RAYS Swim Team
Live Well Swim Fast
Rapids Area YMCA Swimmers (RAYS) is a YMCA and USA Swimming-affiliated competitive swim team that has served the greater Grand Rapids area since the early ’90s. We have programs for all ages and abilities from novice 7-year-olds to national-caliber athletes and masters swimmers as well as opportunities for swimmers with disabilities. Our “Live Well Swim Fast” motto emphasizes our commitment to developing character and life skills through the pursuit of excellence in the sport of swimming. We are proud to be partnered with the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and to support its mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy minds, bodies, and spirits for all.
RAYS Swimmers Over the Past 12 Years:
The number of Graduated RAYS College Freshman who swam at the NCAA's this past season.
High School Event State Champions
High School Conference Event Champions
No practice on Thanksgiving. All team practice will be held on Nov. 28 from 4 – 5:15pm at Mary Free Bed YMCA.
No practice for the Red and Black team at Cal Community Center on Jan. 6, Jan. 13, Jan. 15, Jan. 22, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.
Team | Mon. | Tues. | Wed. | Thurs. | Fri. | Sat. | Jr. RAYS | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. | ————— | ————— |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | ————— | ————— |
Black | 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. | 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.* | ————— |
White | ————— | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.* | 4:15 – 5:30 p.m. | 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. |
Gold | 5:30 – 5:45 p.m. & 5:40 – 7:00 p.m. | 5:30 – 5:45 p.m. & 5:40 – 7:00 p.m. | 5:30 – 5:45 p.m. & 5:40 – 7:00 p.m. | 5:30 – 5:45 p.m. & 5:40 – 7:00 p.m. | 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. & 6:45 – 7:00 p.m. | 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. |
Senior | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. & 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. & 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. & 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. & 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. | 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. |
* All practices for the red and black group are at the Cal Community Center.
* Thursdays for the White group are at the Cal Community Center.
* Fridays for the Black group are at the Mary Free Bed YMCA.
Oct. 4 – 5, 2025
LAC Fall Tune Up
Battle Creek Lakeview High School
USA Meet
For All Age Groups
Oct. 17 – 19, 2025
OLY Fall Classic
Oakland University
For Senior
*More info to come
Oct. 17 – 19, 2025
WMS Boo Bash
Zeeland West Natatorium
USA Meet
For Gold, White, Black, Red and Jr. RAYS
Nov. 1 – 2, 2025
MLA Holland Fall Invite
Holland Aquatic Center
Prelim/Final USA Meet
For White, Gold and Senior
Nov. 15 – 16, 2025
RAYS/TYR Thanksgiving Classic
YMCA Meet
All Age Groups
*More info to come
Dec. 6 – 7, 2025
FFYS Holiday Invitational
YMCA Meet
For All Age Groups
*More info to come
Dec. 13 – 14, 2025
Holiday Cup
Zeeland West High School
Prelim/Final USA Meet
For Gold, White, Black, Red and Jr. RAYS
Jan. 2, 2026
Wildcat Winter Invite
USA Meet
For Black, Red and Jr. RAYS
Jan. 10 – 11, 2026
FLY Invitational
YMCA Meet
*More info to come
Jan. 17, 2026
RAYS Great Lakes Tropical Challenge Quad Meet
YMCA Meet
*More info to come
Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2026
Circle City Classic Prelim/Final BB Minimum
IUPUI Natatorium (Indianapolis)
USA Meet for qualifying swimmers
*More info to come
Feb. 7, 2026
BHSJ – Last Chance Meet
YMCA Meet
*More info to come
Feb. 21 – 22, 2026
YMCA Clusters Championships
Waterford Kettering H.S.
