November 22, 1999
Tiffin YMCA offers exercise and more
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
The Tiffin YMCA has long been thought of as the place to become fit. But at the close of the '90s, the YMCA offers much more than just racquetball and tennis.
"We try to look at the needs of the community and have children involved in the Y so they can socialize with other children and learn other values,'' said Kathy Jentgen, executive director of the Tiffin YMCA.
The 85,000-square-foot facility offers:
- A heated six-lane swimming pool.
- Diving well.
- Learning pool.
- Fitness center.
- Aerobic room with 18 pieces of cardiovascular equipment.
- Free weights room.
- Two racquetball/handball courts.
- Two indoor tennis courts.
- Four basketball courts.
- Indoor running/walking track.
- Adult locker rooms with sauna.
- General locker rooms.
- Meeting rooms.
- State licensed child care center at St. Francis Home.
- State licensed part-time preschool program at the YMCA.
In addition to the equipment, the Y offers a variety of programs for children and adults.
New this year will be a monthly youth night for grades 6-9.
"With the addition of the new gym we will be able to do more teen activities,'' said Jentgen.
The Y also will offer high school 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, high school intramural basketball, an adult racquetball league, gym classes for toddlers and Mommy/Daddy and Me classes for infants.
"One program that has been really well received is the deep water fitness class which is aerobics in the deep end of the pool. We also have the Personal Fitness program for the new or returning people who haven't exercised in a while. It has a nutrition program and a fitness coach,'' Jentgen said.
Other programs include: monthly free blood pressure screenings; youth activities for K-5; No School Fun Days; day camp; Parents' Day Out, Dec. 18; Lazy Man Triathlon; Y2K fitness program; lifeguard training and Family Fun Night.
"The YMCA of the USA has come out with a new aquatics program for swim lessons so we'll be changing some of the skills we are teaching. That starts Jan. 3 (2000),'' she said.
The Y not only offers numerous programs for members, but the programs are constantly being improved.
"The Y has a mission in this community to help build the spirit, mind and body through programs and activities. We're here to provide service, but we're also here to have people belong to an organization and for the people to have a place to go to socialize and continue to lead a healthy lifestyle and to improve their own selves,'' Jentgen said.
The Tiffin YMCA has 4,000 members and sees an average of 1,500 members daily.
"I think the Y is an asset to the community and it will continue to be an asset in the future,'' Jentgen said. "We're here to serve all kids of all economic backgrounds. The Y is wonderful to offer all these programs for all people.''
For more information, call the YMCA at 447-8711.