Creating Connections and Telling Our Stories... | | A Word From the Executive Director... | |
Welcome to the Middle Atlantic Swimming 2026-2027 season and to the first edition of our new Middle Atlantic Swimming e-newsletter! As we begin our new season, we are excited to create another way to connect, celebrate and strengthen our swimming community. Our mission through this newsletter and across all communication initiatives is to advocate for the growth and development of our diverse swimming community through education, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. More specifically, we want to tell the stories of the people and clubs that make Middle Atlantic Swimming special. At the center of all this is connection. We want to create stronger connections among our athletes, clubs, coaches, officials, and families.
Welcome to a new season and our new way to stay connected to Middle Atlantic Swimming!
| Middle Atlantic Swimming Long Course Champs Recap... | | Senior Championships July 9 – July 12, Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, PA. Hosted by the Chambersburg Chargers, Senior Championships was held in the Lloyd Aquatic Center on the picturesque campus of Mercersburg Academy. This is a 4-day senior-level meet with fast qualifying times and is set up in the preliminaries - finals sessions format. Senior Championships is historically a very competitive meet. Middle Atlantic Swimming Executive Director Jamie Platt notes that “we continually strive to raise the bar high for our Seniors swimmers and they continue to meet the challenge.” Platt notes that what makes this meet successful is “creating opportunities for our fastest swimmers to compete against each other. That’s what we’re seeing at Seniors.” The top team performances (combined men and women) were Jersey Wahoos (1629.5 points), Suburban Seahawks (1193.5) and Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (900).
Junior Championships, July 16 – July 19, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Sewell, NJ (GCIT). Junior Championships is a premier summer championship meet for Middle Atlantic age-group swimmers. This meet runs on the preliminaries-finals format and gives younger athletes an opportunity to swim against the fastest swimmers in the LSC in a competitive championship environment. Another great feature of Junior Championships is the opportunity it provides for athletes to qualify for higher level meets like Eastern Zones Age Group Championships. Congratulations to this year’s top-performing teams (combined boys and girls): Jersey Wahoos (2289 points), Delaware Swim Team (1383) and BeFirst Swim Team (1087).
Silver Championships, July 23 – July 26, Carlisle, PA and GCIT. Silver Championships was our final championship meet of the summer celebrating the hard work and perseverance of age-group and senior swimmers alike. Also styled as a championship meet, Silver Championship swimmers experience the preliminaries-finals format, some for the first-time. Upper Dublin Aquatic Club’s Age Group Head Coach Cheryl Edwards describes Silvers as a “good step in the ladder that is USA champs meets.” According to Coach Edwards, “Middle Atlantic Silvers swimmers gain the experience of prelims/finals champs format [while] hopefully gaining confidence to continue to set higher goals for themselves” in the sport. Middle Atlantic Swimming congratulates all the Silver Championship swimmers who to show up, work hard and learn.
| Middle Atlantic Swimming Goes National... | |
TYR Futures Championships, July 29-Aug 1. This year, the TYR Futures Championships were held at 5 sites nationwide. Middle Atlantic competed at 2 sites: Greensboro, North Carolina - Greensboro Aquatic Center and Knoxville, Tennessee - Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. TYR Championships meets are national competitions that sit between Sectionals and Junior Nationals in terms of qualifying times. They present great opportunities for athletes to compete against swimmers outside their LSCs and often serve as steppingstones to higher-level meets like, Junior and Senior Nationals.
Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC) clinched the Men’s Championship title in Knoxville gobbling up points in all three relays. The team of Joey Curcio, Kyle Spaman, Luke Sullivan and Brady Manser won the 400 meter medley relay in 3:46.26 and placed 2nd in the 200 meter medley relay in 1:43.56. The foursome of Jack Baumgardner, Luke Sullivan, Kyle Spaman and Brady Manser rounded out the relay competitions placing 3rd in the 400 meter freestyle relay in 3:28.89. UDAC placed 3rd overall in the combined competition behind Tennessee Aquatics and SwimMAC Carolina. More impressive UDAC relay performances on the women’s side included Victoria Williams, Sophia Sileo-Magliari, Olivia Auwarter and Alyssa Auwarter, who placed 2nd in both the 400 and 200 meter medley relays with times of 4:19.77 and 1:58.05 respectively.
