Locals have been looking to start the area's first triathlon.  Kris Kocan, a YMCA member, had been mulling over the idea for quite some time.  After all, he had trained for triathlons at Colonel Crawford Park for years.  About a year ago, Kocan mentioned to a friend and fellow triathlete Steve Bell his idea.  It turned out that Bell and his wife, Nina was also thinking about starting a race in the area.  When it was discovered that Chip Fuller was planning on at Tamarack, the four decided to work together.  The end result:  The Dam Tri triathlon being held June 28 and is believed to be the first triathlon held in Crawford County.  As far as the event, there are two paths you can go by. The first is a full Olympic length triathlon.  It start with a swim of 1.5 kilometers, followed by biking 40K before a run of 10K.  There will also be a sprint version of the race which features shorter legs with a quarter-mile swim, 11.3 of biking and a 5k run.  Both Kocan and Bell said the Sprint race was an important feature to them.  Both felt it was a great way for beginners to give the sport a try.  It also affords beginners a better chance at completing the race, which everyone who enters will certainly want to do.  Visit http://www.thedamtri.com/ for more information.   

The Great Outdoors-Playing as a Family

Put play in your family's day by enjoying the best that America has to offer.  Find inspiration and healthy recreation in the National Park System, which includes 391 park sites, and the National Trails System, which spans more than 60,000 miles across all 50 states.  This year, visit a National park with your family, and experience America's most important vacation.   The experience will last a life time.  Two very special National Trails to explore:  The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trial and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.  The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail works with partners to preserve historic, cultural and natural resources.  The Appalachian Trail is America's premier hiking destination.  Traversing 14 states along the eastern seaboard, it's practically in your backyard-within a day's drive for over of half of the U.S. population.  For many, even a short stroll on the famous Appalachian Trail has inspired a lifetime of passion for hiking.  For more information visit http://www.appalachiantrail.org/.

Y-Member Spotlight

We have decided that YMCA members, Jeff and Michelle Sampson deserve to be in the spotlight for the month of March. These two members happen to be a husband and wife team.  Jeff is originally from Titusville and Michelle is from the Oil City area.  They now reside in Meadville and have been members of the YMCA for eight years.  They work out six days a week, usually in the morning using our state of the art Cardio and Nautilus equipment.  When Jeff and Michelle are not working out, they enjoy spending time with their 17 year old dog, Clancy, and their family members, Mallory and Corbin.  Also, in their spare time they like going snow skiing, playing golf, playing tennis, going on vacations and swimming.    

Y-Program of The Month

March is upon us and Youth T-Ball & Coach Pitch are in full swing.  T-Ball is for youth ages 4-5 and Coach Pitch for youth ages 6-8.  The season will begin April 25th and conclude June 13th at Neason Hill Elementary School.  Each player will receive a t-shirt, hat, trophy, and pizza party.  The last day to register is April 25th which will also be the date for skill evaluation and team assignments.   May 2 and 9 will be practice and May 16 thru June 13 will be Saturday games.  Pictures will be taken on May 16 and a pizza and trophy party will be held June 13.  Volunteers are needed and appreciated!! If you want to coach or officiate a game, don't hesitate to ask.  See the front desk for more details!         

Y-Employee Highlight

Denise Casperson has been chosen for our March employee highlight.  Denise works as a teacher assistant in the daycare department and she also works in the kitchen area.  Denise has been an employee since September 2008 and works Mon thru Fri from 7 AM- 6 PM with time off in between sites.  She is originally from Meadville, PA and has lived here her entire life graduating from MASH in 1973.  Her husband, Jim, is from Marion, Ohio and they have six children who also attended the Y daycare. They have many grandchildren and two dogs named Zoe and Taylor.  For 18 years, Denise was employed at Alleghany College.  She attends New Beginnings Church of God and during her spare time she enjoys bowling and going to the grandchildren's sports activities.  She said, "The YMCA provides a very valuable service to the Meadville Community, and I am honored to have been chosen." 

