CRANBERRY TWP — Talk about growing up in a hurry.

The Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA's Riptide swim team continues to do exactly that.

In only its fourth season, the Riptide combined to place eighth out of 32 teams at the recent YMCA district meet. The boys placed 11th overall, the girls sixth.

While the team has yet to produce a state champion — Angelina Patarini placed a program-best sixth two years ago — it was on pace to do so this year before the YMCA state meet was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The state meet was scheduled for last weekend at the McCoy Natatorium on the campus of Penn State University.

“More than likely, we would have had a state champion, probably more than one,” said Riptide head coach Todd Slobodnyak, also the Mars High School head coach. “We had kids seeded among the top three in their respective events and our girls 10-under 200 medley relay team was top-seeded in the state.

“There wasn't another relay in the state close to them in terms of their time.”

That relay unit consisted of Mya King, Katelyn Bookwalter, Lauren Johnston and Laurel Della Toffalo.

Bookwalter, 10, of the Seneca Valley School District, was also district champion in the 100 breaststroke and 100 individual medley, along with taking second in the 50 breaststroke. She was seeded among the top three in all three events for the state meet.

Overall, the Riptide qualified 32 swimmers to the state competition.

Slobodnyak was a swimmer at Gateway High School and Westminster College. He first started working at the Schneider YMCA teaching swim lessons.

“I came from Monroeville and the Y over there had a big youth swimming program,” Slobodnyak said. “When I saw there was no youth team in place here, I asked (aquatics director) Karen Guise about starting one.”

Guise admitted she wasn't sure if such a program “would ever get off the ground here.”

“We went over the logistics of it and Todd had the background to make it work,” Guise said. “It was just new to us. I'm amazed the way it's taken off.

“The core values of the YMCA are reflected in that program. The kids and parents have bought into it.”

The Riptide program debuted in the summer of 2016 with 33 kids ages 5-18. That number shot up to 55 by the following winter, 120 last year.

This winter, the team had 153 members.

Lance Snow, a former Kiski Area High School and Westminster swimmer, has been an assistant coach for the Riptide since the program's inception.

“Like Todd, I was teaching swim lessons at the Y,” Snow said. “My kids were getting to the age where they were into swimming, so I gravitated to his team as well. I had some youth coaching background myself, so I just started helping out.”

Snow sees a number of reasons why the program has grown so quickly.

“The population is certainly there,” he said. “The methodology Todd applies to the program is a factor, as is the mass appeal of the YMCA. It's a very visible program and (YMCA) members have the opportunity to check it out.

“Todd has developed a process ... The kids trust it, they listen and they're able to thrive.”

Snow graduated from Westminster in 1996. While he's not surprised over the growth of the Riptide, he added that “Ive never seen a swim program grow this fast.”

The Schneider YMCA pool only has five lanes, forcing some creative use of the facility.

“During the winter season, our kids are here Monday through Friday for up to an hour and a half each day,” Guise said. “We divide them into four groups, based on ability.

“With a five-length pool, we have to space things out. But it's working.”

Abby Scott, 16, of Mars was district champion in the 100 breaststroke and took second in the 200 breast. She teamed with Patarini, Natalie Stasiowski and Kaylee Madey to place third in the 15-under 200 medley relay at districts.

Sean Muchnok, 12, of Mars was district champion in the 50 and 100 breaststroke and was seeded among the top three in both events at the state meet. He teamed with Tyler Snow, Jakob Vranick and Alex Harrison on the 11-12 boys 200 medley relay that placed third at districts.

“Most of our swimmers are from Mars and Seneca Valley,” Slobodnyak said. “But we get some from Pine-Richland, North Allegheny, Northgate/Avonworth, too.

“Fifty-percent of our team is Mars kids. We practice here and our kids treat this as their pool. The Riptide team is adding stability to our high school team and that's been helpful as well.”