At the Greensboro meet, Middle Atlantic Swimming had another strong showing with several Top 8 finishers: Lydia Strucko (Emmaus Aquatic Club) 7th, 100 meter back - 1:05.02; Briana Klock (Lower Moreland Aquatic Club) 6th, 50 meter fly - 28.05; Sam Gatesman (Jersey Wahoos) 8th, 400 meter free - 4:29.78; Christian Shenk (South Jersey Aquatic Club) 7th, 200 meter back - 2:07.62; Haven Fegely (EMAC) 8th, 50 breast - 34.02; and Kelly Sommer (Methacton Aquatic Club) 8th, 50 breast - 29.81.
Congratulations to all our TYR Futures Championship swimmers!
2026 Speedo Junior National Championships, Aug 3 - Aug 8, William Woollett, Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA. The William Woollett, Jr. Aquatics Center showcased this year’s Speedo Junior National Championships Meet. Middle Atlantic Swimming was represented well by 16 athletes from York YMCA, Cumberland Valley Aquatic Club, Upper Dublin Aquatic Club, South Jersey Aquatic Club, Chambersburg Chargers, Jersey Wahoos, Lancaster Aquatic Club, Souderton Area Community Aquatic Club and Upper Main Line YMCA. One of the premier U.S. meets for 18&Under swimmers, Junior Nationals brings together high-level junior swimmers in a meet that represents a much more selective piece of USA Swimming's competitive population. The meet can begin to identify the next generation of elite U.S. swimmers.
We are very proud of the Middle Atlantic athletes who qualified for and competed at Junior Nationals!
2026 Toyota National Championships, July 28 to Aug 2, William Woollett, Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine CA. A week before Junior Nationals, the Woollett Aquatics Center hosted another major U.S. competition, the Toyota National Championships. This meet sits at the top of USA Swimming’s domestic competition structure. With significantly faster qualifying times than other national meets, simply qualifying for Nationals is an incredible accomplishment as the competitive field includes established professional swimmers, National Team athletes and top NCAA swimmers. This meet serves an important role in USA Swimming’s elite system as it provides the Unites States’ fastest swimmers a chance to see how their performances stack up immediately before international meets like the Pan Pacific Championships.
Congratulations to our Middle Atlantic swimmers who qualified for and competed at Nationals!
| What’s Making a Splash… | Welcome to “What’s Making a Splash,” where we will feature noteworthy news in and around Middle Atlantic Swimming. If you have news you’d like shared in future editions, please contact Kira Spaman, kira.spaman@maswim.org. | |
*Congratulations to Crystal Keelan, Head Coach of Penn Charter Aquatic Club, on her recent lifetime membership award with Middle Atlantic Swimming. Each year, previous awardees nominate current Middle Atlantic Swimming members for demonstrated service to the LSC. We thank Crystal for her outstanding service and dedication to both PCAC and the broader Middle Atlantic Swimming team over the past 20+ years!
*Don’t miss out on this year’s Flyers Swim Night on Sunday, Nov. 15th at 7:30pm. In addition to the NHL matchup between the Flyers and Edmonton, the night will feature an exclusive Flyers Swim Cap for attendees and a pre-game panel discussion with Olympic Gold Medalist (2024 Paris Olympics) and former Middle Atlantic Swimming athlete at TOPS Swimming, Chris Guiliano. Stay tuned for details on registration and pricing and then act fast for this great opportunity to cheer for the Flyers and to get to know your teammates outside of the pool.
