For decades, some of the most elite athletes to train in New Canaan have come up through a once little-known, always competitive United States Swimming program through the New Canaan YMCA. A team that spans all youth age groups and has grown immensely popular and helps feed hugely successful teams at New Canaan High School (under inimitable head coach and NCHS math teacher David Fine, himself a Y alum), the U.S.S. squad, dubbed the ‘Caimans,’ draws from much of lower Fairfield County. Its athletes are in the water for about 11 months out of the year—and literally in the water for much of that time, often twice a day, with practices starting at 5:15 a.m.
Now 20-plus years out of the program myself and in touch regularly with others who swam under coach Rich Ludemann, I’ll vouch briefly that the sport—and the Y program specifically—teach lessons that stick well beyond the pool deck. The Caimans—particularly an incredible core group of girls—recently had huge success at the annual Y Nationals meet in Greensboro, NC, breaking several team and even state records. NewCanaanite.com got tipped off on their success by assistant coach Chandler Crosby—whom I used to pick up and drive to morning practice, back in 1992-93—and Chan opened up a line with head coach Mike Ferraro.
