Cash Walz swims at the Y every day. Every.Single.Day. That’s a pretty serious commitment for an adult, let alone a soon-to-be 7th grader.
His commitment and consistency have earned him recognition from both USA Swimming and the Y National Swim Programs. Cash is on the Gator Swim Team at the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA which participates in both programs.
The 13-year old has been swimming on the Gator Team since he was 6. He remembers his first swim meet well, “It was in this really big Y. I was racing the 50 backstroke and I came in third.”
In the past few months, Cash has participated in the Minnesota Regional, State and Fargo Zone meets for USA Swimming. At each, his times got faster and faster. While visions of gold might be dancing through your head, they aren’t dancing through Cash’s. He just wants to swim and he happens to be fast at it.
To Cash, swimming almost seems like breathing. He loves to zone out and focus in the water. He’s tried other sports (as all kids should) but, he keeps coming back to swimming.
While his friends are impressed by his accomplishments, he and team members are more likely to recall laughing on bus rides than victory fist pumps. Going to Fazoli’s after a meet is more about spending time together as a team than spending time celebrating individual victories.
Growing as an individual, however, is an important part of the Gator experience. Coaches encourage swimmers to adopt the Y’s Core Values: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Being a part of the Gator Swim Team is helping shape Cash to be the best young man he can be, both in and out of the water.
YMCA Aquatic Resources:
Learn more about our Gator Swim Team
Practices are held at both the St. Cloud Y and Foley High School