My Masters swimming journey began at the Blue Ash YMCA after watching my kids get involved in year-round swimming. After spending about 17 years away from the sport and trying different activities to stay in shape, getting back into the pool was definitely a challenge. Consistency was my biggest struggle, but that changed when I joined PCY Masters in November 2025. With such a large, diverse group of swimmers and practice times that made it possible to swim almost every day, PCY seemed like the perfect place to make a change.
My swimming background goes all the way back to when I was 8 years old, swimming for my summer club in Michigan. At 9, I started swimming year-round with the Birmingham Blue Dolphins, a team that competed in both USA Swimming and YMCA swimming. I continued with BBD through high school, with one of the highlights being the opportunity to compete at YMCA Nationals in Fort Lauderdale. I also swam for Birmingham Groves High School before continuing my swimming career at Miami University from 2002 to 2006.
After college, I couldn't even think about getting back into the pool myself, but I was still passionate about the sport. That led me to coaching with the Mason Manta Rays from 2007 to 2009.
These days, my biggest motivation for swimming is staying in shape. I've always loved the sport, but finding the motivation to swim back and forth staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool isn't easy when you're doing it alone. Being part of PCY Masters has completely revived my love for swimming, and I genuinely look forward to coming to practice every morning.
One of my favorite things about this team is the balance between competitiveness and community. There's an opportunity to challenge yourself and work hard while also enjoying the friendships and camaraderie that make Masters swimming so special. As for my favorite events, I've always enjoyed freestyle, butterfly, and individual medley.
Swimming has also played a pretty important role in my life outside of competition. I met my wife while we were both swimming at Miami University, and now our kids are swimmers, too. Some of my closest friendships have come from swimming, and it's incredible to see how the sport continues to be part of my family's life.
For me, swimming has always been about more than just the time spent in the water. It's the friendships, shared experiences, and sense of community that make it unlike any other sport. I'm grateful to have found that again with PCY Masters.