Y-Volunteer in Action

Have you ever considered being more involved as a member of the YMCA?  We would like to highlight the impact that volunteers make since they do not always get the recognition for the work they do.

Our March YMCA Volunteer in Action for the month of March is Scott Yoder.  Scott has been a member of the YMCA for 20 years.  He likes the YMCA because he's able to participate in a variety of exercises such as the pool, bikes, weights, machines and being around other people and nice staff.  He and his wife Cindy are both from Meadville and they have a son Garrett.   Scott Volunteers with the Basketball program which his 10 year old son participates in.  We asked what Scott would say to somebody who's looking to volunteer and he said, "it's very rewarding for everyone involved and it's a win, win situation."  During his spare time, he likes to do things with his son such as golfing and bow hunting.  Recently, Scott was injured and has had many surgeries, so he likes to workout to stay in shape and to help keep the stress and pain under control. He said "I like the direction the Y is heading and hope the good work keeps going.  It sure helps a lot of people!!"  

Y-Childcare

At the end of the rainbow you will find the Meadville YMCA Child Care.  For March the children will be making shamrocks, leprechauns, hand flowers and even planting seeds to watch and grow.  Speaking of growth, the Toddlers have a new growth chart in their room to track how much they grow! Along with swim instruction, the Preschoolers visit the Library, have their own morning Gymnastics session, express motor skills with plenty of gym time, and participate in performances at Juniper Village for the residents.  Children are encouraged to stay active, take turns, listen and follow directions, and become both leaders and supporters.  We offer before and after school care for children in grades K-6.  Children participate in a structured, healthy, stimulating, and school age environment right in their home school for East End, Neason Hill, and West End Elementary.  Students from Second and First District are bused right from their school to the YMCA.  This is a safe, fun, and exciting alternative for children who need a more challenging and stimulating environment while parents work or attend school or job readiness classes. The Meadville Family YMCA has been the leader in quality child care in the Meadville area for over 30 years. Our program is state licensed. We provide experienced, qualified, caring staff. Please inquire more about joining our family. 

Personal Trainer -Get Fit

Each and every new member to the Meadville Family YMCA is granted one FREE hour with Fitness Trainer Dave Wetsell. Are you looking for guidance or just unsure of how to use the equipment? Dave will guide you through your initial workout helping you to establish goals, review the program guidelines, and teach you how to use the strength and cardiovascular equipment.  To further your training, there are options of daily, weekly, and bi-monthly sessions you can purchase starting at $25.00.  If you have not yet taken advantage of this great opportunity, call the Meadville Family YMCA front desk to schedule your appointment today. 

Y-Fit Tip: Dave Says...

Getting Your Strength Program Over the Hump:  The first YMCA Executive Director that I worked for always told his staff that "if you are not doing something to progress yourself, you are stagnant.  And if you are stagnant, you are not worth much to this organization".  That thought can also be applied to your strength training program.  If your program is not progressing, it is stagnant.  And if it is stagnant, you will not experience any changes to your strength or muscular system.  Progression can come in many forms.  Here are some suggestions to help your program progress properly:

• Increase weight: This is the simplest form of progression. If you are using a repetition range (i.e. 8-12) when the top of the rep range is accomplished, add weight to the exercise until a weight is reached that prevents you from completing the top number of the range.
• Increase Exercises: Caution should be used not to do too many exercise. A maximum of 20 working sets is a good rule to follow and should not be exceeded.
• Increase Exercise Sets: If done properly, this can help stale programs. I would suggest using the 10-8 system. Two working sets are preformed to momentary muscular exhaustion for each exercise with a 90 second rest between each set. If 10 repetitions can be preformed with the same weight for both sets, the weight is too light for the first set.
• Change Routines: If you are presently using the Nautilus equipment, add an extra workout or two to the program.

Any questions, see David Wetsell or email him at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .