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03/26/2016 12:00 AMFor the past six years, the Swim for Miles fundraiser has provided financial assistance to the families of up-and-coming swimmers who want to compete for the Soundview YMCA Stingrays. The fundraiser, which was started by longtime Stingrays’ coach George Miles, is organized each year by a member of the program’s senior division and, this year, two Stingrays’ veterans took on the task of bringing it to fruition.
Paige MacNeil and Caitlin Daley are close friends who’ve swam with the Stingrays for the past decade and put together exceptional careers with them, as well as the Branford Hornets, for whom they were both senior captains in 2015. MacNeil and Daley wanted to give back to a team and a coach that have played such a huge role in their development as both athletes and people, so they made it their mission to make this year’s Swim for Miles fundraiser a resounding success. Their goal was to raise $10,000 and, when the final numbers were tallied, more than $13,000 was raised to help out Stingrays’ swimmers—making this year’s fundraiser the biggest and best one to date.
“Because of how great the team has been to me, I wanted other kids to have the same opportunities that I did,” MacNeil said. “I know how much of a positive impact the Stingrays have had on me and how much they will have on others, so I want it to continue to be a really awesome team with talented swimmers. I think it’s necessary to have as many kids on the team who are willing, actively involved, and passionate about the sport.”
MacNeil and Daley, who had participated in the previous five fundraisers and organized this one for their senior project at Branford High School, got the ball rolling last fall by making fundraising forms describing the event and distributing them to their fellow Stingrays from Branford and surrounding towns. The duo encouraged their teammates to seek donations from their families, friends, and neighbors. Those who donated could either provide a flat donation or pay a certain amount based on how many laps the Stingray who solicited that donation swam at the fundraiser. The event took place at the Soundview YMCA last month and more than 100 Stingrays from ages six to 18 hit the water to generate as much money as possible. Participants had a little extra incentive as they were awarded prizes based on how much they raised.
Daley and MacNeil were busy collecting funds and so they didn’t swim at this year’s event, but they had already raised money beforehand, and, when they did get a chance to see what was going on, they loved what they saw.
“It was a record turnout and awesome to see kids of all ages show up. We had businesses from around town donate food to us and our friends helped us out the day of the event. It was a great feeling to know we were backed up by a whole team of people and support throughout Branford,” said Daley. “There was definitely a positive vibe and excitement going on. There was music playing at the pool and we were all there watching kids swim and parents were watching their kids swim, have a lot of fun, hang out with their friends, and get their laps in. I was proud to see everybody who came out to support us and have fun. It was cool to see.”
Miles was the head coach of the Stingrays for 35 years before retiring in the summer of 2014. He was chosen as Connecticut Swimming’s Senior Coach of the Year in 2011 and has mentored numerous athletes who’ve competed at marquee events like the YMCA National Championships. In fact, MacNeil and Daley are two of eight Stingrays who will be swimming at this year’s Y Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina. Miles said that MacNeil and Daley’s effort in spearheading this year’s fundraiser is emblematic of the demeanor they’ve displayed throughout their time with the program.
“Since they joined the team, Paige and Cait have been a great example of the ways a swim team is also a family. They’ve always loved all the events that go along with swimming, whether banquets, fundraisers, or team dinners, and the planning that goes into it. Their success this year is a testament to the way in which the Stingrays have managed to bring kids in for the long term and not just one season or a few years. Many of the kids have been members for six, seven, eight, nine, going on 10 years in some cases, and the draw isn’t just athletic competition and training, but also the opportunity to make friends, see people on a regular basis, and share the activity they love with their friends,” said Miles, who also complimented both athlete’s mothers, Patty MacNeil and Kathleen Griffin-Daley, for how they’ve helped out the Stingrays. “That commitment is what made this year’s fundraiser so special because, for the girls, it wasn’t just about raising money, although that was important. It was also doing something as a team, a night out at the pool involving hundreds of kids and their families. I think they enjoyed it so thoroughly that, while I know they put a lot of work into it, they also got a lot of fun out of it.”
An added bonus from this year’s event was that, as a result of the monetary goal being met and exceeded, funds will also be put toward the purchase of a record board for the Stingrays’ long course meter’s swims. Wesley Crozier, the Stingrays’ current head coach, is pleased with that news, yet he’s happiest about the fact that the Swim for Miles fundraiser continues to offer opportunities for kids to be part of the Stingrays who might not otherwise have that chance.
“I’ve been part of other swim teams that hold fundraisers and, in many of them, the central goal isn’t financial assistance to families. That really is the central message of the YMCA: to provide for the greater good of the community,” Crozier says. “We don’t want to turn someone away because they aren’t able to afford it. That seems absolutely silly. We want to provide opportunities to be part of our swim team, our culture, and the ambitions of the program. Kids learn important lessons and, in order to continue to strive to be the best we can be, we want kids that want to be there.”
Highlights with the Hornets
Paige MacNeil and Caitlin Daley have competed for the Soundview YMCA Stingrays since they were seven and were also four-year members of the Branford Hornets who were captains in their senior years. As freshmen, they helped Branford win the Class M state championship with MacNeil swimming on the 200 medley relay that took first place. In their sophomore seasons, MacNeil was part of a 200 medley relay that earned All-SCC and All-State with their victory at states and she also made All-SCC in the 100 freestyle. Daley and MacNeil also competed for Branford's 200 freestyle relay that was All-SCC. For their junior years, MacNeil and Daley each swam on a 200 medley relay that was All-SCC and All-State, setting a school record in their win at the latter competition. They were also on the 200 freestyle relay that swam to All-SCC accolades. MacNeil also made All-State in the 100 butterfly and the 200 freestyle. Finally, as seniors last fall, Daley and MacNeil again swam on a 200 medley relay that was All-SCC and All-State with another school record time in a first-place finish—marking the fourth-straight year MacNeil swam on a victorious medley relay at states. The pair then joined forces with Gabija Karosas and Erika Maercklein once more to reset their own school record at 1:49.26 at the State Open. On top of that, MacNeil and Daley were on the 200 freestyle relay that was All-State and MacNeil additionally made All-SCC and All-State in the 100 butterfly. Both MacNeil and Daley will continue their swimming careers at the collegiate level.