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YMCA names Gaffney as swim coach

The Hunterdon County YMCA has named Ray Gaffney as the head coach of the Stingrays swim team.
From 1999-2013, Gaffney coached the Tappan Zee High School boys and girls swim teams. Under his leadership, the boys won back-to-back state titles in 2010 and 2011. Gaffney coached eight All-American swimmers, more than 10 national swimmers and numerous all-county and all-section swimmers.
Twelve swimmers attended Division I colleges on scholarships. His teams produced state, section, league and school records and several Olympic Trial qualifiers. He was twice selected by his peers as "Coach of the Year." He had an overall winning percentage of .761 during his tenure at Tappan Zee.
From 2000-2014 Gaffney coached the Palisades Swim team, which competed in the summer league of Rockland County. Gaffney started the program with 30 swimmers, and it now has close to 100 ranging from 5-18 years old.
He is an ASCA Level III coach with 15 years of coaching experience.
Gaffney attended St. Peter’s College from 1981-1985 on a Division I swimming scholarship and was named freshman of the year in 1981-82. Gaffney enjoys spending time with his wife, Suzanne, and their four children: Chelsea, Meagan, Sean and Katie.
"Ray brings a passion of swimming that he instills in all of his swimmers, and makes it fun for everyone. He is a strong communicator, and has wonderful people skills that make him easy to get along with. I am looking forward to the upcoming season under Coach Ray’s leadership," said Kristin Heimall, senior program director.
The Stingrays celebrated a successful summer season with 11 swimmers attending the YMCA Long Course Nationals and winning the Penn-Jersey League.
Tryouts for new team members for the winter season will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 3-4, from 6-8 p.m. at the Deer Path Branch on West Woodschurch Road in Readington Township. Swimmers need to attend one of these dates but must register. Visit www.hcymca.org for information.