West Essex YMCA Appoints New Swim Team Director

By: Mollie Shauger | Friday, September 30, 2022 | Aquatics

James Butcher

LIVINGSTON, NJ - The West Essex YMCA has promoted James Butcher to the role of Competitive Swim Director, in which he will be responsible for overseeing the Y’s Racers Swim Team program as well as the Piranhas Special Olympics Swim Team. He succeeds former Competitive Swim Director Colin Kostyak.

The Racers program provides opportunities for young athletes to strengthen their swimming abilities while also experiencing a team sport environment. Swimmers practice throughout the week and participate in meets sanctioned by USA Swimming and YMCA Swimming. The current season kicked off on Sept. 12.

Butcher, of West Orange, is a former Racers swim team member and has served as assistant coach, lifeguard, and swim lessons instructor at the West Essex Y. He is a recent graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Law - Global Politics and History. At FDU, he was a member of the Devils NCAA Division 3 swim team during his undergraduate term. He’s held leadership positions in many other college organizations, including Chapter President of the Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) fraternity. 

Butcher has also been head coach to the Piranhas Special Olympics Swim Team at the West Essex Y since March of 2021, and prior to that was the team’s assistant coach. He will continue to play an active coaching role with the team, which helps people with disabilities become stronger swimmers.

He has been swimming since he was 8 years old and swimming competitively since the age of 12. In addition to the Racers swim team at the Y, he swam for the West Orange Wave.

He sees his role as not only a coach, but also someone to whom members can go to for encouragement and support. 

“I’m thrilled to be able to share my passions for the sport of swimming and for coaching,” Butcher said. “My goal is to create an environment that is not just about working toward competition and achievement, but is also fun, friendly, and unified. I want to see the competitive swim program succeed and I’m excited to see where I can take it.”

Butcher plans to add more social and team-building events to the calendar. The team, which includes several returning swimmers from the spring season, recently met for a barbeque at the Y, and he wants to start a mentorship program where senior teammates are paired with junior ones. He plans to continue to offer the pre-team program for swimmers who have moved through all of the Y’s swim lesson levels, as a stepping stone to the regular swim team. 

“We are fortunate to have James step into the director role. His solid background and enthusiasm for seeing youth succeed will be key in building a thriving competitive swim program at the Y,” said Cheryl Tuturice, District Executive Director at the West Essex Y.

In other Aquatics news, the West Essex Y has named Ron Madlinger as Interim Aquatics Director, taking over the role left vacant by Scott Weber. Madlinger will be responsible for the operations and management of the swim program at the Y, including swim lessons. 

The Y is currently recruiting a competitive swim coach; visit metroymcas.org/jobs to view a job description and other aquatics openings.

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ABOUT THE Y

Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its seven branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Hackensack, Hardyston, Stillwater and Wayne are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.