngstown, Ohio, is located on 450 beautiful acres on Lake Erie at North Springfield, PA. There are two separate camps: CHICAGAMI for girls and OT-YO-KWA for boys. Each has a recreation lodge for indoor activities, showers, and modern plumbing facilities. A mile of lake frontage, an inland lake, and a 25-meter swimming pool provide an extensive aquatic program. Recreational activities include sailing, water skiing, softball, basketball, tennis, archery, riflery, canoeing, horseback riding, fishing, wind surfing, camp fires and arts and crafts.


Click here for the Registration Form
Print the form on your printer
Fill out the information
Include a deposit of $50
Send to:

YMCA CAMP FITCH
17 N. Champion St.
P.O Box 1287
Youngstown, Oh 44501-1287

**Deposit must accompany application!
For further information:
Contact Coach Jim Longnecker
612 Ridgeway Avenue
Grove City, PA 16127
(724) 458-8048 (Home).


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TYPICAL DAY AT SWIM CAMP

7:30 a.m. BREAKFAST
8:15 a. m. Film on stroke techniques
9:00-10:45 a.m. Pool
11:30 a.m. LUNCH
12:15 p. m. Film on starts and turns
1:00-2:45 p.m. Pool
3:00-5:00 p.m. Camp Activities
5:30 p.m. SUPPER
6:30 p.m. Camp Activities


LOCATION

Camp Fitch is located 1 1/2 hours from Youngstown, Cleveland, and Buffalo, and 2 hours from Pittsburgh. Transportation to and from camp is the responsibility of campers, however free transportation is available from both international airports at Cleveland and Erie.

Follow I - 90 to exit 2 in PA., then North on Rte 215 to the campsite. Follow signs to camp.

A Map Is Available and Can Be Printed


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