YBAC HURRICANES - YBAC Hurricanes

Find Your Training Group

The YBAC Hurricanes provide a complete swimmer pathway from learning foundational skills to competing at national levels.

Our program is built on intentional coaching, long-term athlete development, and a strong team culture that supports swimmers at every stage of their journey. At YBAC, athletes are challenged to grow not only in performance, but in confidence, leadership, and character.

Explore Our Training Groups

YBAC Team Philosophy

The YBAC Hurricanes Swim Team is proud to be part of the Alamance County Community YMCA's commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Our program uses competitive swimming as a way to help athletes grow in confidence, character, and personal responsibility.

We believe that swimming should provide a positive and supportive environment where athletes can learn, improve, and enjoy being part of a team. Our coaches focus on teaching strong technical skills, encouraging consistent effort, and helping swimmers develop healthy habits that support long-term success in the water and in life.

YBAC follows a long-term approach to athlete development. Swimmers are guided through training that matches their age, experience, and stage of growth. We recognize that every athlete develops differently, and we work to support each swimmer's individual progress while maintaining clear expectations for effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Our team culture is built on the YMCA core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. These values shape how we train, how we compete, and how we treat one another as teammates and families.

At YBAC, success is not measured only by times or results. We believe success is reflected in confidence, perseverance, teamwork, and the ability to represent our team and community.

Forever Our Hurricane

Remembering Eamon Hipps

Eamon Hipps joined the YBAC Hurricanes in February 2024, returning to the sport he once loved with the initial goal of conditioning for soccer. A successful age-group swimmer through age 12, Eamon had stepped away from swimming to focus on soccer, where he became not only a standout goalkeeper, but also a leader and mentor to younger athletes in both sports.

What began as conditioning quickly turned into renewed ambition in the pool. Eamon set goal after goal for himself—breaking 23 seconds in the 50 freestyle, winning a high school conference title, breaking 50 seconds in the 100 freestyle, and qualifying for YMCA Nationals. Through his hard work and determination, he achieved many of those goals, including helping qualify his relay for YMCA Long Course Nationals at Capital Classic just weeks ago. His humility, work ethic, and quiet leadership elevated everyone around him.

Outside the pool, Eamon was equally exceptional. He played a key role in Western Alamance High School’s 5A state championship soccer team, earned Mid-Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, and was invited to Clash of the Carolinas during his senior year. He was excited to continue athletics in college and was in the process of choosing where his next chapter would begin.

In his 17 years, Eamon impacted more lives than many do in a lifetime. He was a teammate, mentor, competitor, and friend whose presence will forever remain part of YBAC. He will be deeply missed and always remembered.

FAQs

Yes! YBAC is a year-round competitive swim team. Our swimmers train and compete during a short course season (September-March) and a long course season (April-July) on the AAU, YMCA, and USA Swimming competition circuits.

YBAC Hurricanes offers four training tiers based on skill level and goals: - Storm Prep Academy (Novice) -Technical (Beginner) -Competitive (Intermediate) -High Performance (Advanced) -Masters (Adult/Fitness & Competition)

Technical Level (Ages 6-18) For swimmers who have completed swim lessons but are still developing their skills. These swimmers can swim freestyle and backstroke legally and a basic knowledge of breaststroke and butterfly. Groups: - Technique (11 & Under) - Fitness (12 - 18) Competitive Level (Ages 6-16) For swimmers with strong knowledge of all four competitive strokes. These groups include multi-sport athletes with flexible training needs. Groups: -Category 1 & Category 2 (Ages 6-11) -Category 3 & Category 4 (Ages 11-16) High-Performance Level (Ages 12-18) For athletes training at the highest levels of intensity and volume. Swimmers must meet standard requirements and receive a coach recommendation and coach approval for this group. Both morning and evening practices are offered for schedule flexibility. -Category 5 -Senior -National Masters Level (Ages 18+) For adults who want to swim for fitness or train to compete in YMCA Masters, USMS, or USAS events. No prior swim team experience required.

Swimmers advance based on skill development, commitment, and coach recommendation. YBAC uses test sets, swimmer check-ins, and consistent evaluations throughout the year to ensure proper placement and progress.