Published: 08/10/2026 - 8:00 AM
Daryl's history with the YMCA goes back to before he can even remember. He joined as a baby, taking lessons that earned him a "water safe" designation at just 13 months old. By age six, he'd rejoined the West Philadelphia Y to start competitive swimming, and by seven, he'd swam in his first meet at the YMCA.
"The YMCA gave me the opportunity to learn how to swim and gave me the direct knowledge in the beginning of my childhood to learn how to swim. If I did not have that experience or opportunity, I would not have been the accomplished swimmer that I am today."
That early foundation shaped the rest of his life in the water. He trained under coach Jim Ellis at the legendary PDR swim team in North Philadelphia, who like his mother, instilled in him early on that swimming isn't just a sport, it's a life skill. It's a lesson he's since passed down to his own daughters, teaching them the basics himself before enrolling them in lessons at the Y.
Today, Daryl swims at the Y four times a week, training for masters swimming competitions. He says he found a second home at the Haverford Y, where the pool's deep end, pace clocks, and starting blocks give him everything he needs to train seriously, right next to his house. The lifeguards on deck have become part of the routine too, always good for a conversation between sets.
Looking back on where he started and where he's ended up, Daryl sees exactly how the pieces connect. The YMCA has been a staple in the community he grew up in, combining service, facilities, and opportunity in a way that shaped his entire relationship with the sport. Without it, he says, he simply wouldn't be the swimmer, or have had the swimming experience, that he has today.
Learning water safety skills and basic swim techniques can be lifesaving. Learn more about lessons at the Y below.