Still Teammates, Years Later

Being a part of a team can be unforgettable– sometimes, it makes you come to a reunion for the first time in years. 

Board member Mary Jo Geyer was part of one of Pittsburgh’s first women’s swim teams in the early 1970s. She reached out to old teammates and swimmers from that era in attempts to plan a reunion at the Allegheny YMCA. Members showed up from across the country; whether it was a trip from suburban Pennsylvania or South Carolina, a community this important will make you fit it into your schedule. 

Swim team alumni from the 1960s-1980s were welcomed into our newly renovated Allegheny Y. They recognized rooms they haven’t seen in years and decorations that sparked fond memories; many remembered playing duckpin bowling in our childcare area, and were delighted to see a tribute to the alley on the wall of the welcome center. 

The tour ended at the pool, where the group couldn’t help but share anecdotes from their time spent in the pool. Whether the Y was their home pool or competition, they shared fond memories in the space. Back in the gym, they looked at memorabilia placed out on tables– old photographs, sweaters, news clippings, and medals that belonged to some of them. 

After posing for a group photo, they brought their chairs into a circle to indulge in a quick storytime. Their reflections all had one thing in common– the impact of the Y. Many shared stories about their shared swim coach, who gave them each an opportunity to participate in a team that became a community. Some members’ Y stories go even further than the swim team, such as spending summers at Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer.

The Y is a place for people to form a community with people they never would have met otherwise, and this reunion showcases how much that connection truly matters. Friendships are being formed in Pittsburgh’s Ys every single day, and this reunion is proof they last a lifetime.