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Team History
by Phyllis Steimel
There had been an active team at the Salisbury/Rowan YMCA, prior to 1980, coached by Rachel White. When Mrs.
White moved to Shelby, the Team dissolved.
In late 1982, Phyllis Steimel moved to Salisbury from Camp Lejeune where she had coached the Camp Lejeune
Devilfish. She initiated the current program through the YMCA. Steimel’s daughter, Mary Jo, had been an avid
swimmer since age six and, now a high school student, wanted to continue in a team program. Consequently the
Salisbury Sharks, officially known as the Salisbury-Rowan YMCA or SRY, was born in early January 1983. Practices
were conducted every weekday evening from 7 to 9 PM at the Fulton Street YMCA indoor pool.
As the Team grew in both numbers and strength, additional pool time was needed and acquired at Catawba College
in 1985. Newly situated, the name was changed to the Rowan Aquatic Club, or RAC. The swimmers voted on the
“Marlin” as the mascot and red, white and blue were adopted as team colors, in respect to Catawba College. In 1987,
the Rowan Aquatic Club once again reunited in partnership with the YMCA, and has since been known as RACY.
Following Steimel’s (first) retirement in 1991, Jeff Armstrong moved to Salisbury from Indiana as Head Coach. Due to
a drop in team membership, Steimel returned for six months in 1993 until Nicky Rosenbluth arrived in Salisbury from
Massachusetts. Nicky occupied the Head Coach position from 1993 to 2000. The program significantly regained its
strength under her capable leadership. When Nicky left for Atlanta, other coaches followed: Allen Farrow, Gabe Price,
Scott Okhuysen, Steimel, Robert Tyrrell and currently, Matthew Hall. Matt arrived not only as a champion swimmer and
well qualified coach, but had his roots in RACY. He began swimming at age seven at the Catawba College pool and
still possesses many of the 10 and under team records. The very coveted Dianne Rufty Hall Memorial Award is
presented annually in memory of Matt’s mother.
Assistant coaches that have contributed years of time and dedication to the program are Hap Alexander, Tim Agner,
Trina Chester, Willie Clement, Ryan Starrett, Betsy Graham, Jeff Dockins and Mark Beck.
The RACY program boasts, historically, a multitude of Meet and NC State Champions. Team members have held
numerous state records. Many have graduated into collegiate swimming programs, several of those on full swimming
scholarships. Indeed, times found on our own record board still stand in the top 100 times ever swum across the
United States. Kelly McLaughlin, for example, is currently ranked number 20 out of the top 100 in the 11-12 girls 200 IM
on this national ranking list.
In 1991, RACY was the 5th Place Team in the NCSwimming State Long Course Championships. RACY claimed first
place in the Western Carolina Swim Association four years in a row from 1989 to 1992. We have captured third place
in YMCA State competition and GYSSA on several occasions, and have consistently taken a team to YMCA Nationals.
Unfortunately, the trophies documenting most of these achievements have been lost.
Swimming in addition to being a life time activity, teaches sportsmanship, goal setting and healthful habits. It is both a
team and an individual sport. The mission of RACY is to send responsible, successful individuals into the world with
fond memories of their involvement with swimming.
To be sure, these accomplishments are made by the dedication and hard work of our young people. They have
learned, through swimming, that success can not be achieved with a button on a remote or placing an order at a drive
through. Rather, they have participated in a program designed to help each individual achieve goals and skills once
thought beyond their reach. To accomplish this takes not only effort on the part of the swimmer, but also support from
the family. RACY has been fortunate to have within its fold a generous supply of active, supportive parents.
Several former RACY swimmers can now be found on pool decks around North Carolina as Head Coaches or as
assistants with United States of America Swimming, YMCA, Collegiate and/or High School programs. Others continue
a routine of swimming workouts well in to adulthood.
Mary Jo Steimel Agner is currently working as a volunteer assistant coach and her two children are swimmers on the
Team.
Quite a legacy!
