Category: Athletics

Making Waves on the National Stage

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

YMCA of Reading & Berks County Swim Team Shines at YMCA Nationals 

YMCA of Reading & Berks County swim team at YMCA Nationals 2025

Reading YMCA (RY) swim team was center stage at the YMCA National Short Course Swimming Championship at Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, NC from Monday, March 31 to Friday, April 4, 2025.

This year, 19 RY swimmers qualified at States to compete at nationals against the top youth swimmers from YMCAs around the country: Greyson DiMariano, Keagan Eisenhofer, Owen Eisenhofer, Elle Fisher, Andrew Gates, Addie Johnson, Wynnleigh Kearney, Abi Kissling, Maddie Klinger, Ava Knopsnyder, Cole Krenitsky, Allie Ludwig, Jack Martin, Joey Myer, Mia Parry, Charlie Roger, Keiryn Stoltzfus, Peter Suhrbier, Braden Weise.

After a phenomenal season full of grit, early mornings, and unforgettable moments, our Reading Y swimmers made a national splash. With top-tier individual finishes, relay records, and that unbeatable Y spirit, these athletes brought their A-game and came home as certified national competitors.  

Star Performers

All five boys’ relays placed in the Top 5 nationally breaking every existing team relay record along the way. This powerhouse relay squad included Jack Martin, Charlie Rogers, Owen Eisenhofer, and Keagan Eisenhofer, proving that teamwork, grit, and dedication can take you all the way. 

These individual swimmers had some seriously stellar moments in the water: 

  • Ava Knopsnyder turned heads with a 14th-place finish in the 300 Free, 8th in the 200 IM, and 16th in the 200 Fly. Graceful, fierce, and fast—Ava’s versatility in the pool was nothing short of inspiring. 
  • Owen Eisenhofer brought the heat with an 8th-place finish in the 100 Back and 16th in the 200 IM. With speed and consistency, he also crushed the 100 Free.  
  • Keagan Eisenhofer made serious waves with a 5th-place finish in the 200 Breast and a 6th in the 100 Breast.  
  • Joey Myer earned 16th in the 400 IM and 10th in the 100 Breast with endurance and tenacity in the pool. 
  • Braden Weise earned 13th in the 100 Fly, 5th in the 200 Free, 12th in the 50 Free, and 7th in the 100 Free.  

Every stroke, every finish, every personal best contributed to an unforgettable championship showing—and every athlete brought pride to our community. 

Coaches Who Cultivate Champions—and Character 

Behind every fast finish and national placement is a coach (or seven) who believed in the kids before the medals ever existed. 

At the helm is the always-inspiring Coach Kim Evans, whose leadership is equal parts technique, motivation, and unconditional support. She’s backed by a squad of incredible assistant coaches: Kelly Skiptunas, Scott Williams, Cody Kauffman, Theresa Johnson, Kate Fanning, and Maggie Foight. This coaching dream team isn’t just training swimmers—they’re shaping well-rounded, confident, kind humans.  

The amount of work these kids put in is amazing. Seeing them achieve personal goals, set new team records, and make lifelong memories—it’s what makes it all worth it.

Coach Kim

Looking Back at States

RY Swim Team had an amazing showing at Pennsylvania YMCA State Swimming Championships from March 21 – 23, 2025 in Morgantown, West Virgina at The Aquatic Center at Mylan Park. RY ranked in 2nd Place Boys Team Overall and 3rd Place Overall Team. 

INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS:

  • Greyson DiMariano – 1650 free (NATIONAL QUAL)
  • Keagan Eisenhofer – 200 breast (STATE RECORD)
  • Wynnleigh Kearney – 100 breast
  • Ava Knopsnyder – 100 fly
  • Jack Martin – 100 free
  • Braden Weise – 100 breast

RELAY STATE CHAMPIONS:

Open Girls

  • 200 Free Relay: Lexi Nonnemacher, Allie Ludwig, Mia Parry, Ava Knopsnyder
  • 200 Medley Relay: Mia Parry, Ava Knopsnyder, Bria Burkholder, Allie Ludwig

Open Boys

  • 400 Free Relay: Owen Eisenhofer, Joey Myer, Charlie Rogers, Braden Weise
  • 200 Medley Relay: Jack Martin, Keagan Eisenhofer, Joey Myer, Charlie Rogers

Swim Team of YMCA of Reading & Berks County Wins State Championship, Progressing to Nationals

Posted on by Chrissy Faller

Pictured left to right: Assistant Coach Kelly Skiptunas and Coach Kim Evans

The swim team of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County won the YMCA State Overall Team Championship in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Swimming Championships, which took place March 22–24, 2024 at the Mylan Park Aquatic Center in Morgantown, WV. 

“I love when all of their hard work and dedication pay off, especially when it’s achieving a State Championship win as a team,” said Kim Evans, head swim coach, YMCA of Reading & Berks County. “This is a great accomplishment for our team.”

Event Results

YMCA of Reading & Berks County swim team took the lead with 510.5 points, followed by York YMCA 487 points and Upper Main Line YMCA 481.5 points. 

  • 1650 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle: Annika Doutrich
  • 100 Fly, 100 Freestyle: Ava Knopsnyder
  • 200 Freestyle: Charlie Rogers
  • 15 & O girls 400 Freestyle Relay: Annie Gao, Allie Ludwig, Lexi Nonnemacher, Ava Knopsnyder
  • 13-14 Boys 400 Freestyle Relay: Charlie Rogers, Dominic Mentzer, Kyle Gao, Cole Krenitsky
  • 10 & U Boys 200 Medley Relay: Benjamin Kauffman, Lucas Popa, Jake Wagner, Carter Greene
  • 13-14 Boys 200 Freestyle Relay: Cole Krenitsky, Kyle Gao, Dominic Mentzer, Charlie Rogers
  • 15 & O 200 Medley Relay: Allison Gao, Elle Fisher, Bria Burkholder, Ava Knopsnyder
  • 10 & U 200 Freestyle Relay: Carter Greene, Benjamin Kauffman, Jake Wagner, Lucas Popa

Swim Team Members Advance to Nationals

On April 2-4, 2024, 10 Reading YMCA swimmers will progress to compete in YMCA National Championships in Greensboro, NC. They are Frankie DiMartini (17), Keagan Eisenhofer (16), Owen Eisenhofer (15), Elle Fisher (16), Annie Gao (17), Ava Knopsnyder (17), Ethan Lloyd (17), Jack Martin (15), Joey Myer (17) and Peter Suhrbier (15).

2024 RYMCA Swimmers Going to Nationals

“I’m so proud of our kids’ hard work, and of our coaches’ true dedication,” said Ellen Nonnemacher, swim team parent. Our coaches embody the values that the Y stands for and demonstrate genuine caring about the kids – beyond their swimming performance. It’s really a special program with role models who support the kids’ personal growth too.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the team and their fearless coaches who invest a tremendous amount of time and energy nurturing and teaching our youth through example how work ethic and determination can pay off,” said President & CEO Phillip Borup, YMCA of Reading & Berks County. Coach Kim Evans works with an accomplished team of assistant coaches comprised of Kelly Skiptunas, Scott Williams, Cody Kauffman, Theresa Johnson, Kate Fanning, and Maggie Foight.

About the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

For 165 years, the YMCA of Reading & Berks County has been a cornerstone in the community, putting Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Driven by its founding mission, the Y is a nonprofit committed to strengthening the community and empowering individuals by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections among 2,700 Ys in 10,000 communities across the United States. The YMCA of Reading & Berks County operates branches in Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley.