40 Years of Excellence
The Severna Park YMCA Swim Team, known as SPY, was formed in 1976. It was managed for more than 2 decades by Coach Ken Barsa, who remained SPY's Head Coach until 2004. Under Coach Barsa, SPY developed its reputation as a premier competitive swimming program, with an overall record of 300-25 in dual meets, as well as dozens of district and regional championships.
The Severna Park Swim Association (SPSA) was formed in 1995 by the parents of SPY swimmers after the YMCA left the area. Under their new name, the SPSA's parent-run board developed a professional program of aquatics and swim team management, leasing our current facility from the Severna Park Community Center.
The SPY Swim Team members are unique in that as a YMCA team, they participate in "Y" dual, invitational, district and national championships for both long course and short course venues. In addition, SPY swimmers are registered as USA Swimming members and participate in USA-sanctioned invitational meets, Sectionals, Junior and Senior Championships for both long and short course formats that lead to the U.S. Open and Olympic Trials.
In 2005, after assistant coaching for 15 years and 3 years respectively, Jim Hutcheson and Crystee Ballard joined forces to become Co-Head Coaches at SPY. Today, Coach Crystee continues SPY's well-earned reputation for excellence: interest in SPY's developmental program is at an all-time high while dozens of our older swimmers qualify each year for national competition in YMCA and USA Swimming short course and long course events.
Each year, we consistently have greater numbers of swimmers attending these prestigious national meets, and their qualifying times get increasingly faster. Our "Spies" group of swimmers have truly become a nationally-known, elite swim team, run by one of the most experienced and professional organizations in the region.
SPY Officials Resource Guides:
Rules That Govern YMCA Competitive Sports