*Meet the newest members of the Middle Atlantic Swimming staff, Mary Poleto and Kira Spaman. Mary joins Middle Atlantic as Director of Championships and Kira will assist with Communications.
*11 of Middle Atlantic Swimming’s own attended the 2026 USA Swimming Annual Summit in Denver, CO. Executive Director Jamie Platt and MASI Staff - Amy Steeves, Mike Seip, and Mary Poleto - along with Boardmembers, Brian Elko (General Chair), Andrew Austria (Coaches’ Rep.), Adam Wise, (DEI Chair), Arden Keitel and Will Ledbetter (Athletes' Reps.), officials' representative Corey Babka, and Zach Nerwinski (National Club Development Committee Rep.) connected with other LSC leaders and staff, coaches, athletes and officials to learn and expand Middle Atlantic Swimming's presence nationally.
| |  | A Newcomer's Guide to Competitive Swimming Jargon... | |
Are you the parent, guardian or caretaker responsible for a young athlete new to competitive swimming?
Congratulations on supporting your athlete in choosing a sport that not only keeps them fit and strong, but also builds character and teaches them grit and resilience – great qualities in and out of the water! Middle Atlantic understands though that if you are new to competitive swimming, the responsibilities can feel overwhelming – keeping track of all the practices, signing up for meets, figuring out when your swimmer’s events are at the weekend’s invitational and trying to find a spot in the crowded stands to actually see them swim! It can feel like a lot. Add an unfamiliar vocabulary and you may feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water. Dryland? Invitational? Tech suit? What does it all mean?
Here, a basic list of competitive swimming jargon that will hopefully help you and your swimmer understand and, most importantly, enjoy the sport.
USA Swimming - The National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States that formulates the rules and implements the policies and procedures for the sport.
Middle Atlantic Swimming, Inc. (MASI) – The Local Swim Committee (LSC) overseeing competitive swimming in Eastern PA, Southern NJ and all of DE, which falls under the auspices of USA Swimming. MASI performs many functions including registering swimmers, coaches and clubs with USA Swimming, organizing and sanctioning meets and training and certifying meet officials.
Meet – An organized competition where swimmers race against each other in different events.
Event – A specific race, such as the 100-yard freestyle or 50-yard backstroke.
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Welcome Coaches! Middle Atlantic Swimming understands how invaluable coaches are to the smooth and effective operation of a club swim team. We understand the blood, sweat and tears shed in teaching and motivating athletes. Middle Atlantic Swimming supports you and, here, wants to connect you to other coaches across the LSC with timely and relevant information to help on deck with your athletes. Here, in our first Coaches’ Corner, we bring you a favorite workout from Michael McBryan, Head Coach of Hatboro Horsham Aquatic Association.
Targeting high-school level sprinters, this workout attempts to transform efficiency into race speed by progressing through resisted swimming, acceleration, assisted speed, and race execution. Each repetition has a specific purpose and a timed 50 at the end of each round gives measurable data to evaluate. McBryan’s goal with this workout is twofold: 1st, help swimmers establish an effective catch and pull, connect hand and forearm to propulsion, and maintain that connection as swimming speed increases; 2nd, to practice coordinating catch, kick, and body movement as resistance and swimming speed change.
| If you have a workout you'd like to share in the next e-newsletter, please contact Kira Spaman at kira.spaman@maswim.org. | Meet Middle Atlantic Swimming Leaders... | Welcome to “Meet Middle Atlantic Swimming Leaders.” Here, we will feature leaders within the LSC who’ve made significant impacts in our sport! There are many of you out there. Please contact Kira Spaman, kira.spaman@maswim.org if you have someone in mind for the next edition. | |
This month, we celebrate Mike Seip, Middle Atlantic Swimming Director of Competition. Mike is a lifelong champion of our sport and has contributed significantly as an athlete, coach and administrator. Starting at the Allentown YMCA where he was a 50-yard butterfly Champion at age 12, Mike continued his swimming success at Dieruff High School, where he was PIAA District XI Champion, and then at East Stroudsburg State College, where was captain and 11-time Pennsylvania Conference place-winner.
