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The Greenwich YWCA Dolphins Swim Team is a competitive Age Group and Senior team that is ranked in the top 100 of USA Swimming teams in the country by virtue of a four-year streak of USA Swimming Silver Club recognition. A member club of USA Swimming, the Dolphins compete primarily in the Local Swimming Committee (LSC) known as Connecticut Swimming. The team’s home pool is at the YWCA of Greenwich, 259 East Putnam Ave, in central Greenwich. Additionally, the team uses the Greenwich High School pool and more recently has accessed long course time at the Velocity Center in Norwalk.
The Greenwich YWCA Dolphins Swim Team will begin the 2023-24 season in a very similar method as they operated through the first nine months of 2023.
- Dolphins Swim Team. For swimmers (ages 5 to 18) the YW's offers a competitive, age-group program that holds memberships in Connecticut Swimming, Connecticut Y Swim League and United States Swimming, Inc. Now in its 49th year, the team provides the community with a program that teaches members teamwork while building physical and emotional strength as well as speed and endurance.
- Junior Aquatics. The classes build on introductory training with confidence and strength-building instruction for ages 5- 12. Classes for 13-18 year-olds are available as well.
Swimmers are encouraged to reach for the highest possible level of competitive achievement and development. Many members of the older National Team also compete at local high schools on water polo teams.
All participants are evaluated by the coaching staff for placement into one of six team levels. Stroke, start and turn technique instruction, endurance training and mental preparedness are all key team components of the Dolphins winning tradition.
Swimmers interested in joining the Dolphins Swim Team should contact Head Coach Nick Cavataro by email or by phone at 203-869-6501, ext 121. For more information, check out our website at www.greenwichdolphins.com.
YWCA Membership is required for all programs.
Dolphin Swim Team Coaches
Nick Cavataro, Head Coach
HEAD COACH NICK CAVATARO has been at the helm of the Dolphins since 1977. The 2023 - 2024 season will be his 47th year at YWCA Greenwich. Under his direction, the team has enjoyed tremendous success including three qualifying for the Olympic Trials for the 2016 Summer Rio Olympics, YWCA National Championships in 1982 (West Point), 1984 (Penn State) and 1985 (James Madison U.) and a dozen runner-up finishes, including in 2016. This past season there were two qualifiers for the 2020 Summer Tokyo Olympics.
Cavataro is an energetic organizer who is concerned with the needs and hopes of swimmers of all ages. He holds regularly scheduled meetings with team members and their parents. In addition to weekly email updates, Cavataro publishes a bi-annual newsletter.
A distance freestyle and butterfly swimmer at lona Prep, Manhattan College and with the Gotham Aquatic Association (USS), Cavataro was a three-time AlI-Metro Collegiate selection. In addition to the Dolphins, he is the Head Men’s and Women’s Coach and Director of Aquatics at lona College in New Rochelle, NY. Cavataro has had extensive experience working with youngsters, ages 5 - 18, as the Swim Coach at Westchester Country Club, where his summer teams have won eight Westchester League titles and another dozen top five finishes. Cavataro is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA-Level 4); the College Swim Coaches Association and United States Swimming. He has participated in American and College Swim Coaches Associations World Clinics. He is married to the former Susan Follansbee, an exercise physiologist. The Cavataro’s have six children.
David Fine, Head Age Group Coach
DAVID FINE, HEAD AGE GROUP COACH has a passion for swimming that is evident in his experience as both a swimmer and coach. He earned recognition as a Junior National qualifier, YMCA national finalist, and was a team record holder for the NCY Caimans. His successful high school career led to David swimming for the University of Miami. This fall, David will be entering his 17th season as the New Canaan Girl’s High School head swimming coach, a team that has made significant waves at both the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) and State level since he began coaching. He
has been recognized as coach of the year by the FCIAC and Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC).
Assistant Coaches
Kim Adams is in her third season with the Dolphins. She is from White Plains, NY and was a three-time Section 1 champion and All-American in swimming and a three-time Section 1 champion in basketball at White Plains High School. She played basketball at the University of Pennsylvania and coached swimming in the summers at Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY with Coach Nick Cavataro and more recently at the Apawamis Club, in Rye. She received a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and has appeared on FOX Sports 1, SNY, ESPN3 and the Big East Digital Network as a sports reporter and basketball analyst. She coaches all levels of the Dolphins and began working with the team in Fall 2014.
Ainslie Dorrian has worked with the YWCA since 2000 as a Water Safety Instructor (WSI) and has instructed all ability levels from babies to adults, as well as working many successful Dolphins swimmers over the years. He has worked with the Dolphins as a coach on a variety of levels since 2006 and prides himself on developing technique in a fun and engaged atmosphere for our swimmers of all ages. Ainslie graduated from Greenwich High School where he was a Cardinals running-back. Over the past decade Ainslie has competed in many local open water events. A graduate of the College of Mount St. Vincent (CMSV), Ainslie has a BA in Business. He will be working with the Dolphins Future Team and TAG levels and looks forward to bringing out the best in our swimmers.
Jessica Dowling coached with the Dolphins from 2005-2010 and is an alumnus of the University of Georgia where she was an ALL SEC selection. Jesscia has also coached with New Canaan YMCA and returns to the Dolphins after a brief hiatus while she gave birth to two new swimmers of her own! You’ll also notice Jessica’s name on the Dolphin Record Board from her days as a Dolphin swimmer.
