YMCA Bolts track team provides opportunity for the youth athletes of Chenango County
CHENANGO COUNTY – The Norwich Family YMCA’s youth track team is a unique program. Not only is it designed to introduce kids to and teach them the skills of track and field, but it has also produced a competitive team, creating opportunities for outstanding track athletes to advance to higher levels. In November, track and field athletes as well as other sport participants are welcome to join the competitive team for the indoor track season.
“Over the years, we’ve introduced many young athletes to the sport of track and field,” said Shannon Gawronski, Bolts head coach and YMCA Health and Fitness Director. “We invite all kids, even as young as six years old, to join the Bolts just to learn the joy of the sport. Many just want to have fun, be a part of a team, and play running games at the end of practice. Other kids continue to love the events and evolve into great track and field athletes.”
Gawronski has provided a successful program to the area in the few short years of existence due to the commitment of her and her coaching staff and what they are able to offer the kids who join.
Former Norwich stand-out track athlete and now assistant coach, Sidney Chaffee said, “What’s special about a program like this is most kids only learn about track by doing an end of the year unit in gym class, composed mainly of races on the grass. They don’t learn all of the other aspects of track and field and they don’t have any real venues in which to compete until middle school.
“Participating in this program puts young athletes so far ahead of all the other kids who just join track for the first time in seventh grade.”
Another outstanding track athlete and Gawronski’s primary assistant coach, Andre Bryant said, “For years we’ve coached kids to become better, faster runners. Our kids know how to come out of the starting blocks, do blind relay exchanges, and finish races properly. Young athletes also become familiar with the hurdles, the jumps and the throws. This program also provides young athletes the opportunity to run on real tracks – even indoor college tracks.
“Some kids may join the Bolts just to learn the sport and have something fun to be a part of, but others join for the opportunity to compete early on, and we’re the only program providing that special opportunity.”
It was when the Bolts registered as a USA Track and Field (USATF) club – one of only a few YMCA youth track teams in the country – that a competitive team began to form. The Bolts program has since produced some truly outstanding athletes, ten of whom qualified for the USATF Junior Olympic Regional meet in NYC this past July. The other athletes who qualified are Josh and Jonathan McNamara (Sidney), Victor Richette and Richard Hunter (both from Oxford), Madison Dix (Unadilla Valley), Emily Brown (Downsville), Gabe and Katie Gawronski (Norwich), and Josh Nogaret (Unadilla Valley).
“We were missing a few of our top athletes at the qualifier meet in Craryville. I’m certain we would have had a couple other sprinters qualify, like Devin Flanagan and George Bryant, had they been able to compete. They were running times that would have beat anyone in their age group that day.” Gawronski said.
Nogaret also had the opportunity to compete in Australia with the Down Under Sports program in July. He finished in the top one third of all competitors in the 800 meter run.
The Bolts compete against other youth track teams, primarily organized by the Empire State Sports Council near Albany. However, it’s the association with USATF that allows athletes to advance from preliminary association meets to regional meets as well as national championship meets.
The youth track and field program also provides entire families an opportunity to get deeply involved with the sport. The Gawronski children grew up on the track and are highly successful high school varsity track athletes today. Coach Bryant’s son, George, is well on his way to becoming a great sprinter. The Ellsworth family have enjoyed being a part of the Bolts so much that not only does their son Noah compete, but parents Steve and Karen Ellsworth began competing in the throws, pole vault and some races too. The McNamara family has been a part of the Y track program for years and continue to be outstanding performers.
All of the coaching for the Bolts program comes from experienced track and field coaches who are former athletes that love the sport enough to volunteer countless hours. In the off-season, varsity and collegiate athletes return to the track to coach and mentor the kids. Naturally, the younger kids look up to the veteran athletes and try to be like them. “Of course volunteering for the Y and coaching youth always looks great on a resume, too,” said Gawronski.
“Lastly, as speed, conditioning and strength are important to every athlete in every sport, I strongly encourage soccer, basketball, football, cross country, and all other athletes to join the Bolts too as it can only make you better,” said Gawronski.