There had been an active team at the Salisbury/Rowan YMCA, prior to 1980, coached by Rachel White. When Mrs.
White moved to Shelby, the Team dissolved.
In late 1982, Phyllis Steimel moved to Salisbury from Camp Lejeune where she had coached the Camp Lejeune
Devilfish. She initiated the current program through the YMCA. Steimel’s daughter, Mary Jo, had been an avid
swimmer since age six and, now a high school student, wanted to continue in a team program. Consequently the
Salisbury Sharks, officially known as the Salisbury-Rowan YMCA or SRY, was born in early January 1983. Practices
were conducted every weekday evening from 7 to 9 PM at the Fulton Street YMCA indoor pool.
As the Team grew in both numbers and strength, additional pool time was needed and acquired at Catawba College
in 1985. Newly situated, the name was changed to the Rowan Aquatic Club, or RAC. The swimmers voted on the
“Marlin” as the mascot and red, white and blue were adopted as team colors, in respect to Catawba College. In 1987,
the Rowan Aquatic Club once again reunited in partnership with the YMCA, and has since been known as RACY.
Following Steimel’s (first) retirement in 1991, Jeff Armstrong moved to Salisbury from Indiana as Head Coach. Due to
a drop in team membership, Steimel returned for six months in 1993 until Nicky Rosenbluth arrived in Salisbury from
Massachusetts. Nicky occupied the Head Coach position from 1993 to 2000. The program significantly regained its
strength under her capable leadership. When Nicky left for Atlanta, other coaches followed: Allen Farrow, Gabe Price,
Scott Okhuysen, Steimel, Robert Tyrrell and currently, Matthew Hall. Matt arrived not only as a champion swimmer and
well qualified coach, but had his roots in RACY. He began swimming at age seven at the Catawba College pool and
still possesses many of the 10 and under team records. The very coveted Dianne Rufty Hall Memorial Award is
presented annually in memory of Matt’s mother.
Assistant coaches that have contributed years of time and dedication to the program are Hap Alexander, Tim Agner,
Trina Chester, Willie Clement, Ryan Starrett, Betsy Graham, Jeff Dockins and Mark Beck.
The RACY program boasts, historically, a multitude of Meet and NC State Champions. Team members have held
numerous state records. Many have graduated into collegiate swimming programs, several of those on full swimming
scholarships. Indeed, times found on our own record board still stand in the top 100 times ever swum across the
United States. Kelly McLaughlin, for example, is currently ranked number 20 out of the top 100 in the 11-12 girls 200 IM
on this national ranking list.
In 1991, RACY was the 5th Place Team in the NCSwimming State Long Course Championships. RACY claimed first
place in the Western Carolina Swim Association four years in a row from 1989 to 1992. We have captured third place
in YMCA State competition and GYSSA on several occasions, and have consistently taken a team to YMCA Nationals.
Unfortunately, the trophies documenting most of these achievements have been lost.
Swimming in addition to being a life time activity, teaches sportsmanship, goal setting and healthful habits. It is both a
team and an individual sport. The mission of RACY is to send responsible, successful individuals into the world with
fond memories of their involvement with swimming.
To be sure, these accomplishments are made by the dedication and hard work of our young people. They have
learned, through swimming, that success can not be achieved with a button on a remote or placing an order at a drive
through. Rather, they have participated in a program designed to help each individual achieve goals and skills once
thought beyond their reach. To accomplish this takes not only effort on the part of the swimmer, but also support from
the family. RACY has been fortunate to have within its fold a generous supply of active, supportive parents.
Several former RACY swimmers can now be found on pool decks around North Carolina as Head Coaches or as
assistants with United States of America Swimming, YMCA, Collegiate and/or High School programs. Others continue
a routine of swimming workouts well in to adulthood.
Mary Jo Steimel Agner is currently working as a volunteer assistant coach and her two children are swimmers on the
Team.
Quite a legacy!
RAC Swimmer Accomplishments
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