Whitney Welch is a Greenwich native now residing in Stamford. The 2017- 18 season will be her 21st with the YWCA Dolphins Swim Team. In addition to her coaching duties, Whitney has been a professional firefighter, EMT and CPR instructor with the Town of Greenwich for the past 28 years. When she is not at the firehouse or pool deck, she can be found in the local elementary schools, libraries, nursing homes, and hospitals with her certified therapy Bernese Mountain dog named Cinder.
Scott Witmer will be entering his 14th year with the YWCA Dolphins and 16th overall of coaching. He primarily coaches Tag 1, 2 and 3 levels. Scott is originally from Des Moines, Iowa and moved to Greenwich with his family in 2004 from Evanston, IL. Scott swam competitively through high school and still enjoys competing in open water swims today. He lives in Cos Cob with his wife Carey. They have three children; Kendall, Emmett and Hayden.
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brendan Stote has been the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Dolphins since 2012. Since 2009, he has worked at the YWCA as a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor. Previously ranked number one in the country, Brendan is a world-class powerlifter and world record holder. In addition to powerlifting, Stote holds a master level four black sash in Kung Fu. Through his different practices, Brendan has plenty of experience working with children ages 6 - 18. Brendan incorporates core exercises for swimmers that are appropriate for children and young adults. These exercises include resistance training, circuit training, aerobics, calisthenics, stretching and injury prevention techniques.
Dolphin Swim Team Levels
The levels include Future 56, Future Team, Team Age Group I (TAG1), Age Group II (TAG2), Age Group III (TAG3), State (1+2) and National. Details of each level along with recommended entry level test skills are noted below.
New swimmers must be evaluated for placement. Returning members will be pre-placed for the 23-24 season and can request re-evaluation at a scheduled session on the team calendar. Some members of the 22-23 roster may be asked to Come to an Evaluation (CTE) to allow staff to accurately place those swimmers.
Future Team 56: Exclusively for swimmers ages 5 and 6 with the ability to swim some degree of freestyle(crawl) for a length of the pool with rhythmic and/or bilateral breathing and flutter kick. Additional straight arm backstroke and flutter kicking combined with steady backstroke body position are vital. Some ability of breaststroke and/or butterfly as an introductory skill is helpful. This group is highly instructional and will race periodically at the YWCA in intersquad meets only.
The Future Team: Primarily for swimmers ages 6 to 7 with limited or no competitive experience. Swimmers must be able to swim a length (25 yards) of the pool freestyle (crawl) and backstroke for consideration and entry into the program. In recent seasons, candidates also have had some ability to swim breaststroke and butterfly. The group will work on the competitive techniques of all four strokes. Intersquad meets only
Team Age Group I (TAG I): Primarily for swimmers ages 7 to 9 with a season or more of competitive experience and the need for additional technique development in all four strokes, as well as an introduction to conditioning. Intersquad and USS meets complement this development. Seasonal plan will include 3 - 4 8/u USS meets; State 8/u Championships and periodic intersquad meets. Target Test Skill: Must swim 100-yard Individual Medley according to USS Rules and 50 yards of Freestyle with alternate breathing under 2:30 combined.
Team Age Group II (TAGII): Primarily for swimmers ages 9 to 10 with several seasons of competitive experience and have the need for additional technique development in all four strokes as well as advanced conditioning through interval training. Intersquad and USS meets complement this development. Seasonal plan will include 5 - 6 USS meets and State Championships and periodic intersquad meets. Target Test Skill: Achieve two of the following: 10 x 50-Free in 1:15; 100-yard Freestyle time under 1:30; 100-yard Individual Medley in 1:45 or better.
Team Age Group III (TAG III): Primarily for swimmers ages 11 to 12 with several seasons of competitive experience, endurance skills and the ability to repeat all four strokes continuously. Technique development in all four strokes as well as conditioning is stressed. Intersquad, dual meets and USS meets complement this development. Seasonal plan will include 5 - 6 USS meets; and conditioning for State Championships and periodic intersquad meets. Eligible swimmers may qualify for YWCA National Championship. Target Test Skill: Achieve two of the following: 10 x 50-Free in 1:00; 5 x 100yard Individual Medley in 1:45; 200- yard Freestyle in 2:30 or better.
State 1 Team: Primarily for swimmers ages 11 to 13 with several seasons of competitive experience. Swimmers must have demonstrated within TAG III group, or similar swim club, significant endurance, and commitment to training. Swimmers must have reached or can be projected to reach the March Connecticut State Championship qualifying standards to be ready and available to attend. Target Test Skill: 10 x 100 Free in 1:40; 200-Fly, Back, Breast or IM under 3:10.
State 2 Team: Primarily for swimmers ages 11 to 13 with several seasons of competitive experience. Swimmers must have demonstrated within the TAG III group, or similar swim club, significant endurance, and commitment to training. Swimmers must have reached or can be projected to reach the March Connecticut State Championship qualifying standards and be ready and available to attend. Target Test Skill: 10 x 100-Free in 1:30; 200-Fly, Back, Breast or IM under 3:00 and 500-Free under 7:00.
National Team: Primarily for swimmers ages 11 and over with several seasons of competitive experience, endurance skills and the ability to repeat all four strokes at a fast pace continuously. Technique development in all four strokes is stressed, as well as a higher degree of commitment and attendance. Intersquad and USS meets complement this development. Seasonal plan will include 5 - 6 USS meets; League and State Championships and periodic intersquad meets. Eligible swimmers may qualify for YWCA National Championship. Target Test Skill: Achieve three of the following: 10 x 100-Free in 1:30;500- Free under 6:30; 200-IM under 2:30; either a 200-Fly, Back or Breast time of under 2:45.
