Kosciusko Community YMCA History

The Kosciusko Community YMCA was founded in 1962 in response to a community survey conducted by the local Jaycees. To make the community an increasingly better place in which to live, work and play these many community individuals made significant contributions to the first capital campaign.  They knew that support of the YMCA meant stronger character, stronger bodies, better minds, and better citizens for the years ahead.  The original facility was dedicated on October 10, 1965.

In 1984, the board of directors determined if the Kosciusko Community YMCA was to continue as a viable entity in our community, a major building and renovation expansion project must take place immediately. On January 7, 1985, the YMCA began a major fund drive to raise $1,500,000. The drive, to be known as Discover Excellence Y 85, involved over 150 volunteers. Through the efforts of these volunteers the YMCA received over 500 pledges, totaling $1,480,000. The new addition of a gymnasium, indoor running track, fitness center, offices, locker rooms, and renovated pool was dedicated on May 9, 1987.

During the late 80’s and early 90’s, YMCA membership grew from 2,111 to 4,300 in six years.  To meet community need for facilities, the Portraits of Community Campaign began in 1996. This project included the addition of a youth gymnasium, a larger fitness center, and a warm water training pool.  Over $1.425 million in community support was generated.  Groundbreaking took place on May 1, 1997. 

For over 40 years, the association has been a valuable and vital community asset for the residents of Warsaw and Kosciusko County. Over this period of time, the organization has expanded facilities and membership.  In 2004, a second site was opened in North Webster and in 2005 the Racquet Center was purchased with a donation of 10 adjoining acres. Current total association membership is 7438 members from 3243 memberships.

A Track Record of Pioneering Programs
Here are just a few of the "firsts" for the YMCA

1881 - Boston YMCA’S Robert J. Roberts coins
the term “bodybuilding.”

1885 - Sumner Dudley founds the nation’s J oldest continuously operating YMCA camp, known today as Camp Dudley. Also, the world’s first indoor swimming pool is built at Brooklyn (NY) Central YMCA.

1891 - James Naismith invents basketball at International YMCA Training School (Springfield, MA). Dr. Luther Gulick designs YMCA logo, an equilateral triangle to show balance of body, mind and spirit.

1895 - William G. Morgan of Holyoke (MA) YMCA invents volleyball.

1906 -George Corsan of Toronto, hired by Detroit YMCA, revolutionizes water safety and teaching with mass swimming lessons.

1950 - First racquetball game led by its inventor,
Joe Sobek, at Greenwich (CT) YMCA.

1970 - Jackie Sorenson begins “dance exercise”
classes at the Towson (MD) YMCA, leading to the boom in “aerobic dancing” in the US.

1971 - Y’s Way to Physical Fitness program establishes national fitness testing standard.

1976 - YMCA launches nationwide cardiovascular health program.

1986 - YMCA of the USA introduces“YMCA Fitness Leaders,” a standard program for training and certifying fitness instructors.

1992 - YMCAs conduct first national Healthy Kids Day to encourage healthy development of youth; it becomes an annual April event.

2004 - 2004 YMCA of the USA, with the help of senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin

(D-IA), unveils YMCA “Activate America” initiative,
a multiyear plan for leading community-based solutions to address the nation’s declining health and rise in obesity and chronic diseases.

History of YMCA Competitive Swimming & Diving

1885- The first “swimming bath” opened in Brooklyn, New York YMCA (45 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 5 feet in depth).

1901- Lifesaving instruction was developed in the USA under the direction of the YMCA and the United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps.  Most of this work followed the pattern established by the Royal Life Saving Society in England.

1902- Australians Alec Wickham and Dick Cavill developed the Australian crawlstroke from Neolithic origins. The crawlstroke began to be used in America in 1904.  1906 American swimmers narrowed the wide-leg action of the Australian crawlstroke to what was then called the flutter kick. This then became the American crawl, and with some modifications has remained the fastest stroke.

1909- The YMCA cooperated with the American Red Cross in developing a program of swimming and lifesaving instruction on a national basis.

1916- The first school for aquatic instructors was conducted by the Boston YMCA.

1923-  Brooklyn, New York, won the first National YMCA Swimming and Diving Championships.

1937-  The first National YMCA Aquatic Conference was held at George Williams College, Chicago, Illinois, from which developed the “New YMCA Aquatic Program.” By this date, there were 684 YMCA swimming pools in use.

1967-  The first National YMCA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Indianapolis was won the Ferguson-Ritenour YMCA, St. Louis, Missouri.

1975-  The National YMCA Swimming and Diving Championships conducted at the Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, became the world’s largest swimming championship, with over 1,200 boys and girls participating.

1979-  A national YMCA competitive swimming survey showed that there are over 700 YMCA swim teams in the USA, with over 50,000 boys and girls participating.

1980-  The first National YMCA Masters Swimming and Diving Championship at York, Pennsylvania, was won by the York YMCA.

1986-  The first National YMCA Long Course Swimming and Diving Championships were held in Cincinnati, Ohio, and were won by the Collier County YMCA, Naples, Florida.

1995-  A new training program was introduced for swimming coaches and administrators that included the Principles of YMCA Competitive Swimming and Diving, the YMCA Swimming Coaches course, and the YMCA Advanced Swimming Coaches course.