Stingray Swim Team receive donation from Elks Lodge

Recently, Springfield Elks Lodge’s Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski made a presentation to Christian Avard, head coach of the Stingray Swim Team at the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center.

www.vermontjournal.com    

Stingray Swim Team receive donation from Elks Lodge January 11, 2017 Stingray Swim Team Shown accepting the $1000 Elks National Foundation Grant check are Front: Asst. Coach Joannie Cioffi, Noah Jones, Kateline Ferris, Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski, Head Coach Christian Avard, Janie Thompson, Berkley Hutchins and Samantha. Middle row: Asst. Coach Amie Ferris, Alyssa Ferris. Back: Coach Amy Jones, Alex Hutchins, Lily Jones, Ari Cioffi, Nic Potter and Grace Johnson and Asst. Coach Ann Thompson. Photo provided SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Recently, Springfield Elks Lodge’s Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski made a presentation to Christian Avard, head coach of the Stingray Swim Team at the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center. The Elks were awarded a Gratitude Grant that they applied for in the fall from Elks National Foundation. This Grant came by the local Elks Lodge meeting their per capita fees during the 2016 year. The swim team was the beneficiary of a $1000 Elks Grant. This Grant is to be used by the swim team for equipment, scholarships, trips to swim meets etc. The Stingray Swim Team have been in existence since the Health Center was built. This program is open to youth’s ages 6 – 18. Boys and girls come from towns around the upper valley like Springfield, Bellows Falls, Chester, Dummerston, Brattleboro, Londonderry, Vt., and Charlestown, N.H. The head coach, Christian Avard comes from Dummerston. Assistant coaches in attendance were Amy Jones, Amie Ferris, Joannie Cioffi and Ann Thompson. Mr. Avard and Ms’ Thompson compete in senior group swim meets around New England. The winter swim team season runs from October to March. The summer season is from June to August and then they start all over again in October. The reason so many kids come from outside towns is that Springfield has the swim team program in the Southern part of Vermont. The Stingrays compete in about eight swim meets annually in Vt., N.H. and Mass. They have in the past been to MIT and WPI in Worcester, Mass. There is a cost for each swimmer to join, however if a kid wants to swim and join a team and the funds are not available by the parent, no swimmer is turned away. The staff will find a scholarship to fit the financial need to all kids who want to swim. That is part of where donations by outside interests like the Elks latest contribution goes to help. For more information or to register please call 802-2568 or email info@myreccenter.org or visit www.myreccenter.org.