*More info to come
March 7 – 8, 2026
YMCA State Championships
Zeeland, MI
For qualifying swimmers
*More info to come
March 20 – 22, 2026
YMCA Great Lakes Zone Championships
For qualifying swimmers
*More info to come
March 30 – April 3, 2026
YMCA National Championships
For qualifying swimmers
*More info to come
High School Graduating Class | Student Athlete | School |
|---|---|---|
2025 | Mace Boender | Calvin University |
2025 | Evan Nelson | Calvin University |
2024 | Ben Sytsma | Texas A&M University |
2024 | Elliott McAlpine | Grand Valley State University |
2024 | Anna Wiecherches | University of Pittsburgh |
2024 | Madeline McGee | Hope College |
2023 | Sydney VanLente | Hope College |
2022 | Kristin Winkle | Calvin University |
2022 | Josh Krampe | Calvin University |
2021 | Lauren Ryle | Hope College |
2021 | Ethan Beorsma | Albion College |
2021 | Jacob Haaksma | Biola University |
2021 | Avery LeTourneau | Lafayette College |
2020 | Kaleigh Hoffer | Northern Michigan University |
2019 | Julien Camy | Calvin University |
2019 | Andrew DeBoer | St. Olaf College |
2019 | Conner Dedert | Grand Valley State University |
2019 | Alexander Fabiano | Calvin University |
2019 | Anna Haaksma | Biola University |
2019 | Jessica Schellenboom | Liberty University |
2019 | Henry Schutte | University of Virginia |
2018 | Jake Boender | Calvin University |
2018 | Madeline Breay | Hillsdale College |
2018 | Felicity Buchmaier | North Carolina State University
|
2018 | Ben Puglessi | Seton Hall University |
2017 | Jordan Enders | Olivet Nazarene University |
2017 | Riley Hoffmann | Eastern Michigan University |
2017 | Mason Hooker | Saginaw Valley State University |
2017 | Dakota Weinman | Case Western Reserve University |
2016 | Skylar Bierens-Popiel | Butler University |
2016 | Karsen Diepholz | Illinois Institute of Technology |
2016 | Alex Horman | Albion College |
2016 | Lauren Ryan | Grand Valley State University |
2016 | Joey Puglessi | University of Cincinnati |
2016 | Maddy Wilson | Butler University |
High School Graduating Class | Student Athlete | School |
|---|---|---|
2015 | Katlynn Emaus | Oakland University |
2015 | Hannah Crump | Northern Michigan University |
2015 | Nathan Kozycki | Albion College |
2015 | Nick Samra | Rose-Holman Institute of Technology |
2014 | Max DeYoung | Calvin College |
2014 | Patrick Wood | Eastern Illinois University |
2013 | Emily Price | Alma College |
2012 | Paul Kersjes | Colgate University |
2012 | Roger White | South Dakota State University |
2011 | Alison Bauer | Hillsdale College |
2011 | Hayden Cassidy | Springfield College |
2011 | Taylor Folkertsma | Michigan State University |
2010 | Marissa Murphy | University of Buffalo |
2010 | Nate Baker | Grand Valley State University |
2009 | Katie McCullough | Northwestern University |
2009 | Stephanie Fox | Calvin College |
2009 | Alex Numbers | Kalamazoo College |
2009 | Derek Mead | Grand Valley State University |
2008 | Taylor Harris | Bucknell University |
2008 | Kyle Gifford | Oakland University |
2007 | Mark Boman | Purdue University |
2007 | Ashley Jasperse | Hope College |
2007 | Allan Sliva | Lewis University |
2006 | Rachael Foe | Northern Arizona University |
2005 | Daniel Jones | Harvard University |
2005 | William Jones | Harvard University |
2003 | Dylan Barnes | Ashland University |
2003 | Kyle Barrons | Grand Valley State University |
2003 | Joshua Fox | Calvin College |
2003 | Emily Rosendall | Ohio State University |
2003 | Erik Williams | Michigan State University |
2001 | Larisa Graham | Northern Michigan University |
2001 | Michael Gustafson | Northwestern University |
2000 | Casey Lanser | Kalamazoo College |
2000 | Kelly Sexton | Miami of Ohio |
1998 | Josh Boss | Hope College |
Brian Vigna – Head Coach
Coach Brian has over 17 years of experience as a competitive swim coach with expertise ranging from Beginner to National Level and College swimmers. Brian brings a lifetime of experience in competitive sports to his work with the RAYS and is an expert in advanced skill teaching and coaching techniques for all age swimmers. Over the years, his swimmers have achieved high-level accomplishments in every stroke with a strong array of USA & YMCA State, Zone, and National Championships attained – including a wealth of State, Zone, and National Level Meet Qualifiers.