The Norwich Family Y will hold sign-ups for the Bolts indoor season beginning in late November. The indoor season ends in late February or beginning of March. The Bolts outdoor season begins at the end of May and lasts until late July, early August. For any additional questions or information, please contact Shannon Gawronski at (607) 336-9622.
– Meagan Schulz, Sun Sports Editor
“Over the years, we’ve introduced many young athletes to the sport of track and field,” said Shannon Gawronski, Bolts head coach and YMCA Health and Fitness Director. “We invite all kids, even as young as six years old, to join the Bolts just to learn the joy of the sport. Many just want to have fun, be a part of a team, and play running games at the end of practice. Other kids continue to love the events and evolve into great track and field athletes.”
Gawronski has provided a successful program to the area in the few short years of existence due to the commitment of her and her coaching staff and what they are able to offer the kids who join.
Former Norwich stand-out track athlete and now assistant coach, Sidney Chaffee said, “What’s special about a program like this is most kids only learn about track by doing an end of the year unit in gym class, composed mainly of races on the grass. They don’t learn all of the other aspects of track and field and they don’t have any real venues in which to compete until middle school.
“Participating in this program puts young athletes so far ahead of all the other kids who just join track for the first time in seventh grade.”
Another outstanding track athlete and Gawronski’s primary assistant coach, Andre Bryant said, “For years we’ve coached kids to become better, faster runners. Our kids know how to come out of the starting blocks, do blind relay exchanges, and finish races properly. Young athletes also become familiar with the hurdles, the jumps and the throws. This program also provides young athletes the opportunity to run on real tracks – even indoor college tracks.
“Some kids may join the Bolts just to learn the sport and have something fun to be a part of, but others join for the opportunity to compete early on, and we’re the only program providing that special opportunity.”
It was when the Bolts registered as a USA Track and Field (USATF) club – one of only a few YMCA youth track teams in the country – that a competitive team began to form. The Bolts program has since produced some truly outstanding athletes, ten of whom qualified for the USATF Junior Olympic Regional meet in NYC this past July. The other athletes who qualified are Josh and Jonathan McNamara (Sidney), Victor Richette and Richard Hunter (both from Oxford), Madison Dix (Unadilla Valley), Emily Brown (Downsville), Gabe and Katie Gawronski (Norwich), and Josh Nogaret (Unadilla Valley).
“We were missing a few of our top athletes at the qualifier meet in Craryville. I’m certain we would have had a couple other sprinters qualify, like Devin Flanagan and George Bryant, had they been able to compete. They were running times that would have beat anyone in their age group that day.” Gawronski said.
Nogaret also had the opportunity to compete in Australia with the Down Under Sports program in July. He finished in the top one third of all competitors in the 800 meter run.
The Bolts compete against other youth track teams, primarily organized by the Empire State Sports Council near Albany. However, it’s the association with USATF that allows athletes to advance from preliminary association meets to regional meets as well as national championship meets.
The youth track and field program also provides entire families an opportunity to get deeply involved with the sport. The Gawronski children grew up on the track and are highly successful high school varsity track athletes today. Coach Bryant’s son, George, is well on his way to becoming a great sprinter. The Ellsworth family have enjoyed being a part of the Bolts so much that not only does their son Noah compete, but parents Steve and Karen Ellsworth began competing in the throws, pole vault and some races too. The McNamara family has been a part of the Y track program for years and continue to be outstanding performers.
All of the coaching for the Bolts program comes from experienced track and field coaches who are former athletes that love the sport enough to volunteer countless hours. In the off-season, varsity and collegiate athletes return to the track to coach and mentor the kids. Naturally, the younger kids look up to the veteran athletes and try to be like them. “Of course volunteering for the Y and coaching youth always looks great on a resume, too,” said Gawronski.
“Lastly, as speed, conditioning and strength are important to every athlete in every sport, I strongly encourage soccer, basketball, football, cross country, and all other athletes to join the Bolts too as it can only make you better,” said Gawronski.
The Norwich Family Y will hold sign-ups for the Bolts indoor season beginning in late November. The indoor season ends in late February or beginning of March. The Bolts outdoor season begins at the end of May and lasts until late July, early August. For any additional questions or information, please contact Shannon Gawronski at (607) 336-9622.
– Meagan Schulz, Sun Sports Editor
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