Courtesy Photos/Northern Lights YMCA Northern Lights YMCA’s Dickinson and Delta swimmers in the age 11-older group competed at the Iceberg Meet in Wausau, Wis. Swimmers, front, from left: Nate Lanaville and Colton Getzloff. Second row: Adrianna Getzloff, Sierra Scott, Ava Getzloff, Annabelle Neumeier and Melana Charles. Back: Samantha Scott and Sydney Scott

Often we think of the YMCA at Crystal Lake as a “Y” for Dickinson County, but it’s more than that.

The Northern Lights YMCA swim team, which practices at the Y, has a family from Laona, Wis. as members of the NLY. Kailey Matuszewski recently traveled to Wausau, Wis., with the team for the Iceberg YMCA Meet.

Kailey won two gold medals (first place) and two silver medals (second place) swimming against girls age 8 and under from 10 different teams: Manitowoc/Two Rivers, Marshfield, Door County, Marquette, Chippewa Valley, La Cross, Eau Claire,

South Wood County (Wisconsin Rapids), Stevens Point and Wausau.

The three-day meet started on a Friday night for all age groups including the 1650-yard swim (Ava Getzloff from Delta swam this one). The 8-10 years-old swam in the morning

Saturday and Sunday, and 11-and older swimming in the afternoon Saturday and Sunday.

Anna Bolander, Alexis Olson, Ben Olson and Irene Neumeier joined Kailey for the morning swims. The afternoon swims included Nathaniel Lanaville, Colten Getzloff, Adrianna Getzloff, Sierra Scott, Ava Getzloff, Annabella Neumeier, Milana Charles, Sydney Scott and Samantha Scott. Adrianna Getzloff, Sierra Scott, Ava Getzloff and Annabella Neumeier teamed up for the 200-yard free relay and the 200-yard

medley relay.

Investing in the “Y” is more than investing in our community. It influences those communities around us involved with our YMCA.

We have seen character developing in our kids.

(Tony Adams is a coach with the Northern Lights YMCA Swim Team)