New York State Swim Commission

August 21, 2026

Dear Coaches, Administrators, Athletes, and YMCA Families

I hope you're enjoying the summer and looking forward to another exciting YMCA swim season.

After carefully evaluating every available option, the New York State YMCA Swim Commission has selected Webster Aquatics Center (WAC) in Rochester as the host venue for the 2027 YMCA New York State Swimming Championships, to be held March 19-21, 2027. WAC is the only facility in New York State capable of hosting our State Championship that weekend, and we appreciate the YMCA of Greater Rochester's partnership in making this event possible.

Many of you may remember that spectator seating was limited the last time our State Championships were held at Webster Aquatics Center. We understand that this created frustration for some families, and we've taken that feedback seriously.

One important change for 2027 will be adjustments to portions of the meet schedule and session structure to better balance attendance throughout the weekend. While seating capacity cannot be increased, these changes are intended to improve the spectator experience by reducing the number of people attending individual sessions. Additional details will be shared as planning continues.

We will also provide a livestream of the championship, giving family members and supporters who are unable to attend in person the opportunity to follow the competition. Livestream details will be shared as we get closer to the event.

Clear and consistent communication will also be essential. As we move closer to the meet, the Commission will provide regular updates regarding:

• Spectator ticket purchasing procedures
• Seating capacities for each session
• Ticket availability and important event information
• Livestream access and viewing information

To ensure every family across New York receives the same information, I will ask that teams copy the following designated contacts on communications regarding spectator tickets and related event information: Tom Cohill - tom.cohill@ymcali.org; Ari Freedman-Weiss - ari.freedmanweiss@rochesterymca.org; and Christine Hughes - christine@rodhughes.com.

The YMCA of Greater Rochester has once again graciously agreed to host our State Championships. We appreciate their partnership, commitment, and the tremendous amount of work that goes into welcoming nearly every YMCA swim team in New York. Venue selection is made by the New York State YMCA Swim Commission based on facility availability, and we are grateful to Rochester for making this championship possible.

More importantly, I would like to remind all of us that our State Championship is more than a swim meet - it is a YMCA Championship. Everything we do should reflect the YMCA's core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.

• Caring means supporting one another and recognizing the tremendous efforts of our host YMCA, volunteers, officials, coaches, and families.
• Honesty means communicating openly and accurately about ticket availability, seating limitations, and event expectations.
• Respect means treating every athlete, volunteer, official, facility staff member, and spectator with kindness and understanding, even when circumstances are less than ideal.
• Responsibility means working together as coaches, teams, and the Commission to help families understand the realities of the venue while creating the best possible championship experience for everyone attending.

If we lead with these values, our athletes and families will follow. Together, we can create a championship environment that reflects the very best of YMCA swimming.

Thank you for your partnership and your continued commitment to our athletes. I will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available, and as always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Sincerely,
Thomas W. Cohill
Commissioner
New York State YMCA Swim Commission