Brian has also coached Adult Triathlete Swim Training Groups and is a Certified USA and YMCA swim coach, Lifeguard Certified, CPR Certified, and Coaches Safety Certified.
Mike Holter – Age Group Coach
Coach Mike has been on deck with the RAYS for four years and has an extensive list of coaching and swimming experiences. Mike swam for the YMCA from ages 8 to 18 at the Gamble Nippert and M.E. Lyons YMCAs in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a swimmer, he was the YMCA 200 IM Long Course Champion (1996) and a three-time Ohio High School State Champion team member at St. Xavier High School. Mike swam at Kenyon College from 1996 to 2000 and was a four-time NCAA Division III National Champion team member. Mike has coached little league and middle school baseball for the last waiver years and was also the Orchard View Swim Club Head Coach. Mike has three boys, two of whom are currently members of the RAYS team!
Mike is a Certified USA and YMCA swim coach, Lifeguard Certified, CPR Certified, Coaches Safety Certified.
Rachael Holt – Age Group Coach
Coach Rachael has been with the Rays since 2020. She grew up in Lansing, where she started swimming at age 9. She was a Michigan high school Division 1 state champion and All-American in the 50 freestyle, as well as a junior and senior national qualifier. She then went on to swim at MSU, where she was a finalist at the Big Ten Championships and earned MVP and team leadership awards. After she graduated, she spent the next 13 years as the head varsity swim coach at Grandville High School, coaching both the boys’ and the girls’ teams. She developed several All-State swimmers who continued their swim careers in college.
Her favorite things about coaching are helping swimmers develop strong stroke technique, teaching athletes about successful goal setting, and creating a positive team environment where kids can have fun, feel safe, and achieve their personal goals.
She is a certified YMCA and USA swim coach.
Alyssia Crook – Head Coach
Coach Alyssia Crook,
I’ve been with the Rays since Sep 8th, 2021. I started swimming very late in my swimming career; I was 13 years old. I found the Paralympics and swam with Team USA for 12 years.. But I was chasing something else. In 2017, I got accepted to swim in Sheffield, England, twice for the World Series. That was my first international meet, and many more after that. I was invited to train and live in Colorado Springs at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center from 2017 to 2021. In 2019, I got selected to compete in the Lima, Peru Pan American Games. I was a bronze for my 400 Free. I got far enough as an alternate for the Tokyo games in the 400 free. I am very proud of my swimming career. I knew I didn’t want to stop there, and I knew it was time to become a coach!
I hope whoever steps on the pool deck has a purpose and loves swimming. I have enough knowledge and wisdom to give to anyone. I want to become the coach that I never had. I have the heart and drive in this swimming life and have a lot of respect. I’ve been through a lot of changes in my life, but they have made me who I am today.
Certified Lifeguard, YMCA, and USA Swim Coach.
Kate Deipholz – Age Group Coach
Kate has been coaching competitive swimming since 2000, from the beginning to national level as well as masters. Starting on the east side of the state, she coached with BBA swimming and Cranbrook Swim Club before moving to GR in 2006. She’s been with the RAYS program since 2006 and has also been heading up the Watermark summer swim program since 2007. She spent 6 years coaching the FHC girls’ high school as well. She loves coaching and teaching kids how to not only develop a love for the sport but also to be good citizens in this world. She has been married to Ingo for 36 years, has two kids, and loves anything outdoors. She spends lots of time on the Pickleball court, hiking, and volunteering as a mentor and at Kids Food Basket.
Dom Ferracciolo – Age Group Coach
Hey everyone! This is my first year coaching here with the RAYS. Previously, I have coached the Newburgh Sharks (Sharks4life!) over on the east side of the state for three years. I was also president of the Grand Valley Swim Club for the 2023-2024 season, as well as the team’s dryland coordinator for the 2022-2023 season. I was a national qualifier for the three years I was with Grand Valley’s club. I started swimming when I was 11 and have not stopped since then. I am excited for a fun season with all of our great swimmers!