Pocono Family YMCA Piranhas Swim Team
The Pocono Family YMCA “Piranhas” Competitive Swim Team, established in 1976, has grown into a comprehensive, multi-level competitive and developmental swimming program serving swimmers of a wide range of ages and abilities.
For more than 50 years, the Piranhas have provided young athletes with opportunities to develop their swimming skills, compete at increasingly challenging levels, build lifelong friendships, and learn valuable lessons that extend far beyond the pool.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Pocono Family YMCA Piranhas Swim Team is to provide swimmers of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to reach their highest potential—both as individuals and as competitive swimmers—in a positive, fun, supportive, and family-friendly environment.
We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for every participant. Athlete protection policies and guidelines are an important part of our program, and the team follows applicable Safe Sport policies and best practices designed to protect our athletes and promote a healthy team environment.
Vision Statement
The Pocono Family YMCA Piranhas strive to be the premier competitive swimming program in the Pocono region, introducing children to the sport of swimming and providing a pathway that can take them from their first competitive experience through high school, championship competition, and collegiate swimming.
Our vision is to create a welcoming team environment in which swimmers, coaches, and families work together toward the continued success and growth of the program. Family involvement is an essential part of the Piranhas experience and helps create the strong sense of community that has defined our team for generations.
While we strive to develop outstanding swimmers and help every athlete reach their competitive potential, our greater goal is to develop confident, responsible, hardworking young people who understand the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, and giving back to their community.
Our Core Values
The foundation of the Piranhas program is built around the YMCA’s four core values:
Caring • Honesty • Respect • Responsibility
These values guide our swimmers, coaches, parents, and volunteers both in and out of the pool.
In addition to competitive swimming development, our program promotes overall physical fitness, healthy habits, proper nutrition, and lifelong wellness. Training incorporates swimming, conditioning, strength, flexibility, and age-appropriate exercises designed to develop well-rounded athletes.
Our program incorporates recognized principles and recommendations from the YMCA, USA Swimming, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, while maintaining a strong commitment to athlete safety and Safe Sport standards.
Parent & Family Involvement
The success of the Piranhas would not be possible without the dedication of our swim families and parent volunteers.
Our parents play an active role in organizing and operating swim meets, coordinating team activities and special events, fundraising, supporting swimmers attending championship and national-level competitions, purchasing and maintaining team equipment, organizing the annual team banquet, and recognizing the hard work and accomplishments of our athletes.
This involvement creates a strong sense of community and helps make the Piranhas more than simply a swim team—it makes us a swim family.
Our Facilities
Throughout the year, the Piranhas utilize several aquatic facilities across the Pocono region.
During the fall, winter, and spring seasons, home meets are held at the Lehman Intermediate School Pool in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. Practices are conducted at several local facilities, including:
- Stroudsburg Intermediate School
- Lehman Intermediate School
- Pocono Mountain High School West
- Pocono Family YMCA
During the summer season, the Piranhas train at the six-lane, 25-meter Stroudsburg Park Pool and the newly renovated seven-lane, 25-yard Dansbury Park Pool in East Stroudsburg.
Summer home meets are held at Dansbury Park Pool.
More Than a Swim Team
For generations, the Pocono Family YMCA Piranhas have helped young swimmers become stronger athletes while learning the importance of dedication, perseverance, teamwork, sportsmanship, responsibility, and community.
Whether a swimmer is taking their first steps into competitive swimming or pursuing championship and collegiate-level goals, the Piranhas provide a place to learn, compete, grow, and belong.