Mike achieved remarkable success as a coach earning one of the best records in PIAA swimming history. Over his 22-year coaching career – 19 of which were at Emmaus High School – Mike coached the boys team to a 230-26-1 record, 16 League titles, and 12 District XI Championships. Mike’s success with the girls team was even more impressive with a 235-10-1 record and a PIAA State Championship title in the 1999-2000 season. Mike coached 26 individual PIAA State Champions. He also founded Emmaus Aquatic Club, creating connections between the PIAA and USA Swimming organizations.
Off the pool deck, Mike has significant governance experience in the sport. He has served on the Middle Atlantic Swimming Board of Directors in various roles, including General Chair, Administrative Vice Chair and Coaches' Representative. Mike has also contributed to several USA Swimming Committees, including Club Development, Operational Risk and Convention Education.
Mike is a member of the East Stroudsburg Athletic Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Aquatics Hall of Fame and in October 2026 won the Adolph Kiefer Safety Commendation Award, which recognizes a person demonstrating exceptional commitment to water safety.
With a lifetime of experience in and out of the pool, Mike Seip brings unparalleled experience and dedication to Middle Atlantic Swimming. Thank you Mike for outstanding service to our sport!
| | | Middle Atlantic Swimming Goes to Pan Pacs... | Middle Atlantic and Neighboring LSCs Roll Out Innovatice Swim Experience at MEGA LSC 2026 Swim Festival in Mission Viejo, CA! | | | |
In August, Middle Atlantic Swimming traveled to Mission Viejo, CA to take part in the inaugural MEGA LSC 2026 Swim Festival. Built around the international Pan Pacific Championships, the Festival brought together swimmers from the Middle Atlantic Swimming, Indiana Swimming and North Carolina Swimming for an immersive 4-day athlete development program. Athletes trained and competed at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex, one of the country’s historic outdoor venues in Mission Viejo, CA during the day. They learned from USA Swimming's best coaches and then got to sit front-row at the Pan Pacific Championships finals at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics in Irvine, CA each night.
From the idea phase in mid-2025 to execution in August 2026, Middle Atlantic's own Jamie Platt worked collaboratively on the program with Executive Directors Steve Roush (Southern California Swimming), Tony Young (Indiana Swimming) and Amy Faulk (North Carolina Swimming). Together, they brought an innovative idea to life and granted our athletes elite-style training and education with access to elite international competition. The athletes challenged themselves in the pool while building relationships with swimmers from other parts of the country. Building these kinds of connections was central to the purpose of the program for Platt. These swimmers had the chance “to connect with swimmers from across the Country, build new friendships, and create memories that extend well beyond the pool.” Platt said. For many Middle Atlantic Swimming athletes, this program was their first opportunity to travel beyond the East Coast and connect with swimmers outside their home state.
Echoing the goal of creating connections, Head Middle Atlantic Swimming Coach Crystal Keelan said about the program: “It was incredible! The athletes were awesome. We all had so much fun meeting each other, traveling together, and learning from one another.” Also pivotal about the experience according to Coach Keelan was the opportunity to watch Pan Pac finals. With vast national and international coaching experience, Keelan still noted that the chance for our athletes to watch the finals of an international meet “was a huge deal and such a powerful experience.” Middle Atlantic swimmers “got to see how the top athletes act at a high-level meet, including cheering for teammates, pre-race preparation and actual racing.”
The MEGA LSC 2026 Swim Festival showed how major international meets can create opportunities beyond the meet itself. By aligning the Festival with the Pan Pacific Championships, the organizers connected grassroots athlete development with USA Swimming’s international stage. With this level of success, organizers are planning for a repeat performance next year.
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