C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris
Nine members of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s masters swim team took home state championships at the 2022 Illinois Senior Olympics on September 17 in Springfield.
Swimmers who came home with finalist medals included Head Coach Ann Emmrich, Karen Spangler, John Wesolowski, Chris Drillenburg, John Hernandez, Erin Stuedemann, Laurie Biskie, Susan Towne and Mike Burcham.
Team members are now qualified for the national Senior Olympics competition. We wish them all the best of luck!
Do you have an interest in swimming? Join the Masters Swim Club! Open to Y members, ages 18 and over, team practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 a.m.-6 a.m. and 6:15 a.m.-7:15 a.m., as well as Sundays from 7 a.m.-8 a.m. Swim Club members who choose to compete in meets can do so in one of 12 different age groups. For more information, please contact the C.W. Avery YMCA at (815) 267-8600.
Pickleball is a fun way to stay active and participate in friendly competition. And now the C.W. Avery Family YMCA is excited to offer FREE pickleball clinics! Join instructor Gene Smyth for a FREE clinic that will help you improve your pickleball skills!
Date:
Wednesday, September 7
Times:
10-11 a.m. (Beginner)
11 a.m.-Noon (Intermediate/Advanced)
Location:
C.W. Avery Family YMCA Gymnasium
About the Instructor:
Gene Smyth is a national champion pickleball player and a Prolite sponsored player and coach.
PLEASE NOTE: Clinics are free and open to the community, but space is limited and registration is required.
Earlier this summer the C.W. Avery Family YMCA and Edward-Elmhurst Health announced the formation of a new partnership to enhance the health and wellness of C.W. Avery Family YMCA members and residents living in Plainfield and the surrounding communities.
The combined vision and resources of Edward-Elmhurst Health and the C.W. Avery Family YMCA now offer enhanced health and wellness programming to the community, including:
“We want to keep our communities healthy in every way possible, and this exciting partnership with the C.W. Avery Family YMCA is the perfect opportunity to make our healthcare and wellness programs even more accessible,” said Mary Lou Mastro, CEO, South Region, NorthShore—Edward-Elmhurst Health. “We’re committed to community-connected care and invested in the wellness of our communities.”
Edward-Elmhurst Health’s new 2,000-square-foot physical therapy clinic at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA opened on July 11 and is now open to the public and YMCA members on weekdays, Monday through Friday.
Hours are available by appointment during the following times:
To schedule an appointment for physical therapy at this location, please call (630) 527-3375 or click here.
“We are very excited to welcome Edward-Elmhurst Health to the C.W. Avery Family YMCA,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair. “Through this unique collaboration, we will work together to introduce innovative and impactful health and wellness initiatives for residents of all ages living in Plainfield and the surrounding areas.”
At the Y, we know that having a strong support system can make a big difference when you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For the husband and wife team of Bill Turton and Maraline Mattke, joint personal training sessions at the Galowich Family YMCA have proven to be a crucial part of their health and wellness journeys.
Bill, a Y member for more than 45 years, says personal training has helped him navigate the challenges of Parkinson’s disease. While Maraline, who joined the Y shortly after the couple got married in 2003, is seeing the benefits of personal training following multiple knee replacement surgeries and the removal of a brain tumor.
“The important thing about dealing with Parkinson’s is that you aren’t necessarily looking to increase skills as much as you are focusing on not losing skills. That’s why it’s important to work on maintaining balance as much as I work on increasing strength,” Bill said.
“I’m trying to get back into shape, address fatigue, and improve balance. Personal training has done so much to improve my balance. I’m able to do so many things better like work in my garden,” Maraline said.
Both Bill and Maraline said a key reason why they have stuck with personal training is the comfortable atmosphere created by Membership and Wellness Director Alissa Koenig.
“I had personal trainers two or three times before and didn’t really connect with them. With Alissa, the connection was immediate. She listens, she’s flexible to your needs, and she’s creative. I’ve been able to work muscle groups in five or six different ways so it doesn’t become boring or repetitive,” Bill said.
“Her enthusiasm and encouragement is unequaled by anyone. She inspires us,” Maraline said.
Alissa said she enjoys the energy Bill and Maraline bring to not only their personal training sessions, but the overall Y community.
“They have built relationships with other members who are in the fitness center because they have common goals. It is uplifting to hear everyone encouraging each other,” Alissa said.
In addition to the health and wellness department, Bill said he appreciates the welcoming nature of the staff team at the Galowich Family YMCA.
“The staff at the Y has been nothing but tremendous during my time here. Whether it’s full-time staff, lifeguards, or custodians, everyone goes out of their way to be helpful,” he said.
Maraline also noted that working out at the Y brings support beyond physical activity.
“I was a social worker for 42 years, working with hospitals in the community. Being at the Y has been a release and has helped in many ways, especially for my own mental health, because coming to workout here has prevented burn out,” she said.
Moving forward, Bill and Maraline said that reaching their weight loss goals is the next step in their collective Y journey.
“It’s more fun doing this together,” Bill said.
The Y would like to thank Bill and Maraline for sharing their Y story. To learn more about personal training at the Y, please click here.
At the Y, we are not only focused on helping our members find their path to a healthy lifestyle, we look to strengthen their connections to the greater Y community. These principles are exemplified by Morris Community YMCA member Mike Lennon.
Mike, a former educator and avid runner, will be raising money for the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund by competing in the Christmas in July Half-Marathon and 5K in Elk Grove on July 9. Mike said he gained inspiration from the Y’s Send a Kid to Camp Campaign, with his efforts fusing all aspects of the Y’s mission to support healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility.
“I taught elementary school P.E. in California and helping kids grow, overcoming any obstacle, has always been a passion of mine,” he said. “One of the things I really like about the Y’s approach to serving the community is that nobody is turned away due to the inability to pay, and I want to help any way I can.”
Mike, 75, frequented the downtown Joliet Y in his youth and moved back to Illinois from California eight years ago. He says that he feels a strong connection to the Y because it provides so much more than simply a place to work out, it builds character and strengthens families in our community.
“I’ve had the chance to go to other gyms and it’s just not the same as the culture here. The Y is very community centered. It’s a really positive environment, and it encourages you to grow and develop. You feel that when you’re here,” he said.
Mike also recounted the support the Y was able to provide him after battling an array of health problems last year, including a bout with COVID, a compression fracture in his back, and blood clots.
“I was in and out of the hospital, couldn’t work out, and was down to 150 pounds at one point. I felt like I was melting,” he said. “I came back to the Y and did six sessions of personal training. I realized I couldn’t let my routine slip. My goal is to live life strong and now I feel so much better.”
Mike plans to do most of his training for the upcoming half-marathon at the Y and, though two knee replacements and a new right hip have shifted his focus toward walking his races, raising awareness for a good cause has motivated him to ramp up his workout regiment.
“The Y is really proactive with programs and meeting the needs of families, individuals and the community as a whole, but that also means we have to fund the financial assistance program. Hopefully we can make a big impact,” he said.
On behalf of the Y, we wish Mike the best of luck in his upcoming race and look forward to sharing updates of his training throughout the coming weeks on our social media pages.
And, you can pledge your support for Mike’s fundraiser today! Your gift, which will benefit kids at the Y, can be made through Facebook or by donating to the Y online. When making your donation on our giving portal, use the following steps:
1. Select ‘Dedicate this donation’
2. Select ‘In Honor of’ and type ‘Mike’s Run for Y Kids’
To learn more about the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, click here. We thank you for your support as we look to support bright futures!
